Monday, April 30, 2012
A few more song videos just for fun
Conclusions
I have only scratched the surface of the huge sea of folk songs from this area. I had planned on incorporating more lesser known folk song into this blog, with the hopes of learning something new myself. While I did find a huge number of songs I had never heard sung, or heard maybe only part of before, in books and online I had a great deal of difficulty finding any background on them. I also love to hear the way the songs are sung, including the tune, the voice and sometimes musical accompaniment. I believe folk songs are so much more than just poems, and this was all I was able to get from simply reading the lyrics. Based on this, I decided to showcase a few of my favourite songs which I could find recordings of with at least one from each province. I tried to choose a song for each that was unique to the province and I felt reflected the general theme I found while reading other songs from that province. While all the songs were unique, they all seem to share similar influences and styles. The celtic and fishing influences are particularly apparent. Most of the songs I found were in some way related to the sea, fishing, or shipwrecks, even though all the showcased songs did not directly involve this. They all describe a life or event of a person: most being some kind of monumental event in the singer' s life, such as leaving home for war (Farewell to Nova Scotia), losing a long known way of life (Alec's lament), losing a loved one (Evangeline, and in the case of I's the b'y, just describing a way of life. All of the songs I included, and most that I read, include reference to specific geographic places and personal elements such as names of people. These inclusions make the songs seem very personal and help to draw in listeners that come from the same communities as the songwriters. I ended up learning a great deal, even about songs that I grew up listening to friends and family sing.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Fiddling: Nathalie MacMaster, Ashley MacIsaac
Instrumental folk music, such as Cape Breton fiddling, is arguably just as important to Atlantic Canadian culture as the folk songs I have explored on this blog. Here is a little taste just for your interest.
Evangeline: A Song about Acadian History
The song lyrics tell a fictional story of Evangeline and her fiance Gabrielle. Before the couple are able to marry, the British come to their village and take Gabrielle with all the men in the village away on a ship without even letting them say goodbye. Evangeline searched for twenty years for Gabrielle throughout all of America, her love growing all the while. Eventually when she made it back to her village, there was Gabrielle. He was an old man now. She holds him and he dies in her arms while she kisses him. The name Evangeline means something to more than just the Acadians. Her story is universal and it will be remembered and bring people together in hope.
The song does exactly this. The character Evangeline has become an icon for people of Acadian origin everywhere: bringing them together. The song has become I kind of sacred hymn to the Acadians. I have seen Acadians in New Brunswick brought to tears listening to this beautiful song, which they believe personifies their history.
New Brunswick Folk Songs
New Brunswick borders Quebec to the North-West, Maine to the South-West, and creates the landbridge that links the rest of the Maritime provinces to North America in the East. Most people in New Brunswick can trace their roots to England (many British loyalists from the United States moved to New Brunswick), France (Acadian- approximately 30% cite French as a mother tongue), Ireland, Scotland or Aboriginal Canada(4%) origins. The traditional economy of the region included forestry, agriculture, fishing and mining. The province is split about 50/50 between urban and rural living. About half of the residents self identify as Roman Catholic.Most folk songs in New Brunswick draw on these origins, with a particularly high percentage of published songs being based on the rather tumultuous history of the Acadians. The Acadian people lived in relative harmony with the native people Mik'qmak in present day New Brunswick, which was unusual for Europeans in North America. Many also intermarried forming the French-Native group known as the Matis. In 1755 Acadians were deported from their home land by the British when they would not swear their allegiance to the King. Many ended up in the Southern United States forming the Cajun population there. Many were also torn away from loved ones. Some eventually did make it back to present day New Brunswick and their stories form a very important part of New Brunswick culture.
