Sound Recordings, Suffolk

Description

Alice Messenger, recorded on the 4 October 1974 in Aldeburgh, possibly at a friend's house. [The informant is from Blaxhall. A Mrs. Thompson also speaks on this recording.] Conclusion of a recording which starts on tape LAVC/SRE/A389r. Alice Messenger sings 'I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen'; Mrs. Thompson suggests other song titles (including London songs and music hall); AM sings 'Cockles and Mussels', 'Count Your Blessings'and 'London is the Largest City in the World'; talks of singing with Bob Hart; learning songs at family get togethers; Blaxhall singers that collector has recorded [collector reads list of names] - AM suggests others [Mrs. Thompson contributes]. [Tr. 1] Alice Messenger, recorded [?at home] in Blaxhall on the 31 October 1974, talks about the length of songs [Mr. Messenger - ? Sid Messenger - contributes]; Mrs. Thompson; concert parties and visiting other villages; singing as a young child; concerts during World War One; church choir; concert party members; song sheets from the shop Woolworths; singing properly; choosing songs according to the type of audience; meaning and stories in songs; song ownership; women and pub singing; the Candlestick Dance, performed by women on Whit Monday; separation of men and women in the Ship Inn, Blaxhall; men step dancing; fighting; Romany ancestors; the Ling family; Gypsy Traveller communities in the Blaxhall area; suggested origin of the name Blaxhall. Alice Messenger's early family life - parents' occupations [Mr. Messenger contributes]; living on land owned by Lord Ullswater; parents' names; childhood jobs, including stone picking; grandmother singing; parents singing in the Ship Inn - types of songs sung (gives titles); family singsongs; working in service in Blaxhall, Cambridge, London and Manchester - talks of wages, describes range of duties; working in Halesworth; courting and marriage; Mr. Messenger's seasonal work at ?Snape/?Blaxhall Maltings; experiences of air raids during World War Two; childhood recollections of World War One; eating rabbits; singing in concerts; playing the piano; Bob Scarce; other Blaxhall singers listed and commented on; Blaxhall village life - rivalry with Tunstall and Snape; comments on other villagers; the effect of World War One; Mr. Messenger's parents; his and Alice Messenger's children. [Tr. 2] 62 of 79.

Metadata

Identifier	cpyr4545
IRN	414441
Class Mark	LAVC/SRE/A390r
Level	Item
Type of Record	Archives - ISAD(G)
Peristent Link	http://prototype1.library.leeds.ac.uk/cpyr4545
Collection(s)	Leeds Archive of Vernacular Culture
Category	Archive
Parent Record	Audiotape Sound Recordings
Creator(s)	Dunn, Ginette
Date	October 1974
Size and Medium	1 x 12.7cm open reel spool, Duration: 92' 13".

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