History - BBC's 'Singing Together'

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST,John from Elsie`s Band
Date: 30 Oct 08 - 11:27 AM

I found ,in a Norwich bookshop, a copy of "The Daily Express" Community Songbook published in 1927. Rather than try to explain it let me give you the foreword.

    "On the night of November 20th, 1926 ten thousand people assembled in the Albert Hall to launch "The Daily Express Community Singing Movement.
    There were a few minutes of shyness and timidity. Then suddenly, the spirit of song took complete command of the enormous audience. The chorus of "John Peel" swelled and volleyed round the great hall, and in that moment was born the astounding social movement that has since swept over the country like a prairie fire.
    The story of delight and inspiration of Community Singing flashed from suburb to suburb, from town to town. Wireless had already brought the cheeriness and friendliness of it all to millions of listeners who caught the infection as they sat at their receiving sets.
    From north, south, east and west there poured in requests that other centres should be given the opportunity of enjoying at first hand the wonderful thing that London had so successfully inaugurated.
      It was not a question of capturing communities, they had capitulated joyously and eagerly. Within a month the people of the Midlands were singing as they had never sung before. Wales, with her traditional genius for song, both found and gave inspiration in full measure. Northern cities and southern towns joined in the movement with irresistible enthusiasm.
    Then came another and more dramatic development. The packed grounds of famous football clubswere turned into gigantic concert centres. Twenty, thirty, forty, fifty thousand men and women provided unforgettable spectacles as they stood in wintry sunshine or biting wind to sing sea shanties, old well known choruses and the National Anthem.
    Villages and hamlets began to organise their own Community Singing. Churches, clubs, instsitutes, workshops, schools - practically every place where men and women gather - joined in.
      Three months saw Great Britain turned into a land of song, and the whole country in the grip of a new force the social consequence of which, even now, are incalculable."

The book contains in excess of 200 songs, trad., shanties, childrens songs, etc., every one relevant to the Mudcat site.

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 30 Oct 08 - 12:34 PM

Thankyou John. One sensed there was SOMETHING - some popularising agent.

Something between the gypsy's singing songs in caravans to the Hammonds, and Ewan and Bert lloyd and the skiffle cellars.

A sort of cultural Piltdown man of folksong - something I and my family could relate to. because god knows my parents couldn't get a handle on folksong as it appeared in the 1960's - particularly the folksong of their own country.

the disocciation of sensibility suffered by the English from their own folksongs, which for example Show of hands write about in their song, Roots - must have some sensible explanantion. And you don't hear much attempt to understand the phenomenon on Mudcat - only sneering at the majority of the population, who find that they are more sympatico with Americanana.

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 30 Oct 08 - 01:25 PM

The singing of 'Abide with Me' on FA Cup Final day is an echo from the past.

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: Snuffy
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 05:19 AM

I remember the community singing at the Cup Final - "the next song is number 16 on your Daily Express songsheet." They must have given one out to everybody as they entered.

It lasted into the 60s I think but people by then wanted to do their own thing and it succumbed to the D-I-Y efforts like Spurs go marching on and E-I-Addio

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 06:29 AM

The Daily Express also sponsored the 'Empire Day' festival in Hyde Park. You'd see Sir Edward Elgar or Sir Malcolm Sargent conducting the massed bands of the Coldstream, Irish and Welsh Guards whilst the people sang "genuine folk-songs, sea shanties, hymns, music-hall songs, American minstrel songs, anything with a catchy tune and simple chorus."

It all went pear-shaped in 1932 when thousands gate-crashed the event and it had to be cancelled. It was never resurrected.

Apparently, some of the football ground singing was recorded on vinyl.

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST,John from Elsie`s Band
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 06:31 AM

Unfortunately Snuffy, nowadays some of the renditions to be heard at matches are certainly not the material to be aired here. It`s such a shame when innocent activities go the way of much we see about us. Public vulgarity, coarseness, insulting and derogatory language.

