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) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
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.
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
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
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
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."