Lowlands Turner Prize 2010

Subject: Lowlands Turner Prize 2010
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 02:31 AM

The Sound installation by Susan Phillipsz plays Lowlands and it won the Turner Prize.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-06/singer-susan-philipsz-wins-turner-prize

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/dec/06/who-win-turner-prize-2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSiJpWRGqRc&feature=player_embedded

And Susan made a statement in support of the students demonstrating outside the Tate.

Subject: RE: Lowlands Turner Prize 2010
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 03:00 AM

Fantastic!

Subject: RE: Lowlands Turner Prize 2010
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 03:07 AM

Lowlands keeps being described as a Scottish folk song.
Any opinions on that?
I know it as an unusually sentimental shanty.

Subject: RE: Lowlands Turner Prize 2010
From: EBarnacle
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 10:29 AM

I just saw a posting of this on ArtDaily. Here's the link:

http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=43177

Subject: RE: Lowlands Turner Prize 2010
From: greg stephens
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 10:59 AM

Rather morer Caribbean than Scottish I would guess, but nobody really knows where shanties come from. They roll around the world picking up bits of stuff here and there.
I am intrigued that she thinks of herself as a visual artist. Maybe one of my banjo tunes will win the Booker prize?

Subject: RE: Lowlands Turner Prize 2010
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 07:04 AM

Definitely a forebitter not a shanty, if indeed a sea song. Surely there are other threads on the song here (departs searching)...

Subject: RE: Lowlands Turner Prize 2010
From: greg stephens
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 07:12 AM

Disagree, Richard. Definitely a work song, in some versions at least. Though not in the long dragged out version that became popular in the 60's clubs.
The "dollar and a half a day" refrain versions show their Caribbean and worksong origins clearly.

Subject: RE: Lowlands Turner Prize 2010
From: GUEST,LDT
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 07:12 AM

Maybe some folk musicians could turn up and play along. ;) lol!

Subject: RE: Lowlands Turner Prize 2010
From: autoharpbob
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 11:06 AM

Not sure she claims to be a visual artist - just an artist. She studied as a sculptor and claims to use sound as the "material" she now sculpts. I guess you have to be there - each installation is specific to a particular place - but I am very sceptical. It would be difficult to join in anyway - she sings three different versions of it all at the same time.

Though come to think, so do most folk clubs.

Subject: RE: Lowlands Turner Prize 2010
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 11:18 AM

Some years ago we realised in my band that the shanty Lowlands fits a treat to the tune of Camptown Races as in

I dreamed a dream the other night
Lowlands Lowlands
I dreamed a dream the other night
Lo - o-o wlands away

Lowlands away
Lowlands away (my John)
I dreamed a dream the other night
Lo - o-o wlands away

We didn't win the Turner prize!!!

Sarah

Subject: RE: Lowlands Turner Prize 2010
From: GUEST,^&*
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 11:20 AM

Wrong Lowlands, methinks.

Subject: RE: Lowlands Turner Prize 2010
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 11:23 AM

Thats obviously why we didn't win the prize then!!!

StF

Subject: RE: Lowlands Turner Prize 2010
From: GUEST,^&*
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 11:32 AM

Sorry Sarah - our messages crossed! I meant that I agree with Keith (for once) - there's no reason to believe the song even refers to Scotland. ;>)