Australian Poignancy

Subject: Australian Poignancy
From:
Date: 29 Jul 97 - 07:28 AM

Have just finished the first weekend listening to Martyn Wyndham's "Undiscovered Australia-I" and Gerry Hallom's "Undiscovered Australia II".

I know I like the sad melancoly Irish/Scot ballads but some of the cuts on these albums just blew me away. I tend to listen to these ones many times over till I can here them without tearing -up. I'd have some problems performing" The Water Lilly", "Never Neverland" and quite a few others on these albums.

Anyone know of other tapes, Cd's with this level of Australian folk music?

Thanks,

Fred

Subject: RE: Australian Poignancy
From: LaMarca
Date: 29 Jul 97 - 06:25 PM

Fred, Martyn Wyndham-Read has at least 2 other albums available on CD from Fellside Records in England:

"Mussels On a Tree" and "Sunlit Plains"

I think you can get these mail-order from Andy's Front Hall Records in New York; they have a web page.

Martyn's my favorite singer of Aussie songs (even though he's English). He has a bunch of earlier LPs on Fellside, as does Gerry Hallom (another Brit, not Aussie, by the way) that were the sources for the "Undiscovered Australia" collections; keep an eye out for them in used LP bins.

A. L. Lloyd, yet another Pommie, was the Englishman who introduced Australian folk songs to us folks in the Northern hemisphere; although his singing style is an acquired taste, his song selections are classics. A CD compilation of his "Bush Songs" was recently re-released; I'll look up the label when I get home.

If you can find Australian labels in the US (I am assuming you're from the States from your Compuserve address), look for albums by Dave DeHugard on the Larriken label. Dave is an excellent singer and concertina player and has recorded some fine songs. Other Larriken LPs we have managed to find here in the States are one by Cathy O'Sullivan, who has done some nice settings of Lawson and Patterson poems to music, and a collection called "Seven Creeks Run", which I think Larriken re-released on CD calling it "Waltzing Matilda" (sorry, Alan).

I'm sure Alan and Alison can make other recommendations (maybe they have recorded something themselves?), but we've found it hard to find albums on Australian labels here in the US; maybe they can suggest some sources, too.

Subject: RE: Australian Poignancy
From: Helen of Oz
Date: 29 Jul 97 - 08:20 PM

Although I am in Oz I tend to listen more to Celtic & harp music, but I can second the vote for Dave de Hugard. He is one of our best folk music collectors & performers. Another one you could look for is John Dengate, who writes his own lyrics, although he sometimes puts them to old tunes.

I had a quick look at the Southern Cross music site, and there are a few Australian recordings listed at this address - I don't know some of them, but the Jamberoo folk festival compilation would be worth a listen - fond memories of previous Jamberoo festivals :-)

http://www.tassie.net.au/~celtic/hrecord.html#Aust

I have the first of Cathie O'Sullivan's harp recordings - Artesian Waters, but it is not one of my favourites.

If Chris Kempster put out a recording of some of the Henry Lawson songs he collected for the book it would definitely be worth a listen - some excellent songs in that book, particularly the one called Do You Think That I Do Not Know

I assume you know of Eric Bogle, Scotsman who has lived out here for yonks - songs include: Green Fields of France, Leaving Nancy, And the Band Played Waltsing Matilda, etc etc

I'll keep thinking about this and get back to you with some more info or sites.

Helen

Subject: RE: Australian Poignancy
From: Bary Finn
Date: 29 Jul 97 - 10:21 PM

While we're in Oz, is there anyone close to West Geelong, there's an old feller there I'd like to send my regards to. He'd be worth the trip & the treat to some songs you might get would be heaven.

Subject: RE: Australian Poignancy
From: Bary Finn
Date: 29 Jul 97 - 10:22 PM

While we're in Oz, is there anyone close to West Geelong, there's an old feller there I'd like to send my regards to. He'd be worth the trip & the treat to some songs you might get would be heaven. I'll peak back in. Barry

Subject: RE: Australian Poignancy
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 30 Jul 97 - 04:35 AM

G'day,
A longer answer coming after I get time to type it offline.

John Dengate, an old mate of mine, has a recently released CD called "The Follies of Pollies" which I have in front of me. It is a great CD of John's own songs, parodies and political satire, but not really poignant.

Chris Kempster, another old mate, (OK I'm a name dropper) is the one who wrote the tune for "Reedy River" on Priscilla Herdman's Water Lily album. The book mentioned by Helen has quite a few poignant poems by Henry Lawson set to music by many people including yours truly. (Modest too).

