Help: South Yorkshire Carols

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 29 Dec 01 - 12:54 PM

The photographer kept everyone standing outside "while the queue built up" - and he didn't even stay to sing! Last session at the Royal tomorrow Sunday 30th. Woe!

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 29 Dec 01 - 04:08 PM

So, did anyone run into Geoff Thompson and pass on greetings (and request for e-mail or snail mail address) from Linn Schulz and Tom Hall from the Press Room, Portsmouth, New Hampshire USA? Wonderful singer -- I've been lucky enough to have stolen a few verses from him .

Linn

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: The Shambles
Date: 31 Dec 01 - 09:41 AM

Sunday Times 30/12/01 (news review page 16)

Carol singers are classified as live musicians and therefore must have a licence.
Westmnster City Council

Sunday Telegraph 23/12/01

Brian Flynn, the landlord of the Cove House Inn, on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, has accused council officials of being "heavy-handed" after they told him that he needs a public entertainment licence for carol singalongs in his pub.

A happy new year?

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: nutty
Date: 31 Dec 01 - 04:28 PM

I've found this web site which may interest people

Carols

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 02 Jan 02 - 01:22 PM

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: Abuwood
Date: 09 Nov 02 - 04:45 AM

And where will they be this year?

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 09 Nov 02 - 12:01 PM

Abuwood - As this is a tradition, I think the carols will be sung in the same places as last year. But perhaps it would make sense to start a new thread for this year's carols, with a link to the previous thread. Including the day at Grenoside on 30 November.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: Schantieman
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 11:04 AM

I'm interested in going to this, Al. Sounds wonderful.

Steve

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: selby
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 11:32 AM

These are the day;s and venue's as far as I know but please check first to save a wasted journey.
The Black Bull Ecclesfield Nr Sheffield Thursday Evenings Nov 14th to Xmas
The Travelers Rest Oughtbridge Nr Sheffield Saturday Evenings
Nov 16th to Xmas
The Royal Hotel Dungworth Nr Sheffield and The Blue Ball Inn Worall Nr Sheffield Sunday Lunchtimes Nov 17th to Xmas
All this Info cleaned from The Hedingham Fair calendar a must for all folkies
Keith

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: BanjoRay
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 12:18 PM

Anyone know anything about the history of these carol sessions? I seem to remember hearing a radio program once describing how they were basically old fashioned hymns that were thrown out of church services and ended up in the pubs because the people still liked them although the church authorities didn't.
Any carol/hymn historians out there?
Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: GUEST,red and white rabbit
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 01:01 PM

Definitely looked like Whippet to me - though I must say I think he's lost a bit of weight!!

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 05:17 AM

I can say I'm definately in the piccy and the carol's start again this Sunday whoopie !! Hail smiling morn smiling morn

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: Abuwood
Date: 12 Nov 02 - 03:29 AM

Blimey Keith- the Calendar you speak of is next to my computer!
I just never thought of looking there!

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: bradfordian
Date: 25 Nov 02 - 07:36 AM

I went along to listen to the Carol session at the Travellors Rest in Oughtibridge on Saturday night. There were about 2 dozen local "enthusiasts" who went through some of their repotoire with the aid of a flip chart for the words (tho' most knew the words of course). Very interesting to hear the words and tunes. I did learn that Hail Smiling Morn was written by a chap from Southwell (pronounced So'thel BTW) around the mid 1800's. No doubt their numbers will grow as it gets nearer Christmas. It was good to observe and not interfere. Anyone know if there is also a session at a place called High Bradley? Regards Brad.

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 25 Nov 02 - 08:41 AM

brandfordian, can you give us the names of more carols?

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 25 Nov 02 - 12:32 PM

Most of them are 'While shepherds watched'!! About a dozen different versions. Holmfirth Anthem usually makes an appearance too and a rather jolly one about a bride who plays hide and seek with her husband on their wedding night and falls into a trunk and is never found again. Seriously though it is an experience - so many voices and harmonies. Will record you some Mary and send it across if you pm me your address. We will be going down to Dungworth the weekend after next I think.

