A Bushranger in America - Johnny Troy - A 19th century Australian Bushranger song found in America

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Found in Graham Seal's blog GRISTLY HISTORY  -Chewy Chunks of the past which is well worth bookmarking 

Lyrics, published 1939 in Ballads and Songs of Southern Michigan, Collected & edited by Emelyn Elizabeth Gardner and Geraldine Jencks Chickering & recorded by Ellen STEKERT in Songs of a New York Lumberjack, 1958 - track no. 5

Ellen Stekert, an influential figure in the 50s folk revival movement, releases new album of remastered songs 

A bushranger in America  - Johnny Troy

A version from the USA

‘The people round know me right well – they call me Johnny Troy’. The trouble was that no-one did know a bushranger hero named ‘Johnny Troy’, not in Australia, at least.  So, who was he, if he ever existed?

There were several incidental mentions of him and his deeds in historical documents and folklore. He featured briefly in a poem titled ‘The Convict’s Tour to Hell’, probably composed by ‘Frank the Poet’ (Francis McNamara), in or before 1839. The poem is a celebration of convicts and bushrangers, including the famous Jack Donohoe, shot dead in 1830. Troy is mentioned in the same breath as the now much better-known Donohoe. The poem is fantasy of a convict, Frank himself, visiting hell, where he finds all the despised overseers and gaolers writhing in eternal agony. When the devil hears that Frank was a convict in life he immediately says that he has come to the wrong place. Convicts should all go to heaven. When Frank reaches the Pearly Gates, he confronts St Peter who asks:

where’s your certificate

Or if you have not one to show 

Pray who in Heaven do you know? 

Frank answers;

Well I know Brave Donohue Young Troy and Jenkins too 

And many others whom floggers mangled 

And lastly were by Jack Ketch strangled.

Frank is allowed straight into heaven where he is made ‘a welcome guest’, along with his old convict mates.

But that was about all anyone knew of this Irish bushranger until the 1950s, when American folksong collectors began to hear a ‘Johnny Troy’ ballad – mainly among lumber jacks. It seems that while Johnny Troy’s vigorous song had faded away in Australia, it had been well received by the Americans, who often sang it together with a couple of other Australian bushranger ballads, ‘Jack Donohoe’ and ‘The Wild Colonial Boy’. It is likely that these songs reached America during the California gold rushes, which explains how they got there.[i]But there was still no news of the lost bushranger in Australia. Until some solid research by the late Stephan Williams turned up the whole true history of Johnny Troy.[ii]

(Read on) .

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From the Archives - REEDY RIVER. In 1953, Dick Diamond wrote a play called REEDY RIVER.

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undated document  from Bob Bolton's holdings

REEDY RIVER

In 1953, Dick Diamond wrote a play called REEDY RIVER.

At Melbourne New Theatre, John Gray was working with him to fuse naturally 10 or so traditional Australian folk songs into the book. Many were the conferences and discussions as the show grew; Dick Diamond wrote and rewrote as the rehearsals continued.

Review of Reedy River, Melbourne,  The Age 12th March, 1953

Reedy River, Melbourne, 1953 (BMC Archives) 

In December 1953, Sydney New Theatre produced REEDY RIVER; this has proven to be another historical event. It was received just as excitedly and enthusiastically as the Melbourne production, playing to packed houses for 9 months.

Reedy River, Sydney 1953 - Curtain Call - (BMC Archives) 

Brisbane New Theatre produced the play in 1955, playing to a total audience of 5,700, and later the production was revived. The warmest praise was given to the productions of Adelaide New Theatre and Perth New Theatre. The lively Newcastle New Theatre, formed in 1956, announced it as its first production, and played to very large houses; it has had successful subsequent productions, as has Melbourne New Theatre.

Sydney New Theatre also revived REEDY RIVER, in 1960, 1963, 1969 and 1973. Its total playing period in Sydney NT is over 20 months, before audiences of over 350,000 people; over 300 people have been involved on-stage and off-stage.

Reedy River in Sydney, 1960 (BMC Archives)

REEDY RIVER has been produced in London, and all over Australia by other little theatres, high schools and tertiary institutions. Total New Theatre audiences are well over half a million. To date there has been no professional production.

Reedy River in Perth, c.1955/56 - © State Library of Western Australia 

This historic production was a true example of ensemble or collective theatre. When the curtain went up in March 1953, the audience saw what John Gray described as 'our first real Australian musical'.

We hear today common reference to a 'resurgence' in Australian theatre. New Theatre feels that with REEDY RIVER it has helped to lead the way, and that this play was one of the first definite statements of theatrical independence of the sugar-coated or 'successful box- office' overseas productions. In this and other ways, REEDY RIVER occupies a unique place in the history of 'little' and 'big' Australian theatre..

