Straw Bear Tune

Subject: RE: Straw Bear Tune
From: My guru always said
Date: 14 May 09 - 02:59 AM

Might be worth making the trip Tug Dear, it's a great weekend but you'd need extra socks! I can still hear that tune....
Hil

Subject: RE: Straw Bear Tune
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 13 May 09 - 05:46 PM

Great to see the Bear still going, in 1984, while in our first year, Anstey Morris organised a coach trip from Leicester to follow it. Moved to Devon later that year, so have never made it back.

Subject: RE: Straw Bear Tune
From: GUEST,wheatman
Date: 13 May 09 - 04:38 PM

There is no record of any connection with Whittlesey and George Green that I am aware of. My statement above was a mistake. The only link is rattle bone and ploughjack and the tune connected with George is featured on that record after the reference to the letter to Sir James Frazer about Straw Bears. Utilising that tune for Straw Bear just seemed like a good idea by me at the time in 1981, the first time the revival bear danced. Sorry again about the mistake but it's good to have a Straw Bear thread so early in the year, remember next year it goes back a week to 15, 16 and 17 January 2010. Off to Shepley tomorrow, hope the weather improves. Gan Canny Brian

Subject: RE: Straw Bear Tune
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 13 May 09 - 06:28 AM

I think Brian means that although George played the tune it was Charlie who lived in Whittlesey. Off the top of my head, George was from Downham (Little Downham?) in the north of Essex and was associated with the Straw Bear there.

Subject: RE: Straw Bear Tune
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 12 May 09 - 06:50 PM

And what did Charlie use the tune for, presumably not the Straw Bear.

Subject: RE: Straw Bear Tune
From: GUEST,wheatman
Date: 12 May 09 - 05:58 PM

Sorry I got it wrong, that's what you get from doing things at lunch time at work with out the paper back up. George Green is featured, with others on a Veteran CD Heel and Toe (VT150CD but it wasn't him but Charlie Giddings who lived in Whittlesey according to the CD sleeve notes. oops!!

Subject: RE: Straw Bear Tune
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 12 May 09 - 01:59 PM

Thanks for the foregoing, really helpful. Now a little bit about George Green please. What was his connection to the 'rattlebones' album. What did he use the tune for himself.

Subject: RE: Straw Bear Tune
From: pavane
Date: 12 May 09 - 09:48 AM

Manitas, Thought this was MUDcat, not MEERcat, simples!

Subject: RE: Straw Bear Tune
From: GUEST,Gadaffi
Date: 12 May 09 - 08:44 AM

For the sake of completion, Brian - when was this? I only have George Green obituary and the memories of his nephew the late reggie Moore to work on.

Subject: RE: Straw Bear Tune
From: GUEST,Wheatman
Date: 12 May 09 - 08:25 AM

Yes that's correct. The tune, featured on rattle bone and plough jack comes after the reference to the straw bear on the LP. We were looking for a tune at the time and it seemed right. We have whittledyked it a bit since 1982 when we first used it on the street. Incidentlly George Green lived in Whittlesey for a short time. Gan Canny Brian

Subject: RE: Straw Bear Tune
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 12 May 09 - 08:11 AM

The musician, George Green(?), used "Heart of my Heart" in the good old tradition of recycling popluar tunes of the day. That's the only connection. Simples!

Subject: Straw Bear Tune
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 12 May 09 - 06:12 AM

Any one know the connection between the song, 'Heart of my Hearts', and the tune used for the Whittlesey straw bear, which came off the album 'Rattlebone and Ploughjack' by Ashley Hutchins et al?.They're almost identical.