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Nov 08 - 05:39 PM

I would love to get hold of a copy of "Will Wanderers win?" if this is the same one I'm thinking of, I did it at school. some of the songs I remember were: The Manager's Lament, the Saboteurs Song. Lyrics to one of them went " ihave studied many a year, in great circumstances drear, and the secrets of the mystic east are mine" "how they work I've no idea, but they do that much is clear, pay attention and my method I'll outline" I have not seen this book since I was about ten or eleven years old, 1982 or 1983ish, but the lyrics and melody will stick in my mind forever, it drives me mad that I often get these songs in my head, but don't seem to have any reference point up until seeing this on the internet. Please put me out of my misery and till me I'm not imagining this! I also remember "The Bearded Bride" and "Sir Spence and a Dragon Called Horace"

Thank you
Rachel

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Nov 08 - 05:42 PM

Sorry my e-mail address is [e-mail]

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Nov 08 - 05:45 PM

Please post a reply to [e-mail], thanks so much

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Nov 08 - 04:16 PM

I too remember so many of the 'Will Wanderers Win?' songs!! ("Saturday afternoons we go to the game..."etc!) and even have the percussion parts in my head. They must have been so catchy to last in memory for this long eh? The other one I can recite nearly all of was the waxworks one - 'Kings and Things'. Also remember doing 'Mrs Noah's Missing' and 'The Magic Tinderbox'.

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 23 Nov 08 - 04:29 PM

Rachel Have you searched digitrad for will wanderers and for the songs you mentioned above?

For your own protection, you really shouldn't post your email anywhere publicly, even on Mudcat.

Better to join the Mudcat. Then you can PM members your email if they need to share stuff with you. And you can track your questions and the replies.

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: Midzone
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 06:43 PM

I did some sorting through boxes in the loft the other day and managed to find all 10 broadcasts of Will Wanderers Win - I might upload something for Rachel over the weekend :)

I also found a copies of two Singing Together Broadcasts in full they are:

Spring Term 1977 - Request Programme featuring performances of:

Streets of Laredo
Leaving of Liverpool
I Wander
Kitty of Coleraine
Cosher Bailey
Pay Me My Money Down


Summer Term 1979 - Request Programme featuring performances of:

La Pique
The Crocodile
Pretty Penya

To name but a few!

I am interested in increasing the Singing Together broadcasts I have so if you have from the seventies or early eighties in particular please let me know - willing to swap/copy material.


Steve

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: Weasel
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 07:10 PM

Reading through the posts I spotted a reference to the cantata Robin Ddu.

If I remember correctly, the lyrics to this (and to a lot of other songs in the series) were written by Emlyn Edwards who was a lecturer at Bretton Hall College at the time.

He was an interesting chap who, it is said, disappeared from college one day, never to be seen there again. Stories of his lectures are legion and who knows, some of them may be true.

As a student I re-set one of the songs from Robin Ddu which began "My home is in a valley green".

I remember Em telling us the tale of how moved he had been when visiting a school in some industrial area on hearing a class singing this particular song (not my version I should add).

Cheers,

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST,donQ
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 01:18 PM

Hi GuestMidzone,

Don't know if you will get this message, but I am trying to get a copy of the music from the Music Workshop programme Cinderella from 1986. Our school was hoping to do the play.

Hoping you or someone can help.

Thanks,

don

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: Penny S.
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 01:42 PM

John - our family have a copy of the Daily Express book which we have had time out of mind. Odd, since no-one in the family was of an Express reading type. We later acquired a copy of the News Chronicle similar book. There are subtle differences. I might analyse them sometime. One that sticks in my mind is that the NC has more spirituals, and the DE more plantation songs in inappropriate "dialect".

Midzone - do you by any chance have the final performance version of the Odd Odyssey? I thought I had squirrelled it away from the throwers outers at school, but it has gone. I tried to get a script from the Beeb, but they have regarded these things as ephemeral, and not worth keeping. They were so clever that it seems a great shame for them to be lost.

Penny

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST,John
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 05:28 AM

Hi Steve,
I would be extremely interested in hearing Pimlico Drudge again. I don't suppose anybody out there has the illustrated music book - I'd be prepared to pay a fair price.
Regards,
John Campbell

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST,Gerry Ogilvie
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 06:57 AM

Does anyone remember "Twanky Dillo" ? or "Lisa Llan" (a welsh folk song) I always thought I would love to meet Lisa Llan as she seemed a lovely gentle girl and beautiful too.
And remember "Old Farmer Buck" .........does anyone have any favourites ?