When I asked my mother if she knew of any New Brunswick folk songs, she could not remember any names but she advised me to look for Acadian songs. She remembered some great nights sitting with friends, all of whom played a different instrument, and listening to them play and sing traditional Acadian songs. The Smithsonian Folkways collection has an interesting collection of recordings.
http://www.folkways.si.edu/TrackDetails.aspx?itemid=15832
Background and Interpretation of Alec's Lament
This song was collected in Tignish Price Edward Island. Tignish was started by 8 Acadian families who were later joined by Irish immigrants. The Folk songs of Prince Edward Island says, "Tignish is settled by a mixture of Acadians and Irish. Though French is no longer spoken very much there, it lingers in the intonation of spoken English."In the introduction to the song the author writes (page 44), "Until quite recently the laws concerning the sale and use of alcoholic beverages on Prince Edward Island have been of almost unequalled severity. It was even necessary at one time to obtain a medical certificate (price $3.00) to quench one's thirst legally. Bootleggers, whether smugglers, illegal distillers or dealers flourished in spite of all the efforts of the police." Apparently bootlegging has been very prominent on in PEI up until this decade. A 2004 article on the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corperation) News website reports a crackdown on bootleggers who have been operating for decades in full view of the authorities with little repercussions, one person for over 25 years. many people claim the illegal liquor establishments are a part of their culture and are relied upon by many people. This song seems to have been made up in a period of crackdown similar to the crackdown described in 2004. The singer (Alec) is defending the bootleggers and warning them of the Howard Foley, probably the police officer, and Albert Knox, the jail keeper. Alec seems to be mourning the loss of of a way of life. He says, "it used to be a place to drink and enjoy a good night's fun." The new way of life being forced by these authority figures is completely unacceptable to Alec, and possibly the whole village: "so I'll have to leave the village and go to some foreign land".
PEI folksong: Alec's Lament
This song sung by Mr. Edward Fitzgerald of Tignish, PEI was published in the Folk Songs of Prince Edward Island in 1973 (page 47). There were many interesting songs in the book, but the author admits to editing many of them to "improve" them or because the singer forgot lines. This song appears to be unaltered, and I found the story that went along with it to be quite interesting. Here is a short clip of a recording of the song, and the recorded lyrics from the book:
http://www.tignish.com/files/audio/Alec's%20Lament%20-%20Edward%20Fitzgerald.mp3
Oh, come all you jolly bootleggers and
you that handle brew. Beware of Howard Foley, or he'll
play a trick on you. Beware of Howard Foley, boys, now
take a tip from me, Or you'll spend a night in Tignish jail with-
out your bread and tea.
Oh, we have a keeper round the jail, by the name of Albert Knox.
He's not much good to wrestle, and he's neither good to box.
He'll try to console you, boys until you're locked within
And when you turn your head around he'll put on that sneaky grin.
Here's adieu to Tignish village and the way that it is run
Is used to be a place to drink and enjoy a good night's fun.
But Foley now is on the beat in every hole and nook,
Just waiting for that sneaky chance to throw us in the coop.
Oh, they talk about their freedoms, but there's really none, for me.
For every night he's hunting me when I'm out on a spree.
He tries to stop my drinking, I'm to live a sober man
So I'll have to leave the village and go to some foreign land.
http://www.tignish.com/files/audio/Alec's%20Lament%20-%20Edward%20Fitzgerald.mp3
Oh, come all you jolly bootleggers and
you that handle brew. Beware of Howard Foley, or he'll
play a trick on you. Beware of Howard Foley, boys, now
take a tip from me, Or you'll spend a night in Tignish jail with-
out your bread and tea.
Oh, we have a keeper round the jail, by the name of Albert Knox.
He's not much good to wrestle, and he's neither good to box.
He'll try to console you, boys until you're locked within
And when you turn your head around he'll put on that sneaky grin.
Here's adieu to Tignish village and the way that it is run
Is used to be a place to drink and enjoy a good night's fun.
But Foley now is on the beat in every hole and nook,
Just waiting for that sneaky chance to throw us in the coop.
Oh, they talk about their freedoms, but there's really none, for me.
For every night he's hunting me when I'm out on a spree.
He tries to stop my drinking, I'm to live a sober man
So I'll have to leave the village and go to some foreign land.
A Modern PEI Folk Song Just for Fun
Bud the Spud
Tom Conners
Chorus:
Well it's Bud the Spud, from the bright red mud,
Rollin' down the highway smilin',
The spuds are big on the back of Bud's rig,
There from Prince Edward Island,
There from Prince Edward Island.
Now from Charlottetown, or from Summerside,
They load him up for the long long ride;
He jumps in the cab and he's off with the Pride Sebagoes.
He's gotta catch a boat to make Tormentine,
Then he hits up that old New Brunswick line,
Through Montreal he comes just a flyin'
With another big load of potatoes.
