11 May 11 - 02:15 PM (#3152226) Subject: Folklore: American versions of Child 91? From: banjocircus I am trying to find out of there are any American versions of Child Ballad 91, Mary of Wallington/Bonnie Earl of Livingston. Do you know of any and if so, where are they from and where can I find them? Thank you, Jonathan |
11 May 11 - 04:01 PM (#3152288) Subject: RE: American versions of Child 91? From: Richard from Liverpool Sorry to answer with a negative, but I just did a sweep of the Roud Folksong Index (which I guess you might already have done) and couldn't see any mention of an American version there. Which doesn't mean there aren't any out there, but if any exist it's going to take quite a bit of digging I'm thinking... |
11 May 11 - 05:37 PM (#3152356) Subject: RE: American versions of Child 91? From: banjocircus My thoughts exactly, and wondering (hoping) someone else may already have done it… |
11 May 11 - 09:20 PM (#3152434) Subject: RE: American versions of Child 91? From: Joe Offer Not much in the Traditional Ballad Index, which lists mostly American sources - but in this case, it lists only Child, Bronson, and sources from the UK. I'll take a further look and see what I can find. Here's the Ballad Index entry: Fair Mary of Wallington [Child 91]DESCRIPTION: Of seven sisters, five have died in childbirth. The sixth would prefer not to marry, but is made to wed. She expects to die in childbirth, and does, with the child cut out of her after three days labor. The seventh sister can expect the same fate.AUTHOR: unknown EARLIEST DATE: 1776 (Herd) KEYWORDS: family marriage childbirth death FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland) REFERENCES (5 citations): Child 91, "Fair Mary of Wallington" (7 texts) Bronson 91, comments only OBB 81, "Fair Mary of Wallington" (1 text) Gummere, pp. 236-240+354, "Fair Mary of Livingston" (1 text) DBuchan 15, "Fair Mary of Wallington" (1 text) Roud #59 File: C091 Go to the Ballad Search form The Ballad Index Copyright 2010 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle. |
11 May 11 - 09:42 PM (#3152440) Subject: RE: American versions of Child 91? From: Bill D There is a version by Phil Cooper under the name "Bonnie Earl of Livingston" |
11 May 11 - 09:47 PM (#3152443) Subject: RE: American versions of Child 91? From: Bill D see this CDBaby page |
12 May 11 - 03:28 PM (#3152887) Subject: RE: American versions of Child 91? From: banjocircus I am familiar with that version of the ballad, but believe it to be of British, rather than American, origin. Do you have any information to suggest otherwise? |
12 May 11 - 04:27 PM (#3152931) Subject: RE: American versions of Child 91? From: Bill D ahh...well, the singer is American...so, I guessed. I know of only 3 recordings. |
12 May 11 - 04:34 PM (#3152936) Subject: RE: American versions of Child 91? From: RTim According to The Child Ballad site there are several more, but none appear to be American. Tim Radford http://members.chello.nl/r.vandijk2/ |
13 May 11 - 08:30 AM (#3153289) Subject: RE: American versions of Child 91? From: Brian Peters According to Bronson this ballad "has not been found among the English-speaking peoples" since before Sharp's time and, since the melody to which Anna Brown sang it in Aberdeenshire was not notated, he assumed that no traditional tune would ever come to light. However, the information from the site linked by Tim, that James Carpenter notated a version from Bell Duncan, at least gives us hope of a tune. It doesn't look as though the ballad had a significant history in Amercia, though. |
13 May 11 - 09:15 AM (#3153302) Subject: RE: American versions of Child 91? From: RTim Indeed Brian, according to the Carpenter Catalogue there are 2 texts, tune notations and even disc recordings by Bell Duncan. However, these are still not generally available - but there may be copies in the VWML. Also - if you have ever seen the notation or listened to the Disc recordings, they are not always of the highest standards - but anything is better than nothing!! Tim Radford |
13 May 11 - 08:18 PM (#3153689) Subject: RE: American versions of Child 91? From: banjocircus Thanks. Jonathan |
13 May 11 - 09:23 PM (#3153717) Subject: RE: American versions of Child 91? From: Phil Cooper Hi, I'm the Phil Cooper that recorded Bonnie Earl of Livingston. Yes, I'm American. I made up the tune which was sung by Margaret Nelson and Kate Early on the recording mentioned. I heard the version recorded by Graham and Eileen Pratt. Their tune was Graham's. I was looking for a trad tune to use. I even put out a mudcat thread, which had no responses. So, I made up my own. I added a verse (she labored up, she labored down, etc), which you can trace to Prince Heathen. So, my version is totally inauthentic, but it works for me. |
13 May 11 - 09:46 PM (#3153731) Subject: RE: American versions of Child 91? From: RTim Phil - all that matters is - It's authentic to you!! Good luck. Tim Radford |
13 May 11 - 10:33 PM (#3153751) Subject: RE: American versions of Child 91? From: Phil Cooper Thanks Tim, That's what I always figured. It's just that I've seen too many scholastic sorts get too weird about sources and variants. I bring it down to "don't you actually like this stuff?" Otherwise it's too much like high school kids reciting their favorite Bible verses (don't send me down that road). |
13 May 11 - 11:12 PM (#3153760) Subject: RE: American versions of Child 91? From: Bill D It's a good version, Phil... and it's not like there were 47 OTHER versions to emulate. Why, in 150 years, it may be considered as classic! ☺ |
14 May 11 - 10:01 AM (#3153956) Subject: RE: American versions of Child 91? From: Phil Cooper Thanks, Bill. |
15 May 11 - 08:43 AM (#3154411) Subject: RE: American versions of Child 91? From: banjocircus Thanks, Phil. I enjoyed your version. It is a delightful tune and works well with the story. And if I'm looking for American variants, it'll do for that, too! Jonathan |
15 May 11 - 01:09 PM (#3154528) Subject: RE: American versions of Child 91? From: Phil Cooper Glad to be of service. |