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST,Scott
Date: 26 Feb 09 - 05:05 PM

Hi Penny, about the script for an Odd Odyssey, I contacted Peter Hutchings on several occasions and he was delighted to help! Im sure he would have the script for it. I know he also has copies of the final broadcast of most, if not all,of the Music Workshop and Music Makers progs on tape. he has made copies for me several times!

Scott

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: DMcG
Date: 26 Feb 09 - 05:21 PM

Over at folkinfo we have "Twankydillo", "Lisa llan" and "Old Farmer Buck", Gerry. We have now put up all the issues we have, though there are still the earliest and latest issues missing. See the Singing Together Master Index for what we have. All additions welcome.

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: DMcG
Date: 26 Feb 09 - 05:25 PM

I've just seen a post way back in Jan 08 by Vic Smith with some of the issues we are missing. Vic, if you are there, please PM me if you still have them.

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST,Midzone
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 12:01 PM

Hi

Sorry for not being around for a few weeks bit of a manic month or so.

The sorting of my old broadcasts continues and is certainly work in progress - I've managed to find several bundles of pamphlets and teachers notes from various music broadcast from over the years - so Don I will have a closer look for the Piano Score for Cinderella.

As for Pimlico Drudge - haven't come across any of those broadcasts 'yet' but never say never :)

Still on the look out for Singing Together broadcasts from across the years particularly the seventies and early eighties.

If you can help please email me direct - [e-mail]

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST,jorra
Date: 18 Mar 09 - 10:24 PM

I have just stumbled across this thread. What a treat. We were listening to a record of Vaughan Williams' "The Bees" and I said..doesn't this remind you of..what was that music in schools program called that we all had in the primary school? I dredged in my memory and came up with "Mr. Appleby at the piano". Then I had to Google it to see whether there was anything about the BBC's schools music programs. And bingo..there you all are, with my memories! We both remember..the radio on a high shelf above the teacher's desk in the corner at the front of the room. The pamphlets. I remember a bunch of the songs still...and sometimes the songs from new-to-me folk bands rekindle memories. "Soldier Soldier won't you marry me?" "The Mermaid". SOmething about a valley. I now realise that many of those songs were censored...the verses about Polly's apron hanging down low, or Polly finally giving in to the soldier's charms and going into the sentry box and wrapping herself in his cloak, and then...and then the 9 month consequences...all deleted! But I remember enjoying these lessons hugely. I didn't even mind the Music and Movement in the gym. I try not to be a crusty middle aged grump, but I do wonder whether we play down to children a bit these days. We did Maypole dances for May Day and we all did the plaiting...in the INFANTS' school. I have pictures! 1955. East Sussex. I remember learning the Valeta, and the Sir Roger De Coverley, and looking back I think how on earth did the teachers get all of us to do that. We had over 40 to a class, as well. And I don't remember noise in the Singing Together classes, until we were older. I think that my sense of the importance of these is heightened because we have lived in the US for over 20 years, and we raised our two children here...quite bereft of this casually acquired background of shared songs and harmonies. (Americans don't even sing nursery rhymes that aren't commercial.) I can go to the piano and bang out a tune to sound like any of the styles of English folksongs, and I'm sure it's because our neurones ended up being hardwired to Pretty Polly going for a soldier to meet her love, or The Ash Grove, while our children are primed for jazz chords and rock. One last thing. What was the lady's name who did the Music and Movement? Irene something? Ilene?

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 19 Mar 09 - 06:21 AM

You're right about playing down to children and they are worse off because of it. They say it's 'progress' and 'people have greater expectations' but kids have lost connectivity with nature, the land and culture! This is why the world of tradional music, song and dance is so vital.

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST,drivers
Date: 20 Mar 09 - 06:24 AM

I only remember Time and Tune, and I don't have any of the books, but the Martians taking a stand were definitely Zartians

Calling all Zartians to take a stand
Earthmen invaders approach our land
Up and attack before they draw near us
We are all set and our spaceships manned

I have a wonderful memory for ancient things!

