VERANDAH MUSIC AT TOBRUK

One of the ‘Rats of Tobruk’, Walter ‘Jack’ Darnley, cheered himself and his mates up during the battle of Tobruk with this trench-made masterpiece. A toothbrush, a dixie and few other bits and bobs became  the ‘Darnley Dixaline’, a classic hybrid of banjo and mandolin.

 

Read all about it here on your ABC (use it or lose it) …

The Man, the Woman and the Edison Phonograph: Race, History, Technology and Song — Zoom presentation

 

Sunday 21 February at 2pm by Zoom. Bruce Watson will give a presentation about the 1903 recordings of Fanny Cochrane Smith. These are among the earliest Australian sound recordings, the only audio recordings of Tasmanian Language. The story behind them encapsulates significant themes in Australia’s history.

The event is free, but you will need to register by clicking this link:  https://www.trybooking.com/BOHOF. You will receive the Zoom link by email from TryBooking when you have booked.

The Man, the Woman and the Edison Phonograph: Race, History, Technology and Song  —  Bruce Watson

Fanny Cochrane Smith was born in 1834 in the Flinders Island ‘exile’ settlement for Aboriginal Tasmanians. She suffered neglect and abuse, but learnt culture and language. Following Truganini’s death, she was the last person to hold this traditional knowledge. Her 1899 and 1903 wax cylinder recordings are the only recordings of Tasmanian Language made and have been pivotal in reconstructing palawa kani, the revived Tasmanian language. The recordings were added to the NFSA’s Sounds of Australia in its foundation year and added to the UNESCO Australian Memory of the World Register in 2017. This multi-media presentation will tell the story behind the photo of Horace Watson recording Fanny Cochrane Smith with surprising twists and turns and reverberations through history. It is a story of history, genocide, technology and the power of song.

VERANDAH MUSIC ZAMBIAN STYLE

Zambian kids playing up a storm on their homemade instruments at

https://www.themusicman.uk/category/location/africa/

Plus lots of other improvised African music.

 

Also, lots of other world music at The Music Man, including a woman who rips out rock riffs on her hurdy gurdy, as you do.

VERANDAH MUSIC IN CHANGI

 

Australians, along with troops of other nationalities, were imprisoned in Singapore’s Changi prison during World War 2. A lot of self-made entertainment was needed including, of course, music. A ukulele made from scrap was made and played by POW, the late Jeff Caddies. You can read all about it and view the pix here.

RUM’UNS, REBELS AND RATBAGS PODCAST

Swaggie c 1900, NSW Government Printer

 

Who was Handkerchief Jones? And why did Tom Doyle piss on the olives? Find out all about it as we fall into conversation and catastrophe with some of Australia’s colourful folk characters.

 

PODCAST

 

Another Yarns of Oz ‘podcast, written, produced and presented by Rob Willis and Graham Seal and featuring Bob Payne singing ‘One of the Has-Beens’…. 

PANDEMIC PLAY

Ruth Hazleton and Judy McKinty are running a great children's folklore project at PANDEMIC PLAY.  The project asks kids, teens, parents, grandparents, carers or teachers to send in art, games, rhymes and the like, related to the COVID pandemic.

Why did some bushrangers become folk heroes and why were they feared by the forces of authority? We take a look at and a listen to some of the yarns, ballads and memories of the many bushrangers of the Lachlan region during the 1860s. Come all you wild colonial boys – and girls!

LISTEN HERE

Featuring authentic audio from the Oral History and Folklore Collection at the National Library of Australia, including Pat Nicholson, Maurice (Morris) Styles, Edgar Penzig, Rod Butler, Sally Sloane and Gladys Scrivener.

RECORDING CONVERSATIONS - on a budget!

Do you want to conduct an Oral History project to archival audio standard but have only a small budget for recording equipment?

 

Rob and Ollie Willis offer some thoughts on equipment they have used and that won't break the bank. These are only examples of some methods that could work, there are probably many other alternatives and we have tried to keep it basic and simple.

 

We have avoided too much technical overload but are happy for people to contact us if more detailed information is required.

 

The price range of examples is included in the video notes.

 

These examples are from our personal research and use and we have NO connection with the makers of any recorders or equipment.

HOW TO SPIN A YARN - WITH BILL CASE

We often get asked "what is the difference between a yarn and a joke"? Hopefully this video will answer the question as Bill Case (1917-2001) was a master Yarnspinner. John Harpley and I recorded this 15 minute yarn as part of a dance night that Bill played for at Don McBain's Barn in Nelson, Vic. Apologies for video quality but it shows the rapport that Bill had with the audience and how he held them.

 

I heard this yarn twice, the second time being at the Sharing the Harvest concert, a memorial for John Meredith in 2001. Bill captivated the audience there as well.

 

A few explanations - Bill's father ran a Pie Cart in Mount Gambier, SA, specalising in Pie Floaters, young Bill often helped him. Pie Floaters are very popular in South Australia and consist of a pie in a bowl of thick mushy peas. The peas are 'blue boilers' and, if too hard to boil, are softened by the addition of Bicarbonate of Soda, this is where Bill's yarn takes a twist.

Rob Willis

CASTOR OIL, KERO AND BLUEBAGS: HOMEMADE MEDICINE

Our latest podcast is now available at https://yarnsofoz.podbean.com/

This time we’re having a listen to how people dealt with accidents and illness in the days before medical attention was easily available. Treating the everyday afflictions of colds, stings, hangovers – and piles – was often a ‘kill or cure’ experience. Definitely not to be tried at home!