Trad Songs About English Canadians

Subject: RE: Trad Songs About English Canadians
From: GUEST,Tania
Date: 01 Nov 17 - 12:57 AM

Canadian folk music goes well beyond English and French. Each First Nation has its own lore and music but also early settlers came from Russia, the Ukraine, Germany and Holland to name a few. There is incredible music from each of these cultures.

Subject: RE: Trad Songs About English Canadians
From: sciencegeek
Date: 29 Oct 17 - 10:17 AM

PS... it would be great if Jon & Rika could make a return to the East Coast Mystic and Portsmouth are calling to you

Subject: RE: Trad Songs About English Canadians
From: sciencegeek
Date: 29 Oct 17 - 10:05 AM

just my own thoughts, but hubby & I have been interested in the subject for some time, along with general history of North America ...

starting with early albums of Ian and Sylvia we then found Helen Creighton's books on folk music and folklore. The Smithsonian has a number of CD albums out with collected songs from Fawkes and Creighton, along with Alan Mills singing songs from both French and "English" traditions...

since both Canada and America span such vast distances and geography, I have noticed that their music tends to have strong regional traits that trace back to the way the areas were settled. The music of Newfoundland has its own character as does that from Nova Scotia, Cpae Breton or the Great Lakes regions... so many Irish immigrants arrived at Quebec and then moved on to bring their own celtic flavor to the areas they settled.

I didn't know about Jon Bartlett's work, so off to track them down...

Subject: RE: Trad Songs About English Canadians
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Oct 17 - 04:27 AM

There is a Folkways recording of folk songs of Nova Scotia as recorded by Helen Creighton. East coast Canada has a rich and wonderful musical tradition. most libraries in Ns will have a lot of information on the subject Check their on line catalogues for resources. Most things can be borrowed through inter library loan if you are in Canada.
Good luck, let us know how you get on.

Subject: RE: Trad Songs About English Canadians
From: GUEST,Jon Bartlett
Date: 28 Oct 17 - 04:05 AM

Rika Ruebsaat and I have made three CDs of traditional Canadian song - there's lots out there.

Jon Bartlett

Subject: RE: Trad Songs About English Canadians
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Oct 17 - 12:41 AM

When I hear the term "English Canadians," I think of Victoria, BC. That's the only place I know in Canada where there seems to be a strong English influence. Maybe Stratord, Ontario? I do remember going as a kid from Detroit to Amherstburg, Ontario, where my mom had some English shops that she likes.
But the Canadian and Canada-influenced parts of my ancestry are French, German, and Irish - and I gathered that most people thought of English Canadians as outsiders.

But there are lots of English-language traditional songs at two of my favorite Canadian song Websites:

• MacEdward Leach and the Songs of Atlantic Canada: http://www.mun.ca/folklore/leach/songs/
• GEST Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador: http://www.wtv-zone.com/phyrst/audio/nfld/

Subject: RE: Trad Songs About English Canadians
From: JMB
Date: 28 Oct 17 - 12:22 AM

I should probably point out that I don't think that there is really a distinct English-Canadian Culture. There may be some things that are pan-Canadian even including the Quebecois such as the sports of ice hockey and lacrosse; and the maple leaf and maple syrup. The "English-Canadians" in Nova Scotia are quite different from the ones in Alberta for example. Again, there are some things that are pan-Canadian, but throughout the many regions, you'll see many differences in the various aspects of culture as well as accents and dialects.

Subject: RE: Trad Songs About English Canadians
From: JMB
Date: 28 Oct 17 - 12:11 AM

Good point Tattie. I'm a Scots-Gaelic Nova Scotian myself. Many here are influenced by the old country, but there are Scottish influenced songs in the English language.

I am more attached to the songs in the Gaidhlig however. Some examples of songs that would relate to the "English Canada" as in non-French and influenced by the old country are as follows:

'Illean Bithibh Sunndach
(Lads Be in Good Spirits) about coming to the New World.

Taladh na Beinne Guirme
(Blue Mountains Lullaby) about the MacIntyre Mountains in Cape Breton.

Chi Mi Bhuam
(I See Afar) which is also well known in Scotland.

Chi Mi na Mor Bheanna
(I See The Great Mountains) I think this is an actual Scottish song, but very popular in Nova Scotia.

Subject: RE: Trad Songs About English Canadians
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 27 Oct 17 - 08:32 PM

Do you mean English-speaking Canadians, as distinct from French-speaking Canadians. If so, don't forget the Scots, Welsh and Irish who also emigrated to Canada. Try "The Scarborough Settler's Lament" for a good song written by a Scots migrant.

Subject: RE: Trad Songs About English Canadians
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Oct 17 - 12:21 AM

I was hoping for a personal recommendation, so I'll start with Helen Creighton and Edith Fowke.


Thank you kindly my friend

Subject: RE: Trad Songs About English Canadians
From: meself
Date: 26 Oct 17 - 12:16 AM

Okay - anyway, I would start with Google. There's hundreds, if not thousands, of possibilities.

Subject: RE: Trad Songs About English Canadians
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Oct 17 - 11:09 PM

I didnt mean anything political by it, I merely wish to have a bit of historical music to show my children and my children's children where they came from.

(Virtually) Every culture has traditional music that is central to their identity, no? I just want that for English Canada

Subject: RE: Trad Songs About English Canadians
From: meself
Date: 25 Oct 17 - 10:55 PM

It's a subject I know a bit about, and I qualify as member of that certain subset - but I'm not thrilled with what I take to be a muted political commentary within your request - my apologies if I've misunderstood. Anyway, Google is your friend. Start with Helen Creighton and Edith Fowke.

Subject: Trad Songs About English Canadians
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Oct 17 - 10:27 PM

Some folks have been floating this idea around that English speaking Canadians (Old stock for lack of better term) do not really have a culture, and that their culture is dependent on the country they were in before Canada.

Can anyone suggest good trad songs that may remind people of the hardships that faced the first people settling this beautiful country?

Truly Canadian culture comes from the folks who settled from the Isles, no? I'm talking about a certain subsect of English Canada who can trace their ancestry back hundreds of years.

Obviously French Canada has a sense of its own culture, it has had to protect it from English encroachment and so has a headstart dealing with this sort of thing.