FXT-609 - TAPIOCA'S BIG TOE

Traditions of Tristan de Cunha

A unique opportunity to meet some of the warm-hearted survivors of an early Utopian community established by 3 Britons in 1817 on a remote volcanic island some 1500 miles from Cape Town. The eruption in October 1961 engulfed their settlement and brought public notice of the island, 260 unwilling islanders were forcibly exiled in England. This programme, featuring Mary Swain and Percy Lavarello, was recorded in their temporary home at an RAF camp at Calshot by Peter Kennedy and Maud Karpeles 30th August 1962.

1. FIFTEEN HUNDRED MILES FROM TABLE BAY - sung by Basil Lavarello 1'03"

2. TALK - Mary Swain about life on Tristan compared to England 1'38"

3. THE DONKEY DANCE - Percy Lavarello (accordion/ talk after) 1'46"

4. THE GALLOPING DANCE - 1'50"

5. THE WALKING TUNE talk before - 1'25"

6. TALK - Mary Swain: "All in a day's work" - 3'21"

7. THE HIGHWAYMAN OUTWITTED - Mary Swain - 3'27"

8. THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND ME - Talk about Andrew playing fiddle/ song/ talk - 1'14"

9. THE GOLDEN VANITIE (1) - 0'43"

10. TALK about dances on Tristan - 1'11"

11. TAPIOCA'S BIG TOE (Varsoviana) - talk/ tune sung/ talk - 0'53"

12. DANCE - Percy (accordion) - 1'10"

13. THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING ON TRISTAN sung by Basil - 0'59"

14. THE STEP DANCE (tune: St HELENA GIRLS - sung & talk after by Mary - 1'50"

15. THE PILLOW DANCE - dance, song & talk - 2'33"

16. THE CHAIR DANCE - with description - 0'41"

17. THE HANDKERCHIEF DANCE - talk, tune, talk, dance with commentary by PK - 4'08"

18. RHODA SCREWER'S DANCE - with commentary talk after - 2'29"

19. UN-NAMED DANCE - 0'27"

20. THE LIGHT IN THE WINDOW - sung by Mary - 1'43"

21. TALK about people from whom she learned songs/ THE DUTCH TUNE - Percy (accordion) with talk after about his playing - 2'15"

22. ITALIAN WALTZ with talk about family - 4'36"

23. UN-NAMED WALTZ - 0'43"

24, ROLL OUT THE BARREL - 0'18"

25. ANOTHER ITALIAN WALTZ - 1'44"

26. THE CHAIR DANCE - Percy (accordion) with commentary by PK/ talk after - 2'48"

27. THE OLD MISER IN LONDON - sung by Mary - 2'13"

28. BARBARA ALLEN - 0'56"

29. DARLING NELLY GRAY - 1'47"

30. TALK by Mary about Christmas & New Year - 3'14"

31. BLACK TOM - talk about dance/ tune on accordion with commentary by PK - 2'33"

32. THE CAPE WALK - on accordion - 1'31"

33. TALK - about Christmas & the New Year by Percy - 3'10"

34. THE SEVEN STEP SCHOTTISCHE - on accordion - 1'05"

35. THE HIGHLAND FLING - "Keel Row" tune/ talk/ dance with commentary - 1'51"

36. THE BABY DANCE or CLAP POLKA - talk after - 2'07"

37. THE HEEL AND TOE POLKA - tune & talk after with jingles sung - 1'52"

38. FRISCO'S FANDANGO - talk after - 1'37"

39. THE GOLDEN VANITIE (2) - talk/ sung by Mary - 2'48"

40. THE HALF-STEP SCHOTTISCHE - 0'18"

Recorded at RAF Calshot by Peter Kennedy and Maud Karpeles 30th August 1962 by arrangement with the Administrator of The Colonial Office. Edited by Peter Kennedy and first published on Folktrax cassettes 1977.

Before they came to Calshot, the Islanders were housed in a disused Army camp in Surrey where four of them died of pneumonia. There were protests, petitions and angry meetings before they were moved to Calshot. Finally "Twelve Men" were allowed to return to Tristan to repair the earthquake damage. Their families followed in March and October 1963. 11 of the younger islanders chose to remain in England, but most returned to their treasured island.