Another of the Sheffield set, but as Jon says, “This one is normally sung solo, but can work as a group song.” The village carol site adds some more specific instructions about where and when to join in, link here. The title I guess must refer to the village in the Sheffield area and I can’t seem to trawl up an author or anymore on it, so please feel free to add whatever detail you can. I must say I’ve no recollection of ever hearing this, so am also curious to know, is this heard outside the Sheffield area at all? By the way it’s the solstice today, or at least according to the Gregorian calendar. From here the nights start getting longer, so best wishes to you all at the turning point of the year.
You can buy the December digital album now from all good download stores.
Today is the Winter Solstice. The Shortest Day. From Now. The Days get Longer and the Nights Shorter. Energisation and rebirth! Roll on Spring!
We also have A Full Moon and a Total Lunar Eclipse.
It also puts us at the half way point, in our shared journey, of Jon’s A Folk Song A Day.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the first half.
JohnB
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Hilary Ely, Jon Boden. Jon Boden said: Latest Post: : Stannington http://www.afolksongaday.com/2010/12/21/stannington/ […]
Isn’t Stannington the name of the tune? I have a vague memory of seeing it in a hymnal somewhere.
I must confess that I am nearly ‘all shepherded and caroled out’ but I like this one….very peaceful and hopeful
BUT…. “He came to us that wars on earth may cease”…….It is with heavy heart I note that “after 2010 years………..it ain’t working!”
Is it me, or there a music hall feel to the tune (or is it the way Jon is playing it?)
Another for the “to learn” list I think.
Definitely a hymnic feel to it, in the rise and fall and regularity of the phrases. I haven’t been listening sedulously to Jon’s Christmas set, but I liked this one for being little known, humble and a little plaintive.
Blimey Julia I had to look that one up (!), but am pleased you’re paying close attention. And never mind Muzza, we are almostv through the carols. It’s funny as I generally won’t have anything to do with hymns, but carols are different. It’s hard to explain. Perhaps it’s simply that they are so ubiquitous at this time of year they have become deeply ingrained through the years. Still, there have been some genuine surprises over the month and I’ve enjoyed the choruses for bringing some unfussy vigour and sense of how a communal sing should be. Equally, this and Remember Oh Thou Man with the concertina are great.
Actually, this is probably the most recent carol in the Sheffield tradition to be written. It was written by Mina Dyson, a Stannington resident, about 1950. I might be able to give you more information later, but my carols aren’t accessible at the moment, as the carpet-fitter is in… I did chat with someone at a sing last year who remembered singing as a boy on a Stannington village tour, and stopping at Mina Dyson’s house, and being told off for singing one of the carols too slowly. Googling “Mina Dyson Stannington” brings a reference to a recording of a conversation she had with Ian Russell in 1971.
Ian Russell Writes in the book which accompanied the Dungworth CD:
Central to the tradition since the 1950’s usually as a solo. Written by the late Mina Dyson (born Gee – 1890 – also wrote “Bradfield” in 1971). Tune (c. 1945) originally set to anniversary hymn “God Send You Many Days as Sweet as This” by Edward Lockton. Word “Sing All Ye People” written for Christmas 1952.
I’d like to add that this was always sung by a man called Wilf Daff and Brian Shuel has two photographs of his doing just that, one in front of the dartboard and one next to the organ with David Smith playing He was a remarkable tenor singer and when people joined in at the last verse – often at a cry of “altogether” – his voice soared over the crowd. Truly memorable.
When Wilf stopped coming the song was taken over by Billy Mills who was one of the singers who came from the Lodge Moor area when David Smith began playing.
Having said all that Jon makes a wonderful job – a tune that suits his voice so well (IMHO)
I find this the most beautiful carol of them all, and it’s one of my favourite songs generally. Best of all I like it sung by the soloist at the Blue Ball in the Christmas Day session (which I’ll almost certainly miss this year).
Well sung by Jon.
