gretchen Posted March 19, 2006 Share Posted March 19, 2006 I'm not sure if anyone has ever referenced this video here before or not... but the other day I was looking around on YouTube.com for this Canadian short film that used to be on television all the time when I was growing up so I could show it to my non-Canadian husband... It's called the "Log Driver's Waltz" and it's a cute little short. Anyway, the reason I'm bringing up here is because at one point the log-driver picks up a concertina and plays it for a while as he floats downstream on a log. It's not really a big deal or anything, but it seemed to me that maybe someone here might get a wee kick out of it. Hope so! http://youtube.com/watch?v=2zAUbe_7fNA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenferry Posted March 19, 2006 Share Posted March 19, 2006 Gretchen, That was delightful! The URL takes you to the actual 1979 film itself, which is about 3 minutes long. It starts out looking like a black and white documentary of log-drivers, and then becomes a colorful animation featuring the Canadian folk song by Wade Hemsworth, (who was said to have been a great dancer) "The Log Driver's Waltz." The log driver, wearing the requisite jeans and plaid shirt, does play the concertina briefly while coasting along on a log (about two-fifths the way through). I found the words and music to "The Log Driver's Waltz" here. The Log Driver's Waltz (Wade Hemsworth) If you should ask any girl from the parish around What pleases her most from her head to her toes, She'll say - I'm not sure that it's business of yours, But I do like to waltz with a log driver. Chorus: For he goes birling down a-down the white water; That's where the log driver learns to step lightly. It's birling down, a-down white water; A log driver's waltz pleases girls completely. When the drive's nearly over, I like to go down To see all the lads while they work on the river. I know that come evening they'll be in the town And we all want to waltz with a log driver. To please both my parents I've had to give way And dance with the doctors and merchants and lawyers. Their manners are fine but their feet are of clay For there's none with the style of a log driver. I've had my chances with all sorts of men But none is so fine as my lad on the river. So when the drive's over, if he asks me again, I think I will marry my log driver. Copyright Wade Hemsworth Recorded by Kate and Anna McGarrigle for animated cartoon "Log Driver's Waltz" by Canada's National Film Board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Hersh Posted March 19, 2006 Share Posted March 19, 2006 Cute! I know several people in my area who sing this song, including my wife Deborah Sandler, but I wasn't aware of the video. I'm almost positive that it's an accordion being played in the background rather than a concertina. That's the instrument that one of the McGarrigle sisters (who are credited with the music) plays on old LP I have of theirs...but it's always nice to hear a concertina as well as see one. Daniel I'm not sure if anyone has ever referenced this video here before or not... but the other day I was looking around on YouTube.com for this Canadian short film that used to be on television all the time when I was growing up so I could show it to my non-Canadian husband... It's called the "Log Driver's Waltz" and it's a cute little short. Anyway, the reason I'm bringing up here is because at one point the log-driver picks up a concertina and plays it for a while as he floats downstream on a log. It's not really a big deal or anything, but it seemed to me that maybe someone here might get a wee kick out of it. Hope so! http://youtube.com/watch?v=2zAUbe_7fNA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 ...it seemed to me that maybe someone here might get a wee kick out of it. I certainly did! Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m3838 Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 (edited) My canadian pals told me it's a famous short and one has done a paper on the animator, Eunice McCauley, in school. They were inocent times in Canada in the 70es, weren't they? Considering the phrazes in the song, repeated over and over, they have such different connotations today! I would consider this song inappropriate around my house. What a sore state of affairs we dragged ouselves into. Or may be I'm naive and the song IS suggestive. Canadians out there? Can you shed the light? P.S. National Film Board of Canada is behind it. Glad they're back. Here's one fine example of Big Brother looking after you with good results. There are more. If you guys are interested, there are tapes with NFBC animated shorts on them. You wan't regret. Now to start you on, check out this short: "Crac" by Frederic Back. The background music is french canadian. Edited March 25, 2006 by m3838 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 Considering the phrazes in the song, repeated over and over, they have such different connotations today! I would consider this song inappropriate around my house. What a sore state of affairs we dragged ouselves into. I can't find anything -- not any word or phrase in the entire song -- that I would consider at all inappropriate for anyone of any age, except maybe religious fundamentalists who consider dancing itself to be a sin. Whatever "connotations" you're talking about, I don't think I've ever encountered them, so I suspect that any inappropriateness is in your mind, not in the song itself. But maybe I'm wrong. Could you elucidate in a private email? