FTX-057 - THE GREAT MAN OF GOWER

PHIL TANNER

Introduced by F.A. Bracey & his wife Paddy Palmer, who were responsible for bringing Phil Tanner to the attention of Maud Karpeles in the twenties, which in turn led to him first being recorded in 1937 and, after the war, in 1948. Tanner is now regarded as one of the most outstanding performers of English folk-song, & particularly remembered for his local version of "The Gower Wassail Song" and the "Gower Reel" mouth-music used for step-dancing. The commentary gives a graphic account of his individuality and rebel outlook.

1. THE GOWER REEL (mouth music) faded to commentary by F.A.Bracey on how he first encountered Tanner while he was attending an undergraduate camp in S.Wales at which Tanner joined in one of their sing-songs. Bracey sings extracts of 2 songs he learned from Phil Tanner, accomp by his wife, Paddy Palmer (piano): A Welsh parody of ERIN-GO-BRAGH and the Boxing Ballad, MY BROTHER SYLVEST' - 4'35"

2. Further talk about Tanner's first performance at the Camp followed by THE OYSTER GIRL - 2'36"

3. Talk with Peter Kennedy about mouth music at performances in parish and London followed by THE GOWER REEL with step-dancing - 2'19"

4. Further talk with PK about how Tanner came to be recognised & recorded in London - 1'14"

5. THE BANKS OF THE SWEET PRIMEROSES - 3'32"

6. Talk with PK by Paddy & Bracey about transcribing the music - 1'21"

7. YOUNG HENRY MARTIN (Child Ballad #250) - 3'33"

8. Bracey with stories of Tanner in London, at the BBC & Buckingham Palace - 1'14"

9. THE DARK-EYED SAILOR - 3'46"

10. PK asks Bracey about Tanner's song repertoire - 2'35"

11. SWANSEA BARRACKS (or THE BLOOMING ROSE OF SOUTH WALES) - 2'28"

12. BARBARA ELLEN (Child #84) - 2'28"

13. Bracey talks about Tanner's work, status & his home etc - 1'16"

14. THE PARSON AND THE CLERK - 3'05"

15. Talk with PK about travel, local gossip and attitudes - 0'50"

16. THE BONNY BUNCH OF ROSES-O - 3'25"

17. Talk: his dialect speech, singing style, sense of local ritual and customs, Bracey sings extracts of THE POTTERY CANAL (THE MORRISTON-SWANSEA CANAL) & YOUNG ROGER ESQUIRE - 4'17"

18. YOUNG ROGER ESQUIRE - 2'34"

19. Further talk about Tanner, on one occasion, in "The King's Head" at Reynoldstown singing 88 songs, bawdy songs and enjoying giving local offence, and a particular local song - 2'56"

20. OVER THE HILLS TO GOWERIE (mouth music) - 1'20"

21. Talk with PK about Wassailing with Tanner's secret recipe for the Wassail Bowl - 1'29"

22. THE GOWER WASSAIL SONG - 4'37"

23. THE GOWER REEL (mouth music)- 1'05"

Phil Tanner was recorded at Llangennith, Gower in 1948. F.A.Bracey and Penny Palmer were recorded by Peter Kennedy at the John Lewis Store, Oxford St, London 23/12/64 and first published on Folktrax Cassettes 1975. NOTE: All the musical arrangement rights of the Phil Tanner songs, speech & mouth music were assigned to FOLKTRAX for registration and protection by his nephew, John Tanner, 25/1/67, and registered with the Performing Right Society and the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society the same year.

PHILIP TANNER (1862-1949). Born at Llangennith, in Gower, which is an English-speaking part of Wales, Phil worked mainly as a hedger and ditcher. In 1937 Maud Karpeles arranged with Mr and Mrs Bracey for Tanner to come to London to make three records for The Gramophone Company (COLUMBIA CA 16053-5) and to appear on the BBC Radio Programme "In Town Tonight". In 1948, when he was in the Penmaen Eventide Homes in Gower, there was an illustrated article about him in "Picture Post". He died a year later, aged 87.