song on stage and screen

Subject: song on stage and screen
From: Philippa
Date: 12 Sep 99 - 03:54 PM

I'm repeating this from the musical novels thread, where it got lost in the more general topic. I'd like to hear about literature that is based expressly on a particular song.

What about novels, plays and films that are based directly on songs - and vice versa. I heard that Woody Guthrie composed "Tom Joad" after seeing the film based on the Steinbeck novel "Grapes of Wrath". And that the melodramatic ballad "Gill Morice", which is in the DT database, was staged as a play (I'd like more details).

I have more knowledge of songs in Irish and Scottish Gaelic: Ailein Duinn (in the DT) was the basis of a radio play and I think it was on the live stage also. A' Bhean Eudach (one women drowns another woman because of jealousy) and Caoinneadh Art Uí Laoghaire (widow's lament) inspired short films. An Mhaighdean Mhara was retold as a novelette by Cliodhna Cussen and is the subject of a play and arts exhibition to be staged this month by school children in Conamara.

Subject: RE: song on stage and screen
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 13 Sep 99 - 07:46 AM

Well, Bob Dylan wrote Motorpsycho Nitemare after watching Psycho ... but from the ridiculous to the sublimish, Phil Ochs wrote his Joe Hill song after seeing the film Joe Hill (good pic), which is quite a bit more informative than the old "I dreamt I saw Joe Hill last night".

Steve

Subject: RE: song on stage and screen
From: Bert
Date: 13 Sep 99 - 10:46 AM

There's Lionel Bart's musical "Maggie May"

Then, yonks ago, BBC steam radio did a couple of childrens serial adventure programs based on the songs "High Barbaree" and "Sweet Polly Oliver"

I also recall an early TV series that used the dance tune "Neopolitan Tarantella"

Wasn't there also a TV series that used the song "Lightning Tree"

And with a folk theme, but not a song, there's The movie "The Green Man" with Albert Finney.

Bert.

Subject: RE: song on stage and screen
From: Allan C.
Date: 13 Sep 99 - 01:08 PM

Jen recently told me of her favorite author, Sharyn McCrumb whose novels' titles appear to all contain phrases from such songs as:
She Walks These Hills
If Ever I Return Pretty Peggy-O
and quite a few others. I have not yet read any of them yet but will take Jen's word that they are quite good. Be sure to use the Mudcat's Amazon link if you want to try one. They currently carry at least two of McCrumb's novels.

Subject: RE: song on stage and screen
From: Llanfair
Date: 13 Sep 99 - 02:29 PM

Bert,wasn't it "Follyfoot" that used lightning tree? BTW, I hadn't realised till the radio show that you're British, or your accent appears to be from this side of the Atlantic. A southerner, though, south of the Wash!!!!Hwyl, Bron.

Subject: RE: song on stage and screen
From: Philippa (copying from IrTrad-L archives)
Date: 17 Sep 99 - 07:18 PM

Casadh an tSugain was retold by Yeats in an often anthologized short story,"The Twisting of the Rope," which "provided the basis for the first modern Gaelic play, Douglas Hyde's 'Casadh an tSugain', performed in Dublin in1901" (Ben Forker, "Modern Irish Short Stories")

Subject: RE: song on stage and screen
From: John Hindsill
Date: 17 Sep 99 - 08:45 PM

PBS just finished showing the mini-series "Oliver's Travels", Britain 1995. In the final episode was heard a beautiful flute solo of 'The Water is Wide,' in addition to much great jazz.---John