My Sister Kate- Frye (NC) 1944 Abrams/ Brown E
[My title. Fragment from "Uncle" Pat Frye East Bend, Yadkin County, North Carolina as sung Sept 2, 1944 on recording on Abrams site made by collectors W. Amos Abrams, 1904-1991 and Cratis D. Williams, 1911-1985. Also from The Brown Collection of NC Folklore, 1952, one of the better US collections, which gives the text (Vol. 2) with music (Vol. 4).
R. Matteson 2014]
[My Sister Kate] The Twa Sisters
http://contentdm.library.appstate.edu/docapp/abrams/field_recordings/twa_sisters2.html
1 As we war[1] walking along the sea brim
As We war walking along the sea brim
Bow to bend to me
As we war walking along the sea brim
The oldest pushed the youngest in
Prove true true to my love prove true to me.
2 Oh miller, oh miller, yonner[2] swims a swan
Bow down
Miller oh miller yonner swims a swan
oh bow to bend to me
Oh miller oh miller yonder swims a swam
I believe in my soul 'tis sister Kate
Prove true, true to my love, prove true to me
3 They miller was hung along the mill gate
Bow down
They miller was hung along the millgate
A bow to bend to me
They miller was hung along the mill gate
For drownding of my sister Kate
Prove true true to my love prove true to me
(Incomplete)
1. were
2. yonder
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E. 'Twa Sisters.' Sung by Pat Frye, of East Bend, Yadkin county, in 1945. From the original recording by Dr. W. A. Abrams. It is quite evident that the singer has shortened the melody at vital cadential points, measures 3 and again 11.
For melodic relationship cf. *BSM i8, version A, last two measures; version B, our measures 6-7 with 7-8; ibid. 21, version E, our measures 3-4 and 6-7 with 3-4 and 7-8; also SharpK I, No. 5B, measures 6-7 and possibly 5K, the latter, however, being in minor key. The general melodic outline of the first four measures has points in common with FMNEE 37: 'Binnorie.'
Scale: Heptachordal, plagal. Tonal Center: f, or ab (7,7), an unusual build-up. Structure: aa1bb1 (3,4,4,3),