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Dale Dengate's research in NLA - John Meredith m/s.. FOLKSONGS OF AUSTRALIA . VOL 3

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Volume 1 - 1st edition, 1968 

Volume 1 - 2nd edition, 1979 

Volume 2 - 1987

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Subject:	Dale's research in NLA - John Meredith M/S. FOLKSONGS OF AUSTRALIA . VOL 3 - found!
Date:	Thu, 03 Nov 2011 01:41:38 +1100
From:	Sandra Nixon

=================
Research for BMC 60^TH - September 2011
John Meredith M/S. FOLKSONGS OF AUSTRALIA . VOL 3
M/S in two manilla folders 1-pp1-100, pp101- 200 [168]

Checked with Kevin Bradley on the possibility of collaboration with NLA Oral History Dept to produce an enhanced e-book based on John Meredith's M/S FSA vol 3, with text-stories and words of songs, tapes of music and collected tapes, photos of Merro and links to those people recorded and in the NLA archives.
It is technically possible to have an e-book with links that will enable a click to lead you to the library archives where one can listen to Merro's collection.

AIM:
To make the material more accessible to Australians and visitors to NLA who wish to hear Australian traditional music, especially those interested in performance of traditional Australian music and songs.
John Meredith M/S FSA Vol 3, contains around 100 songs, verse and references to taped music. The text includes interviews with the people who performed the material and information about how they learnt the works.

The expense will be in the technological side of things to support the text, but NLA can supply names of people who can do the technological side of development if we don't have anyone.
(unfortunately this proposal was not carried through, SN 2025) 

Notes from Boxes and a summary of
MS 1007 Papers of John Meredith.
After I started to make a summary of what boxes contained, I found a catalogue in Journal of Folklore Studies. No. 15.
P23J.S.Ryan and Keith McKenry

BOX Contents
1. Field recording notes 1955-56
Complete history of Jack the Ripper. P/C. Harry Morant- A horseman who made history.  Letter Language. Will bring me down to Sydney like a brumby buck down Kosciusko.
Merv Lilley - Gatton Man - he claimed his father [ an aggressive schizo] was the murderer
The brothers Meredith. I] The Brothers  Oh, the fruit was sweet on the apple tree when my brothers and I were young   J.Dengate. Sheet metalworker. Photographs. Part 3 Brother Jack. Vi] Australian Folklore FS Journal 15.
Peter Parkhill JM  FSA  and selected Biography.
2 manilla folders - M/S FSA Vol3. Initial quote;  The link with the past is not twisted. It has been broken and we shall have to relearn our lessons It is helpful, therefore to go and observe the way and practices of those who have not been seduced away from tradition.  Philip Oyler. The Generous Earth.
Another quote which sums up Merro's attitude: from the Preface of Real Folk 1994-5, JM. The Real Folk exhibition of photographs.
Some folk revival performers have become very commercially minded
It was to distinguish between these people and its pioneer performers, who have given freely of their time. To me. these kind-hearted, hospitable and friendly people have come to represent the Real Folk of Australia.  J.M. Dec 1994. Unpublished FSA vol 3 ref FS Journal 1990. 1986-1994 folio catalogue.

Contents of FSA VOL 3.PP1-168.
Performers and their music. Typed music and songs nos. given in M/S. 100approx
Steve Power Wollar 1984-1987
-interview, ref Jimmy Governor. 60 items including well known songs or variations of songs from previous books,  Including Neumerella Shore, learnt from my father who was a good singer unfortunately I am not.
Black Velvet Band
The chicken without a bone
The Derby Town Ram
The white man let me go
The Bright shades of Blue
The Gum Tree canoe [Not Aust- Nth Amer gum tree!}
The British Soldiers Grave
The Tall girl dressed in Blue [ forged note ]
The Old Arm Chair.
Simon Stick
The little Rat that died
Starry Night for a ramble and 6 more
Jenny GOVERNON and Doris Lynch Biddon. Dec 1986 who had a book with many verses. 10 items included
P61. Harry PECKMAN b.1846  Blue Mountains Poet, Hartley [Anon]
Tambaroora Gold
Bright Shades of Blue
Where the Mountains are Blue.
Boys of Hartley Vale
Old Keg of Rum.

P.73 Frank DRINKWATER  b.1923 Waggaï] [introd by Rob Willis]
Met unemployed under the bridge. The Dole-O Mob
The Spider and the Fly
The Old Rig a-doo
Sergeant Small
Under the Bridge.

P84 Doris ROTH  b1980s Mudgee. Reg Kurtz recorded DR on her death bed The Wreck of the Titanic.

P87 Frank LETTb.1909
The Ghost of Cullenbone
The Broken down drifter
The Silvermine Fell
Goorianawa variant
Mademoiselle from Armentiers
The Colonial Boy

P97 Roy McCLELLAND
Shearing and bushsongs.

