Origins: Wizard of Alderley Edge (Pete Coe)

Subject: RE: Wizard of Alderley Edge
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 30 Mar 16 - 04:56 AM

There are a couple of versions of this on Spotify

on Taliesin , Emrys Atkinson 
(YouTube too but n.a. in the UK)

And a rather brighter one
after an instrumental introduction,
by Simon Howarth  

Subject: RE: Wizard of Alderley Edge
From: GUEST,SqueezeMe
Date: 02 Apr 16 - 02:38 AM

I used to play this one around Sydney while involved in an all too brief musical partnership with the late Gill Rees about 35 years ago. In F# minor if you please! Luckily, I owned an anglo concertina in A/E, so wasn't too bad to play. From memory, I think Gill used a capo on the first fret, and played a lot of open strings which gave the song quite a haunting effect. (Sorry, I'm no guitarist, so I could be talking rot in this last sentence...and it was a long time ago!)

Thank you for the thread; brought back good memories.

Subject: RE: Wizard of Alderley Edge
From: Stu
Date: 02 Apr 16 - 03:16 AM

For fans of Alan Garner, his book Thursbitch captures the spirit and atmosphere of the hills above Macclesfield better than just about anything I've ever read or heard.

Subject: RE: Wizard of Alderley Edge
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 15 Apr 18 - 06:12 AM

from Tall Tailes (2011)
Pete Coe
slight variations in the tune from the abc above
& several variations in the words
(as I hear it)

There was a farmer lived in Mobberley
Had a snow white pure bred mare
But times were lean and prices keen
He must sell her at the fair

So he took the path over Alderley Edge
In the early morning light
But waiting there in a cloud of mist
was a man in his shroud of white

ch :
From Macclesfield to Mobberley
If you have wares to sell
Don't you leave the path at the Wizard Inn
Or drink at the wizard's well.

His words came slow in a voice so low
Won't you sell to me your mare
But the farmer said she's not for sale
Till I get to Macclesfield fair

Well you may stand all day at the fair
But not one bid you'll hear
For it is my fate that I must wait
Though it be for a thousand years
ch

Now the farmer he was a troubled man
As he came into Macclesfield town
For though the mare was much admired
No offers were set down.

So he returned a bitter man
As the moon rose up the hill
And just as he had said that morn
Oh the wizard was waiting still
ch

Now you must sell your mare to me
For a payment in pure gold
And he led the farmer and his mare
Down a path so dark and cold

And then passed through some iron gates
And through a great rock wall
Like fools they went nigh double bent
Till they came to the sleepers' hall
ch

Now the sight that met the farmer's eyes
It turned his heart to stone
For full dressed knights each with one mount
Except for one alone.

This is King Arthur's company
on England's call attend
So fill your purse and leave your mare
On her we do depend
ch

Now leave this place, do not return
May your story bring you fame
But those who seek these iron gates
Will search this Edge in vain

Now I was told that old Nell Beck
once found those iron gates
But others say her hair is as grey
[and?] the march hare is her mate
ch
END


https://www.petecoe.co.uk/discography/?&SingleProduct=5 

https://www.discogs.com/fr/Pete-Coe-Tall-Tailes/release/4513971 

~~~~~~~~~~~~
(not Tall Tales)

Subject: RE: Wizard of Alderley Edge
From: GUEST,Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 15 Apr 18 - 12:07 PM

Since this thread has resurfaced, here's my transcription from the record.

Fred's words above are mostly right, but have a few minor errors and a few more serious! Rather than post just the changes, I've posted an amended version of Fred's transcription below.

Mick

---

X:1
T:The Wizard Of Alderley Edge
C: Pete Coe
S: Pete Coe
D: Pete Coe, album Tall Tailes
L:1/4
M:C|
Q:1/2=77
K:Eaeo % actually hexatonic Edor/Eaeo
E/E/E/|B> B A (G/F/)|zE D/ B,2-|B, B,/B,/ B B|A G E2-|E2 z
w:There was a far-mer live in_ Mob-ber-ley_ had a snow white pure bred mare_
B,| E F/G/-G2|B B/A/- A2-| A2 z B/A/|G< G A>F|E3
w:But times were lean_ pri-ces keen__ He must sell her at the fair
B,/B,/|B> B A G/F/|E E/D/ B,2-|B, B,/B,/ B B|A G E2-|E2 z
w:So he took the path ov-er Al-der-ley Edge_ in teh ear-ly morn-ing light_
B,| E F/G/-G G/A/|B B/A/- A2-| A2 z B/A/|G G/G/ (A/ G) F/|E3||
w:But wait-ing there_ in a cloud of mist__ was a man in his shroud_ of white
B,|B< B A> A|B/B/ B2 B|E E F> G|F3
w:From Macc-les-field to Mob-ber-ley iif you have ware to sell
F/F/|E> F G A/A/|B< B A2-|A A G G/G/|A< F E2-|E2 z/|]
w:Don't you leave the path at The Wiz-ard Inn_ or drink at the Wiz-ard's well_

---

THE WIZARD OF ALDERLEY EDGE
(Pete Coe)

There was a farmer lived in Mobberley
Had a snow-white, pure-bred mare.
But times were lean, prices keen,
He must sell her at the fair.
So he took the path over Alderley Edge
In the early morning light;
But waiting there in a cloud of mist
Was a man in his shroud of white

  Chorus:
  From Macclesfield to Mobberley,
  If you have wares to sell,
  Don't you leave the path at the Wizard Inn
  Or drink at the wizard's well.

These words came slow in a voice so low,
"Won't you sell to me your mare?"
But the farmer said "She's not for sale
Till I get to Macclesfield fair".
"Well you may stand all day at the fair
But not one bid you'll hear
For it is my fate that I must wait
Though it be for a thousand years".
  Chorus

Now the farmer he was a troubled man
As he came into Macclesfield town,
For though the mare was much admired
No offers were set down.
So he returned a bitter man
As the moon rose up the hill,
And just as he had said that morn,
Oh, the wizard was waiting still.
  Chorus

"Now you must sell your mare to me
For a payment in pure gold",
And he led the farmer and his mare
Down a path so dark and cold.
And then he passed through some iron gates
And through a great rock wall.
Like moles they went, nigh double bent,
Till they came to the sleepers' hall.
  Chorus

Now the sight that met that farmer's eyes
It turned his heart to stone,
For full dressed knights, each with one mount,
Except for one alone.
"This is King Arthur's company,
On England's call attend,
So fill your purse and leave your mare,
On her we do depend"
  Chorus

"Now leave this place, do not return.
May your story bring you fame.
But those who would seek these iron gates
Will search this Edge in vain."
Now I was told that old Nell Beck
Once found those iron gates;
But others say her head's astray,
And the march hare is her mate.
  Chorus


Source: Pete Coe, album Tall Tailes

Subject: RE: Wizard of Alderley Edge
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 15 Apr 18 - 04:14 PM

! Thanks Mick.
And proper punctuation too.

And the abc.
:-)

Subject: RE: Wizard of Alderley Edge
From: GUEST,Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 15 Apr 18 - 04:21 PM

Mostly your work Freddy - I just listened on phones and tweaked a few words.

Mick

Subject: RE: Wizard of Alderley Edge
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 16 Apr 18 - 02:30 AM

Mobberley to Macclesfield
bing maps
https://binged.it/2JQGl1M