Trad. Women's Songs

Subject: Trad. Women's Songs
From: SeanM
Date: 26 Apr 00 - 06:47 PM

OK...

I work with a group that sings and acts at Renaissance faires in California. We portray (in our special and slightly ambiguous way) traders, shore sailors, and the associated trades of a theoretically late ren England.

The dilemma is this: I'm looking for women's songs of the period, preferably things that could be taken as 'sea-related'. I've already checked out and sent on the other things from older threads, and have referred to the irish women's songs thread, but was hoping to appeal to the greater Mudcat being to hopefully give some more resources.

Vocal range is unimportant - transposition is a wonderful thing, and the person who'll actually be doing the final research and selection is very talented in tailoring ot fit. What's more important is that songs be somewhat appropriate to the theme: women's songs, not too jarringly non-period (lyrically or stylisticly), and hopefully Public Domain.

Here's to hoping the 'cat can provide...

Sean

Subject: RE: Trad. Women's Songs
From: SeanM
Date: 26 Apr 00 - 06:48 PM

Sorry for the double post. Please post to this thread... hopefully Joe or his Elves (tm) will axe the other one...

M

Subject: RE: Trad. Women's Songs
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 26 Apr 00 - 07:57 PM

Don't know if the sea shanty thread would be of any help or not...Another source might be the Bodleian Library of Broadside Ballads click here

Where in California???

SingsIrish Songs

Subject: RE: Trad. Women's Songs
From: Alice
Date: 26 Apr 00 - 08:25 PM

Several years ago on the Mudcat, we had a series of virtual song circle threads... long before the time of "hearme". I remember asking at the time if we could somehow actually hear each other on the internet, and the response was something like it was a long way in the future... Anyway, here's a link to the women's song circles, where you may be able to glean a few.
Women's Song Circle click here
Women's Song Circle II click here

Alice Flynn

Subject: RE: Trad. Women's Songs
From: SeanM
Date: 26 Apr 00 - 10:14 PM

Our group will be at various locations in Southern California, soonest will be San Diego Faire over Memorial Day weekend. And thanks, Alice. I'm trying to convince the person that this is going to be forwarded to that joining is good... this'll help

M

Subject: RE: Trad. Women's Songs
From: SeanM
Date: 27 Apr 00 - 12:56 AM

OK... further poser to keep the thread going...

How about songs along the line of "Maid on the Shore" where the sailors are shown up by the women? I'd consider "Sandshark" to be of this ilk, even though it's not female specific.

M

Subject: RE: Trad. Women's Songs
From: Lanfranc
Date: 27 Apr 00 - 07:13 PM

One tip you migh find useful - any song that starts "As I roved out on a May morning.... " or similar is often a device for a man to sing a song which is from a woman's viewpoint. cf "Geordie", "My Husband's got no courage in him", "Bushes and Briars".

Just might give you a few leads.

Subject: RE: Trad. Women's Songs
From: GUEST,Lorraine
Date: 28 Apr 00 - 07:07 AM

All the transvestite songs- women going to sea as men Little cabin boy, willy taylor...or crafty womans song where she steals the gentleman horse. Good luck

Subject: RE: Trad. Women's Songs
From: GUEST,Aldus
Date: 28 Apr 00 - 07:38 AM

Lorraine, why ever would you refer to these as "transvestite" songs.....?I am extraordinarily curious about the logic of this...

Subject: RE: Trad. Women's Songs
From: MMario
Date: 28 Apr 00 - 08:56 AM

probably because the main plot lines are women cross-dressing and masquarading as men...

Subject: RE: Trad. Women's Songs
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 28 Apr 00 - 12:11 PM

Found in the DT WEARY CUTTERS is a hauntingly lovely song from the women's point of view.

Subject: RE: Trad. Women's Songs
From: GUEST,aldus
Date: 28 Apr 00 - 12:29 PM

I am aware of what the gist of the songs is..however..women who wished to experience a broader world often had ni choice but to adopt the persona of men...this is hardly a clinical definition of a transvestite....is it ? I am just curious, that's all.

Subject: RE: Trad. Women's Songs
From: Ferrara
Date: 28 Apr 00 - 06:07 PM

Well, we have a friend who loves songs about women in men's clothing ("... and a lady fell in love with me and I told her I'se a maid, and she went in to me officer and me secret she betrayed..." ) and she fondly refers to them as transvestite songs. I suspect Lorraine just used the term because our friend uses it all the time. No clinical implications, just that cross-dressing is cross-dressing whatever the motive. In them days, it took a certain kind of woman to wear men's clothes, usually a pretty gutsy and adventurous woman. Women sometimes did it for the freedom it gave them.

("I'll tie back my hair, men's clothing I'll put on, I'll pass as your comrade as we march along....")

The idea always appealed to me, maybe because it was a symbol of freedom and adventure. My favorite book in my teens was "Captain from Castile," where the heroine sells herself to a bandit to save her sweetheart from the Inquisition; then when the bandit treats her badly, she stabs him, runs away and joins the army, and finally marries the original sweetheart, the son of a Spanish nobleman. Now there's a heroine. Nothing wishy washy about her! Seems to me she wore men's clothes because skirts didn't work very well when she was on horseback with the army.

Subject: RE: Trad. Women's Songs
From: harpgirl
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 02:06 PM

refresh for Kathryn of "Women Outlaw" thread.