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FTX-213 - LA GRA' CHARRUE

Song, dance & Customs of GUERNSEY & SARK

"Les Iles Normands", in spite of anglicisation and tourism, some islanders still speak the local French patois and keep up the old traditions. From Guernsey: 8 songs & 7 dances - with explanations & translations, as well as talk about them & the customs: The Big Plough, Milk-a-punch Sunday, Bonfire Night & the Green Bed. From Sark: 9 songs & dances, as well as conversation in Sarkese & talk about customs including the Masquerade.

GUERNSEY:-

1. L'ALOUETTE played on melodeon by Mary Sauvage, Catel - 0.21

2. LA GRA' CHARRUE sung by Morrison Torode, St Peters (talk before & explan after) - 3.18

3. LA BEBEE (The Baby or Clap Polka) Mary Sauvage (mel) with talk by her father, Ernest followed by tune again with humming & clapping - 1.57

4. JE VINGT ANS MON PERE sung by John Gallienne, Torteval (talk bef: apologises for his English & explan after) - 1.01

5. THE FOUR HAND REEL (Tune: Soldier's Joy var.) played by Frank Brehard (mel) talk after by his father, Walter, descr. dance, "the green bed", witchcraft, warnings, shipwrecks, smuggling & book, "Le Petit Albert" for casting spells - 3.27

6. LA JERRIAISE (The Jersey Polka) Frank Brehard (mel) - 0.36

7. LE PAUVRE SOLDAT EN REVENANT DE GUERRE sung by George Le Moigne, Perelle (explan bef) - 3.42

8. THE HEEL AND TOE POLKA Mary Sauvage (mel) - 0.34

9. J'AI T'ENCORE UN PETIT VOYAGE A FAIRE George Le Moigne (explan bef) - 1.41

10. DOUBLE, DOUBLE LA VIOLETTE Mary Sauvage (mel) with her father singing - 0.42

11. Talk about local customs by Wilfred Thoume, St Martins, incl Vauche d'an (riding the donkey for the unfaithful), Milk-a-punch (1st Sunday i9n May), Guernsey Gauche (cake), Gra' Charrue & Guy Fawkes Night (Nov 5) - 4.48

12. J'AI PERDU MA FEMME EN PLANTENT DES CHOUX Mary Sauvage & her father singing - 0.46

13. MA MIGNONETTE John Gallienne (with explan bef) - 3.03

14. CHANGEZ DES BRAS (Apres Six Heures) Mary Sauvage - 0.20

15. REVEILLEZ-VOUS BELLE ENDORME Morrison Torode with explan after followed by LE LANG DE VERS BOCAGE - 1.32

16. GUERNSEY WALTZ Mary Sauvage (mel) - 1.40

SARK:-

17. AU CLAIR DE LA LUNE sung by Jack Le Feuvre with explan before & talk about Sark dances after - 1.40

18. NO MORE FANCY GIRLS FOR ME (The Sark Dance) played by Leonard Belloeil (melodeon) - 1.07

19. AH OUI, AH OUI, MA MERE Philip Hamon with talk before by Mrs Carre & after by Philip - 1.40

20. NON, NON, JE NE LE VEUT PAS (The Jersey Dance) Hilary Carre (mel) with talk after descr dance - 1.37

21. ACOURREE DANS MON BATEAU sung by Elizabeth Guille - 0.28

22. Mrs Guile & Mrs Belloeil converse in Sarkese with explan after in English - 1.11

23. IL ETAIT UN BERGERE Jack & Mrs Le Feuvre with explan before & talk after about himself & Sark - 3.38

24. LE DANSE DE LA CHAPIEAU (The Hat Dance) Hilary Carre hums tune, explan dance then gives title & plays tune (mel) - 1.23

25. LE BON GRENADIER Jack Le Feuvre explan bef & talk after about his grandfather incl the Green Bed - 4.21

26. LA BARBIERE A PARIS Philip Hamon & Mrs Carre with Hilary Carre (mel) playing tune after & Jack Le Feuvre explan - 4.49

27. C'EST A St PIERRE LIHOU Philip Hamon & company with explan after by Hilary Carre - 1.45

28. MON MARI EST BIEN MALADE Hilary Carre & company with explan after - 1.41

29. AU PRES DE MA BLONDE Leonard Belloeil (mel in two keys) - 1.40

30. Talk about local customs by Jack Le Feuvre incl life in Sark, singing, playing cards, newspapers once a week, the Big Ploughs and the Masquerade - 2.14

Recorded by Peter Kennedy 1957 & 1960, edited by Peter Kennedy and first published on Folktrax cassettes 1975.

More music from the Channel Islands:-

FTX-012 including those songs #97-120 included in Peter Kennedy's FOLKSONGS OF BRITAIN & IRELAND (Cassells 1975 reprinted in paperback 1985 by Oak & distributed by Music Sales) which contains music, background notes & useful references.

FTX-214 Songs, dances and customs of Jersey.

FTX-243 Traditions of Guernsey & Alderney

FTX-244 Traditions of Jersey

FTX-245 Traditions of Sark

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