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST,Scott
Date: 20 Mar 09 - 10:00 PM

Hi, I notice you say you have recordings of various Singing Togethers and Music Workshops. I still work as a music teacher in primaries and would be hugely keen to acquire copies if at all possible of some of these broadcasts, especially Music Makers - The Park Keeper. I've got a few radio programmes from the 80s (you've probably got most of them) and lots of schools TV programmes from the 70s and 80s, especially programmes like Music Time. Any chance of contacting me at [e-mail]
so we could work something out. If anyone else can help with these types of radio programmes from the 80s, I'd really appreciate if you could get in touch too. Many thanks in advance

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST,Jim Ritchie
Date: 22 Mar 09 - 12:40 PM

I was quite excited to find these posts mentioning Music Workshop. I used the programmes quite a lot and kept personal copies of most of the earlier ones I worked on. I have also made scans of many of the booklets, teachers' books and acting scripts that went along with them. These are in pdf format if anyone wants them. I would love to get my hands on mp3 copies of the actual radio programmes. [e-mail]

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Mar 09 - 12:04 PM

I've still got a copy of a Singing Together booklet from the summer term 1947. "Broadcasts to Schools - provided by the BBC for the Central Council for Schools Broadcasting.

Contents:

"I saw three ships a-sailing" - welsh folk-song (St Athan) arranged and translated by Grace Williams
"The Jolly Carter" - folk-song from Suffolk, collected and arranged by E.J.Moeran
"Soldier Soldier" - Appalachian folk-song, collected and arranged by Cecil J.Sharp
"Ca' the ewes" - lowland Scots traditional melody, words by Robert Burns
"Whip Jamboree" - Somerset folk-song, collected and arranged by Cecil J. Sharp
"Silver and Gold" - music by Schubert, English words by Albert G.Latham
"Meg Merrilies" - music by Robin Milford, words by John Keats
"The Drummer Boy" - French folk-song, arranged and translated by Herbert Wiseman, English version by John Wishart
"Lord Willoughby" - Tudor ballad
"Contentment" - music by Mozart, English words by Rev.J Troutbeck
"Annie Laurie" - Lowland Scots traditional song
"Dear Lord and Father" - music by Hubert Parry, words by J.G.Whittier
"The Mocking Bird" - Appalachian song, collected by Cecil Sharp, piano accompaniment by Imogen Holst
"My Johnny was a shoemaker" - English traditional song from Northumberland
"Annie the Miller's Daughter" - Slovak folk-song fro the collection of Jan Malat. English paraphrase by Anna Mathewson
"Dance Song" - Portuguese folk-song, collected and arranged by Rodney Gallop
"The Feng-Yang Drum" - Chinese folk-song, collected by Dr Tz-Zeung Koo, and arranged by Reginald Redman. English words by Irene Gass
"The cockle gatherer" - Hebridean folk-song, arranged by M.Kennedy Fraser
"The Musician" - French folk-song, words paraphrased by John Horton
"My Horses Ain't Hungry" - Kentucky song, collected and arranged by John Jacob Niles

And all for sixpence, words and music.

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: IanC
Date: 23 Mar 09 - 12:16 PM

Thanks Kevin ... that's the earliest I've seen yet!

:-)

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST,rosiet
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 03:01 PM

We are the masters of all the sky
Out into space let our rockets fly!

As you come nearer, into our orbit,
Earthmen invaders, prepare to die!

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST,Roy
Date: 03 Jun 09 - 10:37 AM

Ah yes I remember this little gem from my primary school days broadcast on a Friday afternoons back in 1982-84, or we would at least listen to them on a Friday afternoon after going to the local swimming baths for our weekly swimming lesson. I can only recall listening to two series of it and can see the paper booklets we used to sing from in my minds eye like it was yesterday.
Like many others, titles and snatches of the songs stick in my mind or haunt me to this day. Here's a few from memory:

Patrick on the railroad
A frog he would a wooing go
Bold Gendarmes
Casy Jones
Bill Bones and his faithful cat(?)
Soldier Soldier won't you marry me?

