The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #42549   Message #621804
Posted By: Deckman
05-Jan-02 - 08:59 PM
Thread Name: Ballad of the Merry Ferry -songs of the Northwest
Subject: RE: Ballad of the Merry Ferry (Pacific NW)
I just picked up my guitar and plucked out the tune, as written. I don't have the ability right now to post the score, but perhaps soon. This is not a tune I recognise. I would also add that I don't even think it's very tuneful at all. I suspect a couple of things: This tune happened on paper because someone that this was a nice melody ... I do feel that you could sing these words to any number of traditional tunes that 'felt right.! Many, many of the NorthWest ballads, especially the songs from the woods, had almost no melody. By that I mean, they were almost dirges, sung to the same five notes as every other song the itinerant worker knew. Many of these songs could almost be sung as a chant. This is NOT to disparage all North West ballad melodies, as some of the are quite melodic and beautiful, but this ain't one of them! CHEERS, Bob