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Songs of the Pit Communities of Northumberland and Durham

Archive File: LAVC/SRP/2/167

Details

Type of record: Archive

Title: Songs of the Pit Communities of Northumberland and Durham

Level: File

Classmark: LAVC/SRP/2/167

Creator(s): Baker, Maxine

Site Location(s): Subject - Northumberland, England, United Kingdom( 55.25, -2 ); Subject - County Durham, England, United Kingdom( 54.6766, -1.76654 )

Date(s): 1966

Size and medium: 104 bound typed leaves; 5 b/w photographs.

Persistent link: https://explore.library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections-explore/410203

Collection group(s): Leeds Archive of Vernacular Culture

Description

A collection of songs gathered from fifteen informants living in Northumberland and Durham. Song texts are included throughout.


The study is divided into six sections, with the first presenting historical, geographical and sociological background information to the area. The second section considers the Union, its influence on miners' lives and references to it in the songs they sang. The collector divides these songs into five categories: Strike songs, those dealing with explosions or disasters, those that tell of general pit conditions, political (parliamentary) songs and songs sung by women. Section three considers a number of influences on the mining culture, with sections on traditional songs, the Music Hall, the Irish and the Methodists. The fourth section looks at the songs of the keelmen. Section Five considers recitations, and the final section presents contemporary songs from the area. Appendices include a glossary of words appearing in some of the songs, and an Index of Song Titles.


Tune transcriptions for seven of the songs discussed in the study are included separately on music manuscript.

Access and usage

Reproduction

Access

The theses and dissertations in this subfonds are available for consultation in the searchroom of Special Collections, University of Leeds, by all bona fide researchers. Conditions relating to access and use have, in a number of cases, been applied to particular items by individual depositors. These are noted within the relevant individual records.

Material in this collection is in copyright. Photocopies or digital images can only be supplied by the Library for research or private study within the terms of copyright legislation. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain the copyright holder's permission to reproduce for any other purpose. Guidance is available on tracing copyright status and ownership.

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