Comments on: Two Young Brethren

By: Diana

Diana — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 19:27:45 +0000

Hi Linda it is only three and a half months to go now. Theen it is Lillibulero and Bold Robber right?

By: Linda

Linda — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 19:00:37 +0000

Good health to our master [or Captain ]
Brilliant!!!!!!! yes I like this one

By: Simon

Simon — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 14:15:05 +0000

With my admin anonimity I did try to draw a line under some of the minor set toos that developed, with little success. It’s a bit like joining the pudding club and complaining there are too many puddings with custard!! And no, not that pudding club!!

By: Diana

Diana — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 12:14:02 +0000

Another lovely one. Whether solo or accompanied by an instrumemt all the songs are well worth listeneing to.

Muzza I get the banana skin off by pulling the stalk. Trust you be contrary!

By: Old Muzza(NW Surrey-UK)

Old Muzza(NW Surrey-UK) — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 07:25:33 +0000

Cor Blimey Guvnor….reading the above comments we do get into a state!…
Surely..we all probably agree that if we like the song….we sing it….if we have a good voice so much the better..if we haven’t….who cares..enjoy the song…..and if you can play an instrument..get stuck in as well…..
bye the way…..when I peel a banana, I hold the stalk end and……………………………
don’t even go there!

By: John Biggs

John Biggs — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:44:09 +0000

This is one of our own singing group’s favourites. We know it as ‘Come all Jolly Ploughmen’ and do not have the verse about Two Young Brethren in our version. We do include Muzza’s verse above, and it becomes a good pub song.

By: muzza(s.e.England)

muzza(s.e.England) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 22:17:35 +0000

Just listened again and read the comments ref Unaccompanied/accompanied:-
I feel that most songs would be sung by the company(Coppers) +harmonies to give body to the song that a solo singer could not achieve where an instrument was not involved.

Ha Ha…..I note that Jon sang the “Temperance version” and left out this verse

And after we’ve reaped it off every sheaf
And have gathered up every ear,
With a drop of good beer, boys, and our hearts full of cheer
We will wish them another good year.

By: nev perry

nev perry — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 21:11:44 +0000

I’ve read all the comments and while I love to hear unaccompanied ballads sometimes a fuller perspective is needed with some songs and on occasion an instrument will fit the bill as is the case with this song. The overall effect with the concertina is very pleasing.
On the ‘come write me down’ cd compilation, which I happen to have, the words and sentiment of some of these old agricultural songs are of their time and sometimes difficult to interpret in the modern folk idiom.

By: muzza(s.e.England)

muzza(s.e.England) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 14:40:16 +0000

Sorry to use the site as a notice board (again) but…for all you folkies…
Katherine Tickell (Northumbrian pipe player)is on BBC3 radio tonight at 10:45pm…part of the Proms and Percy Grainger episode

By: Jo Breeze

Jo Breeze — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:27:36 +0000

More about Two Young Brethren from the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library at the English Folk Dance and Song Society.

There are 12 records of Two Brethren in the Library, mostly from Sussex, in particular of course the singing of Bob and Ron Copper.

http://tinyurl.com/twobrethren1

We used the Roud number to cross reference against different titles for the song. When searched on Roud No. 202, this rises to 57 records, with different titles including ‘Come All You Jolly Ploughboys’, ‘The Jolly Brothers’ or ‘Here’s April, Here’s May’.

http://tinyurl.com/twobrethren2

If you wish to see more detail on each record, change the ‘output’ to ‘record’ and press ‘submit query’.

There are 2 records of the song in the Take 6 archive under the name Two Brethren, one collected by Francis Collinson from Bob & Ron Copper, and one by Anne Gilchrist. There are 24 records when searched by Roud number, under a number of different titles.

To find these go to http://library.efdss.org/archives/cgi-bin/search.cgi enter 202 into the first empty field, select ‘Roud number’ from the drop down menu ‘all fields’ and press ‘submit search.

We use the Roud index and the Take 6 online collections in the search for information on Jon’s selections.

For more information, or to carry out your own search for songs, please visit http://www.efdss.org/front/access-the-library-online/access-the-library-online/115
If you need any help accessing the library online or have any questions, please contact the VWML on 020 7485 2206 or library@efdss.org.