Chorus
Well, the cops have been lookin' for the son of a gun
That's been rippin' the tar off the four-O-one;
They know the name on the truck shines up in the sun --
"Green Gables."
But he hits Toronto and at seven o'clock,
He backs her up again at the terminal dock,
And the boys gather `round just to hear him talk
About another big load of potatoes.
"Hey bud."
Is that you callin'
"Ya Bud, what are you haulin'?"
Got another big load of the best potatoes that's ever been growed.
"Where are they from?"
They're from Prince Edward Island.
"Where?"
They're from Prince Edward Island.
"Oh, do you like potatoes?"
Do I like potatoes? I like:
Mashed potatoes
Boiled potatoes
Scalloped potato
Whipped potato
Curried potato
French-fried potatoes
Baked potato
"Hash browns!"
Potato chips
Potato roti
Potato soup
Potato salad
Potato knish
Potato pari
Potato gelatti
Potato fritters
Potato pancakes
"Buddy, oh I want a potato pancake!"
Chorus
Now I know a lot of people from east to west
And they like the spuds from the island best,
`Cause they stand up to the hardest test --
Right at the table;
So when you see that old truck rolling by,
Kinda wave your hand or wink your eye,
`Cause that's Bud the Spud, from P.E.I.
With another big load
He's got another big load
He's got another big load of potatoes!
http://www.alsimmons.com/lyrics/tl_budthespud
Folk Songs of Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is Canada's smallest province. It is in the middle of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and is separated from New Brunswick by the Northumberland Strait. The nearly 13km long confederation bridge opened in 1997 connecting the two provinces. While the population density of the island is fairly high compared to the rest of the country, it is the most rural province in the country, with only 45% of the population classified as urban. One of the islands defining features is it's deep red soil. Shirts can even be be purchased which have been died with PEI dirt. The two most important resources on the island are it's rich farm land, and fisheries. Prince Edward Island is Canada's largest producer of potatoes and the value of this crop has ranged between $201 and $235 million in the past five years. In the 1800's shipbuilding was also an important industry, and today turism provides many jobs. The people on the island are mostly of British origin, with about 9% being of French or Acadian origin.The book, Folk Songs of Prince Edward Island edited by Reshard Gool, explains the bounty of folk culture on the island well: "It has been an open secret for some time that Prince Edward Island, the tiny garden province of Canada, is a treasure-house of folk-lore, owing to its early settlement and isolated position.... Here we can partake of the life and traditions of the sturdy fishermen and farmers, who came from various stocks, but whose proudest boast is that they are from THE Island".
Nova Scotia Folk Songs
Origins and Meaning behind Farewell to Nova Scotia
The Folk Songs of Canada songbook merely call this song, "A popular sailor's song that is traditional in Nova Scotia", but it has become much more important than that. The song was first collected by Canadian folklorist, Helen Creighton. The song gained even greater popularity when it was recorded and broadcast on the Halifax TV show, Singalong Jubilee in 1964. The song has become an Anthem of Nova Scotia and was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006.It is suggested in the Hall of Fame discription that Farewell to Nova Scotia was written during or shortly before World War one and may have taken inspiration from the poem, A Soldier's Adieu, by Scottish poet Robert Tannahill. Here is the poem courtesy of the Internet Archive:
HE weary sun's gane doun the west,
The birds sit nodding on the tree,
All Nature now inclines for rest,
But rest aUow'd there's nane for me :
The trumpet calls to War's alarms.
The rattling drum forbids my stay ;
Ah ! Nancy, bless thy soldier's arms,
For ere morn I will be far away.