P101 [SECOND FOLDER] contd.
Walter Stores b. 1880s. contd
Working for Jacksons [Omeo]
Oh a leg of a duck diff version
Bert Cook b.1914 one of Billy's boys  Tune; Copped a Daisy
Toni SEIDEL b1914 grand parents from Silesia. Germanic songs from the Barossa.
Translated with insights by Renate Yates,
Spritzen und Baender  /Lace and Ribbons
Ich bin der Doktor Eisenbart  Doctor who fix everything
So Leben Wer / The way we live
Kleiner Mann und grosse Frau. Little man and large woman
Hamburg is a beautiful city.
23 songs include. Chorus songs with friends singing, drinking and party songs.
Elsie SCHULTZ . Walla Walla.
Der Christbaum is der Schoenste Baum/ The Christmas tree is the prettiest tree of all.
A grace and a prayer: Do you know how many clouds there are in Heaven?
Pop Arthue NOONA  Gilgandra . b1885
His notebooks of songs and recitations was lost in 1955 Gilgandra floods as were most photographs. [pp142-153[Verse The Flood at Gilgandra is 11 pages long /22 verses about many of the locals. [p154-159] Gilbert, Hall and O'Meally .[not flattering to Hall]
My First Shed.
P160. Sally SLOANE.  She sang slowly, [ Irish ballads that Alan Musgrove sings]
.Young Pat McGuire
.The Maid of Sweet Gauteen [ learnt from grand mother]
.Squire Scoble / a murder ballad popular in broadsides; sometimes known as The Old Oak Tree
p168 Last page.
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2.  Letters 1955-85 Russel Ward 54-55, Duke Tritton ms.

3  Duke of the Outback. Letters 1989

4.  Correspondence 1970-80 -1991. Autobiography [4 parts]

5. Autobiography  More than a life and that's only half of it. Brother Jack.  The Last Kooradgie.

6.  Oedipus Rocks a ballad opera.  King of the Dance Hall.  M/S The Pure Merino Fandango

7. Gallant Peter Clark

8  M/S5.Titles

9.  M/S Folk Song of Aust. Vol 1 and Vol 2

10 M/S The Wild Colonial Boy. JM AND John Dengate  Here's Luck; a bush ballad opera.

11.   Notes Brian Loughlin Bushwhackers band. Tune books and transcriptions of recordings of Ted Valance

12.  Scrapbook cuttings

13.  7 volumes of field notes

14. Green folder of songs, verse, letters and music

15.  Letters1990-1994

16.   Letters, postcards, programs related to folklore.

17.   folklore notes

18.  folklore

19.ï Folios of letters with red folder of songs, stories, music and dance instructions. Black folder.  Sundry traditional texts songs etc. Diaries and notebooks. White folder Folklore drafts and notes.

20.  5 folders: I] The Householder's compendium  corrections  [ publ Night Owl,1986.i] Home Ecs, Recipes, iii] Cookery. Green folder  MORANT & SERIAL KILLERS.

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From the Archives - Review of Reedy River, TRIBUNE Wednesday 19th May, 1954

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http://folkstream.com/830.html

The success of New Theatre play Reedy River in its early days had a profound effect on the early Folk Song Revival in Australia. The Bush Music Club in Sydney and the Victorian Folklore Society in Melbourne were both set up in its wake. The Cold War at the time meant that for 17 years the Sydney Morning Herald refused to advertise productions of the play or allow any journalist to report on its success. This policy came to an end when the legendry WWF Secretary Jim Healy rang the editor and pointed out that the Herald's newsprint originated in Tasmania and Waterside Workers there might take steps to break the Herald boycott.

Reedy River (1954)

Showing at WWF Hall

REEDY RIVER continues its great extended season. It opens
again on Saturday, May 22, at the Waterside Workers' Federation Hall,
60 Sussex Street, Sydney, under the auspices of the Cultural Committee
of the Sydney Branch of the WWF after which it will be showing every
Friday and Saturday night.

This fine Australian musical is well into its sixth month
of showing. Already 16,000 people in Sydney have seen Reedy River.

Last week-end the May Day Committee of the Trades and
Labor Council, Newcastle, sponsored a showing of Reedy River
in that great industrial centre.

On the Friday night 1000 people enthusiastically watched the
production and on the Saturday night
500 people were entertained with excerpts and songs.

So keen were the people who saw the show that there is now
a move afoot in Newcastle to set up a New Theatre of their own.

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REEDY RIVER has been touring most successfully in the
suburbs. New Theatre will be pleased to arrange for Reedy
River to come to your suburb. You can contact the theatre
every day at XB2601, and in future every Friday and Saturday
at the Waterside Workers' Federation Hall for an extended
season.

Notes From the NSW Newspaper The Tribune Wed 19 May 1954 p. 7.

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The Art of John Dengate - Part 5

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The Art of John Dengate - Part 1 - (August 2015)

The Art of John Dengate - part 2. (January 2016)

The Art of John Dengate Part 3    (January 2018)

Singabout 6(1) 1966 & Singabout 6(2) 1967 -  The Art of John Dengate - Part 4  (Sept 2021)

 John's Christmas cards ©  John Dengate 

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