Help: 18th century work/harvest/waulking song

Subject: 18th century work/harvest/waulking songs
From: Kim C
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 11:19 AM

Mister and I have been charged with entertaining/educating a group of children, probably ages 3-9 or thereabouts, for 30 minutes at our local 18th century fort. At present I don't know what recordings I may have in my collection that would be appropriate... can anyone offer suggestions or point me in the right direction? It's not till the end of October so we have time to learn some new things.

Thanks----

Kim

Subject: RE: Help: 18th century work/harvest/waulking song
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 11:42 AM

I would start with Lesley Nelson's Popular Songs in American History. It takes a little while to download but is well worth the wait.

This sounds like a fun gig. Let us know what you choose and how it goes, please?

kat

Subject: RE: Help: 18th century work/harvest/waulking song
From: Kim C
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 11:48 AM

Thanks kat, I am going to go check that out. :-)

Subject: RE: Help: 18th century work/harvest/waulking song
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 12:49 PM

Try the Library of Congress folk music indices.

Subject: RE: Help: 18th century work/harvest/waulking song
From: MMario
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 02:30 PM

there's a churning song here in both english and gaelic. - also a gaelic waulking song.

Subject: RE: Help: 18th century work/harvest/waulking song
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 02:39 PM

Are you looking for songs from a particular language/region? Waulking songs are all in Scots Gaelic, so wouldn't be part of the 18th century American folk canon.

Work and harvest songs from where in the 18th century? US? Canada? Northwest England?

Subject: RE: Help: 18th century work/harvest/waulking song
From: MMario
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 03:12 PM

Unless there was a immigrant who spoke gaelic (which is very possible for just about anywhere in the US.in the 1700's)

Subject: RE: Help: 18th century work/harvest/waulking song
From: Kim C
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 03:20 PM

I don't speak Gaelic so maybe that is not such a good idea for the kids! The people who built the original fort, around 1779, were of German and English extraction. So pretty much anything from the British Isles would be fair game. (were there not fullers and weavers who weren't Scottish?) Sadly I don't speak German either, but since it is the language of my forefathers, this might be a good excuse to learn some...

Subject: RE: Help: 18th century work/harvest/waulking song
From:
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 08:00 PM

There would have been fullers in just about any language group which had wool to work with. (Probably all)

With a bit of research, some of that material should be available, but unfortunately I don't know much about those. Scottish Gaelic is the one language which seems to be reknown for this type of work song into the 20th century.

I'm sure other cultures such as Italian, Afghani, Greek, Ukranian, to name a few, would be able to find some in those languages.

Subject: RE: Help: 18th century work/harvest/waulking song
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 09:43 PM

There was a waulking song mentioned just the other day - Jean Ritchie posted part of a song here (click). I put waulking in the Digitrad and Forum search box and came up with lots of other stuff.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Help: 18th century work/harvest/waulking song
From: masato sakurai
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 10:54 PM

Some worksongs, though seemingly not of the kind you are asking for, are recorded in the following CDs. They are all released by Rounder.

(1) Wake Up Dead Man: Black Convict Worksongs from Texas Prisons
(2) Prison Songs, 2 vols.
(3) The Land Where the Blues Began [Video]
(4) Railroad Songs and Ballads [track-lining chants]
(5) Afro-American Spirituals, Work Songs, and Ballads
(6) Negro Work Songs and Calls

Subject: RE: Help: 18th century work/harvest/waulking song
From: masato sakurai
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 11:07 PM

I made a mistake. Prison Songs CDs are here.

Subject: RE: Help: 18th century work/harvest/waulking song
From: MMario
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 08:21 AM

I found some lithiuanian work songs and milling songs, etc - but don't suppose those would do either.

Subject: RE: Help: 18th century work/harvest/waulking song
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 10:47 AM

I think Anglo American folk songs are likely your best bet, considering your limited knowledge of the era and the age of your audience. Probably doesn't matter what era the songs are from, does it? I'm only guessing of course, based upon what you asked for--are you looking for work songs because that is the subject/focus of your presentation?

Subject: RE: Help: 18th century work/harvest/waulking song
From: Kim C
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 11:55 AM

GUEST - 18th century, because this is an 18th century historic site, a reconstruction of a fort built by a longhunter named Kaspar Mansker. Work/harvest songs because the event takes place at harvest time. Something kids can do, because the kids come early in the day and participate in different activities and get awards & stuff.

