Can anyone help with this enquiry, sent to another list? if you can,
please reply to the original enquirer, not to me.
Lesley Gordon
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Date sent: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 17:55:26 -0000
Send reply to: VICTORIA 19th-Century British Culture & Society <[log in to unmask]>
From: Susan Hoyle <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: "How about the dulcimer"
To: [log in to unmask]
Please forgive any cross-postings.
I am trying to trace a song which was printed in England in 1856 or possibly 1857. It was
called "How about the dulcimer", and although I have a passing reference to
its being printed, I have no idea whether it was words only ("to be sung to
the tune of 'xyz' "), or tune only, or both. It was by a farm labourer
called James Tunnicliff, who lived near Abbots Bromley (a farmer called
Charlesworth paid for the printing); I don't know where it was printed, but
a local place seems likely---Rugeley or Stafford perhaps, or even Abbots
Bromley itself? And having it printed may not be the same as 'published':
perhaps the song/tune/verse got no further than the Charlesworths'
parlour---though I would expect it was printed in order for it to have a
wider circulation than that.
Further---I have seen references to the dulcimer in connection with the Horn
Dance at Abbots Bromley. I know of no connection between the people I have
mentioned and the dance, although they must have known about it and seen it,
perhaps even taken part. But the song "How about the dulcimer" may have
been written with the dance in mind---or maybe not.
which requires some left-field thinking. I would dearly love to see that
song, although I suspect that it is long lost and forgotten.....
So, my question is: does anyone have any idea how to get hold of this, assuming it still exists? Or, as we say in England, do you know a man who does?
best wishes
Susan Hoyle
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Dr Lesley Gordon,
Special Collections,
The Robinson Library,
University of Newcastle upon Tyne,
Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HQ
Tel 0191 222 7671 Fax 0191 222 6235
"If man could be crossed with the cat, it would improve man
but deteriorate the cat." (Mark Twain)
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