Tune Req: Bachelor's Hall (Dick Connette)

Subject: Bachelors Hall (New Version)
From: NormanD
Date: 17 Nov 08 - 10:11 AM

There is already a thread here about "Bachelors Hall", an older traditional song. My query is about a more recent song of the same name.

This newer version is by the US composer Dick Connette, and his group Last Forever, and has been impressively covered by Martin Simpson on his latest CD.

Does anyone know the tune for this song, or the chord structure? I think it may be based on "Pretty Saro", so if anyone knows this, maybe they could let me know.

Thanks

Norman

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bachelors Hall (Dick Connette)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Dec 08 - 02:32 PM

Last Forever performs BACHELOR'S HALL on their album "Trainfare Home," Elektra/Asylum CD 79604, 2000.

Martin Simpson performs the song, oddly spelled BATCHELOR'S HALL (according to Allmusic.com), on his album "Prodigal Son," Topic CD 567, 2007.

I listened to sound samples of both recordings. The tune is certainly familiar. WAGONER'S LAD in the DT is a close match. But to complicate matters, I don't think THE WAGONER'S LAD is always sung to the same tune, and I think that tune is also used for other songs. For example, I think Robin and Linda Williams sing ACROSS THE BLUE MOUNTAIN to the same tune. (Not to be confused with ACROSS THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS.)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bachelor's Hall (Dick Connette)
From: NormanD
Date: 03 Dec 08 - 04:23 PM

Thanks for replying to this, Jim.

I wrote to the writer, Dick Connette, via his MySpace page, and he confirmed that the tune is based around the trad "Pretty Saro". Some of the two songs share the same lyrics (the version I recently listened to was by Iris Dement, from the "Songcatcher" soundtrack.

I've since been promised the written melody of "Prety Saro" so, as and when received, I'll post info here. If anyone else has a chord progression, I'd appreciate that.

Norman