Songs for local calendar customs

Subject: Songs for local calendar customs
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 11 May 20 - 05:48 PM

Hi all, I'm trying to build a list of folk songs that are tied to *specific* local calendar customs -

That is to say, I'm not after general carols for Christmas or Easter, etc;

But rather, songs that closely accompany particular annual events; which may often be highly localised.

Well-known examples from the past month include:

Good Friday: Pace Egging songs (several local variants within locally performed plays)
May Day: Padstow 'Obby Oss Song
8 May: Hal-an-Tow, Helston Furry Day

How populous a roster of such songs could be assembled...?


For complete clarity, I'm less interested at this stage in things like the Cambridgeshire and Northill May Carols, as I'm not aware of them being tied to 'set pieces' like annual dances or folk plays (but very happy to be corrected)

I'm also particularly looking for 'sung songs' - although I know that many calendar events may have specific wordless musical accompaniment, eg Whittlsea Straw Bear.

Many thanks for any/all suggestions!

Subject: RE: Songs for local calendar customs
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 11 May 20 - 05:51 PM

PS The question is provoked by a lockdown-spurred project I've just started to learn/record and research/write about a different folk song from the British Isles every fortnight;

Quite a modest goal, but I certainly couldn't keep pace with Jon Boden or Andy Turner, nor can I even vaguely approach their musicality; however, the writing and research is at least as important to me as the singing.

Though the endeavour won't focus solely in such a direction, I'm especially interested in songs that link to calendar customs; and began the project with the Hal-an-Tow.

https://afolksongafortnight.blogspot.com/2020/05/afolksongafortnight-no1-hal-tow.html

Subject: RE: Songs for local calendar customs
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 11 May 20 - 07:22 PM

Lancashire Pace-Egging Songs
Annie G. Gilchrist, Cecil J. Sharp, Frank Kidson and J. A. Fuller-Maitland
Journal of the Folk-Song Society Vol. 2, No. 9 (1906), pp. 231-236
But the first of the two Lancashire Pace-Egging Songs does belong— 1 believe exclusively — to Northern England, even if as much may not be claimed for the tune ; and the second has been quaintly localised and adapted as a pace-egging song at a period farther back than any of the village fathers of Overton or Sunderland Point can recall.
8. Beg Your Leave sung by Jolly-Boys (Pace Eggers) from Overton Village, Sunderland Point, Easter 1906
9. WHEN JOHN'S SAIL WAS NEW. Sung by Jolly-Boys from Overton Village.
Sunderland Point, Easter, 1906.

Subject: RE: Songs for local calendar customs
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 11 May 20 - 07:26 PM

Holmfirth, in the Southern Pennines, has many claims to fame, including its own famous anthem, Pratty Flowers. This is still sung every year at Holmfirth Feast Sing, which takes place on the Sunday before Whit Sunday. The origins of the song lie in a pure folk ballad, traditionally sung by leader and chorus.

Subject: RE: Songs for local calendar customs
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 11 May 20 - 07:31 PM

One of many wassails;
The Whimple Wassail is an orchard-visiting wassail ceremony which takes place in the Devon village of Whimple annually every Old Twelfth Night (January 17). The Whimple Wassail was first mentioned by the Victorian author and folklorist Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould in his book Devon Characters and Strange Events (published 1908). After the incantation is read, The Wassail Song is sung around the tree.

Subject: RE: Songs for local calendar customs
From: Jack Campin
Date: 11 May 20 - 07:36 PM

Songs for the Common Ridings in the towns of the Scottish Borders.

Subject: RE: Songs for local calendar customs
From: cnd
Date: 11 May 20 - 11:01 PM

The Cherryville Shooters of Cherryville, NC has been a New Years eve tradition in the southern Piedmont of North Carolina for over 250 years, and other parts of the country before then, too. The shooters fire of rifle shots (using black powder blanks) to ring in the New Years in various places in and around Cherryville. Associated with the event is the "Chant of the New Years Shooters"

