Tonic Jukebox History
WEEK 64 - Cause and Effect
This week we focus on songs that talk about slavery, freedom and equality. Quite a broad canvas. All the songs relate to a cause and all are designed to have an effect, hence Cause and Effect.
You might have expected the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (Va Pensiero) to be included. We have already used that in Tonic Jukebox and we are sticking to our policy of not repeating pieces. If you would like to hear it, please go to our History page and choose week 34.
You might have expected the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (Va Pensiero) to be included. We have already used that in Tonic Jukebox and we are sticking to our policy of not repeating pieces. If you would like to hear it, please go to our History page and choose week 34.
Monday May 31
The March of the Women
The March of the Women is a song composed by Ethel Smyth in 1910, to words by Cicely Hamilton. It became the official anthem of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) and more widely the anthem of the women's suffrage movement throughout the United Kingdom and elsewhere. Activists sang it not only at rallies but also in prison while they were on hunger strike. Tonic members may remember singing this during a Mary King Workshop at the Southbank Centre (January 2011). It's worth following the Ethel Smyth link above - interesting lady.
Performance (words included below the video)
And here is an alternative song for the suffragette movement. A little more serious and to the point.
Performance
Tuesday June 1
Shoshaloza
A song well-known to all in Tonic Choir as we have sung it often.
Shosholoza is a South African traditional song. Its significance has changed over time, but the meaning has stayed the same. This song has inspired several communities to unify under very different circumstances. It has helped people through many times of struggle, and is now sung in celebration of South Africa’s national unity. It began as a folk song for the gold and diamond miners traveling back and forth between Zimbabwe and South Africa. The word Shosholoza is a combination of both Ndebele (of Zimbabwe) and Zulu (of South Africa) words meaning 'to push forward, endeavour, or strive'. The sound of the word itself is symbolic of the steam engine trains that carried miners through the mountains. It is said that the song helped to lessen the workload and to help create a rhythm to work to through the long and hard days. The song later evolved into a symbol of political status and struggle of the black community during the Apartheid era. It was usually sung under hardship in call and response style (one man singing a solo line and the rest of the group responding by copying him). It was also sung by prisoners in call and response style. The late former South African President Nelson Mandela described how he sang Shosholoza as he worked during his imprisonment on Robben Island. He described it as 'a song that compares the apartheid struggle to the motion of an oncoming train' and went on to explain that 'the singing made the work lighter'.
Sources: Wikipedia Firelight
Performance
Wednesday June 2
Bella Ciao
Bella ciao (literally: Goodbye beautiful) is an Italian protest folk song that originated in the late 19th century, sung by the mondina workers in protest to the harsh working conditions in the paddy fields of North Italy. The song was modified and adopted as an anthem of the anti-fascist resistance by the Italian partisans between 1943 and 1945 during the Italian Resistance (against the Nazi German forces occupying Italy) and during the Italian Civil War, the Italian partisan struggle against the fascist Italian Social Republic and its Nazi German allies. Versions of Bella Ciao continue to be sung worldwide as an anti-fascist hymn of freedom and resistance.
It came to my notice as wife Judy watched Money Heist on Netflix. The song is used as an anthem throughout the 4 seasons. Judy highly recommends the series. I suggest you look at the words before playing the song.
Original partisan version
Words and meaning (scroll down)
Thursday June 3
If I had a hammer
It's the hammer of justice, it's the bell of freedom, it's the song about the love between my brothers and my sisters, all over this land.
If I Had a Hammer is a protest song written by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays. It was written in 1949 in support of the Progressive movement, and was first recorded by The Weavers, a folk music quartet composed of Seeger, Hays, Ronnie Gilbert, and Fred Hellerman. The United States Progressive Party of 1948 (Progressive movement) was a left-wing political party which sought desegregation, the establishment of a national health insurance system, an expansion of the welfare system, and the nationalisation of the energy industry.
Back in the day I was one half of a guitar duo and we performed this song innumerable times.
The song was was a 'hit' for Peter, Paul and Mary in 1962, so who better to represent the song here. They could have sung the telephone directory and I would have been happy.
Version 1 (1963)
Version 2 (1986)
Friday June 4
O welche Lust (O what a joy)
Fidelio is the only opera written by Ludwig van Beethoven. Notable moments in the opera include the Prisoners' Chorus, an ode to freedom sung by a chorus of political prisoners as they enjoy a few moments in the open air after a considerable time in dark cells. This chorus has long been a favourite of mine.
It was very difficult to pick a performance out of so many excellent ones on Youtube.
This modern setting from the Bergen National Opera appealed to me.
Lyrics
Performance (7 mins)
(starts quietly and builds)
Weekend June 5/6
Les Miserables
We end our week in France. A group of young men fighting for a just cause. The musical of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel received negative reviews when it opened in London in 1985 - "a lurid Victorian melodrama produced with Victorian lavishness" and "a witless and synthetic entertainment". Fortunately audiences felt differently.
