Help: Marjory Kennedy Fraser

Subject: Marjory Kennedy Fraser
From: GUEST,Donna H (Australia)
Date: 04 Apr 00 - 07:46 PM

Does anyone know what happened to Marjory Kennedy Fraser's field notes?? I recently read her book 'A Life of Song' in which she refers to a transcription she made of a seal singing. I am keen to see the transcription and have not been able to determine if this will be possible. I don't know if the transcription was ever published or if it might be possible to see her field notes if they happen to be kept in any particular library.

I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Donna H

Subject: RE: Help: Marjory Kennedy Fraser
From:
Date: 04 Apr 00 - 08:11 PM

Hi, Donna. I saw your message on cb-music, and I have forwarded it on to the Scots-L mailing list as well.

Subject: RE: Help: Marjory Kennedy Fraser
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 05 Apr 00 - 03:27 AM

It seems that it was published, in the introduction to her book From The Hebrides.  A copy of David Thomson's The People of the Sea arrived in the post this morning -I bought it mainly for some pieces of music given in the final chapter- and it is reprinted there.  I have to get back to work just now (deadlines) but I could e-mail you a scan or something like that later on.  It's brief; a seven-note phrase.  There's also a transcription made by Dr. Ludwig Koch of a Grey Seal.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Help: Marjory Kennedy Fraser
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 06 Apr 00 - 02:07 PM

Meanwhile, for anyone who might be interested, here are the two transcriptions in abc format.

X:1
T:Seal (Kennedy-Fraser)
M:2/2
L:1/8
Q:2/4=100
K:F
G6 AG | F4 d4 | c8- | c8 ||

X:2
T:Seal (Koch)
N:The A in bar 2 should be slightly sharpened.
M:3/4
L:1/8
Q:2/4=100
K:G
B4 AG | A2 E4 ||

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Help: Marjory Kennedy Fraser
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 06 Apr 00 - 10:28 PM

Malcom, George and Donna - Before Christmas I had started doing some tune transcription work on the multi volume set of Songs of the Hebrides, but with the current acromony at this forum I have felt unmotivated to continue it. If I notate these songs to MIDI/ABC is this likely to duplicate work done elsewhere? Would it be preferable to post these to the list that George mentions rather than Mudcat? (I had intended doing the complete piano score arrangements). Your views would be appreciated. Regards, John

Subject: RE: Help: Marjory Kennedy Fraser
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 06 Apr 00 - 10:37 PM

I can spell OK, but proof reading of posts is not my forte. Regards, John

Subject: RE: Help: Marjory Kennedy Fraser
From:
Date: 06 Apr 00 - 11:22 PM

John. I think it would be nice to have the information available here AND on Scots-L.

I'm not sure how valid the piano score is, but it is better than nothing. I assume the music (I don't read music myself) has the important tune information. There have been charges that she "modified" the tunes to fit her Victorian ideas of how the tune should be, and not necessarily the way it really was.

I feel that having it is important, John. I would welcome the tunes being made available however you wish to have it presented.

Thanks for the offer. Despite the recent problems, I think Mudcat is STILL one of the most useful places on the 'net.

Subject: RE: Help: Marjory Kennedy Fraser
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 07 Apr 00 - 12:03 AM

I certainly agree with George.  The piano parts are typical of their time, but whether or not she modified the melodies, the fact remains that the books are an important resource, too long out of print (and, I think, very nearly out of copyright).  If you are prepared to do all that work, it would be a valuable service, wherever you decide to place it; so far as I know, nobody else has attempted it.  I gave it some thought myself, but there are too many things I still haven't finished to be starting on another project.  I'm not too concerned about current disputes, provided they stay on the BS threads.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Help: Marjory Kennedy Fraser
From: GUEST,Per Ahlander
Date: 24 Nov 11 - 08:58 PM

A new edition of Marjory Kennedy-Fraser's autobiography 'A Life of Song' was launched in October 2011 by The Islands Book Trust.

http://www.theislandsbooktrust.com/store/books/a-life-of-song/


What remains of Kennedy-Fraser's field notes and working material is held by Edinburgh University Library, material I made use of for my not yet published PhD thesis 'Marjory Kennedy-Fraser (1857-1930) and Her Time: A Contextual Study' (University of Edinburgh, 2009).

Per Ahlander