The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #14414 Message #3137101
Posted By: Steve Gardham
17-Apr-11 - 06:56 PM
Thread Name: 'Historical' Ballads
Subject: RE: 'Historical' Ballads
Flicking through it the book is riddled with accounts of how at least some of the ballads were composed in London by Catnach and his friends.
p381 'the authors and poets who give this peculiar literature alike in prose or rhyme to the streets, are all in some capacity or another connected with the street patter or song; and the way in which a narrative or a 'copy of verses' is prepared for the press is usually this:- The leading members of the 'schools'--some of whom refer regularly to the evening papers--when they hear of any out of the way occurrence, resort to the printer and desire its publication in a style proper for the streets. This is usually done very speedily, the school, or a majority of them -- and the printer agreeing with the author.' Much greater detail ensuing over financial matters and then 'The chief residence of these parties being nearest to the long-established printer....'
Significant that both Hindley and you both refer to it as a 'school' and yet until now I haven't used the term.
'It must be borne in mind that the street-author is closely restricted in the quality of his effusions. It must be such as the patterers approve, as the chanters can chant, the ballad singers sing, and above all, such as the street buyers will buy.'
Well, you brought up Hindley!