The Songcatcher

Subject: The Songcatcher
From: BigDaddy
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 02:15 AM

Well, I lost the original mention of this, but here goes: Someone mentioned having recently seen a video (movie) release of this. I have seen mention of this at the author's website (i.e. http://www.sharynmccrumb.com). She (the author) refers to it as her next "ballad novel" which won't be released until summer, 2001. Sounds like a great idea for a novel/movie that sort of got derailed along the way. And yes, the main character is/was based on Cecil Sharp. So far, Sharyn McCrumb's "Ballad Novels" have (mostly) been based on titles taken from more recent compositions like "The Long Black Veil," "Rosewood Casket, etc. The author does have a feel for the people and language of the (Appalachian) region, but seems to not know her folksong base that well. Any comments or ideas would be appreciated. J.

Subject: RE: The Songcatcher
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 10:18 AM

We apparently have dueling Songcatchers here.

Looks like Sharyn McCrumb's novel is unrelated to Maggie Greenwald's movie.

For the movie see

www.sundancechannel.com/festival00/filmguide/sub_index.tin?Section=dramatic_competition&Film=songcatcher.tin

and

www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m1312/12_377/59535330/p1/article.jhtml

Subject: RE: The Songcatcher
From: LR Mole
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 10:37 AM

Well, "Long Black Veil" is nowhere near as old as most people think: it was written to impersonate an old mountain ballad, and I first heard it on a Kingston Trio LP. Ditto "The Mountains O' Mourne". I could, however, be wrong.

Subject: RE: The Songcatcher
From: Peg
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 11:36 AM

I was at least one of the people who mentioned "Songcatcher" in another thread. I saw the film recently at a press screening for the Boston Film Festival. It is definitely worth seeing! Glas my guess about Cecil Sharp was correct...

It is a great story, though there are a couple of plot elements that seem somewhat tacked on...mainly in the guise of shoiwng how tragic the lives of the mountain folk were...

I just wish the film's score was not so syrupy and that more of the folk music in the soundtrack was utilized for this purpose...I mean, if any film could have made such a score work, this one could and why the director or producers made the choice to go so "hollywood" with that score is a mystery to me...

My short review will appear in the next couple of weeks at www.bostonphoenix.com.

peg

Subject: RE: The Songcatcher
From: Naemanson
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 11:56 AM

I haven't read any of the ballad novels yet but a former girlfriend turned me on to two of her murder mysteries, Bimbos Of The Death Sun and Zombies Of The Gene Pool. Neither are quite what the titles would lead you to believe. They are entertaining light reading. Bimbos would be of particular interest to those with an interest in science fiction. The murder takes place at a science fiction convention.

Based on what I've read I would have no hesitation in picking up the ballad novels.

Subject: RE: The Songcatcher
From: BigDaddy
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 12:40 PM

"Long Black Veil" was written by Nashville songwriters M. J. Wilkin & D. Dill. The first recording was in March 1959 by Lefty Frizzell. It's been "covered" by a number of artists since.

J.

Subject: RE: The Songcatcher
From: BigDaddy
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 04:37 PM

LRMole, Also meant to mention "Mountains of Mourne" was written by prolific Irish composer (William) Percy French (1854-1920). And to Naemanson, I''d suggest you read Sharyn McCrumb's "ballad novels" in chronological sequence, omitting the first ("If Ever I Return, Pretty Peggy O"). There are recurring characters which develop from book to book.

J.

Subject: RE: The Songcatcher
From: Lorraine
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 05:57 PM

Good reads

Subject: RE: The Songcatcher
From: BH
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 07:18 PM

The difference is that the book is called--"The Songcatcher" and comes with a CD. The film is called "Songcatcher". I would recommend it highly---and I also had the delight of interviewing Maggie's husband David Mansfield (the music director) for my program TRADITIONS on WFDU in Teaneck NJ---personal plug over---and I an my listeners rcvd some insights to the film.

The book, frankly, did not hold me very long. Nor the CD that came with it. Disclaimer---honesty.

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: The Songcatcher
From: jaze
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 08:21 PM

Don't let 'Spaw see this!

