The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #111326   Message #2600467
Posted By: Thomas Stern
30-Mar-09 - 11:49 AM
Thread Name: John Runge - need biographical information
Subject: RE: John Runge - need biographical information
Nearly a year later, and input from many sources have contributed to the all too brief outline, along with discography copied below.
If anyone has recollections of hearing him, or can fill in any details, I'd appreciate hearing from you. THANKS!
Best wishes, Thomas.



John Charles Runge (London, DD MMM 1914- xxxx, DD MMM 1986)
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1927 Charterhouse School
    music studies under Dr.T.P.Fielden

19xx Trinity College, Oxford University   M.A., L.R.A.M.
    - primary studies in Physics
    continues musical education harmony and composition under Dr. R.O.Morris;                                          conducting under Dr.Reginald Jacques

1938 began career as schoolmaster and physicist, taught Physics and Chemistry.

    studied singing under Dr.Arnold Smith at the Royal College of Music.

1939-1946 WW2 - Major, Royal Signals, signals officer and code-breaker in Italy
    - studied singing in Florence
    - recitals on Italian radio
    - sang at least one Italian opera company whilst relaxing from front line duties.

1946 resumed career as schoolmaster
    - taught in Portsmouth and
       at Dartmouth Naval College

1951-1961 Sherborne School, Dorset.

    performing in the UK, Italy and Germany.

1951 first BBC appearance as singer-guitarist
    frequent broadcasts in England, Germany, and concert hall recitals

1951, March 31: Blandford Corn Exchange/ Gillingham County Secondary School:
   programmes with words for two choral concerts
   presented by the Dorset Music Council
   with the vocalists John Runge (March), Rosamund Strode (April) and    Alan Bailey (both), conducted by Cecil Cope.

c.1954-1955 performance at Malverne College

1955, March 31: Red Maid's School, Bristol.
   with Marjorie WESTBURY (soprano)

1956 exchange instructor at Exeter Academy, Exeter, New Hampshire 1 year
    exchange with Richard Brinckerhoff, who will take Mr.Runge's place
      at Sherborne School, Dorset.


    touring as a singer/guitarist

1961-xxxx taught in Rome for a period

xxxx taught in Richmond, Virginia
       he introduced an annual 9 carol service along the lines of that
       from King's College, Cambridge.


1964, APRIL 18, 1964 (New York Times Music Notes)
    John Runge, folk singer and guitarist, Kossuth Hall, tonight at 8:30


19xx-1986 taught at Sevenoaks school until his death.
      One of the pupils there was Emma Johnson ,now an international clarinet soloist,       whom I believe he helped coach in "stage presence" before she won the Young            Musician of the Year competition which launched her career.
      Her win inspired him in his late 60s to play the clarinet which he taught             himself to do, at least to my untutored ear, with considerable success.



PUBLICATIONS
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Three 17th Century Airs. Arranged by J. Runge. For high voice and guitar.
[No. 1.] Caccini. Amarilli.
[No. 2.] Monteverdi. Lasciatemi morire.
[No. 3.] Anon. Have you seene but a whyte Lillie grow?
Schott & Co (1956) UK, 5 pages


John Runge's Collection - Early English Lute Songs and Folk Songs;
With Guitar Accompaniments in the Style of the Period;
Chord Charts & Fingering Explanations.
                         Vols. I, II, III, IV                           
Hargail Music Press, N.Y., 1959 - 1966.


RUNGE, JOHN: ITALIAN SONGS OF THE RENAISSANCE AND BAROQUE PERIODS.
ORIGINALLY COMPOSED FOR LUTE, 5-STRING GUITAR AND CLAVICEMBALO.
TRANSCRIBED WITH ENGLISH VERSIONS FOR MODERN CONCERT-GUITAR.
HARGAIL MUSIC PRESS, NY, COPYRIGHT 1965.
Testo italiano-inglese. Prefazione bilingue di John Runge. Cm.31x23,5. Pg.36.


