Hot Cross Buns
The first four bars (pink notes) of
the chorus of "Bright Fine Gold" are derived from the tune of
"Hot Cross Buns."
Single Girl
In 1999, Gordon Bok, a traditional singer in Maine USA, sent me a CD which included a version of "Bright Fine Gold" (Ref. 9). containing this verse
Two little children, Lying in bed -
Both of them hungry Lord, They can't raise up their head.
Gordon said he learnt this version of Bright Fine Gold from Sydney folksinger-songwriter Phyl Lobl when she toured through Maine in 1981.
When I checked with Phyl, she replied, "I certainly had Bright Fine Gold in my repertoire at that time. I am also prone to 'folk-processing' and joining bits to suit the occasion, and I do know those lines Two little children, etc...... though whether I sang it in that form I'm not absolutely certain. But if that's how Gordon remembers it it is likely to be so."
|
"I am also prone to 'folk - processing' and joining
bits to suit the occasion."
Phyl Lobl |
The words of this verse come from "When I Was Single," which Peggy Seeger recorded in 1955 and re-released on "The Folkways Years" In 1992. In the record notes Seeger says "This is a 'white' blues on a theme of British origin, which has variants that are to be found in practically every collection of folk music."
There are four of these "Single" variants on the Digital Tradition database. I found this 1917 Appalachian variant, Single Girl (4) with Six little children there.
And I have just received a copy of Peggy Seeger's 1955 version, which I guess was what Phyl Lobl had heard, and I have discovered that it almost the same. The orange notes in the "Six little children" score below are also used in Colquhoun's version of "Bright Fine Gold."
I hope to get an MP3 sample of Seeger's version on this page (as soon as I get a cable that connects my stereo to my computer !)
Neil Colquhoun
We can now see how the version Neil Colquhoun collected blended elements of these two tunes and, with subtle changes, produced the beautiful new hybrid tune "Bright Fine Gold."
Phil Garland
Singers have continued to make changes to the tune. Sorry, I'm still working on Phil's version; you can find the score of it in his songbook.Gordon Bok
But here is Gordon Bok's version. The blue notes show his variations from Colquhoun's version.
Bright Fine Gold on record
The Song-spinners, Songs of the Gold Diggers (Kiwi 1968)Gary & Everill Muir, Folk Songs-2 (Kiwi 196..?)
Phil Garland, Down a Country Road (Kiwi 1971)
Gerry Hallom, A Run a Minute Fellside 36 (UK, 1983)
Pioneer Pog'n'Scroggin Bush Band, Pognorhythyms (pvte LP 1980s)
Phil Garland, Songs of Old New Zealand (Kiwi-Pacific 1986)
Colonial Two-Step, Colonial Heritage Songs cass. (Gumdiggers 1991)
The Cat's Been Spayed, Down the Hall... CD (Kiwi-Pacific 1991)
Gordon Bok, In the Kind Land CD (Timberhead Camden, Maine USA, 1999)
Music References
Ref 6.
Neil Colquhoun, Song of a Young Country, New Zealand Folksongs, AH & AW Reed Ltd 1972 :29. The song can be heard on a recording of the same name which was released at about the same time.Ref 9.
Gordon Bok, In the Kind Land CD (Timberhead Camden, Maine USA, 1999)
Information collected by John
Archer
and first published on the web, Mar 8, 2000
Revised May 25, 2000, small screens Apr 2022