Song Collectors: Who, what, when, where?

Subject: RE: Song Collectors: Who, what, when, where?
From: GUEST,Harry
Date: 16 Sep 18 - 04:08 AM

Sue Allan has written a PhD thesis on Cumbrian folk song which includes a chapter on collecting:

FOLK SONG IN CUMBRIA : A DISTINCTIVE REGIONAL REPERTOIRE?

Subject: RE: Song Collectors: Who, what, when, where?
From: GUEST,Jon Dudley
Date: 15 Sep 18 - 06:29 AM

Vectis, Bob Copper had been connected to the BBC via the 'Country Magazine' programme and also the 40 minute Home Service drama documentary 'The Life of James Copper'. He was issued with a so-called 'midget' tape recorder which it took a strong man to lug around and just as a matter of interest, these machines were serviced by Stanley Unwin, later to find fame for his nonsensical commentaries on all manner of subjects. Anyway, Bob was given Hampshire and Sussex as his baliwick and collected songs and dialect part-time for the BBC whilst running the HH Inn, Cheriton and after that the Central Club in Peacehaven. This work is wonderfully covered in the second of Bob's books 'Songs and Southern Breezes' which we are intending to re-publish later this year. Bob maintained friendships with the other collectors, two of whom 'collected' Bob and other family members - Peter Kennedy and Seamus Ennis. Seamus was an occasional visitor to Peacehaven and Bob and he got on extremely well, often, he stayed at The Castle Hotel just across the road and it wasn't unknown for him to telephone Bob whilst he was cleaning at around eight in the morning with the immortal words "Bob, is that you? Good! I'm feeling the need of a drink upon me".

This was a magical time for Bob, to be paid (not much) for something he absolutely loved doing...talking to country people, hearing their stories and singing their songs - he was exactly the person to do it - he spoke their language. He was fortunate too that although it was becoming rare, there were still singers to be found, although they too could see the decline, as one of them put it to him, "You should 'ha bin round 'ere twenty years ago - we had some capital fine singers then..." What a stroke of genius too for the BBC, particularly in the form of Brian George, to have had the foresight to instigate the collecting scheme in the first place...

Subject: RE: Song Collectors: Who, what, when, where?
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 15 Sep 18 - 05:18 AM

Anne Gilchrist collected songs in Cumbria, Keswick mainly. Are there any dedicated books to her collection? Amazingly I've never asked that question before.

Subject: RE: Song Collectors: Who, what, when, where?
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 15 Sep 18 - 04:54 AM

Not really what this thread is about but sadly true. I caught the aftermath with the Dorset Gypsies. 'We won't let no-one make a fool of us again!" said Queen Caroline Hughes daughter Carrie Warren, as I sadly left with no songs on my tape recorder. I ended up recording Peter Ingram though. (See Voice of the people). Mainly because I gave him a cassette tape of Jimmy Rodgers, and helped him with a wagon. Bob Copper was too much of a gentleman and never told the tale. (No offence Jim) but it does need relating I think. Lessons learned? I hope so.

Subject: RE: Song Collectors: Who, what, when, where?
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 15 Sep 18 - 04:50 AM

Did anyone collect in, what is now, Cumbria?

Subject: RE: Song Collectors: Who, what, when, where?
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 15 Sep 18 - 04:41 AM

"The BBC sent Bob Copper out with a recorder,"
Bob was part of the BBC team that went out from 195- to 1955
The team Seamuss Ennis, Bob Copper Sean O'Boyle- led by Peter Kennedy gathered the largest collection of traditional songs in these islands - unfortuneately one of them ran off with the takings
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Song Collectors: Who, what, when, where?
From: Mr Red
Date: 15 Sep 18 - 04:21 AM

I collected a few, some not documented elsewhere. The Full English were not interested. Limited resources. And a definition of "collect" seems to be "in the past".

Subject: RE: Song Collectors: Who, what, when, where?
From: vectis
Date: 13 Sep 18 - 05:10 PM

The BBC sent Bob Copper out with a recorder, not sure if it was tape or wire, in the 60s to collect folk songs from Sussex.

Subject: RE: Song Collectors: Who, what, when, where?
From: GUEST,Rigby
Date: 12 Sep 18 - 04:15 PM

RA Gatty also collected mainly in Yorkshire.

Subject: RE: Song Collectors: Who, what, when, where?
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Sep 18 - 03:56 AM

Thanks for the advice.

Geordie

Subject: RE: Song Collectors: Who, what, when, where?
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 11 Sep 18 - 10:13 AM

Use the same advanced search engine, but eliminate all options except Song Collections. Bring up the Roud Song Index and then type in your county you want to know about. Quite a lot that was collected around the country in the first half of the 20th century was published in the Folk Song Journals.

Yorkshire Collections I know of:
mine with Jim Eldon
Hudlestons
Paul Davenport
Frank Kidson
Clive Carey
Sharp, a few
Ian Russell
Ruairidh Greig
Various members of the Leeds University Folk course in the 70s.

Subject: RE: Song Collectors: Who, what, when, where?
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 11 Sep 18 - 09:37 AM

Just type it in to the Full English advanced search engine and your questions are answered. There are 125 results for Staffordshire. Not all folk songs a lot are related to ritual dance. Remember to clear the boxes to the left and go for archives only, or else you'll get broadsheets and books as well. (Unless you want them of course)

Subject: Song Collectors: Who, what, when, where?
From: GUEST,Geordie
Date: 11 Sep 18 - 07:47 AM

Is there a collated list anywhere of song collectors and where they collected?

I mean, the likes of Cecil Sharp, Sabine Baring Gould etc are well known but what about the more obscure collectors?

For instance, who collected in Staffordshire? Did anyone before Roy Palmer and Jon Raven?