Good morning* to you, sir**. We wish you a happy New Year,
Great health, long life, which God may bestow
So long as you stay here below. May he bestow the house you're in,
Where you go out and you go in. Time by moments steals away,
First the hour and then the day. Small the lost days may appear,
But they soon mount up to a year. Thus another year is gone,
And now it is no more of our own, but if it brings our promises good
As the year before the flood, but let none of us forget
It has left us much in debt, a favor from the Lord received
Since which our spirits hath been grieved. Marked by the unerring hand,
Thus in His book our record stands. Who can tell the vast amounts
Placed to each our accounts? But while you owe the debt is large,
You may plead a full discharge. But poor and selfish sinners say,
What can you to justice pay? Trembling last for life is past
And into prison you may be cast. Happy is the believing soul,
Christ for you has paid the whole. We have this New Year's morning*
Called you by your name, and disturbed you from your rest,
But we hope no harm by the same. As we ask, come tell us your desire,
And if it be your desire, our guns and pistols they shall fire.
Since we hear of no defiance, you shall hear the art of science.
When we pull trigger and powder burns, you shall hear the roaring of our guns;
Oh, daughters of righteousness, we will rise and warm our eyes
And bless our hearts, for the old year's gone and the New Year's come
And for good luck, we'll fire our guns!

*morning or evening depending on time of day
**sir or miss depending on gender

From http://www.cherryvilleshooters.com/History-Chant.php
You can hear a recording from that website, or here

If you're interested in the tradition, you can watch a video of the tradition (as well as hear several more renditions of the chant) here, and read more about it here, though some searching will turn up plenty of other links.

Subject: RE: Songs for local calendar customs
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 12 May 20 - 02:06 AM

THis is one of the first I heard at The Wayfarers Club in Manchester in the mid- sixties (note from the extremely Mainly Norfolk site)

Harry Boardman sang Cob-a-Coalin' in 1968 on the Topic album Deep Lancashire: Songs and Ballads of the Industrial North-West. He commented in the album's sleeve notes:
This song has connections with earlier mummers' plays, but in living memory, it has provided a means by which children extract money from unsuspecting grown-ups for fireworks during the weeks leading up to the 5th November.
The chorus, including the tune, is from the Failsworth version (near Oldham) whereas the tune used for the verses is that sung by children in and around the Oldham area itself. The last two verses are still sung by children in the Oldham area but the first three verses were given by Mrs Norah Sykes of Greenfield who, in a letter to the Oldham Chronicle in November 1966, decried the fact that children are singing less and less of the song which she remembers from childhood. In spite of this, the custom shows no sign of dying out completely.

Harry Boardman sings Cob-a-Coalin'
Chorus (after each verse):
We come a-cob-a-coalin', cob-a-coalin', cob-a-coalin'
We come a-cob-a-coalin' for Bonfire Night

Now the first to come in is a collier, you see,
With his pick and his shovel already to dig.
He digs it and picks it and then it does fall,
And that is the way that we gather cob coal.

And the next to come in is a sailor, you see,
With a bunch of blue ribbon tied under his knee,
He travelled through England and France and through Spain,
And now he's returned to owd England again.

And the last to come in is a miser, you see,
He's a hump on his back, and he's blind of one ee.
He's a weary owd feller and he wears a pigtail
And all his delight is in drinking owd ale.

Now down in yon cellar there's an old umbrella,
There's nowt in yon corner but an old pepper pot.
Pepper pot, pepper pot, morning till night,
If you give us nowt, we'll pinch nowt and bid you goodnight.

And down in yon cellar there's plenty of bugs,
They've eaten my stockings and part of my clogs;
We'll get a sharp knife and we'll cut their yeds off,
And we'll have a good supper of bugs yeds and broth.

(spoken)
Up a ladder and down a wall,
Tuppence or thruppence will please us all.

Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Songs for local calendar customs
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 12 May 20 - 04:49 AM

Auld Lang Syne is a Scots-language poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song (Roud # 6294). It is well known in many countries, especially in the English-speaking world, its traditional use being to bid farewell to the old year at the stroke of midnight.

Subject: RE: Songs for local calendar customs
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 12 May 20 - 04:52 AM

Haxey Hood is a traditional event in Haxey, North Lincolnshire, England, on 6 January, the Twelfth Day of Christmas (unless the 6th falls on a Sunday, in which case it's held on Saturday 5th).

In the weeks before the event, the Fool and the Boggins tour nearby villages in order to collect money (traditionally to pay for the event, but now to raise money for local charities).