Barry,
If you want to email me the name & address of the bloke in West Geelong I might be able to call on him at Christmas time. Geelong is about 900km from here (Sydney) but I grew up there & get back sometimes. COME ON THE CATS!!! Sorry, Geelong's Aussie Rules football team is currently on top of the ladder. We like our games FAST in some parts of OZ.

Cheers,
Alan
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Australian Poignancy
From: Fred Holmes
Date: 30 Jul 97 - 07:12 AM

I found the "Undiscovered Australia I&II" CDs on the Musica Pangaea web site http://www.rootsworld.com/pangaea/catalog.html

Many thanks to all who answer(ed. Looks like I'll have to expand the record/CD/tape shelves again!!

Fred

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Australian Poignancy
From: Alison
Date: 30 Jul 97 - 09:19 AM

Hi

One of John Dengate's songs, is in the database, form memory it's called "The song of the sheet metal worker". It's written about his dad, and sung to the tune of "The Valley of Knockanure."

Alan is probably too modest to tell you but he has a cassette of his own satirical / parodies.

Another writer of good Aussie songs is Jim Lowe, (he also has a web page, no doubt Alan will do one of those fancy links to it). He writes nice gentle ballad type songs.

Slainte

Alison

Subject: RE: Australian Poignancy
From: Helen
Date: 30 Jul 97 - 08:09 PM

Alan, For some reason I thought you were from the top end - but instead you're down south in the Big Smoke.

Hi from Newcastle, Helen

Subject: RE: Australian Poignancy
From: Alan of Oz
Date: 01 Aug 97 - 10:38 PM

G'day
As Alison said Jim Low writes some lovely songs in Aussie settings, no CD but he has produced some cassettes of his songs. You can find him here.

You may also enjoy the CD "Pithead In The Fern" by Margaret Walters & John Warner. This CD features songs written by John (an excellent song writer) about a coal mining area set in ferny Gippsland, part of the Aussie state of Victoria. Margaret & John are backed up by some very talented musicians on this CD. You should be able to contact them at

Feathers and Wedge
PO Box 615
Glebe NSW
Australia 2037

John & Margaret have just released a new CD which I haven't got yet called "Who Was Here?". This is mostly John's songs again but with others written by people like Ewan MacColl, Fred Small and includes John Dengate's "Song of the Sheet Metal Worker" which as Alison mentioned above is in the Digitrad database.

Speaking of John Dengate If you are interested in his CD he can be contacted at [e-mail].

Helen,
G'day from Sydney. No I'm not from the top end but I did mention that I'd been to Darwin recently. Darwin, Kakadu etc. in the dry season (winter for northern hemisphere people) is fantastic. Every day was about 32 degrees (celsius, 90 fahrenheit) and incredible scenery. That was my plug for Aussie tourism.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Australian Poignancy
From: Alan of Oz
Date: 02 Aug 97 - 07:38 PM

Helen,
I also meant to mention that you can find me in The Cornstalk Gazette. Turn to the What's On page and look for Western Suburbs Folk Music Club under Friday. You can also find me in the folk club section of Sydney Folk Music Web Site. That was my plug for our folk club. If you are in Sydney on a Friday look us up.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Australian Poignancy
From: Barry Finn
Date: 13 Aug 97 - 10:38 PM

Alan Thanks & sorry it took me sooo long on this. The old fellar's name is George Herbert, 54 Wellington St. West Geelong Vic. Aus. You could ask for the master rigger from Geelong & you'll be pointed in his direction. Would you pass on my best wishes & thanks for all his songs. If he's slowing down, he'll tell you it's not his age (92?) but that the doctors all say it was his hard life at sea as a cabin boy, he's very modest & very sweet. Barry

Subject: RE: Australian Poignancy
From: mandola man
Date: 23 Sep 97 - 02:09 PM

If you are interested in settings of poems by Henry Lawson, there are three on Margaret Walter's solo album, "for the future and the past", and an absolutely beautiful version of "the outside track" on the Walters and Warner CD "who was here" which is mentioned above. Incidentally, Alan gave the postal address, but Margaret also has an email address [e-mail]

Dave deHugards CD has a great version of Lawson's "sweeney". Margaret Bradford's CD has "when the children come home", but I maybe I should not spread that around, because it is set to that wonderful tune, "The Mudgee Waltz", which I prefer to play as a tune.

Subject: RE: Australian Poignancy
From: GUEST,Mark Santos
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 02:41 AM

Hi Barry-Im George Herbert's grandson. The old fella passed away in May of 2009.

