AboutMike Turner Expertise Folk Music, particularly the Child Ballads and that great body of industrial and work-related songs which arose during the Industrial Revolution. I am well-versed in the history of the Folk Revival, and I have a particular interest in political and agit-prop songs, as well as in traditional Irish dance music. For ten years I was a committee member and resident singer/song-writer/musician with the Grey Cock Folk Club in Birmingham (the pre-eminent traditional club in the English midlands, which was founded by Charles Parker of `Radio Ballad` fame).
Expert: Mike Turner Date: 5/4/2008 Subject: New Zealand Folk Song
Question Hello,
I am putting together a little slideshow of the snapshots of an elderly lady
acquaintance's trip to New Zealand and other places. I am trying to find some
folk music to insert into the slideshow to go along with the photos which last
about 2 minutes. Would you have a song you could send to me? Is
Cuckaberra a New Zealand folk song or more Australian? I presume that you
are not even from that region. I don't know. I can send you a lovely song
from French Canada. It gives you shivers to listen to it especially when you
understand the meaning behind the song which was the expulsion of the
poor, simple, French farm people of Acadia in Canada by the English. It's a
very sad and moving song. Maybe you are already familiar with it. Un
Canadien Errant. Thank you, Robin
Answer Hi Robin,
From what little I know of "Cuckaberra" I'd say it was no more a folk song than is, say, "Tie Me Kangaroo Down".
Bear in mind, though, that I am no expert on Antipodean music. For proper assistance, I'd suggest you look up the written and recorded works of A.L. Lloyd, who worked down under for some time, and was an encyclopaedic source of knowledge on folk song. If it is a folk song of any consequence he will undoubtedly have mentioned it at some point.
The Canadian piece you name is also unknown to me, but I do not see a question here. Please note that AllExperts is only for answering questions - there are plenty of other sites for posting your own experiences.
