Early-American songs aired at workshop
By MECHELE COOPER
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 09/22/2008

AUGUSTA -- Nicholas Laighton and Melissa Cote held muskets like good American patriotic soldiers and marched to a different version of the tune Yankee Doodle.

Bonnie Wilder, a retired music educator and descended from one of the soldiers who survived the Benedict Arnold Expedition -- Natthias Ridley -- conducted an audience-participation workshop on early-American music on Sunday at the Old Fort Western.

Five-year-old Nicholas of Farmingdale and Melissa, 11, from Vassalboro stomped their feet in unison as those in attendance joined in together to sing "The Ballad of Benedict Arnold" put to the tune of Yankee Doodle.

Wilder introduced the ballad along with other "Yankee Doodle" songs to show how the tune metamorphosed into other versions -- the same tune, other lyrics -- throughout history. She said no one is certain who wrote the song.

"It's probably the most parodied American song and the most recognized in world culture as most distinguishingly American," Wilder said. "But whose song is it? It's not an American song. It originally started in Cromwell's era in early 1600 England. It traveled to this country."

Wilder, who lives in Beverly Hills, Fla. and summers in Wayne, taught music in the Chelmsford, Mass. public school system for 27 years. After she retired she began to explore ways she could continue to use her skills within the community.

As a history and music community educator she conducts workshops and gives presentations. She focuses on songs that were typically New England in character.

"Some songs speak an important message for us to learn from and value today," she said.

Daniel Peters, of Augusta, a technical writer for the state, participated in the workshop.

"I'm interested in colonial music because I have an ancestor from Hallowell who fought in the American Revolutionary War," Peters said. "He was captured by the British and was on a prisoner of war ship called the Jersey in the New York Harbor for two years."

Peters said his ancestor-- Ezekiel Chase --was the first white settler in Piscataquis County.

At the end of the workshop, Wilder told her audience that Yankee Doodle was a tune that sticks with you. And, with their help, can become part of our culture today.

"Take this song with you and teach it to your children and your neighbors," she said.

Mechele Cooper -- 623-3811, Ext. 408

mcooper@centralmaine.com

 

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