Yes those were high tech days at school VCR's were the size of a breeze block and usually were the target of a break in during the school holidays. A mono radio/casette recorder player would provide the class with audio entertainment and every piece of electrical equipment deemed valuable by the staff was daubed with lemon coloured emulsion for identification purposes. LOL

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 03 Jun 09 - 10:57 AM

In the Special School in Leicester I worked at, Singing together was a regular, with the deputy head on the piano, the rest of us got a free lesson, bless you Dereck. Circa 1980 a christmas favourite was

Wrapped in swaddling clothes, the baby's lying
In his mother's arms, there'll be no crying
Shepherd's from afar, they do come [nigh?] him
Rocky Road-um, heyyy, a Rocky Road-um.

Rocky Rocky Road, a Rocky Road-um
Rocky Rocky Road, a Rocky Road-um
Rocky Rocky Road, a Rocky Road-um
Rocky Road-um, heyyy, a Rocky Road-um.

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 04:52 PM

Gossip Joan - why on earth did this come into my mind today?

Do they call them 'ear-worms' now?

Whatever, i couldn't shake it off so I Googled her! And here we are! Yes!! The big speaker in the hall and all sitting cross-legged until we had to stand up to sing! And Mr Appleby on the piano I now see - I knew it was Mr someone but my neurones didn't fire bright enough. But I do remember these interludes so well. And then on to the nature walks and the pond-dipping and the poetry and the art in the afternoon. Where has it all gone? SATS???!! Yechhh!!! Back in the 1950s, that was what schooling was all about - oh deeeear, am I a grumby old 'person'.

Good evening Gossip Joan - I guess you had more fun at school than we do these days! But I guess you'd like Twitter??

Cheers

Dave J

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST,Chris
Date: 22 Sep 09 - 09:02 AM

At school in '82, our class did a (recorded using reel to reel) Singing Together programme. I remember the (first?) song that began "My father bought at great expense...", but can anyone recall a song called Miggaldy Maggaldy? I believe it was the same set, and that is from Autumn '73 (curiously the time when myself & my school year were born)

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: Croaker
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 11:08 AM

Hi,
I was just wondering if you could possibly tell me the songs that were in the autumn 1983 singing together booklet please as I cannot obtain a booklet and I have some copies of the singing together but not many.Any help you could give I would be most grateful.Many thanks
                         Kind regards
                            Gwen

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: DMcG
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 11:35 AM

As it happens, 1983 is one of the years we are missing at Folkinfo. Sorry I can't help.

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 12:30 PM

Clearin up a bit in my stock room I have three 'Singing Together's' non sequential and all from 1970 to 73 (I'm relying on memory not being in my classroom currently. Anyone want's them let me know. They certainly bring back memories and beg the question as to when many of us learned what a folk song was.
Paul

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: DMcG
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 12:34 PM

If there are some of the missing ones from those listed at that folkinfo page (in the post just above yours), I'd certainly be interested.

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: Willa
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 05:30 PM

Just bought a copy of 'Songs for Singing Together' Pupil's Book BBC Publications 1974 for 39p in a local charity shop!Back cover reads 'All the songs have been taken from recent programmes of 'Singing Together.....
Each term pupils from all around the British Isles send in their votes for their favourite songs and this volume contains a selection of the most popular.'

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 12:28 PM

DMcG I'll check them out tomorrow
Paul

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Dec 09 - 07:16 AM

Does anyone know where I can get hold of the wonderful production "Sir Spence and a Dragon called Horace" which my class performed at school in (I think) the early 1980's? Many of its songs have been stuck in my head for nearly 30 years and I am now singing them to my children who want to know more! All suggestions welcome please.

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST,margaret in Chile
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 01:09 PM

It's a hot summer afternoon here and I have been humming 'Have not you heard my Lady' all morning. In my search for the words and music I came across this thread and what a delight to read the comments. I remember when Singing Together began it was a huge innovation. It was I believe 1948 and we'd never had a radio in the classroom before. What fun it all was.   I have to concur with the writers who feel the programme gave them a lasting interest in folk music ... it certainly did for me. And your comments about your classrooms - oh my the years float away and I'm back in Scotland!   Thank you so much everyone for sharing your memories.   Margaret

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: gnomad
Date: 10 Jan 10 - 09:03 AM

I confess to having also been thoroughly influenced by these programmes, including the stack of several previous year collections which made up the textbooks for school music lessons.

