Review: Waltzing Matilda

Subject: RE: Review: Waltzing Matilda
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 01 Aug 02 - 09:04 AM

G'day Teribus,

The furphy about Who'll ba a Soldire for Marlborough has been discussed a number of times in this forum. It arose from post WW I memories of the descendants of soldiers who may have remebered Dad or Grand-dad singing such a song. It has never been heard of before Australians sang Waltzing Matilda widely in WW I ... and probably started as a British Army parody ... and was misunderstood by later hearers.

No such song has been collected earlier, despite intensive interest in UK song on the part of the Cecil Sharp, the EFDSS and other romantics of that era. Back when the actual story of the composition of Waltzing Matilda was murky (for a lot of even murkier reasons!) speculation "invented" this false tale. I currently lack the energy to dig out and link the older threads ... but I may have to, in the end!

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Review: Waltzing Matilda
From: Percustard
Date: 04 Aug 02 - 09:00 PM

There are many threads on the mixup between tunes for Waltzing Matilda.

Here's a start:

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=3857#241337

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=21239#226918

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=28379#351946

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=13177#108322

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=29578#374716

The tenacity of myth and half truth and the power of PR.

I reckon Waltzing Matilda was actually based on hunting tune from Tierra Del Fuego and the words were written by Henry Lawson Norwegian Grandmother!

Subject: RE: Review: Waltzing Matilda
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 04 Aug 02 - 11:35 PM

G'day,

Percustard: "... I reckon Waltzing Matilda was actually based on ..." Not bad - I've just heard that the new Trad & Now folk magazine (about to be launched) has asked Dave de Hugard to write up his ideas on the origins of Waltzing Matilda ... That should be good for a new Swedish origins theory at the very least!

Gargoyle: I got your e-mail ... I will send you the music files, but I've been trying to unearth the references you requested ... somewhere in my book files (about 2985 more to look through!). I will get back to you.

Regards(les)s,

Bob bolton

Subject: RE: Review: Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 05 Aug 02 - 12:32 AM

Jumpin Jehosephat Mr. Bolton! There is a misunderstanding.

My e-mail was unclear. I am not seeking a dissertation with references...only what you agreed to send to Percustard Date: 30-Jul-02 - 05:01 AM

By the way Bob...I'd like a copy of your MIDI file.

And YOUR replay to Percustard They're on their way to you ... 5 stages of the tune (but you can ignore the last one!).

Send them at your convenience - just forward what you provided to Percustard.

Sincerely greatful,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Review: Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST,Teribus
Date: 05 Aug 02 - 02:31 AM

Hi Bob,

Thanks for your posting above. The "Soldier for Marlborough", or the "Bold Recruiting Sergeant", I know is fairly recent and is not the original. One of the regulars at a folk club in Portsmouth, knows the guy who wrote it.

The first copy of Paterson's works I had was given to me by an Australian who was on the same Ops & Weapons Course as myself when I was in the navy. In the second book I bought there was a note about the tune I referred to in my post above. By the date of that edition the note would have pre-dated the writing of "Soldier for Marlborough" by at least fifteen years.

Subject: RE: Review: Waltzing Matilda
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 05 Aug 02 - 08:55 AM

G'day Teribus,

I probbaly got a bit incoherent there ... I should emphasise that the rumour of a separate, older, "good honest English" source for Waltzing Matilda has lurked about since the end of WW II ... and been mulled over by a number of folklorists.

I believe it simply arises from the active parody instincts of soldiers in the interminable boring times between the moments of panic. Probably as a parody by English soldiers tired of Aussies singing Waltzing Matilda yet again! The later misinterpretation arise from quite common extensions of antiquity given to immediate ancestors' stories and songs.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Review: Waltzing Matilda
From: IanC
Date: 05 Aug 02 - 12:35 PM

For a bit more history of "The Craigielee March" and its writer (uncertain whether it's based on Tannahill's song, but seems likely), there's a useful web page about Thomas E. Bulch (1863-1930). In summary, Bulch wrote under the nom de plume of Godfrey Parker and the Craigielee March was dedicated to his wife's grandmother, born Elizabeth Craigie.

It looks as thought the original sheet music may have survived in some brass band's archive - possibly whatever became of Bulch's Model Band, Ballarat. He appears to have been a well known brass band composer.

:-)
Ian

Subject: RE: Review: Waltzing Matilda
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 05 Aug 02 - 11:37 PM

G'day,

IanC: Bulch/Parker's band arrangement is certainly around the place - Richard Magoffin reproduced the relevant passages in his various books on the origins of Waltzing Matilda ... and that is where I located that part of the progressive stages MIDI I have sent to Percustard and Gargoyle.

