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The Holmfirth Anthem, also known as Pratty Flowers (''sic''), Abroad for Pleasure and Through the Groves, is an English choral folk song associated with Yorkshire, especially the rural West Riding, and particularly with the area around Holmfirth.〔"The Holmfirth Anthem or Pratty Flowers", ''Journal of the Folk Song Society'', VI (1922), 9〕 Despite its non-religious subject matter and its setting on a "''summer's evening clear''", the song has become part of the Yorkshire "village carol" or folk carol tradition, though it is also sung at other times of year.〔''English Dance and Song'' (Journal of the Folk Dance and Song society), v.47-48 (1985), 16〕 It has Roud number 1046. ==History== Many sources state the song was the work of Joe Perkin (1809-1868),〔An (advertisement for the sheet music ) appeared in the ''Huddersfield Chronicle'' 2 January 1858, which described it as being "sung with great applause at the last Concert in Holmfirth by Miss Hirst, Miss Crosland, Mr. Wood, Mr. Garner, and several well known Huddersfield Amateurs."〕 a choirmaster at Holmfirth in the mid 19th century.〔Pickles, W. and Kerrod N. "Pratty flowers: A Yorkshire Mystery", ''Saddleworth Historical Society Bulletin'', 11(2), 1981, 37-38〕 A local tradition maintained that Perkin lived at Cliffe near Holmfirth, was a woolsorter by profession, and was paid 2 guineas by the Holmfirth Choral Society for arranging the song.〔Bland, D. "Notes": ''A Fine Hunting Day, Songs of the Holme Valley Beagles, LP LEE 4056〕 It is clear that Perkin did not write the tune or text, but rather produced an adaption of an earlier ballad for four-part harmony, which was then published locally. Related folk songs have been collected in southern England, although they are very rare. These 19th century variants are likely derived from a substantially longer 18th century slip-ballad, ''The Maiden's Complaint for the Loss of her Shepherd'', which was printed in about 1790, though the original text could be older.〔Palmer, R. ''Bushes and Briars: Folk Songs Collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams'', Llanerch, 1999, p.178〕 The very different, and textually corrupt version of the song found in southern England is usually known by the title ''Through the Groves''.〔 The song retained enormous popularity in Holmfirth well into the 20th century, partly through being sung ''en masse'' at the end of yearly town concerts - the "Holmfirth Feast Sing", held in Victoria Park a week before Whitsun between 1882 and 1990〔"The Sing and Whit walks in Holmfirth", Huddersfield Daily Examiner, May 19, 2007〕 - leading to it becoming known as the "Holmfirth Anthem". It is still often sung informally in villages in the Holme Valley area, although it is also found in the East Riding. It is a popular choice at village carol "sings" at Christmas, or at hunt meets in farming districts. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Holmfirth Anthem」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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