John Runge's Songbox for Children of all Ages:
With Guitar Accompaniment, Chord Chart and Fingering Explanations.
New York, N.Y. Hargail Music Press, Harold Newman, Publisher. [©1961].
Includes chord-letter chart and fingering explanations. For guitar and vocal. Cover illustration by Jenny Lewis. Printed in Holland. Includes a list of further books in the series on the rear wrapper. Cover-title.
Description: 1 score (16 p.) 17 x 24 cm.



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DISCOGRAPHY
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78rpm
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Paraclete Music Disc, recorded in England
John Runge - Tenor
53 A I Heard A Linnet Courting (H.Ian Parrott)
53 B A Prayer To St.Anthony of Padua
          Sick Heart
          (Peter Warlock)


Golden Chords GC104                12"-78RPM (Christian music)
I Got A Robe       John Runge
I'm Travellin' On   Brian Winter & Bryan Gilbert        




Archival recordings
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Folktrax (Peter Kennedy collection)

MAID FREED FROM THE GALLOWS, THE - "Hold up your hand, dear Judge" Ch: "O the Prickle Holly Bush that pricks my heart so sore" - CHILD #95 - ROUD#144
Marjorie WESTBURY (soprano), John RUNGE (tenor) & choir of The Red Maids School
John RUNGE (tenor) & choir of The Red Maids School Bristol
in an arrangement by Francis Collinson of Lucas's song rec 31/3/55: RPL 21750

SWEET NIGHTINGALE, THE - "My sweetheart come along - don't you hear the fond song?" - ROUD#371 - ARNE'S Opera "Thomas & Sally" 1761 - DIXON SP 1846 & BELL SP 1857 pp247-250
Marjorie WESTBURY (soprano), John RUDGE (tenor) & choir of Red Maids School, Bristol, in an arrangement by Francis Collinson rec 31/3/55: RPL 21750

The Red Maids' School
Registered office: Westbury Road
                         Westbury-on-Trym
                         Bristol BS9 3AW



British Sound Archive


The sweet nightingale
    Westbury, Marjorie (singer, female)
246:    : The sweet nightingale
702:    : Westbury, Marjorie|c(singer, female)
702:    : Runge, John|c(singer, male)
702:    : Fairfield Grammer School Choir|c(chorus)
702:    : unidentified|c(orchestra)
702:    : Redman, Reginald,|b1892-1972|c(conductor)
490:    : Russell Wortley Collection
631:    : England
633:    : English folk songs and music
260:    : |c1958 [broadcast]
551:    : England
506:    : Roud Folk Song Index No. 371
528:    : Diana Hillman
707:    : Wortley, Russell [copy]
509:    : Part of a BBC Home Service programme
509:    : recording levels vary, distortion.
087:    : C777/7
087:    : 1CDR0011169
087:    : 2CDR0009969

The roving kind [The fire ship]
    Westbury, Marjorie (singer, female)
246:    : The roving kind [The fire ship]
702:    : Westbury, Marjorie|c(singer, female)
702:    : Runge, John|c(singer, male)
702:    : BBC West of England Singers|c(chorus)
702:    : unidentified|c(orchestra)
702:    : Redman, Reginald,|b1892-1972|c(conductor)
490:    : Russell Wortley Collection
631:    : England
633:    : English folk songs and music
260:    : |c1958 [broadcast]
551:    : England
506:    : Roud Folk Song Index No. 8344
528:    : Diana Hillman
707:    : Wortley, Russell [copy]
509:    : Part of a BBC Home Service programme
509:    : recording levels vary
087:    : C777/7
087:    : 1CDR0011169
087:    : 2CDR0009969

