SHEPHERD OF THE DOWNS
The life and songs of Michael Blann (1843 - 1934), Sussex shepherd and singer by Colin Andrews.
The extensively revised third edition, which includes a new CD, is now available.
Book + CD £12.95 +£1 p&p for single copy. Multiple copies please enquire
CD only (cardboard sleeve) £5 (+ 50p p&p for up to 3 copies)
Email enquiries: books.
First & Second editions published, 1979, 1987 by Worthing Museum.
The words of the songs in the book are taken from Michael Blann's own handwritten notebook, which is kept in the Barclay Wills collection at Worthing Museum, and reproduced in their original spelling. For all but one of the songs Michael Blann gave no indication as to the tune, but in many cases appropriate 'traditional' tunes from other sources have now been found. The source is clearly indicated, including any newly composed tunes.
The biographical notes trace Michael Blann's life, from his birth in Upper Beeding, to his death at the age of ninety in Patching. Unfortunately, research has still failed to establish whether any children resulted from any of his three marriages. While much additional information has come to light since the second editions was published, the author would be interested to receive any further details about Michael Blann's life and songs.
THE SONGS THE TUNES
| Spencer The Rover | Adapted from Copper Family version | |
| Live And Let Live | Variation of Monk's March morris tune | |
| 100 Years Ago | Original composition | |
| The Duke of Grafton's Hounds | Adapted from 'The Silly Doe' (Baring-Gould collection) | |
| I Likes A Drop Of Good Beer | Original composition | |
| The Old Farmer | Two tunes: 1. W.A.Barrett collection 2. Based on Welsh Folk Dance Tune | |
| The Trees Are All Bare | Adapted from Copper Family version | |
| The Burial Of Sir John Moore | Two tunes: 1.J.Barnett (19th C) 2. Based on Idbury Hill morris tune | |
| The Innocent Hare | Adapted from Copper Family version | |
| Our Jack's Come Home | Traditional, from own family | |
| Tom Bowling | C. Dibden (1745 - 1814) | |
| Humphey Hough | 3 tunes: 1. E. Upton/D. Robertson 2. Gordon Hall 3. Baring -Gould collection | |
| Two Orphan Boys | Two tunes: 1. From 'Heart Songs Dear To American People'. 2. Original composition | |
| We Britons To Arms | Original composition | |
| Blann's Beer | Two tunes: 1. Yankee Doodle 2. Adapted from Gilbert & Sullivan | |
| The Farmer's Boy | Traditional, from own family | |
| Riley Song | From Folk Song Journal, Vol. 8 | |
| The Plough Boy's Song | From Kidson's 'Traditional Tunes' | |
| Dame Derden | Oral tradition/similar to Copper Family version | |
| Christians Awake | Adapted from Broadwood Collection | |
| The Spring Comes In | Oral tradition/similar to Copper Family version | |
| The Moon Is Up | Original composition | |
| Notes on the missing songs | ||
| Words of 'missing songs' from other sources | ||
| Sheep Shearing Song | Adapted from Copper Family version | |
| The Cottage By The Sea | From Gordon Hall | |
| Punch Ladle Song | Text only | |
| Cupid The Pretty Ploughboy | Text only | |
| Think Of Your Head in The Morn | Text only | |
| Green Garters | Text only | |
| Those Evening Bells | Text only | |
| Free And Easy | Adapted from English Dance & Song magazine | |
Notes on other songs referred to in Blann's notebook by title only:
The Green Lands/ Hark the Goddess Diana /The Reverie Song / The True Hearted Sailor / My Old Friend John / Maggy May / Once A Cook I Courted /The Strawberry Mark / Old Uncle Ned / Scheer Up Sam / My Bonny Light Horseman / The Rich Merchant's Daughter / John's Ale Was New/ John Barleycorn / The Old Folks At Home /The Rose Of Allandale / Dick Turpin Bold / Hard Times Come Again No More / The Dragoons / Bright Phoebus
Michael Blann is also known to have sung: Death of Nelson / New Mown Hay
THE CD RECORDING
17 tracks featuring the author's arrangement of songs and tunes from 'Shepherd of the Downs':
Songs: I Likes A Drop Of Good Beer / A Hundred Years Ago / Live And Let Live / Duke Of Grafton's Hounds / Burial Of Sir John Moore / The Old Farmer / We Britons To Arms / Spencer The Rover / Riley Song / Our Jack's Come Home / Innocent Hare / Two Orphan Boys / Blann's Beer / Tom Bowling / Humphrey Hough / The Farmer's Boy
Tunes: The Spring Comes In / Free And Easy / The Trees Are All Bare / Sheep Shearing / The Moon Is Up / Christians Awake
Singers: Colin Andrews, The Trugs (Colin Andrews, David & Maggie Robertson, Eddie Upton). Chorus: Duncan Andrew, Sonja Andrews, Ken Hinchliffe.
Musicians: Colin Andrews (melodeons, anglo concertinas, whistles), Duncan Andrew (fiddle), Ken Hinchliffe (English concertinas), Sonja Andrews (percussion), Jon Palmer (guitar)
The Trugs recordings were made by Brian Horsfall, for Traditional Sound Recordings 1971, and reproduced under licence from Fellside Recordings Ltd. All other recordings by Jon Palmer, Big Bear Mobile Recordings, 2006
Any queries or information on Michael Blann or his songs to books
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