AoS Playlist 2: Laments for Napoleon, misbehaving horsemen and other musical curiosities
More Age of Sail inspired music but this week I'm branching out a bit with songs about the exploits of the military (in battle and in the bed chamber ;), songs commemorating Napoleon himself and songs from the Scottish and Irish traditions plus a couple of curios. Once again most of these songs are from folk tradition and many are contemporary with the period.
The Green Linnet, Dick Gaughan, No More Forevers
One of the most beautiful laments for Napoleon, the green linnet of the title. This is an Irish songs sung here by one of my favourite traditional Scottish singers Dick Gaughan - alas no longer available but there's a lovely version by Martin Simpson here.
The Bonny Bunch of Roses, Nic Jones
One of the many songs in the Scottish and Irish tradition lamenting the demise of Napoleon. In this case the lyrics are a conversation between Napoleon's son and his mother Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma. It's not clear what the bonny bunch of roses refers to, some say the British Isles, some say Europe. Dolores Keene sings a beautiful version of this song but I couldn't find that online either so here's Nic Jones singing it instead.
Jack Frost, Waterson:Carthy, Holy Heathens And The Old Green Man
A very unusual modern song commemorating the force that really vanquished Napoleon. This is possibly the only song I've ever heard that plays down Nelson's heroic legacy. It begins:
Talk of heroes, woe for Nelson,
I must disagree.
Sing the praise of Alexander,
He's no use to me.
Bonny Light Horseman, Cherish the Ladies
A hugely popular broadside ballad dating to the turn of the 19th century. Many printed version of this song exist from about 1802 onwards. The ballad laments the death of an English soldier in the interminable wars and the lyrics are beautiful and heartbreaking.
Flandyke Shore, Nic Jones, Penguin Eggs
Another beautiful song lamenting another lost love. If you think the lyrics of this song don't make much sense you'd be absolutely right, they were pieced together from fragments and no one is at all sure what the song is really about.
The Light Dragoon, Waterson:Carthy, Waterson:Carthy
It's not all doom and gloom though, those gallant horsemen need to have a little fun too. Here's the Light Dragoon doing what Dragoons on leave do best:
But the light dragoon he ran upstairs
Put his trousers on the table
How nimble he jumped into the bed
For to do what he was able
Gallant Hussar, Eliza Cathy & the Rat Catchers, Rough Music
Lest it be thought that all horsemen are fickle fly-by-nights some of them do actually stick around to tie the knot. Also known as Young Edward (or Edwin) the Gallant Hussar, this popular broadside from the early 19th century, is set to a London street melody which often accompanied comic songs.
Arthur McBride Planxty
This song about avoiding the attentions of the press gang was first recorded in Limerick in 1840 but roughly contemporary Scottish and English versions also exist. It's a completely daft song but hard not to like and it includes the immortal verse:
He says my young fellows if I hear but one word
instantly now I will out with my sword
and into your bodies as strength might afford
so now me gay devils take warning
Boney was a Warrior, Jack Shit, Rogues Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys
More silliness. How could you not love a band called Jack Shit, who are the house band for the quite fabulous Rogues Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys album. Apparently this is a halyard or fore sheet chantey but if you believe that you'll believe anything ;)
A Souldier's Resolution, Tobias Hume, performed by Stefan Holmberg
Okay I'm going to stray off track a little here... This piece of music dates from the early 17th century but I'm including it here because it's just amazing. The Souldier's Resolution was published in 1605 by a composer called Tobias Hume. It's highly debatable whether Hume was Scottish or English but he was a pioneer of the viol de gamba which he promoted over the lute which was the fashionable instrument of the day. This annoyed the famous lutenist John Dowland so much that the pair got into a public spat and Dowland accused Hume if filching his best tunes. What is really fabulous about Hume though is that he was also a mercenary who became a captain in the Swedish army and led troops for the Emperor of Russia. A Souldiers Resolution is a musical battle. You can hear everything, the troops marching, the drums and bugles, the cavalry charge, the retreat, and its all played on a single solo viol. If you watch the youtube clip the words that appear on the film are actually written into the score and some performers speak them. I am less sure if the canons are also in the score :)
Marche des Soldats de Robert Bruce
I'm completely cheating with this last piece of music as it predates the Age of Sail by almost 400 years, however there is a very tenuous connection to Hornblower so bear with me... The Marche des Soldats de Robert Bruce commemorates the Auld Alliance between Scotland and France during the 100 years war and is allegedly the march that was played by the Scots regiments that marched into Orleans with Joan of Arc. The general at the head of that army was one Sir Hugh Kennedy. Yup of those Kennedys! Kennedy, known to the French as Canede, was one of Joan of Arc's most trusted generals and the French Fleur de Lis still appears on the Kennedy clan crest to this day in recognition of his service. This march is still played on ceremonial military occasions in France apparently, it's played here by a French military band and it would bring a tear to a glass eye! I wonder what Archie would make of it?