I have ordered the work songs CDs from the Topic Records Voice of the People collection.

Thanks for your responses.

Subject: RE: Help: 18th century work/harvest/waulking song
From: The Walrus at work
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 01:16 PM

If the kids are participating in various activities (including a "harvest"?) you try ending with "The Harvest Home"(or is that 19th C?)

Regards

Walrus

Subject: RE: Help: 18th century work/harvest/waulking song
From: Kim C
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 01:22 PM

Is that the same as the fiddle tune? If so, I believe that counts. Does it have words? I didn't know!

Subject: RE: Help: 18th century work/harvest/waulking song
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 01:50 PM

The Topic recording you've ordered is fantastic--a real gem.

But I have to say, I find your choice a bit odd in terms of historic authenticity (if that is in fact what you are aiming for). For children, there are many well known American folk songs you could use (Turkey in the Straw being one of the first to immediately spring to mind).

With the wealth of information available on CD and in collections on early American folk songs, particularly in Appalachia, the American South, etc. I find it hard to believe there aren't any American sources of music you can easily find to fit both your regional and timeframe needs.

Rounder Records, Smithsonian Folkways, Library of Congress, etc. all have pretty extensive holdings on the subject.

In light of all that, I find it quite strange that you've ordered a work song CD from Britain. But then, that's me.

Subject: RE: Help: 18th century work/harvest/waulking song
From: Kim C
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 02:05 PM

Let's see, in 1779, a lot of the songs being sung in this country were of European origin, seeing as how people were still emigrating and all that. If you know of some distinctly American work/harvest songs of the period, I'm all ears. Most of what I find that can be labeled "American" is 19th century, and too late for this particular purpose.

Subject: RE: Help: 18th century work/harvest/waulking song
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 02:16 PM

Kim, I'm really not meaning to be disrespectful but, did you know the Topic VOTP series (which includes "There is a Man Upon a Farm" and "Come All my Lads that Follow the Plough" CDs) are 20th century recordings? In other words, there isn't any documentation with the CDs which would support these songs being sung in the 18th century in Britain, much less frontier America?

Subject: RE: Help: 18th century work/harvest/waulking song
From: Kim C
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 02:37 PM

Recordings are a good place to start. What I usually do is, if I hear a song I like, I do the research on it if there are no accompanying notes. I wanted to buy those CDs anyhow so this was as good an excuse as any. :-) Now, I have one or two others from that collection, and I thought they had a few notes with them, but offhand I don't recall.

All the settlers at Mansker's Fort were run out or killed by Indians and we have no record of the songs they actually sang, but as I said, it's 1779, and just about anything written before that in English is fair game. Gaelic would be all right too if I were more familiar with it and had an older group of kids.

Subject: RE: Help: 18th century work/harvest/waulking song
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 07 May 26 - 09:42 AM

Nice selection of songs and a bit of chat :

The Waulking Show - Coorie Doon Radio
[Originally from Scotland but now recording in Newfoundland]
12th March 2026

www.mixcloud.com/CoorieDoonRadio/the-waulking-show-coorie-doon-radio-12th-march-2026/


Tracklist :
1. Kathleen MacInnes — Dh'erich Mi Moch Madainn Cheitein
2. Tommy MacDonald — O a Hu A, Nighean Dubh, Nighean Donn
3. Laura Jane Wilkie — The Sailor Has Good Chat
4. Mary Jane Lamond — A Mhòrag’s na Horo Gheallaidh
5. Plan 8 — Waulking O The Fauld
6. TRÚ — Gaol Ise Gaol I
7. Aly Bain & Tom Anderson — Auld Swaara
8. Na Siaraich — Horo 'S Tu Mo Chuachag (You Are My Darling)
9. Laura Jane Wilkie — Lift Up My Love
10. Whistlebinkies — Tha Mulad Tha Mulad
11. Annie McNeill, Mary Johnston, Rachel Mcloud & Annie Johnstone — Dandling Songs, Spinning Song and Waulking Songs, Pt. 2
12. Kim Carnie — Hòro Bhodachain
13. Mary Johnston and group — Two waulking songs (1951)
13. Catherine-Ann MacPhee — S Fliuch An Oidhch

www.instagram.com/p/DVyXN9FD2jQ/