Gerald Of Weston's Songbooks

Gerald of Weston has been busy compiling various books of music from his vast repertoire of songs and tunes so that others may share the fun of performing early music and songs. So far two volumes have been published: Gerald of Weston's Book of Ribald Songes and Bawdy Ballades, and Gerald of Weston's Book of Songes in Praise of Goode Ale.

They are both available at the very reasonable price of £5 each + 75p p&p. Buy both and save on postage. 75p will cover both!

These song collections are drawn from various sources. They are not intended to be used by serious musicologists or early music groups who pride themselves on their authenticity. Rather, they are intended as a resource for re-enactors and entertainers who need a popular and accessible repertoire of songs which sound in keeping with a medieval or renaissance theme to a modern audience. Books of instrumental music will be available soon. Watch This Space!

The songs have been arranged with simple chord accompaniments. Where period instruments such as lute, mandora, rebec or medieval fiddle are not available, guitar, mandolin, recorder, or violin would be suitable sounding alternatives.

Contents

Do Virgins Taste Better?, The Hunting of the Coney, The Ballad of Sir Roughchops, The Old Fumbler, The Maid’s Conjuring Book, Soldier, Sailor, Tinker, Tailor, The Trooper Watering His Nag, The Lusty Young Smith, The Sea Crabbe, The Cuckoo’s Nest

Ribald Songes and Bawdy Ballades

The lyrics, which have been adapted from other sources are all in the public domain, except for ‘Do Virgins Taste Better’, which was written by Randy Farran, who has kindly allowed its inclusion here and ‘The Ballad of Sir Roughchops’ which is by the late Doreen Valiente. It was published in 2000 by Hexagon Hoopix in the posthumous collection of her poetry Charge of the Goddess, and is used with permission of the publisher. Some of the earlier lyrics have been altered subtly to make them more comprehensible to a modern audience. Others may still require a little explanation for the audience to appreciate the joke. Coney, for example is an Old English word for rabbit, and was pronounced ‘cunny’, thereby providing a popular if obvious pun in medieval and renaissance humour!

The tunes are mostly adapted from those used in earlier collections, such as Roy Palmer’s Everyman’s Book of British Ballads, The Penguin Book of English Folksong, or Thomas D’urfey’s Pills to Purge Melancholy. ‘Do Virgins Taste Better?’ is set to the traditional jig, ‘The Irish Washerwoman’, while the tune to ‘The Ballad of Sir Roughchops’ is original. While most of the earlier songs were first published in the 17th century, it is highly likely that many of them pre-date this period. The Sea Crabbe is an amalgam of at least three different versions of the song.

Published by Green Man Books ISBN9780955668401

Contents

Bring us in Good Ale, The Leather Bottel, Come Landlord Fill the Flowing Bowl, Watkin’s Ale, Fathom the Bowl, Nottingham Ale, Little Brown Jug, Who’s the Fool Now? (Martin), Jolly Good Ale and Olde, Trowl the Bowl, The Barley Mow

Songes in Praise of Goode Ale

Ale was the staple drink in Britain from pre-Roman Times, made from malted barley and flavoured with herbs or spices. Ale flavoured with hops was introduced in the fifteenth century and later became known as beer. The two terms eventually became synonymous. The drink has been celebrated in song from time immemorial.

The songs here are mostly adapted from those in earlier collections, such as Roy Palmer’s A Taste of Ale, The Penguin Book of English Folksong, or John Wardroper’s Lovers Rakes and Rogues. The song Nottingham Ale is set here as usual to the tune ‘Liliburlero’ which is found in John Playford’s English Dancing Master collection (1651) collection. Likewise, the tune used here for ‘Jolly Good Ale and Olde’ is appropriately enough ‘Stingo’ or ‘The Oyl of Barley’ from the same collection. The tune for Watkin’s Ale is from the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, a manuscript compiled probably in the late 16th century. The oldest song in the collection is certainly ‘Bring us in Good Ale’ (1460) whose anonymous author used a contemporary carol tune, a common practise of the time. Several of the songs date from Elizabethan times and have survived in the manuscripts of plays. Others are from the English folk tradition and are less easy to date.

Many of these songs are still sung in alehouses throughout the land to this day.

Published by Green Man Books ISBN 9780955668402