Book & online resource: Napoleon songs

Subject: Book & online resource: Napoleon songs
From: GUEST,Oskar Cox Jensen
Date: 23 Oct 15 - 07:31 AM

Dear Mudcat people,

Sorry if this is inappropriate advertising.

I thought you might like to know that Napoleon and British Song, 1797–1822, is now available to buy here (30% off until 2016 with the code PM15THIRTY)

Accompanying the book is a free resource: 62 songs available to stream and download at https://soundcloud.com/napoleonandbritishsong/sets

If anyone wants more info, lyrics, or scores for any of the songs, send a message to the soundcloud account: I can't host them due to copyright, but am more than happy to share!

Subject: RE: Book & online resource: Napoleon songs
From: doc.tom
Date: 23 Oct 15 - 08:26 AM

Pete Woods has recently done a book on 'Napoleonic Songs from the French Wars to the Present Day'(rather than 1797-1822)and it is rightly getting superb reviews. TITLE: The Green Linnet, Blackhall Publishing, ISBN: 9780957618756. And it doesn't cost £63:00!

Sorry if that is inappropriate advertising - but I have no vested interest.

TomB

Subject: RE: Book & online resource: Napoleon songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Oct 15 - 12:41 PM

Oskar and Tom, please note that messages like yours are totally appropriate for Mudcat. We need to know about resources such as these.
-Joe Offer, Mudcat Music Editor-

Subject: RE: Book & online resource: Napoleon songs
From: Lighter
Date: 23 Oct 15 - 02:21 PM

Hi, Tom.

Allow me to direct attention an entire album of Boney songs performed by Donal Lunny and Frank Harte:

My Name is Napoleon Bonaparte (Hummingbord Records, 2009).

No less than 26 superb performances of Napoleonic songs.

Highly recommended if you're into it.

Also very much worth hearing is the thumping rock version of "The Bonnie Bunch of Roses," by June Tabor and the Oyster Band.

Subject: RE: Book & online resource: Napoleon songs
From: Reinhard
Date: 23 Oct 15 - 02:48 PM

Geoff Wallis' review of My Name is Napoleon Bonaparte: Traditional Songs on Napoleon Bonaparte on the Musical Traditions website is quite complementary about the performance, but he is less enthused about the song selection ("since almost half of the tracks included are simply *not* 'Traditional Songs on Napoleon Bonaparte'") and the poorly researched notes.

Subject: RE: Book & online resource: Napoleon songs
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 23 Oct 15 - 02:49 PM

Not a million miles away, would highly recommend Terry Moylan's 'Age of Revolution' in the Irish song tradition - 1776 to 1815 (Lilliput Press 2000)
Large format, lavishly illustrated paperback - superbly researched and annotated collection of 209 songs.
Would dearly love a copy of Napoleon and British Song, but I'd baulk at the price too.
Wonder if it'll be remaindered!
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Book & online resource: Napoleon songs
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 23 Oct 15 - 03:01 PM

The book Depository is offering 'Napoleon and British Song, 1797–1822' at £55-49 post free.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Book & online resource: Napoleon songs
From: Lighter
Date: 23 Oct 15 - 03:29 PM

Reinhard, that's strictly true, but I think it's largely a quibble, for nearly all the songs seem to be from the Napoleonic period or just after, and all (with the exception of "The Saxon Shilling") relate to the Napoleonic Wars, if not to Napoleon himself.

Most seem to come from broadsides, though "The Wounded Hussar" is a post-mortem amalgam of Thomas Campbell's poem and O Carolan's "Captain O'Kane." As many will attest, the result is powerfully moving - quite an achievement for a lyric that looks merely maudlin on the page.

A good enough song, the relationship of "The Saxon Shilling" to Napoleon escapes me.

Subject: RE: Book & online resource: Napoleon songs
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Oct 15 - 06:30 PM

Since the man who wrote The Saxon Shilling, Kevin Buggy, was born in 1816, it seems likely enough in attacking the notion of joining the British Army he'd have had in mind the Napoleonic Wars, which would give enough reason to include it.