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Anti Henrietta o Chicago
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Anti Henrietta o Chicago |
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Subject: RE: Anti Henrietta o Chicago From: GUEST,Richard Date: 14 May 10 - 11:59 AM I would just like to Confirm in the memory of my farther who was a member of a Welsh foulk group who recorded this song allmost fifty years ago by now. Hogia Llandygai. they were regurlarly holding the top spot in the welsh hit parade all those years ago and can still be heard on the Welsh language radio today. |
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Subject: RE: Anti Henrietta o Chicago From: sian, west wales Date: 24 Apr 07 - 04:37 PM OK - I just wrote a really long reply to Joe - and it disappeared on 'send'! So .. as I was saying ... Yes, Welsh aunts in Chicago. Lots of Welsh in Chicago. Used to be (possibly still is) a Welsh Church in Chicago. Seems to me that the Welsh Gorsedd Circle (the Druid Bards) held their ceremony there in the World Fair ... or something like. Pretty much everyone in Wales has an aunty, or uncle or sister or 3rd cousin in North America somewhere. Used to drive me mad when I first moved to Wales. Everyone: "Oh! You're from Canada ! Do you know my cousin in Texas???!!" I got interviewed a lot when I first moved here because people couldn't figure out why someone would want to reverse-emigrate, and I wish I had a nickle for everytime they introduced the interview with "Anti Henrietta" - Arrghhh! Cymanfa = gathering, convocation; canu = singing; cymanfa ganu = a singing (of hymns) gathering. Chris can advise what hymn book is used but my guess would be the North American Cymanfa Ganu hymnal. There are at least two big perapatetic cymanfaoedd canu (plural) - one travels around all of North America (annual event, Labour Day) and the other tours Ontario (spring). There are city based ones - apparently Beaver Creek, and also Toronto, Utica, and ???? I think there might be one in California somewhere. The Toronto one is at Dewi Sant Welsh United Church every Good Friday, which is a traditional time for cymanfaoedd canu. If you do not speak Welsh, you can arrive 45 minutes early and they'll teach you the phonetics to be able to join in the hymns (usually half the verses of each hymn are in English anyway). A guy who was in school with me, with no Welsh connections, found out about these events via his Competitive Scrabble partner who is a Welsh Jew, and attends 'religiously'. He is now hooked. It's easy-peasy to pick up the phonetics, and the singing is powerful stuff - 4 part congregational singing with Big Finishes and great tenor runs - so if you have a chance to get to one, go, Joe. Maybe Chris knows if there if there's a website listing cymanfaoedd canu in N. Am? (Ninnau, maybe, Chris?) sian |
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Subject: RE: Anti Henrietta o Chicago From: Joe Offer Date: 24 Apr 07 - 04:10 PM So, I'm guessing the song is written in Welsh - there are Welsh aunts in Chicago? They sound like the stereotypical ethnic Chicago aunts ofm Polish and Serbian and Italian and Jewish and a jillion other ancestries. The song is a real kick. So, what's a Gymanfa session? I may have to head up to Oregon for this! -Joe in Colfax, California-
I'm going to post the words from the link, just to ensure they don't get lost if the link dies.
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Subject: RE: Anti Henrietta o Chicago From: sian, west wales Date: 24 Apr 07 - 04:10 PM Glad to help, Chris. I'm sure you'll have a most excellent time! sian |
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Subject: RE: Anti Henrietta o Chicago From: Chris in Portland Date: 24 Apr 07 - 03:59 PM Sian - thanks a lot for the information. Music like this will be between Gymanfa sessions on 6/24 at Bryn Seion Church in beautiful Beaver Creek, Oregon. Chris |
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Subject: RE: Anti Henrietta o Chicago From: sian, west wales Date: 24 Apr 07 - 04:52 AM I'd be very surprised if it WAS in the Traditional Ballad Index! (But tickled pink.) I think it has been performed by a number of groups, but probably originally composed for Bois y Frenni, a men's 'party' or small choir in North Pembrokeshire. Re: the tune at the link, that's "Rally round the Flag" or "Marching Through Georgia" yes? (I'm not sure of the title.) If you've heard the recording, I guess you understand that it's a bit inaccurate to use the tune 'straight up' as it were. It's been adapted for 'Anti Henrietta'. W. R. Evans wrote the words, and he was a north Pembrokeshire poet - around Crymych I think. He wrote a lot of stuff along these lines and I have one of his "slim volumes" published in 1940. Some great comic stuff including "Lord Ho Ho", "Y Gas Mask" and "Ffarwel Sospan". I won't translate, as they're pretty obvious, particularly if you remember that these are from the early war years. A good number of them are written to tunes which would have been popular ones of the day - Community Song Book and music hall stuff. Many which we would consider 'American' - "Little Brown Jug", "Oh Susannah", "John Brown's Body" - something which is a tradition in itself in maritime Wales. Gomer Press republished some of his work in Cerddi Bois y Frenni a few years - with a forward by poet Dic Jones. Anyway, the words: I have an aunty who lives across the sea, Aunty Henrietta from Chicago; And when she comes to us on a vist, I'm afraid to see her, sure enough, Aunty Henrietta from Chicago. Chorus; A fine old lady she is, remember, A kind old lady, full of fun and sport and spree, But when she comes to visit us, I try to stay away from Aunty Henrietta from Chicago Henrietta never says, "How are you," or "Hello" … But plants a smacker of a kiss to each of the family in turn … (Chorus) It would be better if she just said, "So long now" or "Good-bye" … And believe me or not – but I get all shy. (Chorus) When she gives me a kiss I shut my eyes tight … And when she's finished I pretend to call the dog** (Chorus) She really slaps on the lipstick, like every woman cutting a dash; There will be red spots under my nose mixed up in my moustache. (Chorus) It's horrible to be kissed when you're in a crowd But that's just the way Aunty is, I make her quite proud … (chorus) No matter what I'm wearing, rags or corduroy, Aunty will give me a big kiss, saying, "Lovely boy" And even though she gives me cigarettes galore I still give thanks for the great Atlantic, and the vast distances of the ocean. (Chorus) When I take her to catch the train, to the station in the trap, In front of the guard and all the swanks, she gives me a kiss – slap! (Chorus) It would be a blessing if she would just find herself a husband And give all her soft molly-coddling to him, across the sea (Chorus) (**well: literally 'bitch', but I don't think there's a double reference intended; not sure what the reference is, actually, but it may be something idiomatic which I just don't get) Hope that helps. sian |
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Subject: RE: Anti Henrietta o Chicago From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 23 Apr 07 - 03:02 PM It translates as Auntie Henrietta from Chicago. Not in Traditional Ballad Index. On the cd Goreuon Hogia Llandegai- The Best of Hogia Llandegai available from www.acenstore.co.uk/products/?c=10 Would like to see a translation. |
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Subject: Anti Henrietta o Chicago From: Chris in Portland Date: 23 Apr 07 - 02:48 PM Sian or others - do you know the history of this song? I may be doing it for our Gymanfa tea, and would like to tell the folks where it came from. The melody - obviously - is the Battle Cry of Freedom. its here - Anti Henrietta Diolch, Chris |
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