Review
by Mary Ellen Wright
The SJFAC held another in its successful and enjoyable series of traditional music workshops four Sundays in October. The Song Repertoire Workshop (October 3, 10, 17 and 24, 2004)four 90-minute sessions with some of the folk music community’s best-known traditional singers: Jean Hewson, Anita Best, Joe Byrne and Greg Walsh. Participants gathered in the baroque setting of one of the meeting rooms at the Masonic Temple to learn songs and talk about singing. My daughter Ellen and I were two of about 15 people, ranging from experienced and even professional singers to those who felt the urge to sing something a little more substantial than three verses and a chorus.
Jean Hewson was our first instructor. She chose a couple of comic songs – Leather Britches and Butter and Cheese. It was clear that Jean is a music teacher – she talked a lot about delivery and timing (which is everything with comic songs). She also offered us helpful suggestions on how to cram the text into the allotted amount of music!
Anita Best was our next leader. From Anita, we learned something about the scholarship of ballad singing as she introduced us to Child ballads Bold Lamkin and Lady Margaret. In this session we also talked about the etiquette of singing – who sang what songs and when, for example.
I was not able to attend Joe Byrne’s session, but Ellen particularly enjoyed it – Joe’s “heave it out of you” style is one she is familiar with, and she was happy to hear that Joe had gotten many of his songs from his uncle, our friend Mr. Jack Lake of South East Bight. Joe chose The Barque in the Harbour – not the easiest song to sing but a beautiful air – and Young Riley, another fine healthy song with many verses.
Greg Walsh was our last instructor. Greg has become very interested in learning songs from his home community of Bay de Verde. The songs he chose for us were The Jinkers and Thank YouVery Much, a song composed by a local priest.
We spent a lot of time at all of the sessions talking about why we liked to sing the songs we do. Personal connections to the songs and their singers were important for all of the instructors and most of the participants. We talked about how we learned songs and discussed the context for any revisions we might make to the texts of the songs we sing. We wondered about such practices as speaking the last words of a song – a common practice here in Newfoundland and Labrador. The highlight of the sessions for me was having the chance to learn Bold Lamkin. I cannot describe to you the sensation of singing this powerful song – it was absolutely visceral. (Someone said “Makes you want to have a cigarette afterward.”)
It is so hard to get a chance to learn the old songs in the old way; there seems to have been a break in the chain of transmission somehow. Not very many people are interested in just sitting around singing songs, especially without instruments (and if you go to parties with tune players you know what happens.....). As someone who loves the old songs – and as someone who is trying to pass the tradition of singing to my kids – I really appreciated this workshop.
A CD of all the songs from the workshop, performed by the instructors, was part of the workshop package. These CDs are available at the SJFAC office. Get one! Learn a long song today!
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The Place of Traditional Singing in Our Culture
by Steve Delaney
What I liked the most about the traditional singing workshop was the discussion about the place of traditional singing in our culture. It was good to add a few songs to one's personal repertoire, and to learn a little about the songs themselves, but the highlight for me was a better understanding of the (former?) role of singing in our collective lives.
As we learned at the workshop, traditional singing was something that everyone could do and take part in. It did not require the somewhat special expertise required for playing a musical instrument - nor was it a "performance." Although those with fine voices might receive recognition, this was an activity of most all of the people. It was something families did together. But the tradition may be fading. Are those gathered for a family event likely to share some songs these days- perhaps not.
The workshop itself was well organized with punctual sessions, appropriate handout materials (including a CD of the songs), and information about backup and reference materials. The 15+ participants enjoyed hearing the presentations and performances of our four instructors: Jean Hewson, Joe Byrne, Anita Best, and Greg Walsh. And allto relish chiming in and singing along in unison. The songs chosen covered an interesting range of possibilities.
This is a workshop that should be repeated - it certainly left me energized and encouraged to sing more often!
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