Tune Req: Leaving Friday Harbour

Subject: Leaving Friday Harbour
From: Ed Pellow
Date: 06 Aug 00 - 10:47 AM

I'm looking for the music for the lovely tune 'Leaving Friday Harbour' as performed by the Battlefield Band on the album of the same name.

Any format (abc, midi, gif etc) would be great.

I've tried the (to me) obvious sources such as Chris Walshaw's ABC index and JC's Tune Finder as well as various search engines without success.

Any additional information such as the writer or details of any other recordings of the tune would also be appreciated.

Thanks

Ed

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Leaving Friday Harbour
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 06 Aug 00 - 11:48 AM

So far as I know, John McCusker wrote it; it's probably just too new to have found its way onto the net yet.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Leaving Friday Harbour
From: Ed Pellow
Date: 06 Aug 00 - 12:00 PM

Thanks Malcolm,

I heard it performed at this year's Cambridge Festival by 'John McCusker and friends' and thought it was the loveliest tune I'd ever heard (sure you've had that experience)

Listening to the real audio clips on amazon etc from the Battlefield Band album, that version seemed a pale imitation, hence the post

Ed

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Leaving Friday Harbour
From: Gypsy
Date: 06 Aug 00 - 07:12 PM

Maybe Victory Music in WA would be of help to you. That's where Friday Harbour (in my ken, anyway) is, and Victory Music is all about preserving acoustic music.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Leaving Friday Harbour
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 11:17 AM

There's an ABC on the www.thesession.org site. The tempo's a bit fast, but you can change that.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Leaving Friday Harbour
From: Stewart
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 11:53 AM

And I have an abc, midi, and a score (Noteworthy Composer, you can download a free viewer) on my web site here.

It's a nice tune and I enjoy playing it. I'm a Victory Music member, but probably (maybe not) the only one who plays it.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Leaving Friday Harbour
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 12:56 PM

The original Battlefield Band's version, with some nice pictures to boot, can be found at youtube.

Nice tune.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Leaving Friday Harbour
From: Stewart
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 01:42 PM

I prefer John McCusker's solo version of this on his CD "Goodnight Ginger". It's slower and more lyrical - almost wistful.

The version on the video with the Battlefield Band isn't bad, but a little too fast for my taste - like they're in a rush to get out of the harbor. The video is nice, but very different from the Friday Harbor I know in the San Juan Islands of Washington State.

Cheers, S. in Seattle
not far from Friday Harbor

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Leaving Friday Harbour
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 02:40 PM

I agree, Stewart. The Battlefield Band version is too fast. I've not heard John McCusker's "Goodnight Ginger" version. Will have to hunt it out.

Ed

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Leaving Friday Harbour
From: Don Firth
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 04:36 PM

My great-grandfather, who was employed by the Hudson's Bay Company to survey San Juan Island for sheep ranching, boarded the ship at Stromness on Orkney, and came 'round the Horn in 1851. He settled on the south end of San Juan Island, where "American Camp" is now. A year or two later, he went back, married Jessie Grant, and brought her out with him (wedding picture). They produced nine children, one of whom was my grandfather. My father was born on San Juan Island and lived in Friday Harbor (the town, not the harbor itself. . . .) until he left in his twenties.

I have relatives there and have been there many times.

My great-grandfather and great-grandmother were there during The Pig War.

If you're going to have a war, that's the way to do it!

Don Firth