Tune Req: Humerous and Bawdy Renaissance Song

Subject: Humerous and Bawdy Renaissance Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 04:10 PM

Hello from the mountains of NE Pennsylvania! I am the founder and director of the Endless Mountains Madrigal Singers, a small group of singers here in Sullivan County, PA. I have sung in and driected madrigal groups for some time, but they have always steered toward the serious, formal madrigal/renaissance music. This area however, seems to appreciate the more humerous and even bawdy songs of the period. I have found it impossible to acquire printed music of this kind and even have found only one recording with the "bawdy songs" of the renaissance period. We have a few authentic pub songs, but that is the sum total of our humerous program. Do you have any of these kind of songs in your library or personal collection which you could send to me (copies of course) or give me the names of songs/collections of this kind and sources from which I could purchase the printed music? My group sings very well. I have found some wonderful and dedicated talent here. However, they are all unexperienced in choral singing and I do need the printed music in order to teach them the songs. Thank you for your assistance! Musically Yours, Judy P. Shoemaker please email directly [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Humerous and Bawdy Renaissance Song
From: sophocleese
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 04:14 PM

The Madrigal group that I sang in used the Chester Books of Madrigals. Some of those were bawdy or drunken. You could also look for things by PDQ Bach.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Humerous and Bawdy Renaissance Song
From: Amos
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 04:30 PM

Hello, Judy:

You will need to come back and check the thread for replies. You can look in the DT database and find plenty of songs, some probably bawdier than you want to know! "Gathering of the Clans" comes to mind, also known as "Balls of Keramuir" (spelling probably wrong).

If you put the string "@bawdy" into the DT search engine at the top of this page you'll find a fistful (so to speak) of fine tunes,over 250, many of which have MIDI links in them to hear the tunes. As to which qualify as Renaissance, I dunno...

You may have to work up the written arrangements yourself -- altho' it's possible someone else in this wide community knows where they can be found.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Humerous and Bawdy Renaissance Song
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 06:27 PM

I assume the CD you're talking about is "The Art of the Bawdy Song" by the Baltimore Consort et al.

There is a 6-volume anthology of songs and poems called "Wit and Mirth: or, Pills to Purge Melancholy" collected or written by Thomas D'Urfey (1653-1723) in 1719. Many, but not all, of the songs are bawdy.

I see at http://www.bibliofind.com/ that you can buy the first edition for $550.00 - but I know there was also at least one reprint edition issued in 1959. I believe I saw a copy of this once in a university library. I seem to recall that the songs were printed with 1-line tunes, meaning you'd have to work out your own harmony.

Bibliofind also lists a partial reprint called "Sixty Ribald Songs from Pills to Purge Melancholy" by S. A. J. Bradley from 1968 which is being offered for $25.00. I haven't seen this book.

In the 1956-9 Canadian folksinger Ed McCurdy recorded a series of albums called "When Dalliance Was In Flower (and Maidens Lost Their Heads)." There was a volume 1, 2 and 3 as well as a "Best of Dalliance." I believe most of his songs came from D'Urfey. These were my first exposure to bawdy songs. When I was a student in the late 1960's, I borrowed the albums from the Macalester College library and copied them on a reel-to-reel tape recorder. I may still have the tapes in my attic but I don't have a machine that will play them any more.

I can still recall some of the words: "O boy, hey boy, come, come away, boy/And bring me my longing desire/A lass that is neat and can well do the feat/When lusty young blood is on fire." Some of the songs had very clever multiple double-entendres.

Good luck finding some of these in your local public or university library!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Humerous and Bawdy Renaissance Song
From: Bill D
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 06:39 PM

I have the "Best of Dalliance" set..(some of which ARE in the database)...doing a DB search on @bawdy will get you lots of stuff...I also have a softcover book of the Dalliance series!!..I have NO idea where I got it..Ed McCurdy's arrangement of the songs is delightful, though I don't know if they are original, or 'messed with'

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Humerous and Bawdy Renaissance Song
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 06:50 PM

