Origins: Jack Downing's Songbook

Subject: Origins: Jack Downing's Songbook
From: GUEST,Julia
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 10:46 PM

Hi folks- I am working on a project tracking down sources and tunes for Jack Downing's Songbook, published in 1836. Jack Downing was a pseudonym for Seba Smith, a writer of political satire. Born in Buckfield, Maine, he took on the character of a righteous Downeast curmudgeon to poke fun at the politicians of the time. the dedication of the songbook to Andrew Jackson is hilarious.
His collection of songs is quite eclectic, mostly the standard Burns, Walter Scott, patriotic stuff (Hail Columbia etc.) but here are some really intriguing pieces in here (Merrily dance 'round the Mistletoe Tree) that I would love to identify. thereare about 200 songs total, lyrics only.

Anyone know anything about this book? I found it in the Library of Congress and they photocopied it for me.
Cheers- Julia

Subject: RE: Origins: Jack Downing's Songbook
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 11:26 PM

A few copies show on the secondhand listings. I find, for example

Jack Downing's Song Book: Containing a Selection of About Two Hundred Songs, Many of Which are New. (Providence: Weeden and Cory, 1835, 32mo. pp256, 1st edn).

Jack Downing's Song Book. Containing A Selection Of Upwards Of Two Hundred Of The Most Popular Songs, Many Of Which Are New. (Providence: B. Cranston & Co, 1839, 5th edn).

Not too many references online, though one indicates that Scott's Harper's Song was included.

If you'd like to post a list of the contents here, that would be interesting; and we may be able to help with some of those you haven't placed yet. In those cases, perhaps adding the first few lines would help, and prevent wild guesses based on vague similarities of title.

Can't say I've anything useful to add on that Mistletoe Tree at the moment, but something may well come up. There are an awful lot of songs that were widely printed in songsters of the day which are quite forgotten now.

Subject: RE: Origins: Jack Downing's Songbook
From: GUEST,Julia
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 12:28 AM

Actually, I have recorded the Harper's Song,with a tune by harper Bobbi Wayne,on my album Looking Home (Castlebay), but have not found this song in any of Walter Scott's work. If you can guide me to that reference I'd be grateful. It begins

Summer eve is gone and past
Summer dew is fading fast
I ahve wandered all the day
Do not bid me further stray

Thanks-
Julia

Subject: RE: Origins: Jack Downing's Songbook
From: masato sakurai
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 03:08 AM

From Library of Congress Online Catalog:

Jack Downing's song book.

LC Control Number: 22001850
Type of Material: Text (Book, Microform, Electronic, etc.)
Brief Description: Jack Downing's song book.
2d ed.
Providence, Weeden and Cory, 1836.
vi, [7]-256 (i.e. 254) p. incl. front. 11 cm.

Jack Downing's song book.

LC Control Number: 43043152
Type of Material: Text (Book, Microform, Electronic, etc.)
Brief Description: Jack Downing's song book.
3d ed.
Providence, B. Cranston & co., 1836.
vi, [7]-256 p. incl. front. 11 cm.

Subject: RE: Origins: Jack Downing's Songbook
From: GUEST,Julia
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 12:05 PM

Yes, I have a photocopy of the book. Just looking for more info about WHY he made this compilation. All of his other stuff is political satire. Also wonder if he might have written some of the lyrics as I can't find them anywhere else.
Happy to share any of it that interests...
best- Julia

Subject: RE: Origins: Jack Downing's Songbook
From: MMario
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 12:27 PM

The following item is in the Thomas Edison Sheet music collection:

The harper's song. Words from Rockeby. Composed and arranged for the piano forte by T.V. Wiesenthal. Philadelphia. Published by John G. Klemm. [1824?] 2 p. 32 cm.


Pub. no. 277.
Wolfe 9900 is an issue by Klemm with guitar acc.
Song, pfte acc. Three staves.
First line: Summer eve is gone and past, summer dew is falling fast.

