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Flowers and Frolics.


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Here are two clips:

 

http://sounds.bl.uk/View.aspx?item=025M-C1...49XX-0500V0.xml

 

http://sounds.bl.uk/View.aspx?item=025M-C1...49XX-0600V0.xml

 

From the Bob Davenport Archive.

 

You have to listen hard to pick out Roger's Anglo from Dan Quinn's melodeon on the first recording. The melodeon is the "brighter" sound.

 

Maybe Roger could fill us in with the titles for these tune sets, since not all were identified. Thanks. :)

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Here are two clips:

 

http://sounds.bl.uk/View.aspx?item=025M-C1...49XX-0500V0.xml

 

http://sounds.bl.uk/View.aspx?item=025M-C1...49XX-0600V0.xml

 

From the Bob Davenport Archive.

 

You have to listen hard to pick out Roger's Anglo from Dan Quinn's melodeon on the first recording. The melodeon is the "brighter" sound.

 

Maybe Roger could fill us in with the titles for these tune sets, since not all were identified. Thanks. :)

 

Never mind Roger! I can tell you that the last tune in the first set, is 'Uncle's Jig', with the A & B parts played in reverse, and the first tune in the second set, is 'Grandfather's Tune'. But the title of the middle one in the first set has got me beat.

 

Chris

Edited by Chris Drinkwater
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I know the second tune in the first set as "Family Jig" (there's an alternative name for the tune which I can't remember.)

 

Hi Tom

 

Major MacKay's is the name by which I know the second tune.

 

Chas

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Here are two clips:

 

http://sounds.bl.uk/View.aspx?item=025M-C1...49XX-0500V0.xml

 

http://sounds.bl.uk/View.aspx?item=025M-C1...49XX-0600V0.xml

 

From the Bob Davenport Archive.

 

You have to listen hard to pick out Roger's Anglo from Dan Quinn's melodeon on the first recording. The melodeon is the "brighter" sound.

 

Maybe Roger could fill us in with the titles for these tune sets, since not all were identified. Thanks. :)

 

Never mind Roger! I can tell you that the last tune in the first set, is 'Uncle's Jig', with the A & B parts played in reverse, and the first tune in the second set, is 'Grandfather's Tune'. But the title of the middle one in the first set has got me beat.

 

Chris

 

The second one here is song tune "He played his ukelele as the ship went down". Have a listen to the song at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCmYh7MbizA

 

Chas

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the first tune in the first set is Hot Punch. I believe Grandfather's tune is also known as the sheep shearing.

 

- John Wild

 

Yes John, you are right about the first tune in the first set being called 'Hot Punch'. 'John of Paris' it is not! And the second tune would appear to be 'Family Jig' as someone else has suggested. Someone should tell the BL. It appears you have to be a school or some other organisation, to have permission to log on and make comments, etc.

 

Chris

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Here are two clips:

 

http://sounds.bl.uk/View.aspx?item=025M-C1...49XX-0500V0.xml

 

http://sounds.bl.uk/View.aspx?item=025M-C1...49XX-0600V0.xml

 

From the Bob Davenport Archive.

 

You have to listen hard to pick out Roger's Anglo from Dan Quinn's melodeon on the first recording. The melodeon is the "brighter" sound.

 

Maybe Roger could fill us in with the titles for these tune sets, since not all were identified. Thanks. :)

 

Never mind Roger! I can tell you that the last tune in the first set, is 'Uncle's Jig', with the A & B parts played in reverse, and the first tune in the second set, is 'Grandfather's Tune'. But the title of the middle one in the first set has got me beat.

 

Chris

 

The second one here is song tune "He played his ukelele as the ship went down". Have a listen to the song at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCmYh7MbizA

 

Chas

 

Recently, Alan Day recorded a tune which he calls 'The Toyshop'. It is remarkably similar to 'Mr and Mrs Mouse'. See here.

 

Chris

Edited by Chris Drinkwater
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Sorry to have been slow finding this. I seldom stray outside the general forum.

I think the tune detectives have got it right. The first set is all from the playing of Bob Cann: Hot Punch/Family Jig/Uncle's Jig played backwards i.e. BBAA in order to end in the key of G. John of Paris is close and Major Mackie's is sometimes given as the name of one of the tunes, but I know it as the name to a different tune.

The second set is one we put together for Bees on Horseback: Grandfather's Tune/He played his Ukelele...../ Mr and Mrs Mickey Mouse. Grandfather's tune is also known as 'Sheepshearing' and was recorded under that name by The Dorset Trio (issued on Boscastle Breakdown, one of the important releases from Topic in the early 70s). 'Ukelele' is from a 78 and was a popular song of it's day as was 'Mickey Mouse' though we first heard it from Bonzo Dog. Incidentally, we threw this at Bob Davenport on the weekend of recording Bees and he did it then for the first time. It's been with us ever since!

All the recordings in this archive were made during the making of the Boldon Lad, an Arts Council film produced by John Tchalenko in 1980 with Bob Davenport as Artistic Director or adviser or some such title. The filming was deliberately unobtrusive and the tapes just kept running. The result is hours, probably days, of unedited tapes all of which Bob gave to the National Sound Archive at the British Library. He had previously given them to Michael Plunkett to try to identify the tune sets, but even Michael's huge knowledge couldn't come up with all of them.

The film features Tommy Ford with The Boldon Banjos, Johnny Doughty, Cosmotheka, Bob Keightley, Jimmy Power and the regulars at The Favourite, as well as the company at The Empress of Russia. The original plan was to include Sam Sherry as well, but that footage ended up in a separate short film. There are some details at http://artsonfilm.wmin.ac.uk/films.php?a=view&recid=90 (The unnamed 'young woman fiddler' is Peta Webb.)

I'll try to attach the original flyer:

 

 

Incidentally I made a lot of recordings at the Empress when we had traditional musicians with us and was persuaded to donate these to the National Sound Archive. I did this in 2004 and five years later I've still not received the digital copies that I was promised. Apparently the tapes have still not been 'processed'. This is really annoying because there was a lot of music there that people would like to hear, especially as there is now so much interest in archive recordings and many of today's young enthusiasts never met many of the people I recorded.

Best wishes,

Roger

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I know the second tune in the first set as "Family Jig" (there's an alternative name for the tune which I can't remember.)

 

Hi Tom

 

Major MacKay's is the name by which I know the second tune.

 

Chas

Thanks Chas, that's the one, Tom

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I'll try to attach the original flyer:

I know its off topic but I like the poster typography....I've been experimenting with retro and vintage styles lately...nice example.

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