As this is such a favourite with Tonic members, I have included 3 songs.
Red and Black
Do You Hear the People Sing
One Day More
The (joint) winner of the 5th anniversary Tonic members' poll was Do You Hear the People Sing.
The March of the Women
The March of the Women is a song composed by Ethel Smyth in 1910, to words by Cicely Hamilton. It became the official anthem of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) and more widely the anthem of the women's suffrage movement throughout the United Kingdom and elsewhere. Activists sang it not only at rallies but also in prison while they were on hunger strike. Tonic members may remember singing this during a Mary King Workshop at the Southbank Centre (January 2011). It's worth following the Ethel Smyth link above - interesting lady.
Performance (words included below the video)
And here is an alternative song for the suffragette movement. A little more serious and to the point.
Performance
Tuesday June 1
Shoshaloza
A song well-known to all in Tonic Choir as we have sung it often.
Shosholoza is a South African traditional song. Its significance has changed over time, but the meaning has stayed the same. This song has inspired several communities to unify under very different circumstances. It has helped people through many times of struggle, and is now sung in celebration of South Africa’s national unity. It began as a folk song for the gold and diamond miners traveling back and forth between Zimbabwe and South Africa. The word Shosholoza is a combination of both Ndebele (of Zimbabwe) and Zulu (of South Africa) words meaning 'to push forward, endeavour, or strive'. The sound of the word itself is symbolic of the steam engine trains that carried miners through the mountains. It is said that the song helped to lessen the workload and to help create a rhythm to work to through the long and hard days. The song later evolved into a symbol of political status and struggle of the black community during the Apartheid era. It was usually sung under hardship in call and response style (one man singing a solo line and the rest of the group responding by copying him). It was also sung by prisoners in call and response style. The late former South African President Nelson Mandela described how he sang Shosholoza as he worked during his imprisonment on Robben Island. He described it as 'a song that compares the apartheid struggle to the motion of an oncoming train' and went on to explain that 'the singing made the work lighter'.
Sources: Wikipedia Firelight
Performance
Wednesday June 2
Bella Ciao
Bella ciao (literally: Goodbye beautiful) is an Italian protest folk song that originated in the late 19th century, sung by the mondina workers in protest to the harsh working conditions in the paddy fields of North Italy. The song was modified and adopted as an anthem of the anti-fascist resistance by the Italian partisans between 1943 and 1945 during the Italian Resistance (against the Nazi German forces occupying Italy) and during the Italian Civil War, the Italian partisan struggle against the fascist Italian Social Republic and its Nazi German allies. Versions of Bella Ciao continue to be sung worldwide as an anti-fascist hymn of freedom and resistance.
It came to my notice as wife Judy watched Money Heist on Netflix. The song is used as an anthem throughout the 4 seasons. Judy highly recommends the series. I suggest you look at the words before playing the song.
Original partisan version
Words and meaning (scroll down)
Thursday June 3
If I had a hammer
It's the hammer of justice, it's the bell of freedom, it's the song about the love between my brothers and my sisters, all over this land.
If I Had a Hammer is a protest song written by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays. It was written in 1949 in support of the Progressive movement, and was first recorded by The Weavers, a folk music quartet composed of Seeger, Hays, Ronnie Gilbert, and Fred Hellerman. The United States Progressive Party of 1948 (Progressive movement) was a left-wing political party which sought desegregation, the establishment of a national health insurance system, an expansion of the welfare system, and the nationalisation of the energy industry.
Back in the day I was one half of a guitar duo and we performed this song innumerable times.
The song was was a 'hit' for Peter, Paul and Mary in 1962, so who better to represent the song here. They could have sung the telephone directory and I would have been happy.
Version 1 (1963)
Version 2 (1986)
Friday June 4
O welche Lust (O what a joy)
Fidelio is the only opera written by Ludwig van Beethoven. Notable moments in the opera include the Prisoners' Chorus, an ode to freedom sung by a chorus of political prisoners as they enjoy a few moments in the open air after a considerable time in dark cells. This chorus has long been a favourite of mine.
It was very difficult to pick a performance out of so many excellent ones on Youtube.
This modern setting from the Bergen National Opera appealed to me.
Lyrics
Performance (7 mins)
(starts quietly and builds)
Weekend June 5/6
Les Miserables
We end our week in France. A group of young men fighting for a just cause. The musical of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel received negative reviews when it opened in London in 1985 - "a lurid Victorian melodrama produced with Victorian lavishness" and "a witless and synthetic entertainment". Fortunately audiences felt differently.
As this is such a favourite with Tonic members, I have included 3 songs.
Red and Black
Do You Hear the People Sing
One Day More
The (joint) winner of the 5th anniversary Tonic members' poll was Do You Hear the People Sing.