Opie collection of children's games & songs

Recording of children demonstrating songs and discussing playground games with Iona Opie

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  • Type

    sound

  • Duration

    00:08:35

  • Shelf mark

    C898/77

  • Subjects

    Children's games; Children's songs

  • Recording date

    1978-08

  • Is part of (Collection)

    Opie collection of children's games and songs

  • Recording locations

    Huish Episcopi, Somerset, England

  • Interviewers

    Opie, Iona (speaker, female)

  • Speakers

    unidentified (children)

  • Abstract

    Part 1 of 1. [00:00:00 - 00:08:35]. This recording continues on immediately from the C898-76-02 recording as schoolgirls from Huish Episcopi, Somerset, continue to demonstrate and perform playground games and songs for Iona Opie. The tape was recorded in August, 1978. The recording begins with the schoolgirls singing the ball bouncing rhyme 'Oliver Twist' [00:00:00 - 00:00:26]. This is followed by the skipping songs 'I Had a Little Bubble Car' (a variation of 'I'm a Little Bumper Car') [00:00:39 - 00:00:57] and 'Bluebells, Cockleshells' [00:03:15 - 00:04:18]. The children also perform the singing games 'On a Hillside Stands a Lady' (a variation of 'On a Mountain Stands a Lady') [00:00:58 - 00:01:59], 'A Ship Sails to China' [00:02:28 - 00:03:10] and 'Poor Jenny is a'Weeping' [00:06:47 - 00:07:50]. The children describe to Iona a game they play in which they throw seven stones up in to the air and see how many they can catch on the back of their hands. They also play 'Jacks' on the playground and enjoy playing this. The children then describe to Iona the different moves and actions involved in this game [00:04:46 - 00:06:12]. The children explain that the different skipping games that they play are called 'Heights' and 'Colours' [00:06:12 - 00:06:45].

  • Description

    Item notes: Recording of children demonstrating songs and discussing playground games with Iona Opie. Speakers' notes: Group of Huish Episcopi schoolchildren. Recording notes: Slight L/R imbalance, variable throughout. Otherwise, good throughout.

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