Some folks seem to like bawdy songs simply because they are bawdy. I've always preferred those that were clever and contained double meanings. If memory serves correctly the Dalliance series included some quite clever lyrics and McCurdy's performance was excellent. I acquired several of the Lps while a Divinity student in the early 60's. Wish I knew what had become of them.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Humerous and Bawdy Renaissance Song
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 07:22 PM

The Dalliance series did not use original tunes; they were most likely composed by Erik Darling and/or Billy Faier

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Humerous and Bawdy Renaissance Song
From: GUEST,Gypsy
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 08:06 PM

The Poxy Boggards have two books out of thier music, that you can order from the Jesters Court. We have both, and they are quite wonderful. Have both traditional and original music. Also check out CDs by: The Minstrels of Mayhem, Rob and Ann, and The Jolly Beggars. The Elfhill Songbook is another good bet.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Humerous and Bawdy Renaissance Song
From: GUEST,Gypsy
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 08:08 PM

The Poxy Boggards have two books out of thier music, that you can order from the Jesters Court. We have both, and they are quite wonderful. Have both traditional and original music. Also check out CDs by: The Minstrels of Mayhem, Rob and Ann, and The Jolly Beggars. The Elfhill Songbook is another good bet.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Humerous and Bawdy Renaissance Song
From: harpgirl
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 11:04 PM

...with apologies to Art surely the "hairy side out" condom song in the DT is a very old broadside....The Ancient and Old Irish Condom," I believe it's called...harpgirl

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Humerous and Bawdy Renaissance Song
From: Amos
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 11:47 PM

Hmm -- I sent Judy Shoemaker a copy (by email) of my posting explaining she should come back here for her answers , but haven't seen her...

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Humerous and Bawdy Renaissance Song
From: Escamillo
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 11:47 PM

I've sent the following mail to Judy, in case she did not see the thread:
"Judy, there are 9 interesting replies to your request in the Mudcat Cafe Forum. Please go back to www.mudcat.org and search for : Humerous and Bawdy Renaissance Song in the forum threads. Best Regards - Andrés"

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Humerous and Bawdy Renaissance Song
From: GUEST,_gargoyle
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 11:58 PM

Go to Bruce's..... his site payed my ticket for January February....all you need and more.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Humerous and Bawdy Renaissance Song
From: Escamillo
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 11:58 PM

Oops, Amos, we cross-posted - Andrés

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Humerous and Bawdy Renaissance Song
From: SeanM
Date: 16 Feb 00 - 12:41 PM

GUEST Gypsy mentioned a local (Southern California) band by the name of "The Poxy Boggards". They're a product of the local Renaissance Faire scene, and their first CD especially might have something to get ideas from. They ARE mostly friends of mine, so it should be noted that there's a fair chunk of original material and arrangement on the disc.

I unfortunately don't have the site address handy (at work at the moment), but a search on Yahoo for their name will bring up the link for anyone interested.

No, I'm not in 'em. Just like 'em, and they've given me beer on occasion.

M

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Humerous and Bawdy Renaissance Song
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 16 Feb 00 - 01:48 PM

Thanks to all of you! I had a long rehearsal last evening - Bach and Schubert and definately not bawdy - and have not had time to return to my mail until this morning. I will check out your suggestions and please meep them coming. I did notice that someone has listed a song written to the scottman's kilt joke. Does anyone know what tune was used there? That one would be a lot of fun and not too obscene for our backwards mountains audiences! Thanks again!! Judy

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Humerous and Bawdy Renaissance Song
From: Molly Malone
Date: 16 Feb 00 - 03:08 PM

Also check out Wench Works, of the Arizona/Minnesota Ren Faire scene. 3010 Hennepin Ave. South, #173 Minneapolis, MN 55408. Hysterical CD!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Humerous and Bawdy Renaissance Song
From: GUEST,hollowfox
Date: 16 Feb 00 - 03:19 PM

The Poxy Boggards site will also connect you to the A Capella Web Ring and the Madrigals/Renaissance Music Web Ring.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Humerous and Bawdy Renaissance Song
From: MMario
Date: 16 Feb 00 - 03:33 PM

Wench works! Yes! Their Bonnies and Johnies CD or the earlier cassette. Luv 'em, even if I don't get to see them anymore.....