Traditionally they sing a number of well-known folk songs including "John Barleycorn", "Cannons (Drink England Dry)" and "The Farmer's Boy". All wear their full festival costumes, the only exception being that the Fool's face is not marked. Wikipedia

Subject: RE: Songs for local calendar customs
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 12 May 20 - 05:55 AM

The Watersons sang the Swinton May Song in 1975 on their album For Pence and Spicy Ale. Nearly 30 years later, Martin Carthy did it again with Brass Monkey on their album Flame of Fire. He commented:

Norma [Waterson] and I found The Swinton May Song in Chambers' whopping Book of Days about thirty years ago shortly after which the Watersons recorded it. I thought that it was about time for it to have another airing so, with Norma's permission, here it is. If you hear echoes of the Padstow May Song here then it's because there they are in the song. The “Swinton” referred to is now a part of Manchester. It actually boasted two distinct May songs—both of which are published in the book—and this is listed as the Old May Song. The book itself lists customs and bits and pieces for just about every day of the year. I frequently used to stay in Swinton when touring in the Manchester area in the 1960s and 70s. Never saw any mayers.

Subject: RE: Songs for local calendar customs
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 12 May 20 - 12:42 PM

Excellent, thanks all - some good ones so far!

Are there any songs that are particularly tied to certain Morris sides, on certain occasions in certain places?

Subject: RE: Songs for local calendar customs
From: GUEST
Date: 12 May 20 - 12:57 PM

'Saint Mary's Men' or 'Queen Mary's Men' - New Year's Eve house-visiting song in Shetland and, I believe, Orkney too.

Subject: RE: Songs for local calendar customs
From: GUEST,John Bowden
Date: 12 May 20 - 02:17 PM

There's the Captain's Song from the Grenoside Sword Dance - traditionally danced on Boxing Day in the village (although we do sometimes perform elsewhere during the year too)

Subject: RE: Songs for local calendar customs
From: Murpholly
Date: 12 May 20 - 05:49 PM

And the ladies danced at Whitsun.

Subject: RE: Songs for local calendar customs
From: GUEST
Date: 12 May 20 - 06:06 PM

"Are there any songs that are particularly tied to certain Morris sides, on certain occasions in certain places?"

There's the one that Martin Carthy recorded under the title 'Staines Morris' - a May song.

Subject: RE: Songs for local calendar customs
From: Jack Campin
Date: 12 May 20 - 08:58 PM

If there's a song about the Cooper's Hill cheese rolling, would it be "Bringing In The Cheese"?

Katherine Campbell's "The Fiddle in Scottish Culture" has a chapter about the place of the fiddle in Shetland New Year rituals.

In our village, Newtongrange in Midlothian, the local pub still runs on the Gothenburg system and puts its profits into the community. One thing they fund is the brass band, and in return they play in the bar on Children's Gala Day (early June) and New Year's Day. The bar is absolutely rammed. On New Years Day they always do Highland Cathedral and We're No Awa Tae Bide Awa, among other things. For Highland Cathedral they add a piper playing standing on the bar. It's usually so crowded that you can't hear the combined sound of Highland pipes and a full brass band if you're standing at the door.

Subject: RE: Songs for local calendar customs
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 13 May 20 - 03:39 AM

Galoshans was a common feature of Scottish Hallowe'en celebrations, particularly in villages/small communities. I believe it may also have occurred at Hogmanay, possibly the 'old' Scottish New Year in mid January?
(When I have time I'll look up the correct info in books!!)
There has been a recent resurgance in the performance of Galoshans, with scripts being adapted to suit modern times- eg Galoshans Festival at Greenock Beacons Arts Centre.
- Galoshans is a small group of travelling players, wearing an assortment of home made costumes, with a script, some songs and dances performing a seasonal sort of moral play, and recribing gifts of fruit, nuts, coins in return. It continues in present times as Hallowe'en 'guising' (and in Greenock tgey still call that Galoshans!!)

Subject: RE: Songs for local calendar customs
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 13 May 20 - 04:58 AM

Widecombe Fair is an annual fair in England, held in the Dartmoor village of Widecombe-in-the-Moor on the second Tuesday in September. It is well known as the subject of the folk song of the same name, featuring Uncle Tom Cobley and his friends.

