WOODLAND FLOWERS [1]. AKA and see “Mrs. Kenny's Barn Dance,” “Shit Cart Polka.” Scottish, English, Irish; Schottische, Hornpipe or Barn Dance. England, East Anglia. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). ABB'. The tune is almost universally known amongst older traditional fiddle and squeezebox players in England and was in the repertoire of such musicians as melodeon player Bob Cann (Dartmor, Devon) and hammered dulcimer player Billy Bennington (Norfolk, who called it “Prickly Pear”). Felix Burns Despite its being sometimes transcribed in 6/8 jig-time, the melody was composed as a schottische by Felix Burns [1] (1864-1920). Burns was born in Perth, Scotland, in 1864. A musical prodigy and multi-instrumentalist, his first musical instruments were tin whistle and mouth organ, “graduating” to piano, organ and various brass instruments. His composing career started at an early age and he went on to become one of the most popular composers of his time, although for an unknown reason he often credited his compositions to various pen names such as Leona Lacoste, Alfred Rosslyn, Claud Roslind, and Leon Fabrini. He settled in Carlisle, and died 1920, although not before siring thirteen children and composing 120 pieces, of which "Woodland Flowers" is said to have been his personal favorite. Burns’ work was much recorded in the early decades of the 20th century by such musicians as Scotland’s Wyper Brothers. Later, Scottish band leader Jimmy Shand recorded “Woodland Flowers.”
In Ireland, a version of "Woodland Flowers" is played as a barn dance under the title “Mrs. Kenny's Barn Dance.” Paul de Grae finds a version as an untitled barndance (although, oddly, noted in 6/8 time) in Feldman & O’Doherty’s The Northern Fiddler (1976, p. 110), collected from Donegal fiddler Simon Doherty.
Additional notes
Source for notated version: -
Printed sources : - Callaghan (Hardcore English), 2007; p. 55. Carlin (Master Collection of Dance Music for the Violin), 1984; No. 16, p. 22.
Recorded sources: -Old Hat Records OH 1, Old Hat Band "The Old Hat Concert Party." Parlophone F.3432 CE 13434 (78 RPM), Will Starr. Parlophone F3386 (78 RPM), Jimmy Shand (1942). Topic Records, Bob Cann – “Voice of the People, vol. 9.” Veteran VTDC12CD, Billy Bennington - "I thought I was the only one: Dulcimer playing in East Anglia" (appears as "Prickly Pear" on reissue on DVD of 1979 EFDSS film). Waverley GLN 1001, Jimmy Shand - "The Golden Years of Jimmy Shand." Winner 334 2167 (78 RPM), Alexander Prince (1915).
Alexander Prince
See also listing at:
Hear accordion player Will Starr's 78 RPM recording at the Internet Archive [2]
Hear Alexander Prince's recording at the Internet Archive. Prince was master of the MacCann Duet concertina [3]