His arrangement is clearly drawn from Barr's setting of the Tannahill words ... except for the rescoring into 'quick march' time, the notes are mostly identical. The step from Barr to Bulch is the smallest step in the series - and I really included it because of its place in the movement of the tune from Scotland to Queensland.

Gargoyle: The MIDI files are on their way to you. My dismissive remark about the last tune is simply because it is a recent confection (1986 book>?) ... and because the perpetrators did not do a good job of trying to interpret Christina's odd bar in the wrong time ... they just went and pinched the line holus-bolus from the Marie Cowan version.

When Dave Johnson interpreted it for the ABC programme, we went back to the earlier versions to check what Christina would have heard the year before ... and drew on observations off the sort of errors that creep in when writing down tunes from memory or transcribing from collections ... something of which Dave had done quite quite a bit.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Review: Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST,Iain Pollock
Date: 14 Sep 13 - 08:37 AM

As you all appear to be aware, the song Waltzing Matilda, which is NOT a waltz by the way, originated from a song written for the Craigielea poem by Robert Tannahill. I have in my possession the book of Tannahill poems published in 1817, which contains the Craigielea poem, and other works written by him. It's called 'Poems and Songs chiefly in the Scotish Dialect by Robert Tannahill'. Note the spelling of the word Scotish! It also contains a fairly long biography of the life, and death, of the great poet as a preface. It is the fourth edition of the works, which I think gained popularity as Tannahill died in 1810, probably sparking off renewed interest in his works. He apparently destroyed his manuscripts before committing suicide, but, thankfully, his friends still had copies, which they collated for publication. (Big Yellow Taxi Syndrome!). I have just had the book professionally re-bound, at great expense, as it was getting a bit time-worn. Interest, and comments, anyone?

Subject: RE: Review: Waltzing Matilda
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 14 Sep 13 - 10:12 PM

Gidday, Iain

That book is a treasure, you are lucky to have it. 30-odd years ago a cousin had the family bible re-bound (also at great expense) so it can survive another century or 2 or 3 ...

By-the-way, the term "Waltzing Matilda" refers to wandering about looking for work (or not looking for work, just a handout) - it's not a dance tune. The definition given in the Australia Dictionary is "To walk or wander aimlessly in the bush or country."

My friend Dennis O'Keeffe has spent 20 years researching the song & you might like to have a look at his Waltzing Matilda site

sandra

Subject: RE: Review: Waltzing Matilda
From: Jim McLean
Date: 15 Sep 13 - 04:41 AM

I'm certain this has been covered before. Tannahill wrote the words to Thou Bonnie Wood o' Craigilea only. The music was written by James Barr. I noticed the connection between the melodies of both songs many years ago.. I was born and brought up in Paisley, living just over the wall from Tannahill's grave, and passed his cottage every day when going to school. A marvellous poet whose footsteps in Paisley and its environs I have trod in my youth.

Subject: RE: Review: Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST,Iain Pollock
Date: 15 Sep 13 - 08:20 AM

I also have a book of about the same vintage as the Tannahill one, and it is a collection of poems by Robert Fergusson, who was a contemporary of Tannahill's. They must have been hard up for names back then, as they were both called Robert, and they also knew Robert Burns, who is the most famous 'Robert' of all, as you will be aware. When you read Tannahill or Fergusson you can hear Burns coming through loud and clear, as they all had the same style, which was probably par for the course back then.   I say this at the risk of offending Burns fans and scholars, but the words speak for themselves. I understand that they knew each other, and this is not surprising due to the proximity of their haunts in Scotland, and the slow speed of communication in those days. The Tannahill book also has a copper-plate signature of one James Ferguson 1823 in the flyleaf, and I assume that this would have been the first owner of the book, probably received as a gift, thereby further authenticating it's origin.

Subject: RE: Review: Waltzing Matilda
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 15 Sep 13 - 10:47 PM

G'day Iain Pollock,

Tunes set to several of Tannahill's poems have persisted for centuries in various localities ... which have adopted whatever word / tune setting as a "local" song of regard (in ... at the very least: Australia / Northern Ireland / Canada if I recall the various different song/settings).

The story of the composition of Waltzing Matilda is now dragged out of most of the obfuscation arising from Paterson's relationships! One of the separate elements that has been lost under the destruction brought on Germany by their involvement in two World Wars is the German element - recognised by Paterson.

This is the German Journeyman's period "Auf der Walz" ... travelling round acquiring skills before being allowed back home to set up as a tradesman. Such journeymen carried their tools and belonging in a composite blanket roll / pack ... called by the soldiers' cognomen "Mathilde". I'm assured the song exists ... even persists ... but I have not found a reliable German source for it!

