The EU Song Book

[Padraig]

The EU Song Book is just out. 164 songs chosen by citizens of member states in 25 original languages, and in singable European English. The book includes one song, Auld Lang Syne, from the UK :

''This fine song, one among the six chosen in our association's public song vote in the UK prior to Brexit in 2016, got to 'remain' in the EU Songbook. May it be symbolic of UK's future relationship to the EU and vice versa.'And here's a hand my trusty friend / And give me a hand of yours!' ''

The six song categories were Freedom and Peace, Love Songs, Nature and Seasons, Folksong and Traditionals, Faith and Spirituality, Children's Songs.

[mopsus]

'Our association' is this:
Association & Partners – The European Union Songbook Association (eu-songbook.org)

I'm now wondering what 'singable European English' is. I haven't seen a copy of the songbook, but presumably it excludes the Scots dialect of the UK contribution. I also wonder what the other five UK songs were?

I hope the songbook is a suitably worthy effort, although the association's website is - like the Charlemagne Prize - enough to make the convictions of a Remainer such as me waver.

[Old Grumpy]

The EU Song Book is just out. 164 songs chosen by citizens of member states in 25 original languages, and in singable European English. The book includes one song, Auld Lang Syne, from the UK :

''This fine song, one among the six chosen in our association's public song vote in the UK prior to Brexit in 2016, got to 'remain' in the EU Songbook. May it be symbolic of UK's future relationship to the EU and vice versa.'And here's a hand my trusty friend / And give me a hand of yours!' ''

The six song categories were Freedom and Peace, Love Songs, Nature and Seasons, Folksong and Traditionals, Faith and Spirituality, Children's Songs.

What kind of refreshment are we talking about here...


...perhaps spiritual, social, political - or just a new edition?

[smittims]

It all reminds me of the National Song Book we had at school. Edited by Sir Charles Stanford, it included 'Marching to Kandahar' and 'The Harp that once through Tara's halls its soul of beauty shed'. .

[Padraig]

'

I'm now wondering what 'singable European English' is. I haven't seen a copy of the songbook, but presumably it excludes the Scots dialect of the UK contribution. I also wonder what the other five UK songs were?

I think singable European English is a translation from the original into generally accepted English by, say, Europeans learning English as a foreign language.
For example, when in Denmark schools on a school exchange project Danish teachers continually questioned my Northern Irish accent because it was not as English as theirs.

The last verse of Auld Lang Sang, quoted in my first post above, is in 'singable European English' translated from the original:
And there's a hand, my trusty fiere
and gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak' a right gude-willie waught,
for auld lang syne.

I'm dying to know the other five UK songs too.

[Padraig]

What kind of refreshment are we talking about here...


...perhaps spiritual, social, political - or just a new edition?

I'm not sure what you are asking O G. As a Remainer myself I feel a remnant of the hope I had for the result of the referendum. I have not read all the contents of the Song Book, but Auld Lang Syne is not the only song which expresses that hope,

[Padraig]

It all reminds me of the National Song Book we had at school. Edited by Sir Charles Stanford, it included 'Marching to Kandahar' and 'The Harp that once through Tara's halls its soul of beauty shed'. .

Me too smittims. When I got it for use in my own music classes in the 60s I recognised many of the songs I learned in Primary School in the 40s. AFAIR it had Cherry Ripe - a song that I loved as a Primary pupil, but which fell flat in my Secondary classes.

[Old Grumpy]

I'm not sure what you are asking O G. As a Remainer myself I feel a remnant of the hope I had for the result of the referendum. I have not read all the contents of the Song Book, but Auld Lang Syne is not the only song which expresses that hope,

The post is in The Refreshment Room section of the board...

[Padraig]

The post is in The Refreshment Room section of the board...

So it is O G. Not what was intended by me . . . let's say 'Gremlins! They follow me around. I meant to open a new thread on Platform 3 and . . . lo and behold!

I'll stick with my previous reply, if that's ok.

[Old Grumpy]

I'll stick with my previous reply, if that's ok.

[smittims]

'Cherry Ripe' has indelible memories for me. Most of us who have worked in a shop will remember having some odd requests from customers. One day a young man came in and asked if we had any records of 'Horn'.

'Do you mean music for the french horn?'

'No, I mean the composer Charles Horn'

I hadn't heard of him and said I didn't think there were any recordings. Oh yes there are, he said, and when I asked him what music he'd composed he said 'Cherry Ripe'.

I think we eventally found him a recording on one of theose 'Songs of England' LPs which tended to surface at Royal Jubilee years etc.

[Bella Kemp]

This looks wonderful. One does get the hopeful sense that as a nation we are gradually realising the horrific mistake of Brexit and there is a gentle, but steady, pressure to reintegrate. I have fond memories of the Daily Express Community Song Book - a reminder of the time when seemingly everyone knew Bobby Shafto, Clementine, Ye Banks and Braes, Cockles and Mussels et al et al. Now, I suppose that such songs are almost completely unknown to anyone under the age of fifty.

[Old Grumpy]

This looks wonderful. One does get the hopeful sense that as a nation we are gradually realising the horrific mistake of Brexit and there is a gentle, but steady, pressure to reintegrate.

Amen to that.

I have fond memories of the Daily Express Community Song Book - a reminder of the time when seemingly everyone knew Bobby Shafto, Clementine, Ye Banks and Braes, Cockles and Mussels et al et al. Now, I suppose that such songs are almost completely unknown to anyone under the age of fifty.

Mmm - not sure there are many Remainers in the Daily Express Community nowadays!

[LMcD]

This looks wonderful. One does get the hopeful sense that as a nation we are gradually realising the horrific mistake of Brexit and there is a gentle, but steady, pressure to reintegrate. I have fond memories of the Daily Express Community Song Book - a reminder of the time when seemingly everyone knew Bobby Shafto, Clementine, Ye Banks and Braes, Cockles and Mussels et al et al. Now, I suppose that such songs are almost completely unknown to anyone under the age of fifty.

Sadly, I just don't think that's going to happen. Brexit and its consequences were studiously ignored during the recent general election.
(However, the Governor of the Bank of England seems to think it's worth trying)

[Padraig]

Sadly, I just don't think that's going to happen. Brexit and its consequences were studiously ignored during the recent general election.
(However, the Governor of the Bank of England seems to think it's worth trying)

a) It's sad and disappointing, LmcD, if that's now a general attitude towards Europe. I should stress that (like some remarks on the short thread) it's not mine. Moreover, in view of events in the United States 'Get Brexit Done' pales into chit chat compared to 'Make America Great Again'. I'd say MAGA will make it into the Oxford Dictionary.

b) If the Governor is thinking of trying the Song Book, that's good. If you mean he's thinking of trying to rejoin, that's better. The club needs every acorn.

As far as I am concerned I have no more to say about the Song Book. I merely got a look at it, and I have given it back. I have made a note of the 6 Irish songs which I may follow up, and I have requested opinions from the owner on any interesting discoveries. If others are inspired to use the thread I shall be an interested reader.

Thanks for participating.