Name that tune
Posted by Lesley on September 08, 1998 at 00:01:28:
In response to Old tunes, written by Caroline on September 07, 1998 at 11:42:49
(snip) Gentry to distinguish themselves fron the plebs.
I was surprised at the use of "Father, Father, build me a boat" in Emma3, becuse it has all the indications of a traditional folk tune.Perhaps it was included as an "Irish" effect?
I was wondering about his myself. The minor sounding melody sounds very much suited to the personality of Jane Fairfax, though. It also tied in nicely with Emma's delusion of Jane's being in love with Mr. Dixon.
] The country dances, are part of the folk tradition too, though, so who knows?
The only evidence I have is something that I heard of Perfomance Today on NPR (National Public Radio. A musical expert was saying that the Sarabande (sp?) was originally a wild and sexy folk dance performed by the lower orders in Spain but gradually transmogrified in to a very stately dance suitable to the upper classes. Perhaps this same thing happened in England.
I don't think we'll every really know whether Jane Austen played folk tunes or not. I like to think that she did. She strikes me, for all her elegance, as having a rather earthy streak. ;-)
P.S. No wonder I recognized the tune at HC's link! It was played at my own wedding. I like it much better now that I know it is a folk song. I think it goes by another title now called something like, "When Loves Comes Home." The lyrics are much happier, btw. The singer convinced me to let her sing it. I wanted a hymn called For All the Saints, which is really supposed to be sung on All Saint's Day. It had nothing to do with getting married but who cares? I liked it. I still feel kind of miffed about it. ;-)
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