Subject: RE: Australian Poignancy
From: Andrez
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 08:13 AM

Whoops,was watching Geelong playing football (and doing well) with one eye and reading this thread with the other and was thinking of making an offer to visit as well until Marks post above made me check the thread post dates! Hopefully some of Georges songs were preserved for the family in some form or another.

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: Australian Poignancy
From: GUEST,dBranno
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 09:04 AM

Hi Andrez (and others)...
Funny innit how things go around? Leafing through old ('60s) copies of Tradition (long defunct wonderful for the time Australian Folkmusic periodical, for you Northern Hemisphericans) only today (before we talked on the tellingbone), had me thinking in general about the expropriation of fair dinkum "Bush Music" by the poms past and present - the Bertsongs thread recently refreshed here on the Mudcat was food for thought too, as I mentioned to you, with reference to our late brother Rowan's reflections on the subject.
And Henry Lawson's...
"For it isn't no ill-feelin' that is gettin'up my back;
But I won't see this land crowded by each Yank and British cuss
Who takes it in his head to come a-civilizin'us."
The Geelong/Saints game replay has just started up here as we speak...

Peace...

Subject: RE: Australian Poignancy
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 10:11 AM

The two songs/Chants from Walkabouts I wrote about my time in Australia - before repatriating - are both on my MySpace player: "Walkabout with my Pen" and "State to State" - http://www.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse

Also, for what it's worth, since repatriating, I only attempt English traditional-songs and hymns; and enjoy listening to the sticks, chants, and didgeridoos of Aborigines.

Subject: RE: Australian Poignancy
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 11:31 AM

Mark, Barry has passed away as well (much too young, in his case). Thanks for checking in.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Australian Poignancy
From: Andrez
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 08:37 AM

Mark, I don't want to intrude into any private family spaces but are you able to tell us anything of what has become of George Herbert's songs? Are you singing them? Is someone else doing so? Are they at least documented/recorded in some fashion or another?

It would be good to know that Georges legacy is somehow preserved for family or perhaps a wider Australian audience as part of our 'tradition' of working mens songs. Are you aware of the role the National Library has in documenting and preserving our folk heritage? Its just a few thoughts anyway.

Cheers,

Andrez

PS: As an afterthought, when reading this thread for the first time, b4 I realised how old it actually was, I had thought that the musical recommendations seemed somewhat dated.

I wonder what the list might look like with the addition of new Australian folk material written and recorded between 1997 and the present time. I'm a little out of touch with this kind of material myself these days but it would be interesting to hear of any suggestions out there for material to include in an updated list in the spirit of fholmes first post in this thread.

:-)

Subject: RE: Australian Poignancy
From: GUEST,Mark Santos
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 05:54 PM

Hi Andrez--I know that there are recordings around the family. I remember a lot of the songs because George used to take me up to the ships most weekends in my teens. I still have his concertina and one of his ukele's. I also have many pieces of his ropework and one or two ships in bottles that he made. The old boys ashes are buried in Anglican church rose garden on latrobe terrace Geelong West.

Desert Dancer-sorry to hear about Barry

Cheers mark

Subject: RE: Australian Poignancy
From: GUEST,Bev Lane
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 11:34 PM

If you like that style try Danny Spooner, with albums such as 'Launch out on the Deep'. Look up 'Danny Spooner, Traditional Singer' on the Internet. He has a site where you can buy CDs. You might also find interesting songs among the work of Brian Mooney, Judith Crossley and The Settlers. Bev

Subject: RE: Australian Poignancy
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 01:54 AM

"I wonder what the list might look like with the addition of new Australian folk material written and recorded between 1997 and the present time. I'm a little out of touch with this kind of material myself these days but it would be interesting to hear of any suggestions out there for material to include in an updated list in the spirit of fholmes first post in this thread."

For starters, The Fagans have released an album or three since 1997; Chloe and Jason Roweth (their earliest albums were under the name, Us Not Them); Enda Kenny.

Subject: RE: Australian Poignancy
From: Andrez
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 08:22 AM

Hi Mark,

If there are bits and pieces of Georges legacy 'around the family' perhaps you might want to consider asking family to help round it up with a view to preserving his legacy for family as well as the wider community. In this respect you might consider making contact with the The National Film and Sound Archive at this link: http://www.nfsa.gov.au/about/ .

As they say, the NFSA aims to develop a collection that has enduring cultural significance and perhaps this might be a good way to honour Georges life and work. Once again this is only a thought that you and family might want to consider if you haven't already yourself.

It would be great if there were any audio or even video recordings to complement any written documents as well.

Cheers,

Andrez

PS: Hey that storm looks like its just about to hit Geelong ;-(