Sound Recordings, Manchester and Shropshire

Description

Fred Jordan, singing at the Bay Horse pub in Manchester on the 26 April 1974; sings 'Farmer's Boy', 'The Vacant Chair' and 'The Old Armchair'. [Tr. 1]. Conclusion of session which starts on tape LAVC/SRE/A347r. Fred Jordan, recorded in Aston Munslow on the 27 April 1974; talks about his childhood in Ludlow during the Depression; leaving school and Ludlow at fourteen; parents; farm work - describes tasks, working day; wages; working with farm horses; horse brasses; learning songs from his parents; singing at Ludlow Town Hall, aged six; pub singing; comments on his singing in Manchester the previous night; memorisation and performance of songs; audiences and types of song selected; music hall songs; mother's influence; importance of musical accompaniment; father's singing; other singers in the village (all deceased). Singers FJ admires; singing qualities; no song texts or titles - repertoire memorised; talk of his house, the village; making a commercial record; song performance and nerves; text/tune variations (ref. 'Barbara Allen'); memory lapses; knowledge of songs; singing at school and on the farm; preservation of songs; performing on BBC Radio, also television; current gardening work; Hiring Knots [cf. Hiring Fairs] - selection of agricultural labour, types of knots denoting labourer's marital status, county of origin; living in; Hiring Fair, May 1st; parents and family; song performance and choice of song; pitching; favourite songs; sings 'The Dark Eyed Sailor', and discusses different versions, background/history; audience responses; mother's knowledge of seafaring songs. [Tr. 2]. Concludes on tape LAVC/SRE/A349r. 20 of 79.

Metadata

Identifier spsl2y4h
IRN 414399
Class Mark LAVC/SRE/A348r
Level Item
Type of Record Archives - ISAD(G)
Peristent Link http://prototype1.library.leeds.ac.uk/spsl2y4h
Collection(s) Leeds Archive of Vernacular Culture
Category Archive
Parent Record Audiotape Sound Recordings
Creator(s) Dunn, Ginette
Date April 1974
Size and Medium 1 x 12.7cm open reel spool, Duration: 63' 54".

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