Guernsey Folk Songs

'The miller, the donkey and the girl'. Letters to the Editor of the Guernsey Evening Press.

Sir, About two or three years ago I was much interested in arranging several of the od Folk Songs in the Norman patois. They were dropped for a time for other work, and in the hope of obtaining a correct version of 'Le Meuiner, L'Ane et la Femme'. This has a line missing in 'Links with the Past':

Quand la belle [s'en] va à Moulin

..............................

Elle n'y va ni à pied ni à cheval.

The rhyme should, of course, agree with that of the following verses; between the first and second lines. To quote the second verse as a naxamplke:

Quand le meuiner la vit venir, 

De rire ne pouvais se tenir

"Amare-là ton âne."

I should be glad to hear from any of your readers who may know the words or the melody, which has the notes pertaining to the third line omitted. Meantime, in default of a more authentic version, it would appear to have been somewhat as follows:

Quand la belle s'en va a Moulin

Ni a cheval mis sur un ane,

Elle n'y va a pied.

'Trois jeunes tambours' I have found, note for note, in Tiersot's 'Histoire de la chanson populaire en France,' as stated in Miss Carey's book to have been obtained also in Sark. In the verses are some slight, but not very important, variation. In other collections the verses are varied a good deal; and one version gives it as 'Les Trois Soldats'; this last also being the title of another old French song in a metre of two, instead of three, lines.

The other Folk Songs I should especially like to compare with other versions (words or music) before offering to a publisher are 'La Bergere', 'A la claire Fontaine' and 'Jean, Gros Jean.' 

All of thesewould seem to defy translation into English verse, preserving the same metre; still of any of your readers care to try how far it may be possible to preserve the quaint charms of the original, it would be of interest. 

Edouard Moullé in France and recently Yvette Guilbert (3 vols., Augener & Co.) have published a large number of most interesting old French Folk songs, which should be known to those of yoir readers who sing in French, but I have not found any of those mentioned in their collections.

It would be well indeed if amateur vocalists who are unable to render the masterpieces of the great song composers would turn their attention to some of the numerous collections of Folk Songs in preference to the miserable 'shop' ballads which our publishers inflict on the local music dealers in such quantities.

Hoping these few notes may stir the recollections of some of your readers.

 

J MATTHEWS