Help: A Calling On Song information request

Subject: RE: Help: A Calling On Song information request
From: IanC
Date: 02 Oct 01 - 04:30 AM

Actually, it happened in 1835.

1835 9th September. 'An Act to provide for the Regulation of Municipal Corporations in England and Wales.'

You need to remember that Waits were local government employees, paid for and liveried by the local town or village authority. The act above was the first of a series which set up standardised local councils and which did away with a whole load of local (paid) traditions.

More on Waits (including quite a lot of historical records) at The Waits Website.

Cheers!
Ian

Subject: RE: Help: A Calling On Song information request
From: Les B
Date: 02 Oct 01 - 12:31 AM

Ian C - do you have any idea of what happened in 1836 to cause the York Waits to disband after a 500 year run ?? Must have been pretty powerful forces at work.

Subject: RE: Help: A Calling On Song information request
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 10:33 PM

Folky1 -- I know you're new, but check above the thread list to see if you have any personal messages (PMs) waiting at your personal page. There should be at least one there for you!

Bat Goddess

Subject: RE: Help: A Calling On Song information request
From: Folky1
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 07:10 PM

Thanks to everyone who replied. I have gotten the information we needed. We appreciate the help! :)

Subject: RE: Help: A Calling On Song information request
From: Ringer
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 09:23 AM

Thanks, all.

Subject: RE: Help: A Calling On Song information request
From: IanC
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 06:47 AM

Waits were originally night watchmen, but let them describe it themselves ...

The York Waits take their name from the ancient city band of York, the earliest evidence for which we find in 14th century records. Before they turned to music full time the waits had been night watchmen and, although their guard duties diminished, they continued to keepe the night watches in the weeks leading up to Christmas, playing at various points to mark the hours and wake the citizens. In York as in many towns, they were employed by the Lord Mayor as the city's own band of musicians, paid and liveried by the corporation to play on public occasions. The band is known to have been in continuous existence for at least five hundred years until abolition in 1836.

From The York Waits (There are also other revival Waits Bands).

Cheers!
Ian

Subject: RE: Help: A Calling On Song information request
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 06:32 AM

From 'Chambers book of days'

While reading one evening towards the close of April 1861, I was on a sudden aware of a party of waits or carollers who had taken their stand on the lawn in my garden

The quotation refers to a Maying tradition and the party he is refering to a group of local singers. I guess both waits and carollers meant anyone performing a seasonal (regardless of the season?) song.

Makes you wonder how usage changes doesn't it. Wonder what they will make of 'The Gay Fusellier' in a hundred years time!

(Sorry - thread hijack not intended just thinking out loud!)

Cheers

Dave the Gnome

Subject: RE: Help: A Calling On Song information request
From: The_one_and_only_Dai
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 06:13 AM

So, it translates as "Pay Attention! A bunch of bucolic itinerants will shortly begin warbling"

Subject: RE: Help: A Calling On Song information request
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 06:10 AM

A 'wait' is a musician employed by a town to play on ceremonial occasions (historical) and (in plural) persons who welcome in Christmas by playing or singing out of doors at night.

Subject: RE: Help: A Calling On Song information request
From: Ringer
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 06:00 AM

While we're on the subject, does anyone know why Hark the village wait? What does it mean? Is it a quotation?

Subject: RE: Help: A Calling On Song information request
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 11:10 PM

I expect they'll reply in their own good time; the reason for the indirect contact will be that he doesn't want the whole world to know where he lives!  Meanwhile, as Anglo pointed out, you don't need permission to record it, and MCPS or whatever the equivalent is in the US will tell you how to arrange payment of royalties.  There's actually no need to contact Hutchings himself.

Subject: RE: Help: A Calling On Song information request
From: Folky1
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 10:42 PM

Thanks for the information so far. Malcolm, I had already gone to Ashley Hutching's site, but the only contact information is an email for his management (no phone or address). I have already sent them an email, but haven't gotten a response yet. I was hoping someone out there might know of another contact route.

Searching for the contact info was a good way to learn more about the song. I did read that it was based on the captain's song of the Earsdon Sword Dance Team. Even if its based on that, a derivation would have its own copywrite, correct? We just want to give the proper credit and pay the appropriate fees to the proper person.

Subject: RE: Help: A Calling On Song information request
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 10:38 PM

Whoops!  I was in a hurry to get to the pub...

Subject: RE: Help: A Calling On Song information request
From: Anglo
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 06:06 PM

Change about two words from the way Hutchings had it and call it "trad." As far as I'm concerned if you need to send royalties somewhere you could send a little check to the Earsdon Sword Team. I don't think Hutchings' ownership claim has a leg to stand on here. Since it's already recorded I don't believe you don't actually need permission (though it might be polite to get it), though with a legitimate composed song you should of course pay the royalty through the appropriate instrument.

PS. Malcolm, the title is "Hark the Village Wait."

Subject: RE: Help: A Calling On Song information request
From: wildlone
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 05:02 PM

Thanks Malcolm, another one for my favourites.br dave

Subject: RE: Help: A Calling On Song information request
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 03:12 PM

Credited on the original recording, Hark the Village Wake (RCA SF 8113, 1970) as "Hutchings, Sanah Music.  The tune is only slightly modified from the traditional calling-on song of the Earsdon Sword Dance team, on which the text is also modelled.  The best contact would be Hutchings or his current agent, rather than Steeleye Span, which he left nearly 30 years ago!  Ashley now has an official website at  http://www.ashleyhutchings.com/,  where you will find contact details.

Subject: RE: Help: A Calling On Song information request
From: wildlone
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 01:23 PM

Park Records

Subject: RE: Help: A Calling On Song information request
From: wildlone
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 01:20 PM

Steeleye Span are recording on Park Records.
Here is the email addy [e-mail]
dave

Subject: RE: Help: A Calling On Song information request
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 12:53 PM

Hey Sandy, welcome to Mudcat! Sundays can be kinda slow but stick around-- someone will find this for you I am sure.

Good luck to you and your group on your project, too!

~Susan

Subject: A Calling On Song information request
From: Folky1
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 12:47 PM

Hello Everyone, I am in a group called "Sweet Diversity" from Milwaukee, WI. We are working on making our first recording, a combination of songs we have written and songs we cover by other people. We have successfully gotten in contact with most of the songwriters or their agents and received permission to record the songs we chose. However, I have been unable to get contact information for Ashley Hutchings for "A Calling On Song" which he recorded with Steeleye Span. Mudcatters, can you help us out? We are new to all this and would appreciate any help you could give us. Thanks, Sandy for Sweet Diversity