John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?

Subject: John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?
From: GUEST,Canada
Date: 19 Sep 13 - 02:12 PM

Sorry--it occurred to me that it might be more productive to start a new thread for this rather than posting to an related but stale thread (which I did previously).

Sooooo...looking for any chords for Devonshire Carol. Concertina would be superb, guitar also good.

Want to sing this at Christmas and need something to get my accompanist going.

Thanks!

Subject: RE: John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 20 Sep 13 - 12:16 AM

There is an earlier thread. Start here.
Robyn

Subject: RE: John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?
From: GUEST,Little Robyn
Date: 20 Sep 13 - 01:17 AM

It seems to be in F with Bb and C but it also gets more complicated by the end, with Am and Dm and G. I'm trying to work it out but I've just got lost!


THE DEVONSHIRE CAROL
(as sung by John Tams)

The (F)lambkin in the manger the (Bb)light upon the (C)lea
The (F)moorland yields to glory the (Bb)shepherds bend the (C)knee
And (F)all are wrapped in grace and (Bb)all are gifted (C)mirth
Peace (F)walks upon this blessed land
Peace (Bb)walks upon this (C)blessed land
Peace (F)walks upon this blessed land
Good(Bb)will up(C)on all (F)Earth

A few minor chords sneak in the 2nd verse ....

The ploughboy and his traces, the line upon the land
All's gift by Nature's graces her bounty to command
And all are wrapped in grace and all are gifted mirth
Peace walks upon this blessed land
Peace walks upon this blessed land
Peace walks upon this blessed land
Goodwill upon all Earth

Anyone else????

Subject: RE: John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 20 Sep 13 - 05:12 AM

Will take a look later. LR is correct that JT is singing in F. i detect a Gm in there as well as the Dm.
Might be easier for the guitarists to use the G series, so will start from there.

Subject: RE: John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?
From: GUEST,Little Robyn
Date: 20 Sep 13 - 07:10 AM

It's the final verse that stumps me - the bass runs tend to change the easy chords into awkward ones. It's very beautiful, his arrangement, with progressions going from Am to Dm to Gm to C and back to F (and maybe there's even an Em in there too) but it almost needs an orchestral backing!
Robyn

Subject: RE: John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?
From: GUEST,Little Robyn
Date: 20 Sep 13 - 07:42 AM

Or at least a fancy keyboard.
Robyn

Subject: RE: John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 21 Sep 13 - 04:03 PM

I've watched the video here
several times and I've come to the conclusion that Barry Coope is there out of sight, playing keyboard, and the 'chords' are actually part of the piano score, so you really need a pianist to untangle them.
It's a very moving song!
Robyn

Subject: RE: John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 23 Sep 13 - 07:12 AM

If nobody else has worked it out, I guess I'd better have another try. Verses 3 and 4 are slightly different and I'm not sure if the bits I've identified as minor chords are maybe just bass runs - F, E, D, C or counter bass.


(F)Tommy in the meadow, (Bb)Tommy in the (C)byre
(F)Tommy on the (Dmin)firestep, (Gmin)Tommy on the (C)wire
And (F)those who walked in war and (Bb)those who walked in (C)peace
And (F)those who walked this (Dmin)blessed land
And (Gmin)those who walked this (C)blessed land
And (Amin)those who walked this (Dmin)blessed land
Their (Gmin)souls shall (C)never (F)cease.

(F) Stand to, me (C)bonny (F)lads, stand (Dmin)to and make you (C)ready(F)
Stand to, me (Emin)bonny (Dmin)lads, (Gmin)hold the line right (C)steady(F).
Let (Bb)pride burn (Amin)through the (Dmin)flame, this (Gmin)day shall bear your (C)name
Stand (F)to, me (Emin)bonny (Dmin)lads, (Gmin)hold the line right (C)steady(F)
And those who walked in war and (Bb)those who cherished (C)peace
And (F)those who (Emin)walked this (Dmin)blessed land
And (Gmin)those who walked this (C)blessed land
And (Amin)those who walked this (Dmin)blessed land
Their (Gmin)souls shall (C)never (F)cease.

Robyn

Subject: RE: John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?
From: GUEST,Canada
Date: 26 Sep 13 - 01:53 AM

Thank you so much!

It's such a beautiful song and I'm leading a seasonal songcircle on Dec 18. I really want to sing this one.

Subject: RE: John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?
From: Rumncoke
Date: 26 Sep 13 - 06:10 AM

After some days of trying I finally managed to play all of this on one of my recorders - I used the one, I think it is called a sopranino - the next one higher than the 'school' recorder, for the shrill purity of the sound.

It is described as Devonshire carol/Stand to - so I think I will seek older versions - having heard what Mr Tams did to Manchester Rambler, and had to contend for some years with the version of 'Over the hills and far a way' he sang in the 'Sharpe' series and which I don't, they might be very different things.

Subject: RE: John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?
From: GUEST,Georgina Boyes
Date: 26 Sep 13 - 07:31 AM

"Devonshire Carol" was entirely composed by John Tams - unlike 'Over the Hills' or 'Manchester Rambler', it's not a re-writing of an earlier song.

It's called "Devonshire Carol" because it's part of the music used for the dramatisation of 'War Horse' which has a Devonshire setting.

It began life as a memorial to a friend, a talented artist, who died tragically young - so outside it's stage existence, you might also hear it called 'Carol for Carmen'.

Georgina

Subject: RE: John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?
From: Rumncoke
Date: 26 Sep 13 - 08:11 AM

Ah - thanks for the info.

Subject: RE: John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 26 Sep 13 - 05:38 PM

Thank you Georgina. I hadn't heard it before but it's one of my favourites now and I just love John's singing.
Robyn

Subject: RE: John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?
From: Rumncoke
Date: 26 Sep 13 - 05:54 PM

I just wish the words made more sense.