I love this. Another one I learnt at school but the title also makes me think of my Grandparents who lived in Stannington. I really like Jon’s version but I also like this 1970s recording: http://sounds.bl.uk/View.aspx?item=025M-C0903X0091XX-0300V0.xml – real sort of 1950s radio crooner style, I think. Plus the pub noise. Bit of order please! 🙂
Thanks for the info on this song.
Delighted to have info on this song, Frazer, so I don’t have to anorak to no avail as with Mount Moriah! I was so hoping some people involved with the Sheffield carol tradition might know how names came about, and other interesting facts. Perhaps it is a little optimistic to expect people to be able to go back much before the 1950s, unless details have been passed down by word of mouth, but people move about so often these days and local knowledge can get lost.
So the question is, Jon, are you singing it quickly enough for Ms Mina? Sounds like sthg out of Dracula! A very nice sounding carol though. I liked the way you sang it, but I am rather carolled out now too, like Muzza. I tend towards those that do not sound so hymnal, or have their roots in earthly life, nature; or a bit unusual, like this song.
Happy about Winter Solstice though! Yeh!
I like the tune.
I love this – very music hall and soupy in the best Victorian tradition!
Another newie but a goodie! That looks a little strange but I expect the message is there – I liked it!
Simon when you and yours end up in the poor house, you will have one consolation, you will be able to see more clearly with your new specs.
Caroled out already ! Some people have no staying power. We still have our big one to do on Friday 23rd Dec at ‘The Crown’ in Longtown (For anyone who has walked the Offa’s Dyke Path, that is the little village you look down on from half way along the Hatteral Ridge) I must admit, however, the combination of winter colds and coughs and singing puts a severe strain on the larynx. I suppose plenty of lubrication is the answer !!
Yet another new one to me and quite lovely. I can imagine it as a solo item at one of those endless chapel carol concerts, backed by a wheezing harmonium, with the congregation shuffling aching bottoms on pews never designed for comfort. Yes, I HAVE been there !
Linda, you must read the comments on the previous song – one of us is very mischievous. Guess who?
You are right I don’t expect Jon or Simon intended this site as a social network but it has developed into one, but still if it injects a little humour into peoples’ day I don’t suppose we are doing any harm.
This has the sitting round a log fire with a glass of port atmoshere to it, lovely.
Diana ,Colin spotted yesterdays comments, am at the minute working out where to hide homemade pork pie and sausage rolls so they survive till christmas eve .
For those who are ‘caroled out’ with the Christian songs, there are many pagan yuletide songs to be found on t’internetty too. Here’s the beautiful ‘Solstice Carol’ by Wyrd Sisters:
Jane, glad to see you back, have missed your support with those who shall be nameless. Have you any suspicion who “A Nonny Mouse” might be?
Have ignored all the clothing items which you have probably noticed. What ho no spelling mistakes.
Once again I’ll remind you all of the altrenative advent calendar over on the other blog, which has taken an almost totally secular approach to the season. You’ll find links back to 24 of the songs in the archive here. It’s a mixed bag but there are some belters amongst them. There will also be a player appearing on Christmas Day with all 25 of the selected tracks to listen to. It’s certainly worth a dabble.
Simon you have done it again – slipped up with your triping.
Eeeeeee….Jane Lass…………..that were a right neece link to the Solstice Carol…..
and bedazzled by Admin Simon’s “altrenative” site.
Still a nice one Jon.
So Far……………..no winter….except the poor folk who have been flooded….
the rest of us pottering about in our scimpys….bet I get a scarf for Crimbo……(I need a sock and a vest)
.shortest day today….Here comes summer lads and lasses………….wahooooooo!
memories of David Smith at the Royal in Dungworth.. I was a snip of a lass but he sang this song wonderfully..and a roof raising last verse… All together now… lovely memories..
[…] I’m indebted to Dave Eyre for providing some background information on this song, via a comment left on Jon Boden’s A Folk Song a Day entry for December 21st 2010 […]
Hope all is well Muzza cant get email to you sez your inbox is full……sound as if the “gang” were having fun in 2011…