I did an interview with my Grandmother ("Gran") over the phone while I took some notes typing. I decided to approach my interviews differently all depending on the person, so for this interview we simply just had a normal conversation and I made sure to hit a few points, and then went back and organized a bit of the conversation into different areas of interest.
[Notes recorded on the computer/word document while on the phone]
Interview w/Gran
Calls it “folk music”, and references Daniel O’Donnell. She
describes going to a pub in Ireland and hearing someone sing a song at a
session. While someone was singing it was mostly quiet apart from a few people,
but a lot of people were singing along with the singer.
Irish Heritage:
Her great great Gran was the first (of her knowledge) to come from Ireland to
Scotland. Some of her family was from Ballymena Ireland in County Antrim in
North Ireland. When she went to visit Ireland she went back to Ballymena to
visit. Her grandmother was a child when they arrived in Scotland, she remembers
her Gran singing to herself in the kitchen.
Performance &
Meaning: She can go to the theatre and listen to singers singing, and can
go to the pub and listen and sing along with them. But she can’t do this in the
theatre, however the song has the same meaning for her. Song isn’t just
something that you sing but it becomes more than the performance for someone
else (listening), it becomes more personal. “It’s important that these
countries with folk music should know about the folk music of their country and
the songs of their country and that people recognize it.”
She sings and hums a part of a song with “Have you ever been
across the sea to Ireland”…”When the sun goes down on Galyway bay”, “When Irish
eyes are smiling”…
How did you learn
them/why: Learned the song just because she’s heard them and liked the
“tune”. A lot of Irish music sung in Scotland & brought over with them and
then are later passed down through generations…people come over during the
famine.
What about the song is
meaningful/what makes it meaningful: Gets most of the meaning from lyrics
of the songs.
“most songs put
together for the story…maybe not for the songs this modern day in age”
“If you listen to the words you can understand the life of
that person or the story of the time”
What about the
person’s voice/singer: The meaning behind the song doesn't change with the
singer, but the view on the singer can…
Performance: When
the song is taken out of the traditional setting and is performed for an audience something about the song changes, the focus of the song changes. It’s
no longer authentic. It should stick to being sung the traditional way. Don’t
change the traditional song to much or else it’s not traditional. She wouldn't
want to listen anymore and wants to be able to sing along. Keep it “original”.
Transcription: Writing
it down & changing it makes it no longer traditional. But just writing it
is fine. Transcription is good because it lets more people learn it. Helps
preserve the music and spread the music from country to country and keep it
going and alive.
“Could go into a
place and listen to the other side of music, but there are many people who make
such a huge difference between catholic and protestant, religions in Ireland
and the different parts of the country, and causes trouble like the Rangers and
Celtics in Scotland, people can’t seem to understand it’s not important, enjoy
music of both sides”
These ideas and environment “Changes the enjoyment”
Experiences make the songs mean more to you.
After papa (my grandfather) died couldn't play music because
it upset her because he use to play songs when he came home. (Old American
song) all of things bring particular memories for particular people. One was a
love song he would sing when he came home from being away at sea, “Just
remember I love you…”
Held a large meaning, couldn't listen to them because he use
to always play it to her – strong sentiment.
“…and although you’ll miss me have a wonderful time, but remember
darling you’ll always be mine”.
Singing about your country makes you proud, has an attachment.
Longing to be connected with that culture…
Start to think of your own country and the folk/people you
belong to…a sense of belonging. Older people know their background and have a
yearning from where their inheritance came from. She always wanted to go to
Ireland when had never been but she went for that yearning.
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