Folklore: Wayfaring Stranger Research Project

Subject: Wayfaring Stranger Research Project
From: GUEST,Emily
Date: 06 Apr 11 - 02:53 PM

Calling all musicians!

I am a music student doing a research project at University of York,
UK on the song 'Wayfaring Stranger'. I am trying to track how it has
and still is spreading across the world through different genres and
musicians. Could you possibly answer for me the following questions?
Send replies to my email [e-mail] :-)

1. How and when did you first hear Wayfaring Stranger?

2. How did you learn it?

3. When did you first perform/record it?

4. Why did you choose to perform/record it?

5. Where did you source your lyrics from?

I look forward to your replies!

thankyou :-)
Emily Scaglioni [e-mail]

University of York
Project Supervisor- William Brooks

Subject: RE: Folklore: Wayfaring Stranger Research Project
From: Floksnog
Date: 06 Apr 11 - 03:23 PM

I am sure you already have, but put it into you tube and vimeo etc and you get lots of examples.... Try asking the posters there directly as well.

Good luck!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Wayfaring Stranger Research Project
From: GUEST,999
Date: 06 Apr 11 - 04:17 PM

All I can answer is #1. I first heard it in Greenwich Village in New York City in 1964. I wish you success in your project.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Wayfaring Stranger Research Project
From: John P
Date: 06 Apr 11 - 04:56 PM

1. How and when did you first hear Wayfaring Stranger?
Don't remember - when I was a kid.

2. How did you learn it?
Figured it out.

3. When did you first perform/record it?
1999/2001.

4. Why did you choose to perform/record it?
We liked the melody and I had an interesting guitar part.

5. Where did you source your lyrics from?
Don't know - the singer in the band did that. She had been singing it all her life.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Wayfaring Stranger Research Project
From: Little Robyn
Date: 06 Apr 11 - 06:01 PM

1. How and when did you first hear Wayfaring Stranger?
Wellington Teacher's Training College (NZ) 1963.

2. How did you learn it?
Sheet music, written out by a music lecturer first.
Later heard recordings by Pete Seeger, Burl Ives, Bob Gibson, Mike Seeger, Estelle C Ball. Each was slightly different and I developed a composite version.

3. When did you first perform it?
Sang it at Training Col. 1963/64.

4. Why did you choose to perform?
I loved it.

5. Where did you source your lyrics from?
All the above.

Robyn

Subject: RE: Folklore: Wayfaring Stranger Research Project
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 07 Apr 11 - 12:03 PM

1. How and when did you first hear Wayfaring Stranger?

My mother collected old 78 records from thrift shops and auction barns. I first heard it off one of them about 1963.

2. How did you learn it?

I learned it by listening to the 78 and memorizing it.

3. When did you first perform/record it?

I used to sing it while washing dishes, starting c. 1963. Now I play it on my dulcimer. And I still sing it once in a while.

4. Why did you choose to perform/record it?

I liked the melody, and the words are acceptable.

5. Where did you source your lyrics from?

From the unknown 78 record.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Wayfaring Stranger Research Project
From: Busy Lizzie
Date: 08 Apr 11 - 08:53 AM

I'll send it to youre email too!


1. How and when did you first hear Wayfaring Stranger? It's a song I am just 'familiar with' but a few weeks ago a friend just happened to play Norma Watersons version. I knew as soon as I heard it that I must learn it and sing it.

2. How did you learn it? Found the lyrics on the internet and listened to it alot!

3. When did you first perform/record it? A week ago at local folk club session....performed again yesterday!

4. Why did you choose to perform/record it? It is a very beautiful song.

5. Where did you source your lyrics from? Internet... there are several lyric finders on there.

I look forward to your replies!

thankyou :-)
Emily Scaglioni [e-mail]

University of York
Project Supervisor- William Brooks

Subject: RE: Folklore: Wayfaring Stranger Research Project
From: Pinetop Slim
Date: 08 Apr 11 - 02:36 PM

1. How and when did you first hear Wayfaring Stranger?
On Burl Ives' radio program more than a half-century ago. It was his theme song.

2. How did you learn it?
From Chet Hines book "How to Make and Play a Masterpiece Dulcimore."

3. When did you first perform/record it?
When I was first learning to play the dulcimer, at age 40. 1988 or so.

4. Why did you choose to perform/record it?
It's such a haunting piece.

5. Where did you source your lyrics from?
Rise Up Singing.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Wayfaring Stranger Research Project
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Apr 11 - 11:57 PM

1. How and when did you first hear Wayfaring Stranger?
From the ubiquitous Burl Ives recording.

2. How did you learn it?
From the Burl Ives recording

3. When did you first perform/record it?
Early 1990s, when I joined a song circle.

4. Why did you choose to perform/record it?
It's an easy song to learn, but a good one.

5. Where did you source your lyrics from?
Rise Up Singing.


I thought I learned this song from a Peter, Paul and Mary recording, but it turns out that they didn't record the song until 2004. I was thinking of Man of Constant Sorrow, which seems very similar to me.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Folklore: Wayfaring Stranger Research Project
From: foggers
Date: 09 Apr 11 - 09:36 AM

Hi

Have sent an email with the answers. This is our favourite song of all time and it will be played at my funeral (not that I am planning to pop off yet!)