Subject: RE: John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?
From: GUEST,canyabotticelli
Date: 26 Sep 13 - 07:08 PM

Just wond'ring. How many mudcatters came to love John Tams' music by way of the Sharpe's series?

Subject: RE: John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 26 Sep 13 - 07:28 PM

Rumncoke, if you Google The War Horse you'll find the story of the farm horse who is sent to France during WW1.
There's a page on wikipedia that tells the story and then the song makes sense.
Robyn

Subject: RE: John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?
From: Rumncoke
Date: 27 Sep 13 - 05:44 AM

I know the story, have read the wiki page - still find no sense in the words.

That is why I was hoping for the tunes to have been taken from elsewhere so there were coherent words.

Subject: RE: John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 27 Sep 13 - 10:14 PM

Well, here's what I think it means:

Verse 1 - describes a Christmas Nativity scene in a peaceful countryside (in the Holy land or in Devon?)

Verse 2 - is where the boy trains/teaches the horse to pull the plough, also in a peaceful and bountiful countryside.

Verse 3 - Tommy - the name for a British soldier in WW1 - so it starts with a the soldier boy on the farm - meadow and byre, then onto the war and the trenches.

Verse 4 - the commands given to the soldiers in the trenches, to hold the line.
I'm not sure which day bears their name in this one but the Aussie and Kiwi troops have ANZAC day, 25th April, named after them.

I'm not sure if this is an overview of the story of the farm boy, the war or of his horse - it fits all three.

Robyn

Subject: RE: John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?
From: Rumncoke
Date: 28 Sep 13 - 05:16 PM

You've got a good imagination there.

Subject: RE: John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 28 Sep 13 - 05:54 PM

Yep!

Subject: RE: John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 10 Oct 13 - 03:58 AM

I think Little Robyn has summed up what the song means pretty well. Fits perfectly with my understanding of it too. Guess it would sound fab on your pipes too, LR!

Sorry I still haven't looked at those chords: been really busy lately, but will do it!

Subject: RE: John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 10 Oct 13 - 09:16 PM

It does fit my pipes - my G is actually F so I can play along with John but I can't get the interesting chords that Barry gets on a keyboard.
Robyn

Subject: RE: John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Oct 13 - 09:43 AM

Ok, dunnit! My interpretation pretty close to yours, LR. Played it on the piano alongside the video and no horrible clashes! I don't have any E mins tho, just more G mins, but I suspect some of the chords are complex ones and as you say there's a moving bass in places.(On some of the long F chords you can do F, A, C in the bass for example). I think there's more of a mix of majors and minors in the final verse too.
After all this effort, we might just have asked direct? John Tams' wife kindly supplied the lyrics to the other thread very swiftly - but I do like a wee challenge!

Full version of what I think is happening, as below:

THE DEVONSHIRE CAROL
(as sung by John Tams)

The (F)lambkin in the manger the (Bb)light upon the (C)lea
The (F)moorland yields to glory the (Bb)shepherds bend the (C)knee
And (F)all are wrapped in grace and (Bb)all are gifted (C)mirth
Peace (F)walks upon this blessed land
Peace (Bb)walks upon this (C)blessed land
Peace (F)walks upon this blessed land
Good(Bb)will up(C)on all (F)Earth


The (F) ploughboy and his traces, the (Bb) line upon the (C)land
All's(F)gift by(Gm)Nature's (Dm7)graces her (Bb)bounty to (C)command
And(F)all are wrapped in grace and (Bb)all are gifted (C)mirth
Peace(F)walks upon this blessed land
Peace (Bb)walks upon this (C)blessed land
Peace (Am)walks upon this (Dm)blessed land
Good(Gm)will up(C)on all (F)Earth.

Instrumental (Tune like "Stand to" verse)
F   C   F,   Bb    CF,
F   C   F,   Bb    CF,
Bb Am Dm, Gm    C,
F   Gm Dm, Bb Gm CF.

(F)Tommy in the meadow, (Bb)Tommy in the (C)byre
(F)Tommy on the (Dmin)firestep, (Gmin)Tommy on the (C)wire
And (F)those who walked in war and (Bb)those who walked in (C)peace
And (F)those who walked this (Dmin)blessed land
And (Gmin)those who walked this (C)blessed land
And (Amin)those who walked this (Dmin)blessed land
Their (Gmin)souls shall (C)never (F)cease.

(F)Stand to, me (C)bonny (F)lads,stand(Dmin)to and make you(C)rea(F)dy
(F)Stand to, me(Gmin)bonny(Dmin)lads,(Gmin)hold the line right
(C)stea(F)dy.
Let(Bb)pride burn(Amin)through the(Dmin)flame, this (Gmin)day shall bear your (C)name
Stand (F)to, me(C)bonny(F)lads, (Gmin)hold the line right (C)stea(F)dy
And (F) those who walked in war and (Bb)those who cherished (C)peace
And (F)those who (Gmin)walked this (Dmin)blessed land
And (Bb)those who walked this (C)blessed land
And (Amin)those who walked this (Dmin)blessed land
Their (Gmin)souls shall (C)never (F)cease.

Subject: RE: John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 11 Oct 13 - 10:02 AM

Oops, that was me: seem to have been logged out!

Subject: RE: John Tams Devonshire Carol notation
From: GUEST,Crocket
Date: 31 Aug 14 - 12:23 PM

Does any one have the notation to the song rather than the cords?

Subject: RE: John Tams Devonshire Carol chords?
From: GUEST,PeterC
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 06:53 AM

Yes I would be very interested in the sheet music if it is available