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Herbert Smith’s polka

There are 2 recordings of this tune.

Herbert Smith's has been added to 5 tunebooks.

Download ABC

Seven settings

1
X: 1
T: Herbert Smith's
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Fmaj
c |\
Ac Ac | A/A/A/A/ Ac | A>c Ac | B/B/B/B/ Bd |
Bd Bd | ge- ef | g>f e/d/e/d/ | c2- cd/c/ |
A/A/c Ac | A/A/A/A/ Ac | A/B/c Ac | BB/B/ Bd |
Bd Bd | gg/g/ g>f | g>f eg | f2- f ||
K: C Major
G |\
GA/B/ cd | ef g2 | g>d gg | e/f/e/d/ c2 |
GA/B/ cd | ef g2 | g2 d2 | g2 c2 |
GA/B/ cd | ef g2 | g>d gg | e>d c>A |
GA/B/ cd | ef g2 | g2 d2 | g2 c ||
K: F Major
d/e/ |\
fc dc | d/d/d/d/ dc | d>c dc | B2-BA |
g2 g>f | e/f/e/f/ ed/e/ | dc/d/ cB | A2- Ad/e/ |
fc dc | d2- dc | d>c dc | B2- Bc |
g/g/g/g/ gd/e/ | f/e/f/e/ f>d | cc de | f2- f |]
2
X: 2
T: Herbert Smith's
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
d/c/ |\
Bd Bd | B/B/B/B/ Bd | B>d Bd | c/c/c/c/ ce |
ce ce | af- fg | a>g f/e/f/e/ | d2- de/d/ |
B/B/d Bd | BB/B/ Bd | B/c/d Bd | cc/c/ ce |
c/c/e c/d/e/g/ | a/a/a/a/ a2 | a>g fa | g2- g ||
K: D Major
A |\
AB/c/ de | fg a2 | a>e a>a | f/g/f/e/ d2 |
AB/c/ d/e/f/g/ | f>g a2 | a2 e2 |a/b/a/g/ f/e/d/B/ |
AB/c/ de | fg a2 | a2 e2 | f>e dc/B/ |
A2 B/c/d/e/ | fg a2 | a2 ea/g/ |f/g/f/e d ||
K: G Major
e/f/ |\
gd ed | e/e/e/e/ ed | e>d ed | c2- cB |
a2 a>g | f/g/f/e/ fe/f/ | ed dc | B2 B/c/d/f/ |
g>d e/f/e/d/ | B2- Bd | e>d ed | c2- cd |
aa/a/ ae/f/ | f/g/f/e/ g>e | d/c/d/f ef | g2- g |]
3
X: 3
T: Herbert Smith's
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|: d |\
Bd Bd | B/B/B/B/ Bd | B>d Bd | c/c/c/c/ ce |
ce ce | a/a/a/a/ ag |[1 a>g fe | d2- d :|[2 a>g fa | g2- g ||
K: D Major
A |\
AB/c/ de | fg a2 | a>e a>a | f>e dc/B/ |
AB/c/ de | fg a2 | a2 e2 |a2 d :|
K: G Major
e/f/ |\
gd ed | e/e/e/e/ ed | e>d ed | c2- cd |
a2 a>g | f/f/f/f/ fe |[1 ed dc | B2- B :|[2 ed d/e/f | g2- g |]
4
X: 4
T: Herbert Smith's
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|: d/c/ |\
Bd Bd | B/B/B/B/ Bd | Bd Bd | c/c/c/c/ ce |
ce ce | f/f/f/f/ fg |[1 ag fe | d/d/d/d/ d :|[2 ag fa | g2- g ||
K: D Major
|: z |\
AB/c/ de | fg a2 | a2 e>g | fe d2 |
AB/c/ de | fg a2 | a2 e>g |[1 f2 d2 :|[2 f2 d ||
K: G Major
|: e/f/ |\
gB gB | d/d/d/d/ dB | dB dB | c/c/c/c/ cf |
a/a/a/a/ ag | f/f/f/f/ fe |[1 dd/d/ ed | B2 d :|[2 dd/d/ ef | g2- g |]
5
X: 5
T: Herbert Smith's
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Fmaj
|: d/d/ |\
Bd Bd | B/B/B/B/ Bd | Bd Bd | c/c/c/c/ ce |
ce ce | e/f/f/f/ f>g |[1 ag fe | d/d/d/d/ d :|[2 ae fd | g2 g ||
K: D Major
|: z |\
AB/c/ de | fg a2 | a/a/a/a/ a/a/a/a/ | f/f/f d2 |
AB/c/ de | fg a2 | a2 e2 | a2 d :|
K: G Major
|: e/f/ |\
gB eB | e/e/e/e/ eB | eB eB | c2 ce/e/ |
[1 ae ae | e/f/f/f/ fd | ed ed |[1 B2 B :|
[2 a/a/a/a/ ae | g/g/g/g/ gf/e/ | dd ef | g2 g |]
6
X: 6
T: Herbert Smith's
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|: d/c/ |\
Bd Bd | B/B/B/B/ Bd/c/ | Bd Bd | c/c/c/c/ ce/d/ |
ce ce | f/f/f/f/ f>g |[1 ag fe | d/d/d/d/ d :|[2 ag fe/f/ | g2 g ||
K: D Major
|: z |\
AB/c/ de | fg a2 | a/a/a/a/ aa/g/ | fa d2 |
AB/c/ de | fg a2 | a2 e2 |[1 a2 z :|[2 a2 d ||
K: G Major
|: e/f/ |\
gf ed | B/B/B/B/ Bd | gf ed | c/c/c/c/ cd |
gf ed | f/f/f/f/ fg | ag fe/f/ |[1 g2 d :|[2 g2- g |]
7
X: 7
T: Herbert Smith's
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|: d |\
Bd Bd | B/B/B/B/ Bd | Bd Bd | c/c/c/c/ ce |
ce ce | aa/g/ f>g |[1 a>g f/g/f/e/ | d2- d :|[2 a>g fa | g2 g ||
K: D Major
|: z |\
AB/c/ de | fg a2 | a>e aa | f>e d2 |
AB/c/ de | fg a2 | a2 e2 | a2 d :|
K: G Major
|: e/f/ |\
gd ed | e2- ed | e>d ed | c2- cB |
[1 a2 a>g | f>g f>e | ed dc | B2- B :|
[2 a/a/a/a/ ae/f/ | g>f g>e | d/e/d ef | g2- g |]

