Review: RECORDINGS, 78s, Mostly French

Subject: Review: RECORDINGS, 78s, Mostly French
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 24 Apr 05 - 09:14 PM

The National Library of Quebec has placed a very large number of old 78s on line. These are mostly French, but there are a few hymns in Latin and I noted "Aloha Oe." There are classics from Brahms, Chopin, etc. Some are unusual, e. g. "Au beau pays du Texas" (1942). "Auprès de ma blonde," voyageur and other folk songs are included. "La bouteille de rhum" (the bottle of rum) is fun and its 'add-on' form is recognizable to those who speak English only. Others are recognizable as French versions of international and American popular songs, such as "Ramona," "Rhum et Coca-Cola," "Le sheik d'Arabie."

There is a good collection of reels and other dance tunes.

This collection is worth spending time on.

The index to the songs (titles all linked to a description of the record, date, and singer(s)is here: Index to 78s

Subject: RE: Review: RECORDINGS, 78s, Mostly French
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 24 Apr 05 - 09:39 PM

Don't miss "Youpe! Youpe! sur la rivière" An old timber-cutter and voyageur song.
Not used to navigating in French, but there are detailed notes on the recordings, including backing musicians, 'b' side, etc.

Subject: RE: Review: RECORDINGS, 78s, Mostly French
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 24 Apr 05 - 10:01 PM

G'day Q,

"... Not used to navigating in French, ..."

So ... no concession to the concept of bi-linguality they scream about - if you dare publish, within Canada, in English alone ... ?

Regard(les)s,

Bob

Subject: RE: Review: RECORDINGS, 78s, Mostly French
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 Apr 05 - 12:52 AM

G'day, Bob!
The Québec government and its arms, including the Bibliothèque nationale, is francophone. Some relationships in Canada, such as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) - Radio-Canada are most peculiar. The CBC broadcasts in English, its twin(?) in French. The CBC puts out a catalogue of their emissions (cds, dvds, etc.) in English (and, I believe, in French). Radio-Canada puts out a catalogue of their cds, etc., in French; no English version.
They have some good stuff; I want one of their collections of marine songs, and have written to the posted email address (in English since I can't write or speak French adequately) for information and pricing, but no answer has been forthcoming.

A mis-conception about the Quebec attitude towards bilinguality. The government of Québec has publicly spurned B-L. They say that francophones (a word not in my Collins French dictionary) outside of K-bec in anglophone (English-speaking) provinces must fend for themselves, and French must be the language of business, etc. etc, in Quebec. The Canadian Government is trying to at least get signs in both languages
The Canadian government tries to promote B-L in the Civil Service, National Parks, etc. (Lord help you if you encounter a recently transferred francophone who is supposedly B-L, and you are anglophone only, in a government office). Oh, well, I suppose a francophone who approaches a supposedly B-L anglophone is in the same position.

A previous link by Masato to a 78 recording of the song "Plaisir d'amour" (see thread) on a Canadian Gov't website has disappeared; it is now on the French site posted here. Jockeying going on?