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 25 Nov 02 - 02:45 PM

Mary in Kentucky - Earlier in this thread, which I started last year, there were some links to websites with information about some of the songs and music. Some of the links seem to have died, and no longer bring up the website they did last year. That said it might be worth checking to see if any of them are still active.
Words and Music used for the South Yorks Carols have been published by at least two organisations. Last year we bought copies of the book produced by the Worrall Male Voice Choir, who belong to one of the villages were carols are sung. The book we bought was a new edition fresh off the press and entitled "The Joy of Christmas".
Other people who I know have a different book which I think belongs to a Derbyshire choir, although I am not certain if I have got that information correct.
A large number of the carols are different variants of While Shepherds. Some, such as Sweet Chiming Christmas Bells use the song for a verse, but then have a chorus added.
A number of the South Yorkshire Carols appear to of local origin, and are sung to tunes named for nearby places. These include tunes with names such as Spout Cottage, Malin Bridge, Oughtibridge and Little Bilberry. Last year I found a website which had many of the South Yorkshire tunes ad MIDI files. The link no longer works, but I have just used Google with the search string Little Bilberry, and it came up with the same site, but at a new address Click Here! and the same mirrored at another address http://www.villagecarols.co.uk/.
I hope this is of some help.
Quack!!!
Geoff the Duck!

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 25 Nov 02 - 04:00 PM

Thanks!!! Just a quick look at your first link -- it has midi files. As best I remember, when I checked some Yorkshire Carols last year there were words but no tunes. This will keep me busy awhile.

Oh, so little time, and so much music! Quack!

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 26 Nov 02 - 06:08 AM

There is now a 'new' edition of the 'Blue Book' updated and expanded, spiral bound. It's been publish by Worrall Male Voice Choir and costs £5 (Five Pounds Sterling) and it's really good. The Royal at Dungworth has been selling it, in fact they sold thirty copies on Sunday !!! I'm sure it will be available by mail order etc.

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: Folkie
Date: 26 Nov 02 - 08:01 AM

I hope they've still got some for sale when I'm up there at the weekend

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 26 Nov 02 - 08:12 AM

Hope so but they are selling like proverbial hot mince pies !!

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 26 Nov 02 - 08:40 AM

There are some comments about origins of certain of the carols on this site Bolsterstone Male Voice Choir - Tab down to 'A Yorkshire Christmas' for details of their recording of a selection of carols.
Last year we bought the Blue Book directly from the Secretary of the Worrall Male Voice Choir. Here is their website - BLICKY Thre is an email for their secretary somewhere on the site.
GtD!

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 26 Nov 02 - 08:45 AM

WHOOPS - the first BlueClicky should have been this....Bolsterstone MVC!
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 26 Nov 02 - 09:11 AM

Or even BMVC Recordings.
Quack!

Subject: RE: BS: South Yorkshire Carols
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 28 Nov 02 - 02:56 PM

See also Barry Callaghan's new introductory piece on the tradition, which includes a schedule of the principal regular events, at The Sheffield Carols.

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 29 Nov 02 - 01:02 PM

After reading this thread yesterday, I Emailed Keith, the secretary of Worrall Male Voice Choir, he replied yesterday. I sent in my order for 4 books and one CD. He Emailed me back today that they are in the mail to me in Canada. Phoned my wife at home, the cheque is on the way to him. Watch that postage though, the package weighs 2.5 kilos.
A bit of further information on the book, there are SATB musical scores for about 90 carols in the book. I am looking forward to getting it, I also managed to get two Christmas presents killed in the process. The Wonders of Mudcat.
Their Email address is "[e-mail]" and their service is superlative.
JohnB

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: bradfordian
Date: 01 Dec 02 - 04:13 PM

I got to the Royal at Dungworth today (Sun 1 Dec --not too easy to find, a well kept secret perhaps). Fantastic! And I thought my Folk Club did quite well on chorus singing, but this was in another league. Packed and EVERYONE singing,-- very different from last Saturday at Oughtibridge. They tend to miss out the last one or two verses of some songs. A good sprinkling of non carols like The Holmfirth Anthem, The Swaledale Song and The Cornstalk. Got the new Blue Book; (90 songs inc 14 versions of While Sheperds....)there are minor differences in notation & what they sing, but its an excellent guide. The sessions are a brilliant tribute to community spirit
Cheers Brad

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: bradfordian
Date: 01 Dec 02 - 04:52 PM

Wierd Sister,   ....would that have been Will Noble leading the Cornstalk/Christmas Goose at the Royal?
Brad.