The Prickety bush
    Westbury, Marjorie (singer, female)
246:    : The Prickety bush
702:    : Westbury, Marjorie|c(singer, female)
702:    : Runge, John|c(singer, male)
702:    : BBC West of England Singers|c(chorus)
702:    : Fairfield Grammer School Choir|c(chorus)
702:    : unidentified|c(orchestra)
702:    : Redman, Reginald,|b1892-1972|c(conductor)
490:    : Russell Wortley Collection
631:    : England
633:    : English folk songs and music
260:    : |c1958 [broadcast]
551:    : England
506:    : Roud Folk Song Index No. 144
506:    : Child Ballad No. 95
506:    : NB. Russell Wortley had noted with regards to this recording: 'Desmond Hawkins & Francis Collinson / recording of Charlie Lucas - Dorset hurdle-maker / (about 19)' suggesting that this arrangement is from that source, (though Charlie Lucas was from Sixpenny Handley, Wiltshire, and his version was callled 'The maid freed from the gallows'.
506:    : This is probably an arrangement by Francis Collinson.
528:    : Diana Hillman
707:    : Wortley, Russell [copy]
509:    : Part of a BBC Home Service programme
509:    : over recorded
087:    : C777/7
087:    : 1CDR0011169
087:    : 2CDR0009969





LP's
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STINSON SLP 88                               12"-LP   
ENGLISH FOLK SONGS JOHN RUNGE
(John Runge Sings Traditional English Folk Songs)
insert notes by John Runge
A1 Geordie
A2 The Oyster Girl
A3 I Will Give My Love an Apple
A4 Joe the Carrier Lad
A5 Sylvie
A6 The Lincolnshire Poacher
A7 Poor Old Horse
A8 Early One Morning
A9 Turmut Hoein'
A10 Black is the Color

B1 The Plymouth Maid's Lament
B2 The Tailor and the Mouse
B3 Oh The Oak and the Ash
B4 Lord Rendall
B5 The Barley Mow
B6 Topsy-Turvey Land
B7 There Were Three Crows
B8 Counting Sheep
B9 The Mouse, The Frog and the Little Red Hen
B10 Michael Finnegan
B11 The Pigtail




RIVERSIDE RLP 12-814                12"-LP
A Concert of English Folk Songs
Sung by JOHN RUNGE accompanying himself on guitar
Edited and notes by Kenneth S. Goldstein
The Singer Views his Art by John Runge
[Riverside Specialty Series]

A1 Little Sir William
A2 Old Daddy Fox
A3 Poor Old Horse
A4 The Foggy Dew
A5 Turmut Hoein'
A6 The Lady and the Swine
A7 Joe, the Carrier Lad
A8 Sylvie
A9 The Three Crows
B1 The Mermaid
B2 The Water Is Wide
B3 Barley Mow
B4 I Will Give My Love an Apple
B5 Sucking Cider Through a Straw
B6 Geordie
B7 The Clucking Hen
B8 Soldier, Soldier
B9 Star, News, Standard


Riverside Wonderland 1425
V.A.: Folk Songs From The Children's Zoo
John Runge
- Poor Old Horse


RIVERSIDE RLP 12-817 MAN IS FOR THE WOMAN MADE             12"-LP
Man is for the Woman made and other songs from England's Golden Age
WASHINGTON    VM 735 ENGLISH FOLK SONGS OLD AND OLDER       12"-LP
sung and played by JOHN RUNGE
Recorded in New York, June, 1957
Produced by Kenneth S. Goldstein
Program and biographical notes, in part by Kenneth S. Goldstein


Some listings include the following titles:
   If music be the food of love (Colonel Heveningham-Purcell)
   When Laura smiles ;
   Follow thy fair sunne
   Greensleeves (anonymous)
   Bryng us in good ale (anonymous)
   Since I first saw your face (Thomas Ford)