The first two lines of the poem are very similar to verse one of Farewell to Nova Scotia, but in more casual sing-song language. The sun was setting in the west, like in the poem and the birds were singing instead of sleeping (nodding) in the trees. Nature was ready for rest in both examples, but the protagonist was not allowed this luxury. The rest of the song is less exact in its similarity to the poem but the message is still almost the same. Both protagonists have a girlfriend they have to leave, and both are saying goodbye. While not explicitly stated in the song I believe the sailor is also going off to war; probably with the navy. The line, "the drums they do beat and the wars do alarm. The captain calls, we must obey", makes this quite apparent. If the suggested time frame is correct, the singer is likely a sailor who was drafted into the Great War and forced to leave his home, probably for the first time. Nova Scotians were part of the first Canadian Contingent sent to aid Great Britain on October 3, 1914. The 17th Infantry Ballalion, the Nova Scotia Highlanders, sailed from Halifax.A Popular Nova Scotia Folksong: Farewell to Nova Scotia (Nova Scotia Song)
The following are the lyrics recorded in the 1954 edition of Folk Songs of Canada, p. 23 (The song is titled Nova Scotia Song in this book, but I have always known it as, Farewell to Nova Scotia):
1. The sun was setting in the west, the birds were singing on
every tree, All nature seemed inclined for rest, But
still there was no rest for me.
chorus: Farewell to Nova Scotia, the
sea-bound coast! Let your mountains dark and dreary be
For when I am far away on the
briny ocean tossed Will you ever heave a sigh and a wish for me?
2. I grieve to leave my native land, I grieve to leave my
comrades all, And my parents whom I held so dear, And the
bonny, bonny lass that I do adore
chorus
3. The drums they do beat and the wars do alarm. The captain calls, we
must obey, So farewell, farewell to Nova Scotia's charms, For it's
early in the morning I am far, far away
chorus
4. I have three brothers and they are at rest, Their arms are folded
on their breast, But a poor simple sailor just like me Must be
tossed and driven on the dark blue sea.
chorus
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Place Names in I's the B'y
Twillingate: Two islands connected by a bridge on the Northwest corner of Newfoundland. It's history dates back to the 1700's, and it is known for it's rich fishing heritage and as the "iceberg capital of the world".
Morton's Harbour: (Moreton's) On the northwest extremity of The New World Island. It's residents relied mostly on the fishing, shipbuilding, lumbering, and for a short time mining industries. Residents were attracted to Moreton's in the very early 1800's because of its proximmatey to fishing grounds and good stands of timber. The population in 1998 was 228 and declining due to the faltering fishing industry. The area has begun to rely more heavily on tourism for it's economy.
Bonavista: This was where on June 24th, 1497 John Cabbot first made landfall in "the new world". The town became very important for its incredibly rich fishing grounds, and was fished by English, French, Portuguese and Spanish fishermen. A takeover attempt by the French in 1696 but was stopped by its residents. The town now has a population of approximately 20,000 people and is still growing economically.
Unfamiliar Words
This song contains some excellent examples of the Newfoundland dialect. Some possibly unfamiliar words, or unfamiliar alternative uses of words, along with their definitions from the online Dictionary of Newfoundland English include:
b'y: boy, a male of any age; a male of any age; a frequent term of address; a marker of informality or intimacy
fish: Cod, Newfoundlanders will ask you if you will take "herring or fish", "salmon or fish?"; meaning by the latter nothing more, and nothing less than Cod.
flake: a platform built on poles and spread with boughs for drying cod-fish on the foreshore
rind: bark of a tree or plant
maggoty: full of maggots. Of cod-fish improperly cured and infested with the larvae of blow-flies
cake: cake of bread; hard rounded, dry ship's biscuit, bread, hardtack
Friday, April 27, 2012
A Very Popular Newfoundland Folk Song; I'se the B'y
1. I'se the b'y that builds the boat ,
and I'se the b'y that sails her!
I'se the b'y that catches the fish
and take'em home to Liser
refrain: hip yer partner, Sally Tibbo! Hip yer partner, Sally Brown!
Fogo, Twillingate, Mort'ton's Harbour, All around the circle!
2. Sods and rinds to cover yer flake,
cake and tea for supper,
codfish in the spring o' the year
fried in maggoty butter.
refrain
3. I don't want your maggoty fish,
That's no good for winter;
I could buy as good as that
Down in Bonavista.
refrain
4. I took Lizer to a dance,
and faith, but she could travel!
and every step that she did take
was up to her knees in gravel.
refrain
5. Susan White, she's out of sight,
Her petticoat wants a border;
Old Sam Oliver, in the dark,
He kissed her in the corner.
refrain
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Newfoundland Songs
The music originated with Europeans coming to the island to fish codfish. Prominent and influential European settelers included the French, English, Irish and Scottish. Most people now claim mixed English/Irish ancestery. The Europeans brought their songs and styles, but over time new songs were written about where they were. Especially songs about fishing and the sea. The songs were sung for entertainment, to record events and to mourn. Newfoundlands first and only substantial wave of immegration came in the 19th century. Kitchen parties were central to the culture. The main instruments were the fiddle, voice and accordion. Many musical traditions developed in pockets around the island because of the isolation of different ports. The isolation is particularly evident in the strong "Newfie" accent and dialect that many Newfoundlanders speak. There is even a Dictionary of Newfoundland English: http://www.heritage.nf.ca/dictionary/d7ction.html. Here is a youtube video showing a typical kitchen party.
