The music of Bagpuss

Subject: The music of Bagpuss
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 09:15 AM

Well, I looked for one and was very surprised that it was not there! How come we have not previously discussed the music of the UK classic kids TV series "Bagpuss".

I was looking for the mice 'we can fix it' song in answer to the usual silly 'we need it by tomorrow' comment and was pointed at this wonderful site with lots of information and music clips, including the one I wanted:-)

The music was by Sandra Kerr and John Faulkner. The album was put out by Topic and, apart from the nostalgia of the Kids TV series, it has some realy good trad and contemporary music.

I haven't trawled the rest of the site yet but guess what may be on the agenda on this wet Friday afternoon;-)

Enjoy:-)

Dave

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 09:22 AM

Doesn't sound likely to have been a Topic album, certainly not listed on the Topic Discography at Musical Traditions.

The CD is available at Amazon listed as in stock but states it's an unknown label

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 09:23 AM

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 09:30 AM

My apologies - It was Fellside! I always mix up the two:-( If you look at the link, Kevin, you will see that it is not an 'unkown label'. Fancy Amazon not knowing. Tsk, tsk...

:D

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 09:35 AM

Ah but they are cheaper!

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 09:40 AM

Oooooh - Don't let it be known you are buying cheap CD's around here. A certain party will be down on you like a ton of bricks;-)

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 09:55 AM

Thanks for the link!

We did have a short discussion HERE about teh fix-it song. I have two of the mice and my grandson has the song down pat.

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 10:37 AM

i bought the CD for my mrs last xmas..

its a good album both in terms of childhood nostalgia
and respectable quality 'folk' music content..

certainly not as twee or unlistenable as Donovan at his most infantile worst..



.. errrmm... but maybe not the most apropriate CD as background music for sunday afternoon rumpy pumpy sessions..



.. oh alright then.. where can 'consenting couples'
buy adult size Bagpuss and Emily costumes.!!!???

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: julian morbihan
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 10:52 AM

Sandra and John along with Sandra's daughter Nancy and her husband Jamie have now got a stage version of Bagpuss - it's wonderful - pure nostalgia with a great folky twist :-)

I saw it at Cheltenham Folk Festival a couple of years ago and still remember it clearly. Quite a few children in the huge audience but mainly people "of a certain age"!!!!

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 10:57 AM

Nancy and her husband Jamie

Nah, she ain't "Mrs Fagan" till tomorrow.

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 11:06 AM

Well congratulations to them both!

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 11:11 AM

I know the man in whose front room most of that soundtrack was recorded...

He's a damn fine fiddle player and a singer too.

LTS

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: nutty
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 11:23 AM

It's amazing how much Bagpuss material is for sale on ebay.

Just put Bagpuss into the search and stand back.

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: ShockedandAppalledinReading
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 01:20 PM

Bagpuss

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: ShockedandAppalledinReading
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 01:23 PM

Bagpuss 1974

there's also a couple of other videos as well....

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: Mo the caller
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 03:52 AM

The link at the top of the thread no longer works but the one posted on 15 Jun 07 - 01:20 PM is still there and summarises the 13 episodes.
I have just dug out 2 books from the loft with stories that were not broadcast. 'Bagpuss on a Rainy Day' and one about a picnic (I can't find the title, the mice must have hidden the book).

I am having trouble reading them to my grandson as I'm not sure what tunes the song should have.

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 04:51 AM

Post 'em up, Mo - could be a nice Mudcat challenge to set hitherto unsung Bagpuss songs. Or why not contact the delectable Ms Kerr directly at Newcastle Uni? I'm sure she could point you in the right direction. HERE.

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: Mo the caller
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 06:41 AM

Aren't they copyright to Oliver Postgate?

The one I'm having trouble with starts off

Rain rain go away
Come again another day
...
...
...
(then 3 more lines with the same rythm and rhyme, and ends with)
Hopscotch in the garden.

2 more verses of variations on the theme.

I feel that I should know the tune for 'Rain,rain' but all I can sing is the tune for '1,2,3,4,5 once I caught a fish alive'. And I dont think any version I might remember had that short last line.

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 04:44 PM

Hi Mo,
The 'Rain, rain go away' was always chanted when we had it in East Yorkshire in the 50s and all the published versions I have are without tune.

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: GUEST,Tig
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 06:47 PM

I went to a wonderful event at the Rifle Club during Whitby where I was treated to Taffy Thomas telling stories and Sandra Kerr providing the music.

Sandra had 'Bagpuss' CD's with her - I was very tempted but fell for a new Taffy book instead. You could always contact her for a copy.

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: Mo the caller
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 03:45 AM

Thanks Steve. That makes sense, a bit like 'rat tat tat, who is that' then, chanted but with a sense of tune in the intonation.

