Description
“The object of this work is to present to lovers of Cornwall the Songs and Carols of the Cornwall of old days. Of native growth for the most part, these songs are rich in melody, rich in expression, rich in the poetry to which the music is wedded.” – JC Tregarthen
The Cornish Song Book: Lyver Canow Kernow, by Ralph Dunstan, was published by Reid Bros Ltd., London, in 1929. It was issued under the patronage of The Royal Institution of Cornwall, The London Cornish Association, The Federation of Old Cornwall Societies and The Cornish Gorsedd and was important in disseminating Cornish folk music and song to a wider audience. In so doing it underpinned the revival of Cornish cultural identity. Nowadays it is still a valuable reference for song collectors and researchers.
This is a unique first edition hardback of this well-known Cornish song book. There have been modern reproductions of his book – this is a rare example of the original. The book contains an introduction by the author and is signed by E.G. Retallack Hooper (Talek), bard of Gorsedh Kernow from 1932.
Part I contains ten songs in Cornish (Dew Saw’n Myghtern, Bro Goth Agan Tasow, Can Kerth Tus Kernow Goth, Arta Ef a-Dhe, Dynergh dhe Dus a Vreten Vyghan, Kernow agan Mam-vro, Yeghes da dhe’n Myghtern Can Marghogyon Myghtern, Trelawney: Can Tus an Houlsedhes, Can an Pescadjor Kernewek, Sol-a-Brys) and multiple songs with English words. Part II contains Cornish Carols including the St Day Carol and the Dilly Carol, plus Music at Sunday School Treats, the “cries” for Crying the Neck and more, ending with a Cornish “Grace” by R Morton Nance.
The covers are marked in places (as can be seen in the photo) and the corners of the cover are a little scuffed, however the pages inside are in fine condition. It also contains one A5 (photographed) and three A4 inserts with other song words.
