Folk Carols in the Pub
In some parts of the UK, as Christmas approaches, people still sing traditional carols in pubs and streets. They are often old carols from the 18th century or earlier not known outside the local area. For the last few years the Glasgow folk/world harmony group Muldoon's Picnic have hosted a singing event in a pub showcasing these earlier, "non-tacky" styles of Christmas music, open to all to join in. There's an optional workshop beforehand for those who'd like the chance to practise, which is hosted in the West End by Voicebeat and on the South Side by Govanhill Voices.
This event is ideal for those who don't like Christmas music, or think they don't, as well as for those who like to claim they can't sing and have no interest in performing — it's purely for fun and not to please an audience. It's a celebration of Christmas from a time before commercial music, taking in west gallery carols from Yorkshire to Cornwall, Welsh plygain and American shapenote songs, along with seasonal world music from places such as Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. No tinsel will be harmed, and red-nosed reindeer need not apply.
In 2021, Folk Carols was... in the street! Voicebeat sang a couple of songs. See the Muldoon's Picnic website for details.
OBVIOUSLY, IN 2020, IT WAS NOT BE IN THE PUB. NO PRIZES FOR GUESSING IT WAS... ON ZOOM!
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Saturday 12 December 2020, 2–5pm
Hosted by Muldoon's Picnic. Featuring guests including Voicebeat, Voicemale, Govanhill Voices, Largs Community Choir Free tickets (one per connection, not per person) via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/folk-carols-not-in-the-pub-tickets-130130713467 Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/128662382182446/ When you receive the Zoom link, please do not share it around! Thursday 10 December 7.30pm
Workshop session to teach one "new" (old) carol to be added to the collective repertoire. Also, chance to submit recordings to be included in the virtual choir/band we will be singing along to on Saturday. To register, email contact@muldoonspicnic.org.uk |
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How to take part (2008–2019, and hopefully 2022–)
Just turn up.
Unusually for anything involving Voicebeat or Muldoon's Picnic, musical instruments will be welcome. The aim is to sound something like the village church bands of the 18th century and earlier, so no guitars or electronic gizmos, but if you can play something such as fiddle, cello, clarinet, flute or bassoon, please bring it along. Especially if you play the serpent. The music is not difficult, so you won't need to be a virtuoso. If you can read music you should be able to turn up and play (or sing) it with no problem, and we can always send out scores in advance if you want them.
For anyone who'd like the chance for a quick practice first, there will be two workshops before the pub nights: one on the South Side with Govanhill Voices, and one in the West End hosted by Voicebeat. Appropriate instruments (see above) will be very welcome too, but there won't be any instrumental tuition, so you'll need basic music-reading skills. No advance booking needed.
Unusually for anything involving Voicebeat or Muldoon's Picnic, musical instruments will be welcome. The aim is to sound something like the village church bands of the 18th century and earlier, so no guitars or electronic gizmos, but if you can play something such as fiddle, cello, clarinet, flute or bassoon, please bring it along. Especially if you play the serpent. The music is not difficult, so you won't need to be a virtuoso. If you can read music you should be able to turn up and play (or sing) it with no problem, and we can always send out scores in advance if you want them.
For anyone who'd like the chance for a quick practice first, there will be two workshops before the pub nights: one on the South Side with Govanhill Voices, and one in the West End hosted by Voicebeat. Appropriate instruments (see above) will be very welcome too, but there won't be any instrumental tuition, so you'll need basic music-reading skills. No advance booking needed.
When and where (2019)WORKSHOPS
1. Thursday 12 December (7.30–9.15pm) Govanhill Neighbourhood Centre, 6 Daisy St G42 8JL Hosted by Govanhill Voices https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=463009011019943 2. Monday 9 December 2019 (7–9.30pm) Scottish Dance Teachers' Alliance, 101 Park Rd G4 9JE Hosted by Voicebeat. £6 to non-members https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1210483735809635 PUB SINGINGS Hosted by Muldoon's Picnic Free, donations towards costs welcome 1. Saturday 14 December 2019 (2–5pm) Dram! 232 Woodlands Rd, Glasgow G3 6ND https://www.facebook.com/events/644024442797501 2. Thursday 19 December 2019 (7pm onwards) The Glad Café, 1006a Pollokshaws Rd G42 2HG https://www.facebook.com/events/2505617556222743 No booking required for any of the above events, just turn up.
CDs and other merchandise available. FOLK CAROLS RESOURCESScores, recordings, MIDIs etc of some of the songs we may sing here.
Some links for backgroundSheffield carols background http://www.folk-network.com/info/carols.html
Sheffield/Derbyshire events http://www.villagecarols.org.uk/ Welsh plygain http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/faq/plygain/ |
Flyer (2019)
DOWNLOAD FLYER (as PDF/JPG)
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Recordings
Some rough live recordings from 2010 can be found on the Muldoon's Picnic Soundcloud at http://soundcloud.com/muldoonspicnic/sets/folk-carols-in-the-pub/ eg:
Here's a wassail song from the Southwest of England, recorded at the 2010 event:
| wassail.mp3 |
But remember you had to be there — this is very much music to take part in, not listen to, so come and sing/play it for yourself.