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: Folkie
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 08:15 AM

I was at Dungworth yesterday as well and it was absolutely amazing. We were packed like sardines and everyone sang their heads off. (I'm croaking today.) Will Noble was certainly there. I think he sang The Mistletoe Bough. He might have done Cornstalk as well. It was difficult to see who was leading which song in such a crowd. I was very impressed with the Glen Rock carollers who were over from America bringing their own version of the Yorkshire carols in the form that had been taken over to America in 1848.

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 01:40 PM

Hoping to get to Dungworth for a Quack next Sunday, or failing that the following one.
GtD

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: Schantieman
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 03:32 PM

Mrs Duck has just put me onto this site

http://www.yorkshire-folk-arts.com/info/carols.html

(Sorry about the lack of clicky - it didn't seem to work.)

Steve

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 03:40 PM

That's the same site that Malcolm linked to 6 messages above...

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: GUEST,Wyrd Sister at work
Date: 03 Dec 02 - 03:18 AM

Yes, Will does Cornstalk and Mistletoe Bough. Billy Mills sings Stannington + Swaledale and Neil did Song for the Time.

Glen Rock were amazing, and what amazed me more was that of their 4 original carols that they took to America, we still sing two (Hark Hark to the Castleton tune, & Old Christians I think - I get my old and new Christians tangled sometimes) one was While Shepherds, of course, and the other was just - amazing!

Sorry haven't contributed much lately but my computer's FUBAR.

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: Les from Hull
Date: 14 Dec 02 - 02:14 PM

Maggie and I will be in Sheffield Railway Station tomorrow morning from about 11.19 onwards and will be willing to share a taxi to Dungworth to get there about 12. We'll even act as chaparones and give you a lend of our carol books! If anyone's interested we'll be in the baguette cafe place near the taxt stand (at the front).

Les

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 07:22 PM

We go down and made some recordings on the minidisc. A lot of chatting and Wyrd Sister haranguing people in the door 'ole, but is sounds like you are sat in the middle of a pub! ACE!
Quack!!!!!!!!!!!!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 07:23 PM

Sorry I'll Read That Again -
We got down on Sunday and.....

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: Les from Hull
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 07:46 PM

Radio 4 on Christmas Day at 11am 'The Pub Carols' featuring Norma waterson, Kate Rusby and Jim Boyes.

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: GUEST,Guest Andrew
Date: 18 Dec 02 - 04:31 PM

I haven't seen a mention of it, but some years ago (15?) Radio Manchester recorded a sunday lunch time session at the Royal, Dungworth and it was published locally, I believe by the local church in an LP called We Singers Make Bold. I have no idea what they did with the recording but I've got a copy ! Its got some fine singing on it including several local soloists. Playing it in my car on a a cold December morning certainly makes the journey to work a more pleasant event.

All those present at the recording get a mention on the sleeve notes, regretably I wasn't there that week but my two brothers were.

Andrew

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: DG&D Dave
Date: 19 Dec 02 - 07:43 AM

Bat Goddess.
I haven't got Geoff Thompson's contact details myself, but I know someone who has.
I will 'pm' you when I have them.

I saw Jill (Geoff's wife) earlier this year, at a mutual friend's birthday, and they are both well and still living in the US.

Dave.

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 19 Dec 02 - 12:34 PM

If that's the Geoff who Morris Dances , sings and his wife is a University lecturer/researcher. I met him a couple of years ago at the Toronto Morris Ale. We talked about the Pub Carolling then. Small world isn't it. We will be doing our small tribute to these Carols in Orangeville Ontario Canada on Sunday 22nd Dec. I know it won't be anything like the REAL thing but you have to start somewhere.
JohnB

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: The Shambles
Date: 29 Dec 02 - 07:36 AM

A celebration of the disappearing art of singing together for the joy of it.

New Years Eve 11.00pm - 11.30pm BBC Radio 4.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: The Shambles
Date: 29 Dec 02 - 07:39 AM

See also the following thread.

thread.cfm?threadid=55007&messages=22

Subject: RE: Help: South Yorkshire Carols
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 07:47 AM

h
Here's the shedule for 2009

Regards bradfordian

Subject: Christmas Tree sung at the Travellers Rest Oughtib
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Dec 11 - 03:14 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV2h7vc5zFg

post this link to listen & see what it's like