Tune Req: Mystery English folk ballad

Subject: Tune Req: Mystery English folk ballad
From: Bousingo
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 01:10 AM

Please help: I need a musical sleuth. I've been looking for the title of a tune that I believe is an old English folk ballad. It was on a music box that belonged to my Mother which I don't have anymore. I caught a bit of this tune once playing during the opening credits of a Miss Marple movie starring Margaret Rutherford. I seem to recall that the tune fragment was part of an overture played on harpsichord. Any idea what this tune is called.
                                                            Thanks,
                                                          Bousingo

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mystery English folk ballad
From: Little Robyn
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 02:49 AM

Mitch reckons, if it was 'Murder She Said', it was probably written by Ron Goodwin.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mystery English folk ballad
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 06:40 AM

I bet Robyn & Mitch are right, in which case you can probably Google up more details. One website says Ron Goodwin's music is splendid and the harpsichord-laden theme tune would become familiar as it was used in all the other entries in this series. But that web page doesn't give any further info about the music. Goodwin must have a site, which might help.

It could well be an old traditional melody that Goodwin arranged (I can't imagine your mother's music-box got it from him!) so if anyone catches a Rutherford/Miss-Marple film playing on TV, listen out. Don't know what the story is about online access to this sort of thing, but if you can pin one of these films down and post a link, you'd probably get an avalanche of replies. Will keep an ear out...

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mystery English folk ballad
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 06:48 AM

CD of it here:

http://www.discovery-records.com/product-ST22415/GOODWIN-RON/Miss-Marple/Lancelo

And a different one:

http://www.musicfromthemovies.com/review.asp?ID=4931

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mystery English folk ballad
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 09:20 PM

Is this YouTube clip any use?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mystery English folk ballad
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 10:37 PM

McGrath - brilliant!

I wish I could still dance like that (I say "still" - I think I got it down in 1961 or thereabouts).

Ross

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mystery English folk ballad
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 10:39 PM

Oops! Forgot to say the only English folk ballad I recognized in there was Amsterdam (I'll go no more a-roving with you, fair maid).

Ross

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mystery English folk ballad
From: Harmonium Hero
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 11:45 AM

There were also snatches of 'A Life on the Ocean Waves' and the 'steady boys, steady' phrase from 'Hearts of Oak'.
John Kelly.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mystery English folk ballad
From: Bousingo
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 11:49 AM

Hello,
My thanks to Bonnie, Ross, Robyn, and McGrath for the good leads. Haven't found the tune yet, but I've good information to work with.

                                                    Thanks,
                                                    Bousingo

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mystery English folk ballad
From: Bousingo
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 11:52 AM

Thanks to Harmonium Hero.
                Bousingo

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mystery English folk ballad
From: Bousingo
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 12:43 PM

So far, I haven't found the tune. The youtube clip was tantalizing, but I recognized every tune and it's not one of them. It isn't Heart(s?) of Oak, either. My plan is to check out each of the Miss Marple mysteries with soundtrack by Ron Goodwin and see if I hear the tune again. I'm encouraged and feel we're very close to finding this.
                   Bousingo

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mystery English folk ballad
From: Bousingo
Date: 03 Apr 08 - 10:29 PM

Newsflash : I found the tiniest snippet of the tune in the Miss Marple Mystery "Murder at the Gallop." At minute 32-35 there is a scene where Miss Marple reveals that she is the owner of the fabulous 1895 saddle and takes Hector Enderby's arm as he escorts her out of the room. At that point they play a very quick and distorted phrase of the tune. Then Flora Robson playing Miss Milchrest comes in with her canary in a cage. She's seeking employment, and as she sits there tensely they play a slow and moody version of the snippet. It is such a tiny bit that I'm amazed I recognized it! But the fact that it was in this particular movie makes me think the tune is a hunting tune. This is also suggested by the music box my mother had: it was decorated with a fox-hunting scene. I hope someone knows this tune so well they can recognize it from this very limited source. Also, if you can suggest other hunting-based ballads, please let me know a few titles to check out.
                                                       Thank you,
                                                       Bousingo

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mystery English folk ballad
From: GUEST,Tangledwood
Date: 04 Apr 08 - 05:39 AM

Hmmm, fox hunting. D'ya ken John Peel?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mystery English folk ballad
From: GUEST,Tangledwood
Date: 04 Apr 08 - 05:51 AM

Link to a midi - John Peel

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mystery English folk ballad
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 04 Apr 08 - 06:27 AM

There are some songs in the DigiTrad if you browse "Fox" as a title header.

Or could it be The Fox Jumps Over The Parson's Gate? The words are apparently by Randolph Caldicott (died in the 1880's I think). It has a nice bouncy melody.

Video of Peter Bellamy singing it here, but it took the vid a longish time to appear in the box and get itself together (I'm on broadband) so be prepared to wait a bit. Worth it though -

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/peter-bellamy--the-fox-jumps-over-the-parsons-

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mystery English folk ballad
From: Bousingo
Date: 04 Apr 08 - 09:07 PM

John Peel it is!!! I am ecstatic to know the name of this song! Thank you every one who responded especially the Guest at Tangled Wood.
                      Bousingo

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mystery English folk ballad
From: GUEST,Tangledwood
Date: 05 Apr 08 - 06:02 PM

That's great! One occasion when a little knowledge wasn't a dangerous thing. :)