This associates withPaterson's surreptitiously slipping in a jibe at Bob MacPherson and his probable complicity in the death of the Germanic "swagman" - 'Dutchy Hoffmeister ... who had been involved in torching the MacPherson woolshed.

It appears, from later police evidence (gathered by three troopers and the squatter MacPherson ...!) that 'Dutchy' committed suicide ... by somehow shooting himself in the back of the head with his own rifle!

It is also interesting that, in later poetic works by Paterson, there are several (different) snide references to (different ... ?) persons of (~) the surname MacPherson!

Regard(les)s,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Review: Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST,Iain Pollock
Date: 16 Sep 13 - 09:21 AM

Dear Bob, thank you for further enlightening me on the WM saga! Isn't it incredible how much information begins to surface once you start digging a little deeper? I teach music, and it saddens and alarms me that few, if any, young people even know about Banjo and Waltzing Matilda, not to mention The Man From Ironbark (my favourite!). I'm afraid that our culture is quickly being diluted, and we are going to lose it altogether if some of us don't try to keep it alive! I certainly try to do my bit whenever I can. "What are the schools doing?", I ask. It only takes one generation, and the gap becomes un-closeable (is that a new word I have coined?). Cheers! Iain.

Subject: RE: Review: Waltzing Matilda
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 11:28 PM

G'day again Iain,

It just struck me (as I was looking to leave a "trace" on this thread) ... that on "14 Sep 13 - 08:37 AM", above, you referred to: ... "the song Waltzing Matilda, which is NOT a waltz by the way ...:. Of course I did then drop in a reference to the German Journeyman's period "auf der walz" ... making a 'circular' visit around distant trade workshops - to pick up extra trade skills before he is allowed to return to his home town ... and progress to "tradesman" status.

I was probably skirting around the fact that Paterson's 'crush' on Christina MacPherson had obviously strained quite a few relationships ... and Paterson seems to have been accusing Bob MacPherson of complicity in "removing" one of the militant shearers who had been involved in 'torching' his woolshed - during the Shearers' Strike.

He had heard the Germanic phrase "Auf der walz applied to swagmen, looking for piecework ... and the Germanic name of the deceased / suicide ... ? / ??? is clearly intentionally linked!

I'm afraid this popular Australian song has a shadier history than any of the convicts / 'transports' of the initial (convict) era of Australia!

Regard(les)s

BobB

Subject: RE: Review: Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST,Iain Pollock
Date: 13 Oct 13 - 02:50 AM

Dear Bob,
         I just think it's funny how WM nearly became our National Anthem, and how 'only in Australia' could we have a NA which tells us nothing about ourselves apart from a bloke committing suicide after stealing a sheep, and which is called Waltzing da-di-da, and isn't even a waltz! It also makes me smile, tempered with not a little alarm, when I realise how few people actually know all the words, and how even fewer know what a billabong, jumbuck or squatter are! I get a bit worried when I find that our national culture and heritage are quickly disappearing under the pressure of so many influences. We don't even have a national dress, apart from shorts, thongs and a beer-can in a stubby-holder! Cheers! Iain.

Subject: RE: Review: Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST,gutcher
Date: 13 Oct 13 - 08:38 AM

Ian Pollock--I see from your last post that you reside in Australia, The name Pollock is of course well known in Scotland especially in the parishes of Lochwinnoch and Beith which are both within walking distance from where Tannahill resided in Paisley.
Tannahill knew the area well and indeed, following the death of his father, his mother moved to Boghall, Gateside, Beith, to keep house for her brother, Mathew Pollock, the last of the name of a long line of lairds of that small estate and Tannahill when walking to visit his mother passed the warlock craggy and the linn mentioned in his song "Are Ye Sleepin Maggie" both of which lie about a third of a mile bellow my house.
A small point, in one of your previous posts you mentioned Fergusson, Burns and Tannahill as if they were contemporaries this is of course not the case.
PS--am at present some forty miles from my books etc. so I may have mixed Mathew up with his father and have not worked out yet how to retrieve the emails from my home computer.

Subject: RE: Review: Waltzing Matilda
From: Jim McLean
Date: 13 Oct 13 - 11:37 AM

Gutcher, The Linn mentioned is a small pool which suddenly appears in the 'Glen', an area just off the Neilston Road which leads to the Gleniffer braes, going West. It's not really a wild place but compared to the gentleness of Paisley's Braes, it would be easy to imagine, (poetically) in a bleak, wet night that the crags (rocky places) were menacing, highlighted by owl noises! I spent my childhood running around the Braes as an escape from tenement life in Canal Street and can easily identify with Tannahill's feelings.

