FOLK SESSION – Howard Arms, Brampton
The Brampton folk session met on 17th March with the theme of ‘Trades and Professions’. A warm ‘welcome back’ to Charlie Chomse, returning after far too long an absence.
Let us start with the traditional folk-music-type trades: soldiers Marching through Rochester with Sally, and commemorated musically on melodeon by Adrian (Duncan McGillivray, who led the Ontario Pipe Band) and on harmonica by John G (Colonel Fraser); sailors catching Tiny Fish for Japan (Gerda) and keelmen Carrying Coal down the Tyne (Charlie). Weavers were well-represented – Phil celebrated the hand-weavers who made the Music of the Loom; Gerda described the hardships of factory weaving in Poverty Knock; and Richard recalled the amorous adventures of a weaver in the Foggy, Foggy Dew. Mining tragedies featured in Sally’s Ballad of Springhill and Alan’s Rap ‘Er To Bank. Alan celebrated Jolly Ploughboys; Ron rejoiced in The Song of the Plough and, still in rural mode, described the satisfactions of hedging (The Hedger’s Lay).
The toils and tribulations of labourers were described humorously in The Sick Note (John G) and with grim realism in MacAlpine’s Fusiliers (Geoff P), while Billycock Hat (Charlie) outlined the hard work and limited pleasures of a navvy’s life.
Equally traditional, but less often represented in song, are the trades of joiner (If I Were a Carpenter – Richard); factory hand (William Brown – Paddy); fairground showman (Rawtenstall Annual Fair – Adrian) and fishwife (Caller Herrin’ – Katy).
Some of our contributors were ingenious, not to say downright creative. Who would have expected two songs about sewermen? And yet Phil told us I’m Glad I’m Working Down Below and Adrian sang the Sydney Carter song Down Below. Charles went for the creative touch with a mathematician (Lobachevsky) and I Am the Very Model of a Folk Musicologist. Other out-on-a-limb contributions included Paddy’s To Be a Pharmacist; Anne’s sad tale of Joyce the Librarian; and Geoff P’s song about the Yorkshire painter Peter Brook. Anne found a cautionary tale about a policeman (Speeding) and John G a tune about The New Policeman.
Bob recalled that the date coincides with St Patrick’s Day, and went for an Irish theme, with When Irish Eyes Are Smiling and After All These Years.
We next meet on Tuesday, 21st April at 8pm in The Howard Arms, Brampton. Our theme will be ‘Rivers, Lakes and Seas’. ALL WELCOME!
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