Dark Island: Too late to have DigiTrad alteration?

Subject: RE: Dark Island: Too late to have DigiTrad alteration?
From: GUEST,Alan Ross
Date: 09 Jul 15 - 06:17 PM

Thanks for your advice and patience. You'll see that in years long gone by I placed most of the words with Mudcat.   The problem is that the MIDI sample used doesn't match the Stewart Ross lyrics.   I can't read music so don't know which music is being used in the musical notation version.

If you cross reference the lyrics in the music you'll see that "O' I've wandered away.." should have read "though I've wandered away"
"Years long ago" should have been "years long gone by -" minor points I know but it does spoil the scanning.

The original structure as written in the sheet music and first recorded on record
was verse 1, chorus, verse 2, chorus, verse 3, chorus

Most recordings edit out the middle verse (2) as it's overall a bit long and monotonous in full.

I am only aware of two recordings where the full 3 verses were used - otherwise people prefer the shortened one.   Also my fathers tendency to use Scots abbreviations like O'er dates the middle verse.

Thanks

Subject: RE: Dark Island: Too late to have DigiTrad alteration?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Jul 15 - 03:18 PM

Hi, Alan -

Yes, it has been a long time since we've had a new version of the Digital Tradition Database. I forget which version we have online at Mudcat - I think it's maybe 2008, but that's only a guess. Dick and Susan have kept updating information, but a new edition hasn't been distributed because of technical problems.

So, if you want the best information, it's here in the Forum. "Dark Island" is a particular problem because there are so many songs with the same title. Some share the same tune, and some don't.

I've tried to make sure we have the most accurate information on songs in our edited DT Study threads.

Here's what's currently in the Digital Tradition for Dark Island Version 1. Please post any corrections below.

THE DARK ISLAND
(Stewart Ross)

In the years long gone by
When I first left my home
I was young and I wanted
The wide world to roam;
But now I am older
And wiser, you see,
For that lovely dark island
Is calling to me.

cho: Though I've wandered away
From the land of my birth,
And been roaming around
To the ends of the earth,
Still my heart is at home
In that land far away
That lovely dark island
Where memories stray.
With a sorrowful heart
I look back through the years
When I think of that island
My eyes fill with tears
Once again then I long
For the land I adore
That lovely dark island
I long for once more

One day I'll return
To that far-distant shore,
And from that dark island
I'll wander no more.
'Til the day that I die
I will no longer roam
For that lovely dark island
Will be my last home.

copyright Stewart Ross
@home @travel
filename[ DARKISLE
TUNE FILE: DARKISLE
CLICK TO PLAY
RG

Subject: RE: Tech: Too late to have Digi. Trad alteration?
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 09 Jul 15 - 01:01 PM

Here is the thread. Elsewhere, Joe writes: "go to the attributions and minor corrections thread for minor stuff. For major stuff, start a new thread." He forgot to specify what to do for stuff in Dorian mode etc.

Subject: RE: Tech: Too late to have Digi. Trad alteration?
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 09 Jul 15 - 12:51 PM

I have noted that for many entries in the DT coming with separate tune and lyrics, the scanning is not clear at all. Both ABC and MIDI allow for lyrics added directly, this would be highly preferable, at least for the first verse. (In subsequent verses, different scanning can be indicated by tie symbols etc.)

(NB: Alan, I realize that this is not your primary problem, but it would have been discovered earlier if my suggestion had been followed.)

As for corrections, I think there is a dedicated permathread named something like "Corrections for the DT" where you can enter your proposals, giving reasons and sources. The keepers will copy into the DT whatever they deem fit, and then delete the proposal.

Subject: RE: Tech: Too late to have Digi. Trad alteration?
From: GUEST,Alan Ross
Date: 09 Jul 15 - 11:27 AM

I can see where your coming from Jim. But then there'd be a copyright free for all, law suits and arguments about who wrote what.   A moderator needs to ensure fair use, and accurate archiving of the origins of the work.

Subject: RE: Tech: Too late to have Digi. Trad alteration?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Jul 15 - 11:08 AM

I'd like to see the whole Digital Tradition database turned into a Wiki-type database so we could all help make corrections and additions, similar to the way Wikipedia, Wikiquote, etc. are maintained.

Subject: Tech: Too late to have Digi. Trad midi alteration?
From: GUEST,Alan Ross
Date: 09 Jul 15 - 09:12 AM

Many years have elapsed since the Digi. Trad. database was created and has been circulated.

I don't wish to go into the rigmarole of how my father wrote the lyrics to version 1 of the Dark Island on the database. But, his words don't fit the Midi sample that has been put with it. So it reads rather oddly when you don't have the correct tune version that goes with it.

When he wrote the words - it was to an altered version of the tune. Unlike David Silver's Version 2 - which is a word for note fit and the tune is correct.

   There are a couple of word transcription errors that also spoil the way the lyrics fit.    This is not casting blame at anybody, but is it possible all these years later to have that entry re-done? I have the original '63 printed sheet music of this version and can send them - and the song is on youtube anyway. Or am I a decade too late to bother.   If I am I'll just forget it and let it go!

This is not a discussion of 'Dark Island', the copyright, or its history which has been covered in endless volumes elsewhere.