Subject: RE: Folklore: Wayfaring Stranger Research Project
From: doc.tom
Date: 09 Apr 11 - 01:09 PM

1. How and when did you first hear Wayfaring Stranger?
Burl Ives - can't remember
2. How did you learn it?
I didn't
3. When did you first perform/record it?
I Havn't
4. Why did you choose to perform/record it?
I didn't
5. Where did you source your lyrics from?
I havn't
(I am not being obtuse - my position is as valid as anyone elses!)
Tom

Subject: RE: Folklore: Wayfaring Stranger Research Project
From: GUEST,Doug Saum
Date: 09 Apr 11 - 02:35 PM

1. Bill Monroe
2. Melody was in my head, but I wanted to treat in as an uptempo, driving piece rather than a dirge. So I composed a treatment of the song that's danceable (hot sax lead, drums, etc.
3. Recorded in 2007
4. Killer melody
5. Peter Rowan. but then I changed the words and made a completely new last verse so the secular crowd could enjoy the tune, too. Actually the revision makes the message less specifically Christian, hopefully more universal.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Wayfaring Stranger Research Project
From: GUEST,Emily
Date: 18 Apr 11 - 05:53 AM

thank you so much everyone for your responses :-)

I am really sorry my reply is so delayed i went away for a while and found there was no internet there! :-(

From the research i am gathering i am making a musical family tree to find out how the song has been passed along, a timeline, and a radio program discussing my findings. As this is academic work i will not be able to make it public until June and will only be allowed to show the family tree and timeline.

The wide variety of responses is very interesting!

I will post back here in the next few days to continue the discussion :-)

thanks
Emily

Subject: RE: Folklore: Wayfaring Stranger Research Project
From: MissouriMud
Date: 18 Apr 11 - 12:15 PM

1. How and when did you first hear Wayfaring Stranger?
Burl Ives record in the 50s
2. How did you learn it?
repeated play of the record, Burl Ives song book and hearing other performers such as the Limeliters.
3. When did you first perform/record it?
Performed it in high school in mid 60s
4. Why did you choose to perform/record it?
It was relatively easy to sing and play. I liked the modal aspect of the melody and the harmonies in the more "major" 2nd part. The song was very flexible - could sound good in a variety of styles. The words had personal and universal appeal and fit well with the melody. Just a flat out great song.
5. Where did you source your lyrics from?
Probably Burl Ives song book

Subject: RE: Folklore: Wayfaring Stranger Research Project
From: Little Robyn
Date: 18 Apr 11 - 07:46 PM

Emily, have you found the Burl Ives autobiography? I think, from memory, it's called Wayfaring Stranger. In the 40s he had his own radio show with that name and I suspect that you could trace the source for most of the people who have replied here back to that show.
I've just found my copy but don't have time to re-read it right now.
But it starts with his birth, in Jasper County, Hunt City Township, a few nights after Halley's Comet made its appearance - in 1910??
Anyway, the songs he sang were often church songs and songs he learnt from his family and neighbors.
So he would probably have learnt Wayfaring Stranger sometime before 1920.
Cheers,
Robyn

Subject: RE: Folklore: Wayfaring Stranger Research Project
From: Joe_F
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 08:15 PM

I take it from "perform/record" in questions 3 & 4 that you are interested in replies only from performers?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Wayfaring Stranger Research Project
From: Amos
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 11:05 PM

. How and when did you first hear Wayfaring Stranger?

Also Burl Ives' record from the 50's

2. How did you learn it?

Just absorbed it from the record.

3. When did you first perform/record it?

Probably sometime in the late Fifties, informal performing.

4. Why did you choose to perform/record it?

It has beauty.

5. Where did you source your lyrics from?


Memory of (1) above.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Wayfaring Stranger Research Project
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 16 Aug 16 - 10:48 AM

Hey - did you ever finish your project, Emily?
You never did post back that I can find...
Love to read the result if so...

Subject: RE: Folklore: Wayfaring Stranger Research Project
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Aug 16 - 02:16 PM

Good idea, MoorleyMan. I emailed Emily, but my email was returned as undeliverable. She must have finished university and lost her student email address.
But we'll leave these messages here For Emily, Wherever [We] May Find Her.

-Joe-