Help: Songs sung by Marina Russell of Upwey

Subject: Songs sung by Marina Russell of Upwey
From: vindelis
Date: 29 Mar 00 - 12:40 PM

I have been asked to find songs sung by Marina Russell of Upwey in Dorset. I know they were collected by the Hammond Brothers about the turn of century. There are three in 'Marrow Bones', that were collected in 1907; and I have found another on the Yetties' web-site. They are needed for a History talk about Mrs Russell, I believe to be held in June.

Subject: RE: Help: Songs sung by Marina Russell of Upwey
From: The Shambles
Date: 29 Mar 00 - 07:02 PM

I do not know but I am pretty sure that there will be someone out there who will.

Can you tell us a little more about the lady?

Subject: RE: Help: Songs sung by Marina Russell of Upwey
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 29 Mar 00 - 07:25 PM

There are eight (well, more-or-less; apparantly Mrs. Russell knew a lot of songs, but, like my mother, wasn't a world champion at remembering the words) in The Wanton Seed: if you'd like them, send me a personal message with your e-mail address and I'll send them to you.  Slightly too many to post here in one go, though I'll do it if it seems sensible.   I've just picked up a copy of The Constant Lovers, too, which probably has some of her songs: not had time to look yet, but I'll try to tomorrow.
Malcolm

Subject: RE: Help: Songs sung by Marina Russell of Upwey
From: vindelis
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 10:39 AM

Thank you

Subject: RE: Help: Songs sung by Marina Russell of Upwey
From: John Moulden
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 01:22 PM

Ten places to look:

Journal of the [English] Folk Song [and Dance] Society (see EA White's index for articles) (no 11, 1907) C Sharp (general ed) Folksongs from Dorset (Novello, 1908) Vaughan Williams and Lloyd: Penguin Book of English Folk Songs (1959) James Reeves: The Everlasting Circle(1960) Biddy Kindersley and Joan Brocklebank: A Dorset Book of Folksongs (1948) Frank Purslow: a/ Marrobones b/ Constant Lovers c/ Wanton Seed d/ The Foggy Dew Hammond Mss at the Vaughan Williams Memorial Libnrary at Cecil Sharp House, London.

That'lll keep him busy.

Subject: RE: Help: Songs sung by Marina Russell of Upwey
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 01 Apr 00 - 09:20 PM

Vindelis' post reminded me that Mrs. Russell of Upwey had some rather fine songs. Those printed in Frank Purslow's The Wanton Seed are:

The Bedmaking
Catch-Me-If-You-Can
The Crafty Maid's Policy
Farewell Dearest Nancy
John White
Madam, Madam I'm Come A-Courting
The Man Of Dover
Molly And William

Included in Purslow's The Constant Lovers are:

Poor Sally Sat A-Weeping
The True Lovers

Some of these, or versions of them, are already on the DT. CRAFTY MAID'S POLICY has the same text, and substantially the same tune, as Mrs. Russell's version.

BEDMAKING is the version from The Wanton Seed.

ALL I WANT IS A HANDSOME MAN or RIPEST APPLES is a (slightly different) version of Madam, Madam I'm Come A-Courting.

Poor Sally is the source for part of the text of AS SYLVIE WAS WALKING, published in the Penguin Book of English Folk Songs. An incomplete version on the DT, ONCE I HAD A SWEETHEART, is credited to D. Adams and described as "a somewhat fragmentary rewrite of Green Grow the Lilacs". I think that unlikely (the two songs have perhaps 2 ½ lines in common), and Adams certainly didn't write the text given, unless by a very remarkable coincidence!

I'll be posting some of the songs not already available, in threads of their own, starting with Catch-Me-If-You-Can.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Help: Songs sung by Marina Russell of Upwey
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 04 Apr 00 - 11:40 AM

And now,  John White

Malcolm