Subject: RE: The Songcatcher
From: GUEST,Guest-Shug
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 09:57 PM

This afternoon I picked up "Songcaster" by Sharyn McCrumb from our local library. By mistake my wife had ordered the talking book version instead of the novel. From the liner notes I found that the music would be included in the story, and sung by artists like Betty Smith of NC and Sweetwater. What a bonus this is for anyone buying the casette version of the book. Instead of the usual great read, this feels as if you are right in the story. The sad part of all this is, that cassette one played the first side and then the tape ran right off. I had to return it to the library, and placed my order again, but on the way home I realised it had made such an impact on me, and was so compelling that I shall go out tomorrow and buy my own copy. What have I been missing in reading books rather than listening to them?

Subject: RE: The Songcatcher
From: DougR
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 10:01 PM

Does anyone know if Spaw has seen this movie?

Subject: RE: The Songcatcher
From: catspaw49
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 10:07 PM

Aw fer chrissakes............

fuckin unbelievable

kiss my ass

Spaw

Subject: RE: The Songcatcher
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 10:18 PM

I think there is another thread about this somewhere.

Subject: RE: The Songcatcher
From: catspaw49
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 10:25 PM

.........possibly.........maybe even 10 more of them!

DOES ANYONE EVER CHECK FOR PREVIOUS THREADS????????

TWO MORE on this damn movie TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

ELEVEN THREADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: The Songcatcher
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 11:31 PM

Spaw: Are you sure there are 11 threads? I count only 10. Did someone misspell the title? Or start a thread called "That Whatchamacallit Movie"?

Subject: RE: The Songcatcher
From: DougR
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 11:32 PM

This is a movie, right?

Subject: RE: The Songcatcher
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 11:36 PM

Maybe we should start a thread (or better still, make a movie!) called "The Threadcatcher." About a guy who surfs the Internet collecting threads about "The Songcatcher."

Subject: RE: The Songcatcher
From: DougR
Date: 30 Aug 01 - 02:05 PM

That's a great idea, Jim, and Spaw could produce it!

Subject: RE: The Songcatcher
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Aug 01 - 03:02 PM

Because I don't know which of the 10 threads someone may be tracing, I'm posting this on ALL of the "Songcatcher" threads.

Our good member annamil has a video store and I asked her to check on the " of the movie being available on videotape and as she always does, came through for us. Here is what she posted:

**********************************************************

I just called my dealer and he says it will be out Oct 23rd and I will pre-book it Oct 1st. You won't be able to buy it for awhile, but you will be able to rent it. I didn't know about this movie til I read this thread and I only read this thread because someone mentioned it in another thread. I can't wait to see it and more importantly, I can't wait to HEAR it.

I'm not sure how many I should order for the store as this is the first I've heard of it.

From what I heard and read here, it may be worth 10 threads ;-)

Love, Annamill

**********************************************************

So go bug your local videostore and tell them you want to rent "Songcatcher." And when you do.........Don't start another freakin' thread huh?

Spaw

Subject: RE: The Songcatcher
From: GUEST,for now
Date: 30 Aug 01 - 03:30 PM

A scant few days ago several people were enquiring about possible grants to help out Mudcat as a 'serious' folk site. I hope that at least some can see how difficult that would be considering this spate of revived threads and much of their content. I'm not a disgruntled malcontent, just a bit surprised at how quickly the silly stuff has returned and why certain people are keeping it going considering the circumstances. Flame away.

Subject: RE: The Songcatcher
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Aug 01 - 03:48 PM

If you read the last post you'd see that I just posted all of the threads with the same message because I didn't and can't know which ones someone may be tracing.

It's true that last night I did refresh all of them after finding that we had yet another! The problem of not checking before starting a new thread is one of very few we have here and it can be fixed. A simple note and red-letter reminder on the Create page would go a long way as would anyone taking the time to be more familiar with the site.

As for you wanting a flame? No, but I'd appreciate it that if you have a problem with me, you'd say so and not be afraid to use your name. Just a thought....

Spaw

Subject: RE: The Songcatcher
From: GUEST,NICOLE
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 09:35 PM

DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHERE I CAN FIND THE SONG LYRICS TO THE SONGS OF THE SONGCATCHER CD SOUNDTRACK?

THANKS NICOLE

Subject: RE: The Songcatcher
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 09:42 PM

Most of them are right here, Nicole - just put the name of the song in the search box.
-Joe Offer-