Subject: RE: Review: Waltzing Matilda
From: Jim McLean
Date: 13 Oct 13 - 12:02 PM

After his father's death, Tannahill's mother lived with him in Paisley until his own tragic demise.

Subject: RE: Review: Waltzing Matilda
From: Gutcher
Date: 13 Oct 13 - 03:06 PM

Jim,my information on Tannahill came verbally from my late neighbour, George Kerr, Hill of Fullwoodhead, Beith. These Kerrs were descended from the Kers of Kersland, Dalry.[just down the road] who were counted the oldest family of the name in Scotland. George had his matriculated coat of arms and like myself was keenly interested in the traditional lore of the countryside with his lands marching on the lands of Mill of Beith on which lands are the falls and linn mentioned in the song. The Warlock Craggy stands about one hundred yards North of the falls on the lands of Knowe on the other side of the burn which forms the boundary between Ayrshire and Renfrewshire.
His oral story on Tannahill I found confirmed when I purchased a copy of "Ponts Cunningham" and I believe there is some further information on the subject in a computer article on Lochwinnoch.
When I get back home I will dig out chapter a verse in Pont.
Joe.

Subject: RE: Review: Waltzing Matilda
From: Jim McLean
Date: 13 Oct 13 - 04:32 PM

I await your reply, Gutcher. I did a considerable amount of research on Tannahill and I know his parents were married in Beith but everything else I have read, Motherwell, Ramsay, R A Smith, shows that he moved into his mothers's house in Queen Street, Paisley, after his father died. The Linn, is well known to Paisley people and a hundred years after he died the people of Paisley celebrated his birth with a huge procession which took in the Linn, and most of Central Paisley. Without doubting your friend, verbal tradition is often coloured with agenda.
Regards,
Jim

Subject: RE: Review: Waltzing Matilda
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 13 Oct 13 - 08:36 PM

G'day again Iain Pollock,

It's not particularly relevant to the discussion of a SONG... but you have (~) reiterated that the song: "...tells us nothing about ourselves apart from a bloke committing suicide after stealing a sheep, and which is called Waltzing da-di-da, and isn't even a waltz!"

Of course ... it's a song, not a dance ... and it clearly isn't about any dance. The phrase heard by Paterson "... auf der waltz ..." or, maybe, Australianised as "on the waltz" was a term used to descibe, in Australia of the day - and, particularly that area of Southern Queensland, the dreary circuit of casual jobs and (hoped-for) handouts that sustained the swagman ... or any unemployed wanderer.

Historically it was ( ... and, in some German trades / areas, remains...) an expression covering wandering enforced, or at least required, by economic or trade requirements - something rather characteristic of the hard-working and strictly organised Germans!

The associations that accrued through Paterson's lovelife's mishaps are not really our concern ... except that they do lurk beneath and inform the history of one of our best known songs!

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Review: Waltzing Matilda
From: GerryM
Date: 13 Oct 20 - 06:00 AM

An actual (humorous) review of Waltzing Matilda: http://www.valerieparv.com/paterson.html

It starts,

Dear Ms Paterson,

Reference: your manuscript Waltzing Matilda

We regret that it has taken us two years to get back to you on this but we did want to give your manuscript every consideration. Twelve editors, the postman and the cleaner have now appraised it and we offer these comments:

You did well to get the hero on stage as quickly as possible, within the first four words in fact. This is commendable but we have reservations about your description of him as 'jolly'. This is hardly a heroic image and having him camp (admittedly by a billabong) can have unfortunate connotations, given our readers' preference for demonstrably heterosexual heroes.

The location, under the coolibah tree, is fine, provided you supply clear definitions of such terms for our overseas readership. While the hero's name, Andrew, is acceptable, we find your repeated usage of the diminutive, Andy - as in Andy sang, Andy watched, Andy waited while his billy boiled - tends to demean him as a hero. We would advise usage of his full name in future drafts.

Subject: RE: Review: Waltzing Matilda
From: Bruce D
Date: 26 Oct 20 - 01:53 AM

After re-reading this thread on Waltzing Matilda, there are a couple of points to be made.

- At the time that Paterson was meant to write Waltzing Matilda he was touring Australia and collecting material for his book "Old Bush Songs" - Australian premier Folklorist John Meredith, in researching his book (co-authored by Hugh Anderson)"Folk song of Australia and the men and women who sang them" found a number of older people (1940/50's) who had remembered alternate verses and versions of Waltzing Matilda and they claimed to learnt them prior to Paterson publishing Waltzing Matilda (note most were fragments and not a complete song). BTW, Back in the 1980's prior to the Australian Bi-centenial the decenants of Paterson took legal action against anybody who questioned if Paterson wrote Waltzing Matilda.

Bruce D