Just for Guest Margaret in Chile, the lyrics she was hunting can be found here. Stay a while longer, there's lots to enjoy here.

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 10 Jan 10 - 09:21 AM

Did You Not Hear My Lady? is actually entitled Silent Worship and is an aria from the G F Handel opera Tolomeo. The most beautiful version I have ever heard was arranged and recorded by Barry Dransfield on Unruly.

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST,Adam Carew
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 07:16 PM

What a thread to stumble over! Too many shared memories here, but I might add that I never quite fell for William Appleby's programme after he did "Football Crazy" but the words were different from the song sung by Robin Hall and Jim MacGregor. I sensed even then that this was kid's stuff, and for a 10 year old at the end of the swinging sixties that was not cool.

I would love to see a list o hte songs. Someone said "Kernow John" is producing a CD. If you read this, KJ, please let me know how to get hold of it.

PS Like someone else I (mis)remembered Wm Appleby's booming "Hello Schools!" coming out of the speaker with rather a plummy accent, so hearing a soft but definite Doncaster accent a few moments ago came as a surprise; but perhaps for people in Chester, Doncaster was rather posh - it's all relative you know...

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST,Adam Carew again
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 07:38 PM

It's probably bad form to reply to your own posts, but I have now come across a list of the songs here, and anyone following my footsteps in the future might like to know:

http://www.folkinfo.org/forum/topic.php?topicid=1188

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST,Cath
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 06:56 PM

@drivers, @rosiet Great to track down others who remember the Zartians! From 1965ish??

Calling all Zartians to take a stand
Earthmen invaders approach our land
Come and attack and make them draw back
We are all set and our spaceships manned

[I'd forgotten this last line...]

And from the same time - I used to love singing 'Streets of Laredo' - I always thought it was most sad...

Cath

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST,Robert
Date: 21 Apr 10 - 03:13 PM

I've just noticed that someone is selling Singing Together / Time & Tune, Music Workshop, Music Time pamphlets and teachers notes on e-bay.

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: Edthefolkie
Date: 21 Apr 10 - 05:27 PM

On a point of information Borchester, the words of "Silent Worship" appear to have been written by Sir Arthur Somervell but were certainly set to his adaptation of the aria by Handel.

I knew the song from primary school and the BBC, and I bet Barry Dransfield did too - I was so blown away by his rendering on "Unruly" a couple of years ago that I did a bit of Googling and found at least some of the song's origins. Obviously the lyric is meant to evoke the 18th century but to me it's redolent of the 1890s/early 1900s - I can imagine Walter Crane or Arthur Rackham illustrating it.

It's very true, as several people said, that unfortunately children don't casually acquire gems like these any more - I believe it was called education wasn't it?

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: Weasel
Date: 21 Apr 10 - 06:21 PM

It's certainly true that the kids don't "casually pick up" the things we picked up, but they're not thick! - they pick up different things.

I don't suppose we picked up the things our grandparents thought were essential.

I'm always impressed by how important children's tv programmes are to us and to them - how can they live without having known The Woodentops? - but to them, Postman Pat is just as wonderful, the Clangers are as vital to their history as Rag Tag and Bobtail or Bill and Ben were to ours.

I remember singing "For she is the flower of Killarny" from "Singing Together" when I was about 9 years old, most of us were in love with her in fact, well, with the pen drawing of the Irish beauty that headed the page, and we all identified with Black Sir Harry and that last knight who declared, "my bride, my queen, thou must with me" in "the Red the Green and the Yellow". The kids would laugh at such songs now, just at their grandchildren will laugh at their songs.

We can try to pass on to our children the things we think are important, but the tradition is, and should be, a living one that grows.

Subject: RE: History - BBC's 'Singing Together'
From: GUEST,Alban
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 07:35 PM

Ive just seen that somone is selling Singing Together, Time & Tune, Music Workshop, Music Makers & Music time pamphlets and Teachers Notes on ebay, they look a bargain!!!!

Alban