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Tune Req: Craven Churn Supper Song

20 Apr 10 - 11:58 AM (#2890665)
Subject: Tune Req: Craven Churn Supper Song
From: hsempl

hi, I'm looking for the tune or any tune that has been used with this song. I know from a previous thread that it was sung on a BBC 4 program in 2003 about Yorkshire songs collected by the Hudlestons, but that doesn't seem to have been archived. Does anyone know where I could find the melody? Or an archived version of the BBC 4 program?
Thanks!
Heather


20 Apr 10 - 02:34 PM (#2890754)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Craven Churn Supper Song
From: Steve Gardham

The original tune was never recorded or written down. In fact all known variants can be traced back to Bell's Ancient Poems Ballads and Songs of the Peasantry of England, 1857. In his notes Robert Bell says of the tune, 'There is a marked resemblance between it and a song of the date of 1650, called 'A Cup of Old Stingo'.' This is easily accessible and appears in, amongst others, Chappell's Popular Music of the Olden Time Vol p308. I'm sure it will be found easily by Googling it.

You say you are interested also in modern tunes used for it. I know Ray Black of Harrogate has used a tune for it. If you pm me I can give you his email address.


20 Apr 10 - 02:38 PM (#2890756)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Craven Churn Supper Song
From: Steve Gardham

Regarding Nigel, I don't know where they got someone to sing it for this programme, but it certainly doesn't feature in the Hudleston Collection. It was long dead when they started collecting in the 1950s. Mary H died in 1986 and Nigel died a couple of years ago.


27 Sep 11 - 04:22 PM (#3230132)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Craven Churn Supper Song
From: Murpholly

Just found this old thread. Has anyone found a melody for this song. I have had the words for some years but never managed to find a tune - even googling it.


28 Sep 11 - 03:58 PM (#3230703)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Craven Churn Supper Song
From: GUEST,SteveG

Nope!

But if you go to www.yorkshirefolksong.net and get my email address from there I can pass on Ray Black's email and he might be able to help


06 Oct 12 - 06:13 AM (#3415305)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Craven Churn Supper Song
From: GUEST,mark

I don't think a tune was ever documented for the Craven Churn-Supper Song. Curiously, when that radio feature was made about 'Songs from the Ridings' (see http://www.eyes-and-ears.co.uk/pennine/details.asp?Title=Three%20Nights%20Drunk%20and%20the%20Market%20Tup) this song was mentioned in the blurb, despite not being in the book. I was intrigued about this and asked Nigel Hudleston about it, but he didn't know the song. I even got in touch with the show's producer and asked about it, but she hadn't a clue.

For what it's worth, the tune of Wir pflügen und wir streuen (We plough the fields and scatter) fits this one quite neatly. Seeing as plenty of German tunes found their way into English singing, it's not too incongruous!