A Elisabethan Songs
1 Man is for the woman made (John Motteux-Henry Purcell)
2 Come Again, Sweet Love Doth Invite (John Dowland)
3 Never weather-beaten saile (Thomas Campian)
4 I Care Not for These Ladies
5 Willow song (anonymous)
6 The Cypress Curtain of the Night
7 Fill me a bowl (John Oldham-John Blow)
8 Have you seene but a whyte lillie grow (Ben Jonson-anonymous)
B Folk Songs
1 Old Daddy Fox
2 Sylvie
3 The Foggy Dew
4 Turmut Hoein'
5 Poor Old Horse
6 Geordie
7 Joe, the Carrier Lad
8 I Will Give My Love an Apple
9 The Barley Mow


MELODISC (UK) EPM 7-64                                     7"-45rpm EP ps
English Minstrel Songs sung by John Runge
unsigned notes: The Folk Songs of John Runge
A1 Old Daddy Fox
A2 Come Again Sweet Love
A3 Man is For The Woman Made
B1 Foggy Dew
B2 Soldier, Soldier
B3 Have You Seen But A White Lily Grown        



SMC PRO-ARTE SMC-1076                                     12-LP
folksongs of the English Countryside & children's songs
sung by john Runge, with his guitar
recording by Gabriel Oller
[front cover: photo of Runge in jester costume, surrounded by children,
             notes & program list]
A1 THE BANKS OF THE SWEET PRIMEROSES
    THE OAK AND THE ASH
A2 THE MEAD
    MISS BAILEY'S GHOST
    THE WILD ROVER
A3 LORD RENDAL
    FLOWERS AND WEEDS
    THE LINCOLNSHIRE POACHER
B1 CIGARETTE SYD AND SNUFFBOX SUE
    TOPSY-TURVY LAND
    COUNTING SHEEP
B2 THE TUNE THE OLD COW DIED ON
    MICHAEL FINNEGAN
    THE MOUSE, THE FROG, AND THE LITTLE RED HEN
B3 THE TAILOR AND THE MOUSE
    I BOUGHT ME A CAT
    OI BE A FARMER BOY





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Anthony Runge (nephew):
"His repertoire extending from the 16th century to Burl Ives via Victorian Music Hall and Flamenco tunes learnt while staying with the Gipsies in the caves at Granada.
He sang in many languages and most of the UK's regional dialects.
Music was important in his life but his real love was teaching.
He broadcast regularly with the BBC from Bristol and I remember my father (his elder brother) asking him if he had considered making music his full-time occupation.
His reply was that if he did so , it would not be possible to continue teaching and was therefore out of the question."



Oscar Brand
notes to AUDIO FIDELITY AFLP 1952 BAWDY GOES TO COLLEGE      c.1960
Bawdy Songs Goes To College [ca. 1960]

DRINKS ALL 'ROUND (DENVER)
The melody and many of the words were supplied by John Runge,.but the cement which finally made the song possible for recording was applied by a School of Mines student backstage at Denver's "Exodus" Club. The song has a sneaky way of avoiding the nasty words expected of it which reminds one of "The Clean Song" (Vol. V, 1884) and "Sweet Violets" (Vol. IV, 1847).

THE DUCHESS AND THE STUDENT (OXFORD)
This is a contemporary version of the ancient song, "The Jolly Tinker" (Volume 3, AFLP 1824), with a new approach provided by England's John Runge. In the old days, the Tinker or Gypsy was ascribed miraculous sexual prowess. In fact, the word "glamour" comes from a Romany technique for making men irresistible. In the new song, probably because of wishful thinking, a student is the hero.




Paul Tracey - The Wandering Minstrel
"When I was a teenager, teaching myself to play guitar from a book, a man called John Runge gave an assembly at my school and blew me away with his skillful playing and singing.
I thought to myself,
"Oh no! I'll never be that good. I might as well give up right now."
But I also thought,
"Look what you can do if you set your mind to it!"
John Runge's inspiring performance has been behind my whole career.
I love performing for children, because I know that if I can do it well enough, I can inspire others like John Runge inspired me."

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