Today's visitors will still see displays of quality livestock, although there are many other attractions, including: a dog show, displays of local produce, vintage farm machinery, rural arts and crafts, bale tossing and a now traditional appearance by "Uncle Tom Cobley": a local resident in fancy dress, riding a grey mare.

Subject: RE: Songs for local calendar customs
From: GUEST,Brenda
Date: 13 May 20 - 05:02 AM

Tavistock goosey fair is a song about Tavistock goose fair in Devon which if my memory serves me right is sometime in September. Not sure how traditional it is but is sung in dialect but maybe has music hall roots.

Subject: RE: Songs for local calendar customs
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 13 May 20 - 05:54 AM

Some excellent suggestions so far, please do keep them coming!

I've asked the same question in the Traditional Calendar customs and Ceremonies group on Facebook - here's that thread:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10163459200125156&set=gm.2635185356587318&type=3&theater&ifg=1

I'll try and consolidate what's coming in here, and what they've provided - alongside anything new that comes in - at the weekend!!

Subject: RE: Songs for local calendar customs
From: Mo the caller
Date: 13 May 20 - 12:07 PM

There is a Cheshire souling song that the children used to sing door to door (begging). When my children were at primary school they were taught the song (not sure if it was a current practise before they were taught it or it the teaching revived it) mid 70s.
A soul a soul a soulcake
please good Missis a soulcake
One for Peter one for Paul
One for him who made us all.

Now it's all Trick or Treat.

Subject: RE: Songs for local calendar customs
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 13 May 20 - 05:33 PM

The Mari Lwyd (Y Fari Lwyd) is an old tradition in parts of Wales that involves a group of people dressed in colourful costumes, including one dressed as a horse with a horse's skull, going from house to house and pub to pub. At each place they sing several verses which are answered by those inside with challenges and insults in rhyme, a battle of wits known as a pwnco. At the end of the battle, which can be as long as the creativity of the two parties holds out, the Mari party enters with another song.

This tradition is still practised in Llangynwyd, near Maesteg, and has been revived by members of the Llantrisant Folk Club.

Mari Lwyd carol
Wel dyma ni'n dwad Gyfeillion diniwad I ofyn am gennod i ganu

Os na chawn ni gennad Rhowch wybod ar ganiad Pa fodd mae'r 'madawiad, nos heno

'Does genni ddim cinio Nac arian iw gwario I wneud i chwi roeso, nos heno

Mari Lwyd carol
Here we come Dear friends To ask permissions to sing

If we don't have permission, Let us know in song How we should go away tonight

I have no dinner Or money to spend To give you welcome tonight

Bangor Community Choir Hear a recording of this song (arranged Pauline Down)

Subject: RE: Songs for local calendar customs
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 15 May 20 - 04:09 PM

The King A Folk Song a Week - Andy Turner; ‘The King’ was recorded from two retired schoolteachers, Dorothy and Elizabeth Phillips, from Hook in Pembrokeshire. They also gave first-hand reminiscences of the custom, which they remembered from the 1920s. The wren-party would go to ‘any manor houses in the neighbourhood where they would have food and drink and sometimes money’, during the period between 6 and 12 January, which they called ‘Twelfth-Tide’. The wren-house was ‘a little wooden cottage and dressed with ribbons really crêpe paper and the wren was inside and when they entered the house of course they all looked in and wanted to see the king. The date of this recording is given as 1981, but I’m assuming this was a return visit and that these were the same “two old ladies in Pembrokeshire” from whom Andy Nisbet collected the song in the 1960s.

Martin Carthy has recorded this song at least three times in different settings. I learned it, as I’m sure many others did also, from the Steeleye Span album Please to see the King. But Martin had already recorded it with Dave Swarbrick on Prince Heathen (1969). In fact Norma Waterson told me that, a few days after Martin had first heard ‘The King’ from Andy Nisbet, he happened to meet the Watersons at a festival – and immediately taught them this song! A decade or so later, of course, Martin was a a member of the Watersons, and they recorded ‘The King’ on Sound sound your instruments of joy.

Joy, health, love, and peace be all here in this place
By your leave we will sing concerning our king