23rd January 2022
23rd January 2022
I have put together a you tube project for an author called Diana Rubino using one of my instrumentals. Here is a link to the completed project
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtmOseReCjk
Diana has written about my music in her blog dated 20th January 2022
www.dianarubinoauthor.blogspot.com
16th January 2022
16th January 2022
David Hincliffe was due to give another lecture at the Palace Theatre in Paignton about the Torquay Pageant of the 1920s. I enjoyed his lecture about this at Torquay museum just before we went into lockdown. I wish I could have attended this one in Paignton as he tells me that he now shows the video with my song about it during this lecture.
The Mortimer History Society are continuing to use my music to introduce their lectures on youtube. Here are the links for two of 19th December 2021:-
Dr David Green: ‘Edward III and a Plantagenet Apanage Policy’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgoZ5946L_c&authuser=1
Dr Matt Raven: ‘Edward III and the lords of the Welsh March: Power and privilege’
9th January 2022
9th January 2022
While trying to play a version of an old folk song called the Blacksmith I got the idea for a new melody. A few days later I was reading an article in the latest edition of the Ricardian Bulletin. It is titled 'The valiant squires of sacred Easter day.' This gave me the idea for some new lyrics to go with the tune which is about the young squires of the also young Richard Duke of Gloucester. These squires were killed at the battle of Barnet. They were both buried together in the prestigious London church of the Greyfriars. I think that Richard was deeply affected by their deaths. This is because their names are recorded in an indenture in which he instructs the recipients of an endowment to pray for his family, deceased members of the house of York and includes the names of the two squires.
The Valiant Squires
Young Thomas Parr killed on Easter day
As the morning mist slowly fades away
Revealing the dead bodies fallen on the ground
The aftermath of battle scattered all around
The valiant young Squires of sacred Easter day
For their souls young Richard he would pray
John Milewater killed on Easter day
As the morning mist slowly fades away
The humble and the mighty fallen on the ground
Including the Kingmaker whose name is so renowned
The valiant young Squires of sacred Easter day
For their souls young Richard he would pray
Buried in London's church of the Greyfriars
A noble resting place for the Duke of Gloucester's Squires
The valiant young Squires of sacred Easter day
For their souls young Richard he would pray
2nd January 2022
2nd January 2022
Just before Christmas I did some recording for two old traditional folk songs, one is called My Thing is My Own. I have changed some of the words and I am calling it Her Thing is Her Own. I hope Lord Zarquon will like it.
Next came a young fellow, a notable spark With green bag and inkhorn, a Justice's clerk He pulled out his warrant and looked quite sincere But she sent him away with a flea in his ear. A Master of Music came with an intent To give her a lesson on her instrument She thanked him for nohing, and bid him be gone For her little fiddle should not be played on Now here she could reckon a hundred and more Besides all the Gamesters recited before That made their addresses in hopes of a snap But young those she was she escaped every trap
I have recently scanned some things from one of my old scrap books dating back to 1982. There is some nice memorabilia about the local music scene in Torbay in that year. Here is an old poster for a couple of gigs in December 1982. One of these was at the Palk Arms when the landlord complained that the bass guitar was making his beer glasses rattle during the sound check. He said that there was no bass guitar on the Chapter 29 cassette we had given him.
19th December 2021
19th December 2021
It's the 62nd birthday of Chris Greenway in a few days time and I have recorded a new version of his birthday song. I have also made a special CD cover for him including his image over where he lives in Exmouth.