Twelve comments

"Herbert Smith’s Polka"

Another tune attributed to Herbert Smith can be found here:

"Herbert Smith’s Four-Hand"
# Added by Mix O’Lydian - February 24th, 2009
https://thesession.org/tunes/9383

My intention was to chase up and notate the ‘other’ 4-Hand associated with this fiddler, something not yet done, but then I remembered another recording and tune that I knew carried his name, this 3-part polka. I’ve written out the repetitions to show some other ways with it. This transcription is taken from a recording of the group "Webb’s Wonders":

Tony Engle - anglo concertina
Peta Webb - fiddle
Alan Ward - cello
Ken Lees - banjo

Also available on a Topic compilation recording: "Stepping Up: A History of the New Wave of English Country Dance Music", track 5
https://thesession.org/recordings/2284

I’ll follow that with a transposition to G & D, X: 2, with some other possibilities woven in, the keys it seems to be more popularly played in nowadays. More will follow.

This is another one for Nick afloat and the Billinge huddle… 😉

Herbert Smith: Fiddling blacksmith of Blakeney

Chris Holderness - 5.6.06
Rig-a-Jig-Jig – A Norfolk Music History Project

"From the days when communities tended to have their own local musicians to play for social dancing, Blakeney blacksmith Herbert Smith stands out as a wonderful example of a traditional rural musician whose influence, as a result of a handful of recordings (1) has extended considerably further than his time and community.

