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Horkey Songs

29 Sep 11 - 03:37 PM (#3231244)
Subject: Horkey Songs
From: GUEST,Slag310

Horkey Songs

I'm always trying to find the tune for horkey songs which were sung at the harvest festivals. There are some words published in old books and people still remembered them in the early 1900's but I don't know if anyone remembers now. They usually started out
"horkey, horkey..." Sometimes it is spelled harkey, herkey and other spellings. They are harvest home songs, usually very simple.

So I saw this message that the Essex Record Office had recordings of interviews with people including one lady who remembered when they sang Horkey songs. But I don't know if the recordings are just interviews with speech or if anyone actually sang anything. The CD's are 15 pounds each plus postage which is a little stiff just to satisfy curiousity, and I cannot conveniently go to the Essex records office to listen to them. Here is the contact info:

Martin Astell
Sound Archivist
Essex Record Office, Wharf Road , Chelmsford CM2 6YT

"The recording referred to in [their] Sources on Folk Song and Music leaflet is an interview with Daisy Wright of Great Sampford (Acc. SA497)."

I'm leaving off the details, because I don't want the poor guy to get spammed to death. But the Essex Record Office has a site on the internet.

Has anyone gone there? Does anyone know about this source and does it include any music? Grateful for any information.

Slag310


29 Sep 11 - 04:52 PM (#3231277)
Subject: RE: Horkey Songs
From: GUEST,999

A bit off topic, Slag310, but if you google the following as is

"horkey, horkey", songs about the harvest

two e-books come up--first two on the page.


29 Sep 11 - 04:56 PM (#3231280)
Subject: RE: Horkey Songs
From: GUEST,Slag310

Here is the link to the page about it on the Essex Records office: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/69083119/Essex-Record-Office---Folk-Music-and-Song-Resources OR Essex Records Office

And yes, to Guest 999, I'll check that out.

Slag310