But I also find dreference to it under Sir W. Scott -
UK book site has a piece of music by J.F. Barnett described as:
The Minstrel. Song (begins: Summer eve is gone and past) ... Written by Sir W. Scott

Subject: RE: Origins: Jack Downing's Songbook
From: Peace
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 12:40 PM

Link to the reference made in Malcolm's post--scroll way down the page:


http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:2_KX_5EBGLIJ:www.castlebay.net/lhlyric.html+%22Jack+Downing%27s+Song+Book%22&hl=en&start=1

Subject: RE: Origins: Jack Downing's Songbook
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 01:32 PM

The song of the harper is from Rokeby Canto V - Sir Walter Scott

pages 206 - 208 of The poetical works of Sir Walter Scott, with memoir of the author

(page)206 ROKEBY. [CANTO V. SONG. "Summer eve is gone and past, Summer dew is falling fast; I have wander'dcl all the day, Do not bid me farther stray! Gentle hearts, of gentle kin, Take the wandering harper in " But the stern porter answer gave, With " Get thee hence, thou strolling knave! The king wants soldiers; war, I trow, Were fmeeter trade for such as thou." At this unkind reproof; again Answer'd the ready Minstrel's strain. SONG RESUMED.' Bid not me, in battle-field, Buckler lift, or broadsword wield! All my strength and all my art Is to touch the gentle heart,l With the wizard notes that ring From the peaceful minstrel-string."The porter, all unmoved, replied,"Depart in peace, with Heaven to guide; If longer by the gate thou dwell, Trust me, thou shalt not part so well." I [MS. —" 0, bid not me bear sword and shield, Or struggle to the bloody field, For gentler art this hand was made."]


CANTO V.] ROKEBY. 207 ~III. With somewhat of appealing look, The harper's part young WVilfrid took: "These notes so wild and ready thrill. They show no vulgar minstrel's skill; Hard were his task to seek a home More distant, since the night is come; And for his faith I dare engageYour Harpool's blood is sour'd by age; His gate, once readily display'd, To greet the friend, the poor to aid, Now even to me, though known of old, Did but reluctantly unfold."" 0 blame not, as poor Harpool's crime, An evil of this evil time. He deems dependent on his care The safety of his patron's heir, Nor judges meet to ope the tower To guest unknown at parting hour,1 Urging his duty to excess Of rough and stubborn faithfulness. For this poor harper, I would fain He may relax:-Hark to his strain!" — IX. SONG RESUMED. "I have song of war for knight, Lay of love for lady bright, 1 [MS.-" To vagrants at our parting hour."]



208 ROKEBY. [CUANTO V. Fairy tale to lull the heir, Goblin grim the maids to scare. Dark the night, and long till day, Do not bid me farther stray! "Rokeby's lords of martial fame, I canll count them name by name; Legends of their line there be, Known to few, but known to me; If you honour Rokeby's kin, Take the wandering harper in! " Rokeby's lords had fair regard For the harp, and for the bard; Baron's race throve never well, Where the curse of minstrel fell. If you love that noble kin, Take the weary harper in!""

Subject: RE: Origins: Jack Downing's Songbook
From: GUEST,Julia
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 01:43 PM

OO!! OO!! YAY! HOORAY AT LAST!!!
You guys are amazing! THNAK YOU SO MUCH! I have been looking for this particular song for ages. I recordd it but din't have any info except that the melody was by Bobbi Wayne and the words came from Jack Downing's song book. Yeeha!
I know the melody I sing is hers, but it will be fun to check out
the tune here.
J

Subject: RE: Origins: Jack Downing's Songbook
From: GUEST,Julia
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 01:49 PM

Here is the version inJack Downing
The Harper's Song

Summer eve is gone and past
Summer dew is fading fast
I have wandered all the day
Do not bid me further stray
Gentle folk of gentle kin
Let the wandering harper in

Bid me not in battlefield
Buckler lift or broadsword wield
All my strength and all my art
Is to touch the gentle heart
With the wizard notes that ring
From the peaceful minstrel string

I have song of war for knight
Lay of love for lady bright
Faery tale to warm the ear
Goblin grim the maids to scare
Dark the night and long till day
Do not bid me further stray.

Subject: RE: Origins: Jack Downing's Songbook
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 05:24 PM

Nic Jones based his Singer's Request on the Scott lyric, incidentally.