Thomas Sanderson et al. in rural Cumbria - 31 December, early 19th Century
from An Essay on the Character, Manners, and Customs of the Peasantry of Cumberland; and Observations on the Style and Genius of the [poet Robert Anderson], pages lviii–lix:
In some parts of Cumberland, a number of boys and girls, on the eve of New Year Day, go about from house to house singing a sort of a carol, of which the following lines are the first couplet:
Hagm[…]a,[*] Trolola,
Give us some pie, and let us go away.
When they receive their present of pie, they depart peaceably, wishing the donor a happy New Year. In Northumberland, the first word of the couplet is Hagmena, … more >>
Robert Anderson, An Essay on the Character, Manners, and Customs of the Peasantry of Cumberland; and Observations on the Style and Genius of the [poet Robert Anderson]. In The Poetical Works of Robert Anderson, volume 1 (Carlisle, 1820), p. lviii–lix. https://led.kmi.open.ac.uk/entity/lexp/1658489650175 accessed: 21 December, 2024
Listeners
Listening to
hide composers| a New Year carol | performed by Cumbrian peasant boys and girls |
Experience Information
| Date/Time | 31 December, early 19th Century |
| Medium | live |
| Listening Environment | in the company of others, in private, indoors, outdoors, in public |
Notes
Although Sanderson’s account of music-making and listening given here is not a unique experience, it is obviously based on first-hand observation of local peasant customs. His name has therefore been included as a listener.