| Tune Contents | About the book | How to Order | Order Form |
| Pioneer Performer Series Order Form | Other Australian
Recordings & Publications |
| Carrawobbity
Press & Pioneer Performer Series | Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club Home Page
|
 |
SHARING
THE HARVEST Field recordings from the Meredith Collection in the National Library of Australia The 99 songs and dance tunes on this double CD were recorded in the field by John Meredith in the 1950s. In 1955 they were released by Carrawobbity Press, publishing arm of Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club Inc. in association with the National Library of Australia as Folk Songs of Australia, Volume 1. |
CD Cover photograph - Portrait of Fred Holland and Sons, Mudgee, New South Wales, circa 1957, by John Meredith
These tracks are the real performers singing in their loungerooms, kitchens and verandahs as John Meredith captured them on his recording equipment - no special effects, no remixing, just the raw performance.
Some of the singers were old when recorded and no longer sang well; some of them had probably never sung well. Some of the musicians had not played their instruments in years and the lack of practice shows; but their feel for the music as music for dancing shows.
All the tunes and songs and spoken words in these recordings will be found transcribed in the first volume of Folk Songs of Australia which is unfortunately out of print now.
A tribute to these singers and musicians and John Meredith.
Edgar Waters
THE 99 TRACKS and Their Performers ........
CD 1JACK LUSCOMBE |
CD 2SALLY SLOANE |
Published by the National Library of Australia, Parkes Place, Canberra ACT 2600, April 2001.
The material was selected from the Meredith Collection by Kevin Bradley and Edgar Waters.
Sound re-recording was by Kevin Bradley of the National Library of Australia.
CD artwork design was by Jodie Ward of the National Library of Australia.
Outlets - NATIONAL LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA, ALBION PARK POST OFFICE
The CD is also available for $20 AUS plus postage & packaging (in Australia). Overseas rates upon application, email David De Santi.
ORDER FORM Full Australian Publications & Recordings Catalogue
There have been various publications presenting our Australian culture over the past few years from the work of collectors and their recorders. They have presented the tunes, songs, dances, stories and recitations of many of the real bush entertainers in an accessible form.
The Pioneer Performer Series was iniated in October 1991 by Rob Willis of Forbes and David De Santi of Wollongong and supported by the Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club Inc. from the Illawarra region of NSW. The aim is to present the tunes, songs, poetry and stories of Australia's bush entertainers in publications and recordings.
The subcommittee to arrange this is known as CARRAWOBBITY PRESS. The task in capturing this information is invaluable in the preservation of Australia's tradition. Support to date has been provided by the Australia National Library, which hold the field recordings, and the Australian Folk Trust.
To date Carrawobbity Press has published fifteen publications and four recordings featuring performers from Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia. In addition Carrawobbity Press also distributes other related publications and recordings.
This page compiled by David De Santi, 7 June 2001