HERE'S YOUR SIXTY SECOND BIRTHDAY SONG
AND ALL OF YOUR FAMILY CAN SING ALONG
WE'VE HIDDEN SOME RUBBISH IN YOUR NEW BIN
PLEASE DON'T GET UPSET WHEN CRYSTAL PALACE WIN
YOUR FILOFAX IS KEPT UP TO DATE
WITH HISTORICAL EVENTS YOU CAN CELEBRATE
AND THE CRYSTAL PALACE FIXTURE LIST
ALL OF THESE THINGS MUST NOT BE MISSED
HERE'S YOUR SIXTY SECOND BIRTHDAY SONG
AND ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS CAN SING ALONG
YOU'RE GETTING OLDER AND YOU'VE GOT A BAD BACK
BUT YOU LOOK SO DASHING WEARING MY CRAVAT
YOUR DESK IS TIDY BUT YOU'RE NOT UP STRAIGHT
WHEN YOU GO TO YOGA DURING YOUR LUNCH BREAK
YOUR PRIDE AND JOY IS YOUR OLD STAPLER
IT'S AN ANTIQUE PIECE LIKE YOUR CALCULATOR
HERE'S YOUR SIXTY SECOND BIRTHDAY SONG
AND EVERYONE AT CHARLTON CAN SING ALONG
YOUR SPECIAL WORK CHAIR COST A PACKET
MUCH MORE THAN MY FIRE MARSHALL JACKET
BRING BACK BREEZE SOUNDS FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY
FORGET YOGA AND TAKE UP KARATE
THE SOUNDS OF THAT DISCO WOULD BE REALLY COOL
I HOPE THIS WOULDN'T BE THE SOURCE OF RIDICULE
HERE'S YOUR SIXTY SECOND BIRTHDAY SONG
AND EVERYONE IN EXMOUTH CAN SING ALONG
DON'T FORGET YOUR DESK IS THE BANK
AND THE BLOCKED WORKFLOW SEPTIC TANK
December 12th 2021
12th December 2021
Jules and Jay came over to see me on Monday and I recorded Jay playing bass on my new songs, Sir Cloudsley Shovell and Haytor Granite. Another one was the recording of a traditional song called A Man You Don't Meet Every Day. Lord Z finished the mastering of this traditional song on Thursday. Later in the week Rowan Curle came to stay for a few days and I recorded him singing some harmony vocals on the chorus of Sir Cloudsley Shovell and my new song called Cornish Folklore.
Sir Cloudsley Shovell
Now gather round and hear this tale
Of Sir Cloudsley Shovell
He was a hero you should know
Who gave the French much trouble
It was a stormy autumn night
Near the Isles of Scilly
The charts were inaccurate
And this would cost him dearly
HMS Association
Sunk by the Isles of Scilly
Two thousand sailors drowned that night
A tragedy quite clearly
His flagship struck the Gilstone reef
Of the Isles of Scilly
Longitude and latitude
Were confused and queried
The Eagle and Romney lost
Sunk by the Isles of Scilly
Two thousand sailors drowned that night
A tragedy quite clearly
They found his body washed ashore
On a cove of St Mary's
Of Those deadly western rocks
Brave sailors must be wary
And Firebrand struck the Western rocks
Of the Isles of Scilly
Two thousand sailors drowned that night
A tragedy quite clearly
December 3rd 2021
Here is a scanned copy of the recent LTS newspaper article in the Teignmouth Post and here is a link to it in the Mid Devon Advertiser
28th November 2021
28th November 2021
For most of this year I became so engrossed in the Songs About Devon music project and then planning an album of South West songs that I nearly forgot about several songs I had recorded with Phil Swann and Martyn Hillstead that we had originally intended for an album project that never came to fruition.
A few weeks ago I gave these unfinished recordings to Lord Zarquon who has been beavering away at completing them in his recording studio. A couple of these recordings have now been completed and eventually there should be enough for an album which won't be anything to do with the South West songs which I am also currently recording with Lord Zarquon.
One of the songs is a version of a traditional folk tune/sea shanty called the Wellerman. The completon of this recording is a bit of a land mark for the Legendary Ten Seconds and is the first time that we have completed the recording of a traditional song.
21st November 2021
21st November 2021
My Ricardian songs continue to be the most popular ones that I have written so I felt that I ought to try to compose another one for my next album. I recalled that the Lancastrian Earl of Oxford had captured St Michael's Mount during the reign of Edward VI and so I wrote this song:-
The Siege of St. Michael's Mount
After defeat at the battle of Barnet
John de Vere fled to France
He'd escaped via Scotland
With such sorry circumstance
He would still oppose King Edward
And gain support from the King of France
Who was a universal spider
Was this John de Vere's last chance
John de Vere the Earl of Oxford
Then turned to piracy
A privateer in the summer
In the channel's narrow sea
At the end of September
He sailed to the Cornish coast
St Michael's Mount he took by force
Of it's capture he could boast
An embarrassment for King Edward
Though not a threat so he believed
The King's man in Cornwall
Was placed in charge of the siege
John de Vere offered bribes
So that supplies could be received
The King's man was corrupt
Of this King Edward was displeased
John Fortescue the chief justice
Was dispatched to gain a victory
Along with him he would bring
The master of the royal artillery
Free pardons and rewards were offered
To the men under John de Vere's command
One byone his men deserted
John Fortescue gained the upper hand
John de Vere then surrendered
There was no prospect of success
For many years he was in prison
For his Lancastrian faithfulness