Hi Bev. Am I right in believing I'm the first to use the forum? If so I deem it an honour since I hold Guernsey Scenes in high regard as a great advert for the island and as a wonderful personal achievement of yours. You were the first to give the island's anthem to the internet and I was thrilled to have been part of that. I'm doing some research at the moment which involves a tune from Guernsey and I'm wondering if anyone could tell me where I might see or get hold of any old publications of folksongs from Guernsey particularly Edith Carey's 1908 book. I already have 'Guernsey Songs and Dances' collected by Doris Heaume. Many thanks, in anticipation.
I came across your message quite by chance.There are not many sources for Guernsey folksongs existing in print form, although there is the possibility that there might be one or two songs available in archives (sets of family papers, almanacs etc.) Had you looked at the late Peter Kennedy's publication "Folksongs of the Channel Islands", available by mail order from the Don Balleine bookshop in Jersey? See the Societe Jersiaise website for more details. Peter Kennedy also undertook a series of field recordings which are mostly available on CD or cassette from the Folktrax website. As for the tune, I know various specialists who might be able to throw some light on the subject, please feel free to drop me a line on roland.scales "at" talk21.com
