Tune Req: mike waterson's tam lin

Subject: Tune Req: mike waterson's tam lin
From: Roberto
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 03:44 AM

I'd like to get the notation of the tune used by Mike Waterson for his recording of TAM LIN. Thanks. R

Subject: RE: Tune Req: mike waterson's tam lin
From: Peace
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 06:49 PM

Lyrics done by MW

Subject: RE: Tune Req: mike waterson's tam lin
From: Peace
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 06:49 PM

A tune; not THE tune you want.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: mike waterson's tam lin
From: Peace
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 06:52 PM

Hear it here I hope.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: mike waterson's tam lin
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 07:52 PM

Roberto is looking for staff notation of the tune as sung by Mike. He will have a recording, and knows what the words are (see previous threads where the subject has been touched upon).

He reckoned to have got his tune from A L (Bert) Lloyd; it's essentially the same as the sets recorded by Lloyd and by Frankie Armstrong (who also got the song from Bert), though, being Mike, he will have altered it a bit.

Where did Lloyd get the tune? Has anyone answered that question?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: mike waterson's tam lin
From: John C.
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 03:09 PM

Apparently, Bert's tune for Tam Lin is derived from one from relatively recent oral tradition. Amazingly,in the 60s, 2 fragments of this ballad (which was previously only known from print) were found in the repertoires of 2 Scotish travellers - Betsy Johnson and Willy Whyte. Both of these fragments are to be heard on the CD 'The Muckle Sangs' (Greentrax Records, CDTRAX 9005). Off the top of my head I can't remember which one Bert based his tune on - when I've got a bit more time I'll play it again and let you know.
I heard Bert sing his version of this ballad, at Peterborough Folk Club c. 1968. This is a treasured memory - he really was an amazing singer!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: mike waterson's tam lin
From: John C.
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 02:31 PM

I've now had a chance to play the 'Muckle Sangs' CD and listen again to the two fragments that Bert Lloyd might have based his tune on. I remember that, when I first played it, it was the Betsy Johnson version that most reminded me of Bert's tune - but now that I've played it again I suspect that he might have taken elements from both Betsy's version and that of Willie Whyte. Or then again, I could be talking complete rubbish! Please, will someone with more knowledge of how tunes work listen to these two tracks and tell me what they think of my theory - even if it's to tell me that I'm wrong.
I've long suspected that both Bert and Ewan MacColl were both capable of taking tunes from oral tradition and sort of 'reverse-engineering' them. The trouble is we know so little about their methods - especially Bert's.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: mike waterson's tam lin
From: rich-joy
Date: 22 May 05 - 02:31 AM

For (almost) anything you wanted to know about, and around, the ballad of TAMLIN - it's worth checking out Abigail Acland's website (1997-2005) at :
http://www.tam-lin.org/




Cheers! R-J