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Folk Music and Folk Life in Canada A Musical Essay by Michael Mitchell More songs of Canada appear on our Canadian Social Studies page. What is folk music? Stories put to music. It¹s that simple really, although some people try to make it more complicated than that. There are those who think that all country music is folk music, or that pop music can't be folk. Neither of these groups are right, and a little knowledge about the history of folk music will show you why.
Where did folk music come from? Centuries ago, unless you were a priest, an aristocrat, or perhaps a wealthy merchant, you probably couldn¹t read or write. Unless you fit into one of these three groups, there was nothing for you to read anyway, as there were no newspapers. And books, which were all copied and made by hand, could only be afforded by the very wealthy.
However, the common people wanted to make sure that their family trees, local history, stories of great battles, and other important events didn¹t just fade away with the memories of those who experienced them. So, groups of people (tribes, villages, families, etc.) would appoint someone to memorize all of their important facts, stories and events. These appointed people often had titles like Bard, Shaman or Elder. These people were held in high regard in their community. Part of their job was to constantly recite their knowledge to the people in the form of stories, to educate them in their own heritage. Often this was the only schooling that the villagers had. As time went on, some of these Bards would travel around the countryside telling their stories. When they added simple musical accompaniment to their stories, they were sometimes referred to as Minstrels or Troubadours. These Minstrels and Troubadours were always popular, not only because they provided entertainment to the villages that they visited, but also because they made up songs about the news and events that they learned about in their travels around the country. In effect, they were walking, singing "newspapers." For many villagers, this was their only contact with the outside world. In later years, these songs became known as "folk music" because they told stories about "folks" -- like you and me. From these simple beginnings, it then grew extremely popular in the courts of the aristocracy around the world. Even opera is a sophisticated form of folk music, because it begins with a simple musical tale, to which is added orchestration, theatrical sets and costumes. Early folk music in Canada Just like other people around the world, the First Nations people of Canada had their own forms of folk music and folk dance, long before Europeans landed here. These songs and dances served the same purpose as they did in other lands.When early explorers and settlers began arriving, they brought some of their folk songs from their homelands, and used them in their daily life: Voyageurs, who paddled the canoes for the merchants and explorers, would sing songs to keep their paddles working in rhythm, and to take their mind off the boredom of paddling for up to 16 hours a day. Sailors would sing songs called shanteys from the French verb chanter -- "to sing," to help them work as a rhythmic team when it was time to haul up sails or do other work around the ship. Settlers would make up songs about life in their new land, which they would sing at special parties such as barn dances or harvest fairs. As time went on in Canada, folk music developed and spread, even after people had learned to read and write. The original need for speaking or singing our heritage was no longer there, but people enjoyed the entertainment and the social values it gave them. Generally, folk music has remained simple enough that just about anyone with a guitar, a violin, or some other basic musical accompaniment can easily learn and present a wide variety of songs. To this day, it remains music to be played, and enjoyed, by "folks" everywhere. There are many folk music clubs throughout Canada. Some specialize in traditional folk music, which usually means music written before electric guitars and synthesizers were invented. Others feature such a wide variety of folk styles that it is hard to distinguish them from rock, rap, blues or just about any other musical category you can think of. Now for the music! The following songs (recordings of which can be found on Canada Is For Kids -- Volume 1) representing different kinds of Canadian folk music, were all written and used for different purposes. Each one gives a unique insight into a different part of Canada¹s heritage. I will explain the significance of each one.V'LA L'BON VENT This song is more than 300 years old and has more than 100 known verses. It was sung by the French-Canadian voyageurs as they paddled their canoes across Canada
CHORUS:
V'la l'bon vent, v'la l'joli vent V'la l'bon vent m'amie m'appelle V'la l'bon vent, v'la l'joli vent V'la l'bon vent m'amie m'attend Derrier chez nous y'a t'un etang (2x) Trois beaux canards s'en vont baignant Trois beaux canards s'en vont baignant Le fils du roi s'en va chassant Le fils du roi s'en va chassant Avec son grand fusil d'argent Avec son grand fusil d'argent Visa le noir, tua le blanc Visa le noir, tua le blanc Oh fils du roi, tu est mechant Oh fils du roi, tu est mechant D'avoir tuer mon canard blanc
THE BLUENOSE In the 1940¹s the Bluenose made Canadian sailors and shipbuilders famous with her exploits, not only by winning schooner races, but by catching more fish in a season than any other schooner in history.