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m3838 Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 Something happened with your profile window, it's stretched and there is no options visible. I can't send you any personal email. But have you checked "Crac"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 If you guys are interested, there are tapes with NFBC animated shorts on them. ... Now to start you on, check out this short: "Crac" by Frederic Back. Check it out where? I've used Google to search for it, and I find a number of places where I can buy a video or DVD that has it, but so far I haven't found a place where I can just view it, like "Log Driver's Waltz". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Stephenson Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 I remember learning about log drivers at school but this is the first footage I have seen of it. Good stuff. I guess "The Log Driver's Waltz" is in 'tree/four' time. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Barnert Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 Now to start you on, check out this short: "Crac" by Frederic Back.The background music is french canadian. I saw this film in 1983 or 84 (twice) and fell in love with it. I have been searching for it ever since. I didn't know the filmmaker's name until now, though. I guess "The Log Driver's Waltz" is in 'tree/four' time.Yes, and the tune "Puncheon Floor" is in tree/floor time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 I guess "The Log Driver's Waltz" is in 'tree/four' time.Yes, and the tune "Puncheon Floor" is in tree/floor time. And "Apples in Winter" and "Cook in the Kitchen" are both in six/ate. And (at least in O'Neill's), the "Trumpet Hornpipe" is notated in toot/four . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Stephenson Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 How's about The Flight of the Bumble-bee, thats in Hive/four.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m3838 Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 "I saw this film in 1983 or 84 (twice) and fell in love with it. I have been searching for it ever since. I didn't know the filmmaker's name until now, though." Let me see if I have it on VHS. I'll make a copy for you. But the quality will be so-so. I'm sure if you contact National Film Board of Canada, or Expanded Entertainment - they may have it on DVD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m3838 Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 ] "Check it out where? I've used Google to search for it, and I find a number of places where I can buy a video or DVD that has it, but so far I haven't found a place where I can just view it, like "Log Driver's Waltz" Well, it's a bit too long for just viewing on the Internet. It's an epic animated "short". Just like you can't view entire films by Youri Norshteyn, another super animation director. They don't do tiny shorts. But I'll ask my friend, may be he knows more than me. There are a few internet sites about animation. Try some search under Animation, or NFBC, or Canadian Animation. But I'd just go ahead and buy a DVD. You wan't regret. It's one of the films that suits all tastes, a true work of art. Back made another epic animated "short", I think it's called "The River", which is good, but I wouldn't recommend it to everybody. It's a bit long and repetitive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Barnert Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 Let me see if I have it on VHS. I'll make a copy for you. But the quality will be so-so.Not necessary, thanks. Since my last post I have googled it with Back's name added to the search criteria and discovered many places where I can buy the DVD.Well, it's a bit too long for just viewing on the Internet.It's 15 minutes long, according to several sites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Posted October 7, 2007 Share Posted October 7, 2007 (edited) If you guys are interested, there are tapes with NFBC animated shorts on them. ... Now to start you on, check out this short: "Crac" by Frederic Back. Check it out where? I've used Google to search for it, and I find a number of places where I can buy a video or DVD that has it, but so far I haven't found a place where I can just view it, like "Log Driver's Waltz". Guys It's available now if anybody is still interested. It can be downloaded too. It's a nice story. Crac - Frederic Back (1981) http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=25...h&plindex=0 As is Black Flies http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIMameR5aqo I believe this is also written by the same Wade Hemsworth. Sometimes good things take a while Thanks Leo Edited October 7, 2007 by Leo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Reid Posted October 7, 2007 Share Posted October 7, 2007 Black Flieshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIMameR5aqo I believe this is also written by the same Wade Hemsworth. Yes, Hemsworth wrote the Black Fly. There's a fine version of it on a 1994 album by Nightingale, and you can hear a 2-minute sample here: http://cdbaby.com/cd/nightingalevt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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