Ruperts Land Girls School - Eagle Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

Page 26 text:

Rupert's Land College Magazine I Border, Chevy Chase. In France, Marlbrouk was several hundred years old before Marie Antoinette adopted it, when she heard her nurse singing it to her baby. It became very famous, and Napoleon sang it on his Way to Russia, and at St. Helena. Throughout the middle ages, troubadours in France and Germany, and strolling minstrels in England, sang the songs of the people. We read that Blondel found Richard of the Lion Heart by singing a popular tune outside the Windows of all the great castles in Europe. In Roumania and Serbia the peasants in their gay costumes still dance on Sundays to their folk- tunes. ' In the seventeenth century, this type of music was in great favour. Tinkers sang catches, such as Three Blind Mice g milkmaids sang ballads, carters whistled, in fact, each trade had its own special songs. There was music during both X WF' EN it LPN -lla x.-.lla--. Q-,, ..J,lly, x.-. - 11,55 Fmncss Bananas. 20

Page 25 text:

Rupertis Land College Magazine Another stretch of years! A cry was heard! A nation in distress, nigh overwhelmed, Was calling out for help. An evil thing, Long nursed in Europe's breast, had burst its bounds, And threatened to engulf humanity! Quick in response to that soul-stirring call, Britain with her Dominions sprang to arms. Five hundred thousand brave Canadian sons- Cln Manitoba seventy thousand strong!!- Left all they loved, and heeding not the loss Of wealth or life, rose to the greatest heights Of chivalry and helped to stem that tide. These were plain citizens of Canada! Some have returned safe from the Gates of Death, , Others have passed within: yet were their woes And dire distress no useless sacrifice. From their 'triumphant anguish has been born A nation-Canada. The noblest things In life are ever won in agony. That will make glow the souls of multitudes, The deeds of these great men are sparks of fire And blaze new trails through forests of despair And discontent-broad trails to point the way Through gloom and dim uncertainty to Light, Through warring strife to Peace. Q 1 l-in NATIONAL FOLK-SONGS The origin of folk-music has been a subject of much dis- cussiong some say that the songs were composed by individ- uals and have been handed down by oral tradition. Others hold that they were the production of a community, that owing to their naturalness, simplicity and spontaneity, they cannot have originated from the popular music of bygone days, which lacks all the outstanding qualities of the folk-song. The music of a nation is based on folk-music, or the tunes that are handed down from generation to generation. The songs of a country illustrate the character of its people. All their simple pleasures, their history, politics and wars, their joys and sorrows are expressed in them. For example, the Irish songs are overflowing with humour and pathos-they show that nation's struggles for liberty and the deep emotions felt by the Celtic heart. The earlier British folk-music comprises The Robin Hood Ballads in England, and the Border Minstrelsy, revived by Sir W. Scott, which contained that well-known poem of the 19

Page 27 text:

Rupertls Land College Magazine night and day. Among the folk-tunes of the period, many are Well-known, as The Bailiff's Daughter of Islington. In 1650, the English Dancing Master was published, containing many lively country dances, among them being Come, Lasses and Lads, and Sir Roger de Coverleyj' which both indicate the English character. They express very little pathos or even humour, but are undemonstrative, and reveal none of the finer feelings' of human nature, such as may be found in The North- Country Maid, and Early One Morning. The beautiful Drink to Me Only was of courtly origin. Ever since the time of Elizabeth the English navy has been World-famous, and the songs of Jack Tar have immortal- ized its prestige. Two of the best known tunes are Rule Brit- annia, and Hearts of Oak. About the same time, Henry Carey composed the National Anthem, and Sally in Our Alley. 1 'll A .. ' A l A Y 7 'L lllwlff' l A ,liltclgtf . .fl A I! gif' lg ixk-XQ1 X' K -',! ' ,gg f ,H W ' ...S a4.x.f do , lt -FWWQ YC 'iff' al wf G oo W., M ,L . 3 Qi! ' X x x D' . Yi M. ll li . . ill! A lllllllllll W ox .. 9 -H1 . .:l. i.' ,g s ' cs L 3 P E FRAN E Bl Llrfos. - 21