[mplpost] Music and History

[Heath-Rawlings]

>David Holmes wrote:
 - I'm still collecting them, and
>will put together a compilation list to post here at some time soon.

Hi David,
Since you're compiling a list, here's a few you might not have.
How about the ballad of Crowfoot, and possibly others by Willie Dunn. I
know he has one on Louis Riel, as do I.  Others of shameless self promotion
are the ballad of Henry Hudson (someone posted that to the internet,
thankfully giving me credit). They fought for Bread is a song I wrote on
the Estevan miner's strike in 1931. There is also a song by a Sask. writer
, I think, on the "on to Ottawa trek", about the same time period. I have
just exchanged songs with Bill Gallaher, we have bother written on Ginger
Goodwin and the Vancouver General strike of 1918-another one soon? Speaking
of general strikes, I have yet to hear one on the Winnipeg  event, although
as I understand it "Onward one Big Union" was written for the strike. I
have also written a song using  eye witness' accounts for a descriptive
ballad on the Halifax Explosion. Tom Connors and the Travellers would also
be good sources of specific event songs. "The Bridge came Tumblin' Down" by
Dr. Stomp is a good example. One last one from my originals would be
"Kanasatake" about the Oka crisis. It would not surprise me that it's one
of 50 on the subject, but you would have to research the others. Try
Shingoose, who named his dog "Oka"
There are many examples of event songs in the traditional songs of the
maritimes, many refering to personal tradgedies or protest (Farewell to
N.S.)-where does one draw the line?
That reminds me Wade Hemsworth has an extaordinary song on the I'm Alone.
This deals with the American sinking of a Canadian rum runner , the I'm
Alone, in International waters during prohibition (1929). Stan Triggs, on
the other coast, may have a few gems in his repertoire, but I'm less
familiar with his work. For other, mostly traditional, historical songs
from B.C., I would look to a beautifully done book (and Cassette) called
Songs of the Pacific Northwest" by
Phil J. Thomas, Hancock House.

Rambling over,
Chris Rawlings


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