Yes; Sharp published the full text as he had it from Mr. Sparks, except for the final line of the refrain, which (pesumably to make better sense?) he changed to A maiden I will die, though his source had actually sung My maiden name shall die.
Transferred from a related thread.
-Joe Offer-
30-Nov-01 - 09:10 AM (#600867)
Subject: Two Magicians
From: robinia
Does anyone know when A.L. Lloyd reinvented "The Two Magicians," i.e., when he adapted the long unsung Buchan text (the only one Child gives for this ballad, without any tune of course) to a new tune? I assume it was around the 60's but would like more info.... And does anyone know English Folk-Songs for Schools (coll. and arr. by Gould and Sharp; Curwen, London)? I'm trying to date this tattered paperback (from which I learned the Sharp version of the same ballad) and can only tell, from the dedication that it was during the reign of George V...
The following post by robinia was copied from a duplicate thread. It has some additional information. --JoeClone
I 'm guessing it was around the 60's when A.L. Lloyd adapted the long unsung "Buchan text" (the only one that Child gives for "The Twa Magicians") to a new tune. Can anyone give me more info on this, like a more precise date for starters? Also, does anyone know when my tattered English Folk-Songs for Schools (coll. and arr. by Gould and Sharp; Curwen & Sons, London) might have been published? I know it was pre-1936, and Bronsen tells me that the Sharp tune and text to "The Two Magicians," which I first learned here, dates from 1905 .... I know how nitty-picky all this must sound, but I'm working on footnotes to a controversial scholarly project -- and the old ballad is a key part of it.
30-Nov-01 - 09:39 AM (#600884)
Subject: RE: Two Magicians
From: Malcolm Douglas
The book was first published in 1905, I believe. Lloyd seems to have been as vague as usual about The Two Magicians; I don't recall ever coming across any substantive information about his treatment of it.
30-Nov-01 - 11:13 AM (#600943)
Subject: RE: Two Magicians
From: GUEST,MCP
Lloyd recorded it in 1966 so that would give you an upper limit on his version. There's a Carthy/Swarbrick live recording from 1966 also, but I'm not sure of which version. If it is the Lloyd one, you could try asking Martin Carthy.
And 1905 is the correct date for English Folk Songs For Schools (quite fast into print, as Sharp only collected the Somerset version in August 1904).
Mick
30-Nov-01 - 11:33 AM (#600952)
Subject: RE: Two Magicians
From: robinia
Thanks a bunch. Lloyd's recording date will satisfy scholars I hope (I did talk to Carthy some time ago: he was the one who told me that Lloyd was responsible for the new-old version.) And my, no wonder that old songbook of mine is fallling apart! The second posting of this thread was a goof, by the way. My apologies.....
30-Nov-01 - 12:13 PM (#600988)
Subject: RE: Two Magicians
From: Joe Offer
There is a related thread that turned into a very interesting discussion earlier this month. It's probably best to search for previous discussions on a subject, rather than starting a new thread - the discussions seem to develop better if they're not divided.
-Joe Offer-
So I transferred the other thread to here.