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 12 Nov 18 - 05:38 AM

THE MUSIC FROM BAGPUSS
– SANDRA KERR & JOHN FAULKNER

November 16, 2018
digital\cd\vinyl release of the 1974 tracks 
SKU: EARTH033 

1. Opening
2. We Will Wash It
3. I Saw A Ship
4. We Will Rub It
5. The Bony King of Nowhere
6. Cat and Bird Tone Phone
7. The Princess Suite 
8. The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe
9. Row Your Boat
10. We Will Lace It
11. Ballerina Music Box
12. Porcupine Song
13. Here's a Pin
14. We Will Fix It
15. Turtle Calypso
16. The Elephant's Fable
17. The Miller's Song
18. We Will Find It
19. The Town Band
20. The Song of the Flea
21. We Will Do It
22. The Weaving Song
23. Charliemouse Weaving
24. Bucket's Burning
25. Brian O'Lynn
26. Lullaby For Cabbages
27. We Will Do It (Go Through It)
28. The Old Woman Tossed Up in a Basket
29. Mouse Ragtime
30. We Will Fold It
31. Uncle Feedle
32. Closing
33. Opening Words (Outtake)
34. Introducing The Characters (Outtake)
35. Characters Waking Up (Outtake)
36. Bagpuss Soundcheck
37. I Saw A Ship A-Sailing
38. Mermaid Song
39. Captain Bagpuss Poem
40. Owls of Athens Story
41. Birdsong
42. Princess Suite (Outtake)
43. The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe (Outtake)
44. Porcupine Song (Outtake)
45. Bagpipes
46. Brian O'Lynn (Outtake)
47. Agricultural Jig
48. Percy Pratt Poem
49. End Music (Outtake)


Earth Recordings opens the door to Bagpuss & Co. once again, revealing for the first time the original music in all its newly-mastered splendour. 

The 32 tracks that make up the main body of the compositions are – like all good folk music – a patchwork of traditional pieces, half-remembered tunes and pure improvisation. It's testament to Sandra Kerr and John Faulkner's musicianship that the recordings work so well, not only within the context of the television episodes, but as an album in its own right.
Of the recording, Oliver Postgate (in his exquisite autobiography 'Seeing Things') says: "Between them Sandra and John could play every sort of instrument from a mountain dulcimer to an Irish fiddle. They knew and could sing every tune in the world and didn't bother with written music, except as a last resort. They were exactly suited to Gabriel the Toad and Madeleine the Rag Doll and in those roles were happy to play whatever music and sing whatever songs would be needed."
 
https://earthrecordlabel.com/product/the-music-from-bagpuss-sandra-kerr-john-faulkner/ 

https://bagpuss.bandcamp.com 

FB
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1188461774625530&id=415313035273745 

~~~~~~~~
other Bagpuss stuff
http://www.smallfilms.co.uk/buystuff.htm 

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 12 Nov 18 - 05:46 AM

5 minute interview including some clips with Sandra Kerr & John Faulkner & Daniel Postgate.
BBC radio4 "Today" 12 November 2018
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00013mv 
> 1:45:00


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
bbc iPlayer Radio app
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3yvdp3zQJWLtl204z9nxgRt/download-the-iplayer-radio-app 
(then click the '+' on the programme's web page
    then on the app click 
            Menu > My Radio > Listen Later)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: Shug Hanlan
Date: 12 Nov 18 - 08:13 AM

Big fan of Bagpuss. Agree with the post that said the music is better than anything by Donovan. Has the question of which University awarded Professor Yaffle his academic qualifications ever been fully resolved ?

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 12 Nov 18 - 01:00 PM

He got a double f at Yale.

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: Shug Hanlan
Date: 12 Nov 18 - 02:57 PM

Only mentioned this because a friend told me that when he attended Strathclyde University in the late 60's Yaffle was in his class for Medieval Studies and Woodwork.

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: GUEST,Wireharp
Date: 14 Nov 18 - 12:51 PM

Ok I have to admit it...just from watching the few on YouTube...I now love Bagpuss...

Subject: RE: The music of Bagpuss
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 20 Nov 18 - 12:39 PM

Now a Guardian article - Michael Hann
“Red Lion House used to be a pub – which was a very good sign, especially to folk singers – and we got on like a house on fire,” Kerr says. “John and I were very leftwing: Oliver’s father had written the definitive history of the trade union movement, and his uncle was [1930s Labour leader] George Lansbury. We had all kinds of links.”

Faulkner says: “He explained what these programmes were about, and they were sort of experimental, in the sense that he liked the idea of using music that was traditional-based, because the stories he had written were very folky. He wanted something more bedrock, and we could provide the kinds of instruments I don’t think he’d considered – autoharp, mandolin, concertina.”

Both remember making the Bagpuss music to be a delight. Postgate would tell them the stories he was telling in the episodes, sometimes supplying them with lyrics to set to music, and they would compose around his suggestions. “He would give us a lyric, like The Bony King of Nowhere,” Faulkner says, “and say: ‘Can you write a melody for that?’ We would go away and throw it around, then record a tune to cassette. ...

... The pair were inspired by many different strands of traditional music of the British Isles: the Irish traditional song Brian O’Lynn makes an appearance; for The Weaving Song, they set Postgate’s words to an old Scottish tune called The Calton Weaver. One of the most recognisable pieces – the mouse round, We Will Fix It – dated back centuries. “I think we had just recorded Sumer Is Icumen In with the Critics Group,” Kerr says, “and, when Oliver said he wanted a little round, that must have been in my head.”

 https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/nov/20/story-bagpusss-magical-folk-soundtrack-sandra-kerr-john-faulkner-oliver-postgate?fbclid=IwAR11UuXNLRb-p_v398RQp3z0VPMBw10nEBM64cr7IdRyLzaUH3LDG5x627A