Today's posting...
Alright, I'm going to throw my mp3 player on shuffle and see what comes up...
Oooh. Good call, iTunes shuffle! Today's yammering will be about Andy M. Steward's most excellent piece (and, probably, one of his best-known), The Queen of Argyle.
Now... where to begin... Andy and the group he started out with, Silly Wizard, are decidedly in the "Traditional" genre. I might classify them as revivalist, in that their work did a lot to fan the traditional flames of music in a period when the global village was on the rise, and "old" was decidedly not in vogue, but in scholarly circles, the term, "revivalist" implies that they're from outside the genre they're reviving and taking active steps to enculturalize yourself to it.
My understanding about Andy, at the least, is that he grew up in a fairly traditional-music-saturated area, and carried it with him, much like Tommy Makem, Tommy Sands, or the Clancy Brothers.As such, "Revival" would be a misnomer.
The song is off their album, "Kiss the Tears Away" which is, incidentally, an amazing album name, and I'm rotted I'll never be able to steal it. It was released in 1987, and the album cover is visible as the background in the video below.
This song is brilliantly written.
Gentlemen, it is my duty to inform you of one beauty,
Though I ask from you a favor not to seek her for a while.
Though I own to here's a creature of character and feature
For no one could paint the picture of the Queen of all Argyle.
Chorus:
And if you could have seen her there, boys, if you had just been there,
The swan was in her movement, and the morning in her smile.
O the roses in the garden, they bowed and asked her pardon,
For not one could match the beauty of the Queen of all Argyle.
On the evening that I mentioned, I passed with light intention,
Through a part of our dear country known for beauty and for style.
In a place of noble thinkers, of scholars and great drinkers,
But none could match the splendor of the Queen of all Argyle.
So, my lads, I needs must leave you. My intention's not to grieve you,
Nor indeed would I deceive you, for I'll see you in a while.
I must find a way to gain her, to court her and to tame her,
For I fear my heart's in danger of the Queen of all Argyle.
The piece has a brilliant rhyme scheme that worms its way into your psyche. -- A A B C C B, the internal rhyming ties the whole verse together, and couple it with a driving beat and, on the original track, some excellently-done tenor strings, and you've got the recipe for brilliance.
I'm sure there's more to say, but it's half three in the morning, and I'm starting to get muddled. I mgiht revisit this later, but we all know that's unlikely to happen. Attached below, for your listening pleasure is the Man himself.
Oooh. Good call, iTunes shuffle! Today's yammering will be about Andy M. Steward's most excellent piece (and, probably, one of his best-known), The Queen of Argyle.
Now... where to begin... Andy and the group he started out with, Silly Wizard, are decidedly in the "Traditional" genre. I might classify them as revivalist, in that their work did a lot to fan the traditional flames of music in a period when the global village was on the rise, and "old" was decidedly not in vogue, but in scholarly circles, the term, "revivalist" implies that they're from outside the genre they're reviving and taking active steps to enculturalize yourself to it.
My understanding about Andy, at the least, is that he grew up in a fairly traditional-music-saturated area, and carried it with him, much like Tommy Makem, Tommy Sands, or the Clancy Brothers.As such, "Revival" would be a misnomer.
The song is off their album, "Kiss the Tears Away" which is, incidentally, an amazing album name, and I'm rotted I'll never be able to steal it. It was released in 1987, and the album cover is visible as the background in the video below.
This song is brilliantly written.
Gentlemen, it is my duty to inform you of one beauty,
Though I ask from you a favor not to seek her for a while.
Though I own to here's a creature of character and feature
For no one could paint the picture of the Queen of all Argyle.
Chorus:
And if you could have seen her there, boys, if you had just been there,
The swan was in her movement, and the morning in her smile.
O the roses in the garden, they bowed and asked her pardon,
For not one could match the beauty of the Queen of all Argyle.
On the evening that I mentioned, I passed with light intention,
Through a part of our dear country known for beauty and for style.
In a place of noble thinkers, of scholars and great drinkers,
But none could match the splendor of the Queen of all Argyle.
So, my lads, I needs must leave you. My intention's not to grieve you,
Nor indeed would I deceive you, for I'll see you in a while.
I must find a way to gain her, to court her and to tame her,
For I fear my heart's in danger of the Queen of all Argyle.
The piece has a brilliant rhyme scheme that worms its way into your psyche. -- A A B C C B, the internal rhyming ties the whole verse together, and couple it with a driving beat and, on the original track, some excellently-done tenor strings, and you've got the recipe for brilliance.
I'm sure there's more to say, but it's half three in the morning, and I'm starting to get muddled. I mgiht revisit this later, but we all know that's unlikely to happen. Attached below, for your listening pleasure is the Man himself.