Herbert Ernest Smith was born in Blakeney on 8th September, 1892, into a large family of blacksmiths. School records show that he attended Blakeney School from 1896. As was the case with all family members, he was known as ‘Curry Smith’, a kind of double-barrelled surname as his grandfather Robert Smith married Mary Curry in 1855." ~ etc., with photos…

"Herbert Smith’s Polka" YouTube

"Herbert Smith’s Polka" ~ Webb’s Wonders
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPLzfaU8WWM


"Herbert Smith’s Polka" & "The Heel and Toe Polka"
Performed by Rig-a-jig-jig at Southrepps beer festival-Sunday 24th July, 2011.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbtgzKjzA_k


"Herbert Smith’s Polka" ~
The Devizes Folk Club bring us a string quartet with three instruments and an imaginary banjo!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POoRNggFyeE


"Her(v)bert Smith’s Polka" & "Once I Had an Old Hen" ~ & a very odd video!
"Bob Davenport: Down the Long Road"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5A-hWtuNoY

Herbert Smith: Fiddling blacksmith of Blakeney

Chris Holderness - 5.6.06
Rig-a-Jig-Jig – A Norfolk Music History Project
http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/h_smith.htm

I’d forgotten to add this important link to the fuller article, with pictures and MP3s…

X: 4 "Herbert Smith’s Polka" ~ Fiddler’s Companion

This transcription, described as "from the playing of Dave Hill", and "by year, Andy(?)", is to be found on several webpages in 4/4, moved here by me to 2/4, with minor adjustments, for easier comparison, hoping ‘Andy’ won’t mind.

X: 5 “Herbert Smith’s Polka”

as played by Herbert Smith in 1952, from the MP3 here, courtesy of Chris Holderness, the ‘gan ainm’ polka preceeding "Oh Joe,The Boat Is Going Over", MP3 #5:

Herbert Smith: Fiddling blacksmith of Blakeney
Chris Holderness - 5.6.06
Rig-a-Jig-Jig – A Norfolk Music History Project
http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/h_smith.htm

On this particular recording he plays the tune only once, but twice through the A-part and only the once through the B-part. I’ve adjusted the transcription given here to how it is usually played, AABBCC…

X: 6 “Herbert Smith’s Polka” ~ Julian Taylor’s transcription

2/4 & with minor adjustments for comparison’s sake…

X: 4 ~ "from the playing of Dave Hill", and "by ‘ear’, Andy(?)" ~ not ‘year’… 😏

Love it! Yahoo! Thanks🙂

Posted by .

X: 7 "Herbert Smith’s Polka" ~ plain & simple & duplicated YouTubes

It turns out that the Bob Davenport track linked to above, from his Topic recording "Down the Long Road", track ll, "Herbert Smith’s Polka", is identical to the "Webb’s Wonders" YouTube first linked to. So, first and last YouTubes above are the same recording, just on different LPs. Here’s further information on that:

"Bob Davenport: Down the Long Road"
Topic Records 12TS274 (LP, UK, 1975)
Topic Records TSDL274 (digital download, UK, February 2010)

http://mainlynorfolk.info/folk/records/bobdavenport.html
http://www.topicrecords.co.uk/bob-davenport-down-the-long-road-tsdl274/
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/down-the-long-road/id585011444

Musicians
Bob Davenport, vocals;
The Leeds Band [7, 17]: Martin Clarke, Don Mackay, melodeons; Jackie Wright, mandolin-banjo; Jim Wright, banjo;
The Rakes [14]: Reg Hall, melodeon; Michael Plunkett, Paul Gross, fiddles;
Webb’s Wonders [4, 11]: Tony Engle, Anglo concertina; Peta Webb, fiddle; Alan Ward, cello; Ken Lees, banjo;
Lucy Farr, Paul Gross, Jimmy Power, fiddles;
Frances Geraghty, Johnny Gorman, flutes;
Tommy Sheridan, uilleann pipes;
Reg Hall, piano;
Jim Bainbridge, melodeon

X: 7 is put together from their less notey ways with it, taken from that recording… 😀