The Green Linnet, Dick Gaughan, No More Forevers
One of the most beautiful laments for Napoleon, the green linnet of the title. This is an Irish songs sung here by one of my favourite traditional Scottish singers Dick Gaughan - alas no longer available but there's a lovely version by Martin Simpson here.
The Bonny Bunch of Roses, Nic Jones
One of the many songs in the Scottish and Irish tradition lamenting the demise of Napoleon. In this case the lyrics are a conversation between Napoleon's son and his mother Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma. It's not clear what the bonny bunch of roses refers to, some say the British Isles, some say Europe. Dolores Keene sings a beautiful version of this song but I couldn't find that online either so here's Nic Jones singing it instead.
Jack Frost, Waterson:Carthy, Holy Heathens And The Old Green Man
A very unusual modern song commemorating the force that really vanquished Napoleon. This is possibly the only song I've ever heard that plays down Nelson's heroic legacy. It begins:
Talk of heroes, woe for Nelson,
I must disagree.
Sing the praise of Alexander,
He's no use to me.
Bonny Light Horseman, Cherish the Ladies
A hugely popular broadside ballad dating to the turn of the 19th century. Many printed version of this song exist from about 1802 onwards. The ballad laments the death of an English soldier in the interminable wars and the lyrics are beautiful and heartbreaking.
Flandyke Shore, Nic Jones, Penguin Eggs
Another beautiful song lamenting another lost love. If you think the lyrics of this song don't make much sense you'd be absolutely right, they were pieced together from fragments and no one is at all sure what the song is really about.
The Light Dragoon, Waterson:Carthy, Waterson:Carthy
It's not all doom and gloom though, those gallant horsemen need to have a little fun too. Here's the Light Dragoon doing what Dragoons on leave do best:
But the light dragoon he ran upstairs
Put his trousers on the table
How nimble he jumped into the bed
For to do what he was able
Gallant Hussar, Eliza Cathy & the Rat Catchers, Rough Music
Lest it be thought that all horsemen are fickle fly-by-nights some of them do actually stick around to tie the knot. Also known as Young Edward (or Edwin) the Gallant Hussar, this popular broadside from the early 19th century, is set to a London street melody which often accompanied comic songs.
Arthur McBride Planxty
This song about avoiding the attentions of the press gang was first recorded in Limerick in 1840 but roughly contemporary Scottish and English versions also exist. It's a completely daft song but hard not to like and it includes the immortal verse:
He says my young fellows if I hear but one word
instantly now I will out with my sword
and into your bodies as strength might afford
so now me gay devils take warning
Boney was a Warrior, Jack Shit, Rogues Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys
More silliness. How could you not love a band called Jack Shit, who are the house band for the quite fabulous Rogues Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys album. Apparently this is a halyard or fore sheet chantey but if you believe that you'll believe anything ;)
A Souldier's Resolution, Tobias Hume, performed by Stefan Holmberg
Okay I'm going to stray off track a little here... This piece of music dates from the early 17th century but I'm including it here because it's just amazing. The Souldier's Resolution was published in 1605 by a composer called Tobias Hume. It's highly debatable whether Hume was Scottish or English but he was a pioneer of the viol de gamba which he promoted over the lute which was the fashionable instrument of the day. This annoyed the famous lutenist John Dowland so much that the pair got into a public spat and Dowland accused Hume if filching his best tunes. What is really fabulous about Hume though is that he was also a mercenary who became a captain in the Swedish army and led troops for the Emperor of Russia. A Souldiers Resolution is a musical battle. You can hear everything, the troops marching, the drums and bugles, the cavalry charge, the retreat, and its all played on a single solo viol. If you watch the youtube clip the words that appear on the film are actually written into the score and some performers speak them. I am less sure if the canons are also in the score :)
Marche des Soldats de Robert Bruce
I'm completely cheating with this last piece of music as it predates the Age of Sail by almost 400 years, however there is a very tenuous connection to Hornblower so bear with me... The Marche des Soldats de Robert Bruce commemorates the Auld Alliance between Scotland and France during the 100 years war and is allegedly the march that was played by the Scots regiments that marched into Orleans with Joan of Arc. The general at the head of that army was one Sir Hugh Kennedy. Yup of those Kennedys! Kennedy, known to the French as Canede, was one of Joan of Arc's most trusted generals and the French Fleur de Lis still appears on the Kennedy clan crest to this day in recognition of his service. This march is still played on ceremonial military occasions in France apparently, it's played here by a French military band and it would bring a tear to a glass eye! I wonder what Archie would make of it?