In 1856, my great-great-grandfather John Collie (1834-1893), of Boyndie, Scotland, published a book : Poems and Lyrics (in the Englishand Scotch Dialects). I've been setting some of it to music over the past few years - along with some of his other descendants: my nephews Hans and Rhys Landon-Lane, my niece Celeste Rochery, and my … Continue reading Poems & Lyrics by John Collie, 1856
Tag: 19th century
w/ Hans Landon-Lane, 3 January 2022
Happy new year! Here are some first recordings for 2022, made on 3rd of January, with Hans Landon-Lane (my nephew) on accordion, ukulele and vocal: 'The Land of My Youth 'Here's a Health to my Cronies' 'Nature' The words were written by our ancestor John Collie in 1856.
Farewell to Thee, Charming Deceiver
A 19th century unrequited love ballad - how anachronistic in the 2020s? John Collie (1834-1893) - lyrics Dave Edwards - banjo, harmonica, vocal lyrics FAREWELL to thee , charming deceiver , No more will I crouch at thy gate ; I once was an earnest believer , And my folly I see when too late … Continue reading Farewell to Thee, Charming Deceiver
ilhas Atlânticas
The last track on Spastic Rhythms vol 1 is a Dave Black solo rendition of a tune by the Electricka Zoo. It originally appeared on The Electricka Zoo (2017), and on the Other Islands: 2012-2018 compilation. It's based around a (non-diatonic) Cmaj7 - Amaj7 pattern, with a bossa nova rhythm. The words are in (beginner) … Continue reading ilhas Atlânticas
Scotland, postponed
Around September 2020 I'd planned to travel to Scotland, on my first visit. There was to be a family gathering for my sister's wedding in Edinburgh. The trip's now postponed indefinitely, for obvious reasons I'd planned to visit Boyndie, Banffshire, where my great-great-grandfather John Collie grew up. In 1856, in his early 20s he published … Continue reading Scotland, postponed
Solitude
'SOLITUDE' by John Collie, 1856 OH give me near some swelling stream to stray, 0r tread the windings of some pathless wood, For I am wearied of the bustling day, And long to meet thee, gloomy Solitude: That I with thee may climb those shelfy steeps, Which frown majestic o’er the boiling deeps. What are … Continue reading Solitude
Sonnet on Summer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x5ouwy9bDY&t=4s A duo with my nephew, Hans Landon-Lane, from Poems & Lyrics by John Collie (1856) Clever Hansel - ukulele vocal Dave Edwards - guitar, harmonica, vocal This was the last in-person collaboration before the COVID-19 shutdown, recorded in Lower Hutt, New Zealand, March 2020. THE sweet breath of summer blows fresh o’er each plain, … Continue reading Sonnet on Summer
Here’s a Health to my Cronies (by John Collie, 1856)
19th century Scottish drinking song, by John Collie (1834-1893), from his book 'Poems and Lyrics' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYGhg94-aZ4 Played by his great-great-grandson Dave Edwards -at Wairarapa TV May Music Marathon on 4th of May 2019. It features on the Live 2019 album. The first public performance of this piece was earlier in the year, at Dragon Inn, … Continue reading Here’s a Health to my Cronies (by John Collie, 1856)
The Land of My Youth (by John Collie, 1856)
https://youtu.be/OGwK-0GFTs8 Poem by John Collie (1834-1893), from his book Poems and Lyrics in the English and Scotch Dialects, published in Banffshire, Scotland in 1856 Performed by his great-great-grandson Dave Edwards on banjo at Wairarapa TV in Masterton, New Zealand, 4 May 2019. John Collie emigrated to New Zealand in 1858. This poem seems to … Continue reading The Land of My Youth (by John Collie, 1856)
Here’s a Health to my Cronies (by John Collie, 1856)
19th century Scottish drinking song, by John Collie (1834-1893), from his book 'Poems and Lyrics' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU6NBN9owvU Played by his great-great-grandson Dave Edwards - first public performance of this piece, at Dragon Inn, Featherston, NZ, 6 Feb 2019 . A couple of months later I played it at Wairarapa TV May Music Marathon on 4th of … Continue reading Here’s a Health to my Cronies (by John Collie, 1856)
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