Kent meet to sing lost local carols

Subject: RE: Kent meet to sing lost local carols
From: GUEST,Gavin Atkin
Date: 10 Nov 14 - 09:07 AM

Thanks for the explanation OldNicKilby!

We are in Kent and the large majority of what we've picked out is from this county...

But with its unusual theme the Ditchling Carol seemed a good one to us, and Ditchling isn't so far at 41 miles as the car drives. Of course if it proves unpopular or the singers rebel on the grounds that it comes from Sussex, I guess we might change our minds.

I guess my perspective is also influenced by the fact that I work in Sussex...

Cheers, Gavin



Gavin

Subject: RE: Kent meet to sing lost local carols
From: OldNicKilby
Date: 10 Nov 14 - 06:17 AM

The origin is thus. A poem was written as a tribute to Lord Byron for his speech in the House ( the famous "Their only crime is their crime of Poverty speech" ) when he was trying to get some Poor Relief for the impoverished stockiners of Long Eaton, Loughborough and possibly Fleckney. He was Lord of the Manor of these places and was therefor liable for a major contribution towards their Workhouse costs, so not entirely altruistic. Ironic that the land my Factory stands on, in Fleckney, was built in 1882 to house the largest Sock Factory in the World, and was owned by Lord Byrons descendants.Parsons did put a tune to the words. There is an article on the Ditchling Carol in the E F D S S Journal in 1988 or 89

Subject: RE: Kent meet to sing lost local carols
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 09 Nov 14 - 11:34 AM

From ditchlinghistoryproject.org

"Born in Ditchling in 1825, Peter Parsons became the village shoemaker. He was also the parish Clerk and choirmaster, at one time having nine of his thirteen children singing in the choir. He also led the Ditchling Glee Club (singers specialising in singing in the round). In Sussex at the time, there was a strong tradition of singing both religious and secular Christmas carols and Peter Parsons developed quite a reputation locally for his repertoire of popular and comic songs and anecdotes.

The words of the Ditchling carol have been found on a broadside ballad sheet dating from the early 19th century. Peter Parsons composed the music to the carol which was to be sung robustly by tenor and bass voices.

Peter Parsons died on Christmas Eve in 1901 but the Ditchling Carol lives on and is sometimes sung in the village on Boxing Day by the Ditching Mummers."

Although I think that this thread means to concentrate on the carols of Kent...

Subject: RE: Kent meet to sing lost local carols
From: greg stephens
Date: 09 Nov 14 - 11:21 AM

What is the origin of the Ditchling Carol, please?

Subject: Kent meet to sing lost local carols
From: GUEST,Gavin Atkin
Date: 09 Nov 14 - 10:36 AM

The songs workshop Julie and I run at Horsmonden has been working on some carols that researchers have found locally but which have been otherwise forgotten over the years. Having done some work with them, I think they're pretty good seasonal singing stuff - 'like seasonal sea shanties', one of our number said. The only reason they've been lost I think is probably that they have a few complexities, such as changing from 4/4 to 3/4 or vice versa, but they're tuneful and lend themselves to a good sing. If you're interested, see http://www.singdanceandplay.net/horsmonden-song-workshops/

My thanks to George Frampton, Helen Mitcham and Adrian Waters for helping me come to this stuff.

If anyone would like to join us for a practice in Marden THIS COMING MONDAY (10th November), please drop me a line at [e-mail] and I'll provide details.