FTX-082 - TWANKYDILLO

The Copper Family of Rottingdean, near Brighton Sussex, maintain an ancient harmony style of two-part unaccompanied singing. Here are 19 songs, with Bob introducing them, recorded by Peter Kennedy in 1955, including six from his father, James, taken down on tape by Peter in 1951. Country songs about rural love, farmwork and the seasons, including two Christmas carols as well as a trademans song dating from the Napoleonic period: THE HARD TIMES OF OLD ENGLAND

1. TWANKYDILLO (or THE MERRY BLACKSMITH) sung by Bob & Ron - 2'57"

2. Talk by Bob - 1'14"

3. THE 'CHINER'S THRESHING SONG sung by Ron with Bob in chorus - 1'37"

4. WHEN JONES'S ALE WAS NEW sung by Bob & Ron - 2'32"

5. THE INNOCENT HARE (or SPORTSMEN AROUSE) Bob & Ron - 2'56"

6. Talk - 0'44"

7. SWEEP, CHIM-NIE SWEEP Bob & Ron - 2'42"

8. THE HARD TIMES OF OLD ENGLAND sung by Ron - 2'59"

9. THE MONTH OF MAY (or THE MERRY HAYMAKERS) sung by Bob & Ron - 2'01"

10. Talk - 1'32"

11. SPENCER THE ROVER Bob & Ron - 3'23"

12. GOOD ALE Bob & Ron - 2'41"

13. TIME PASSES OVER (or THOUSANDS OR MORE) Bob & Ron - 2'27"

14. SHEPHERDS ARISE (Carol) sung by Bob & Ron - 3'35"

15. THE IRISH GIRL sung by Bob's father, Jim Copper - 3'14"

16. BOLD GENERAL WOLFE Jim - 2'09"

17. YOU SEAMEN BOLD (or THE SHIP IN DISTRESS) Jim - 3'51"

18. BOLD FISHERMAN sung by Bob & Ron - 3'41"

19. THE SPOTTED COW sung by Jim Copper - 2'18"

20. THE HAMPSHIRE FARMER (or HIGHWAYMAN OUTWITTED) Jim - 2'44"

21. LEMONAY Jim - 2'29"

22. THE CHRISTMAS PRESENTS (or THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS) Bob & Ron - 3'40"

Recorded by Peter Kennedy 1951-55. Edited by Peter Kennedy & first published on Folktrax Cassettes 1975.

It was in 1899 that Mrs Kate Lee, the Secretary of the newly formed Folk-Song Society, first drew the attention of members to the singing of the Copper family, when she met Bob and Ron's grandparents: "I shall never forget the delight of hearing the two Mr. Coppers. They were so proud of their Sussex songs and sang them with an enthusiasm grand to hear....a love song, sea song or a plough song, it did not matter what it was, they looked at each other significantly and, with perfect grave faces, off they would go. Mr. Thomas Copper's voice was as flexible as a birds. He always sang the under-part, like a sort of obligato, impossible at first hearing to put down.."

For these recordings the under-part was taken by Ron, who was then landlord of "The Queen Victoria" public-house at Rottingdean, near Brighton, while his cousin, Bob, looked after "The Central Club", at Peacehaven, a little further along the coast. Some of the Copper's songs were contributed to the first Journal of the Folk-Song Society by Mrs Kate Lee. Some more recent remarks about their style of singing are given in the Journal of The English Folk Dance and Song Society (1954).

Further recordings of the COPPERS: FT-081, FT-238 & FT-239.