Well I've got a story to tell
Of a proud ship that served her people well Well the Bluenose was her name And she never lost a race And she won herself a place in the history of Canada Blow winds blow for the Bluenose is sailing once again CHORUS So beat to the windward once more And it's up jib and fores'l as before For your country will be proud once again Of the ship and the men Who sailed her smartly into history Blow winds blow for the Bluenose is sailing once again She was born in a Nova Scotia town Where the shipwrights had gained world renown Down in Lunenburg They built a living legend out of skill, sweat and pride And sailed her masterfully till she died Blow winds blow for the Bluenose is sailing once again I'SE THE B'Y Most Newfoundland music, like the people who right it, is characterized by witty use of unique phrases which you¹ll only find on the rock¹ as they call their island.
I'se the b'y that builds the boat
And I'se the b'y that sails her I'se the b'y that catches the fish And takes them home to Liza CHORUS Hip your partner Sally Tiboo, hip your partner Sally Brown Fogo, Twillingate, Morton's Harbour, all around the circle Sods and rinds to cover the flake Cake and tea for supper Codfish in the spring of the year Fried in maggoty butter I don't want your maggoty fish They're no good for winter I can buy as good as that Way down in Bonavista I took Liza to a dance Faith but she could travel And every step that she did take Was up to her knees in gravel
LOG DRIVERS WALTZ Many songs have been written about the people who worked the land: lumberjacks, miners, farmers, etc. Sometimes legends were created around some of their particular skills, which stretched the imagination, but were good fun anyway. If you ask any girl from the parish around
What amuses her most from her head to her toes She'll say, "I'm nor sure that it's business of yours "But I do love to waltz with my log driver" CHORUS For he goes burling down, down the white water That's where a log driver learns to step lightly Burling down, down the white water A log driver's waltz pleases girls completely When the drive's nearly over she loves to go down And watch all the lads as they work on the river She knows that come evening they'll be in the town And she does love to waltz with her log driver Now to please both her parents she had to give way And dance with the doctors and merchants and lawyers Their manners were fine but their feet made of clay There's none with the style of her log driver
THE ISLAND Now the official song of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. It tells of where they came from, how tough it is to work the coal mines which are almost their only industry, and how sad they are to often have to leave their beloved island to find work elsewhere. Over an ocean and over a sea
Beyond these great waters what do I see I see the great mountains rise up from the coastline The hills of Cape Breton, this new home of mine Oh and we come from the countries all over the world To hack at the forests, to plow the land down Fishermen, farmers, and sailors all come To clear for the future this pioneer ground CHORUS We are an island a rock in the stream We are a people as proud as there's been In soft summer breeze or in wild winter wind The home of our hearts, Cape Breton Over the rooftops and over the trees Within these new townships, what do I see I see the black pit head the coal wheels a-turning Smoke stacks a-belching, and the blast fires burning And the sweat on the back is no joy to behold In the heat of the steel plant or mining the coal And the foreign-owned companies force us to fight For our survival and for our rights Over the highway and over the road Over the causeway stories are told They tell of the coming and the going away The cities of America draw me away And though companies come and companies go And the ways of the world we may never know We'll follow the footsteps of those on their way And we'll fight for the right to leave or to stay
THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND Originally an American song, written by Woody Guthrie who traveled across his country during the Depression in the 1930¹s, it tells of his admiration for his country. Years later, Canadians, as well as people from other countries, changed the places in the chorus to suit their own nations. This land is your land, this land is my land
From Bonavista to Vancouver Island From the Arctic Circle, to the great lake waters This land was made for you and me
About Michael Mitchell Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Michael Mitchell has lived a fascinating life that included a 24-year stint in the Canadian military, from which he retired in the rank of Major. Much of that time was spent as a reserve or full-time member of the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada, perhaps the most famous Scottish regiment in the world. His career was so distinguished that the Governor General of Canada awarded him the Order of Military Merit in the class of Officer. This award merits a ranking one level higher than Member of the Order of Canada. When he wasn't working full-time in the armed forces, Michael pursued a career in banking, sales and marketing, and personnel consulting before pursuing his true calling, in the early 1980's : music. Learn more about Michael and his music at Michael-Mitchell.ca
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