Anita Best, writes in the introduction of “Come and I will sing you”, a collection of Newfoundland folksongs, that growing up in Placentia Bay Newfoundland she often “heard songs at weddings, soup suppers, and similar gatherings in people’s kitchens and parish halls.” (page x) She also notes that while many of the singers whom she later recorded songs from were older, there were many young enthusiastic singers as well. The young singers however would not sing songs learned from an older person in the community if that person was present. The original singer would have to sing it, possibly with help from the younger.
Atlantic Canada even has its own music awards: East Coast Music Awards (ECMA)
David Myles won song and songwriter of the year for 2012 with this song: Simple Pleasures
Economy breeds folk singing
The economy of Atlantic Canada has traditionally been higher resource based, including fishing, farming, forestry and mining. Fisheries and Oceans Canada says,Atlantic lobster is Canada's most lucrative fishery... employing about 30,000 harvesters across Quebec and Atlantic Canada". In recent years the economy has diversified, but resources are still incredibly important. In 2008 the biggest common exports were agri-food, energy and forestry. This kind of economy with its strong physical labour force working together provides a perfect opportunity for folk singing. XXX in Folk Songs and Ballads of Nova Scotia wrote, “Men in Halifax County fish in the summer and go into the lumber woods in winter. When fishermen have time to put in away from home they sing, and in the lumber woods they stay in camp for two or three months and this is how they entertain themselves. This means songs are always being exchanged, and that is what has kept them alive”.Atlantic Canada: A Brief History
The first Europeans to settle in Canada were the Vikings at Lans Aux Meadows Newfoundland around the year 1000CE. It was almost 500 years until Europeans once more landed on Canadian shores, when John Cabot landed again in Newfoundland in 1497 claiming its rich fishing grounds for England. (heritage moment video) Subsequent explorers visited Newfoundland and possibly Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia in the early 16th century. In 1534 Jacque Cartier explored the coasts of Newfoundland and the other Atlantic provinces, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and the Gaspe Peninsula in Quebec, and claimed the territory for France. Throughout the late 1500’s and early 1600’s settlements were created in all the Atlantic provinces and Quebec. It was not until many years later that permanent settlements were created in the rest of Canada, especially the west coast. In 1755 the Acadians (French inhabiants of the Atlantic Provinces) were ordered to deport by the English. This deportation was termed the “Expulsion of the Acadians”, and has had a strong influence on their culture and history. New Brunswick and Nova Scotia were part of the first four provinces to join the Dominion of Canada under the first Prime Minister, John A MacDonald, the other two provinces being Quebec and Ontario. The first first meeting outlining the Articles for Confederation and the creation of Canada was held in the capital of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, but the island did not join until six years later. Despite being the first land discovered in Canada by the British, Newfoundland did not join Confederation until 1949. In 1773 Scottish settlers reached Nova Scotia. In 1773, right before the end of the American Revolutionary war, thousands of United Empire Loyalists arrived in Atlantic Canada. They were of mostly British, Dutch, Irish and Scottish decent. In the 1840’s thousands of Irish immigrants settled in Canada escaping the potato famine. Between 1830 and 1850 60% of the immegrants to Canada were Irish. Many settled in Atlantic Canada. 2006 Canadian census showed that 23.3% of Atlantic Canadians were of Irish decent, higher than all other regions of the country. This Irish influence is extremely apparent in the folk music. Scottish influence can also be seen, which makes sense given an also very high Scottish origin population, especially in the three Maritime Provinces where they made up 31% of the population. Nineteen percent of the Atlantic Canadian population is of French decent (30% in New Brunswick-mostly Acadian). The majority of the ramaining population is of British decent.
Introduction
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