Mummer, Not Murmer
1. Quaker City String Band-Happy Holiday And White Christmas
2. Quaker City String Band-Jingle Bells
3. Greater Kensington String Band-Silver Bells
4. Greater Kensington String Band-Winter Wonderland
5. Polish-American String Band-Christmas Bells
6. Polish-American String Band-Mistletoe Polka
7. Greater Kensington String Band-I'll Be Home For Christmas
8. Greater Kensington String Band-Silent Night
9. Polish-American String Band-Christmas Time
10. Polish-American String Band-Jingle Bells Polka
11. Quaker City String Band-Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
12. Polish-American String Band-Happy New Year To You
13. Aqua String Band-Golden Slippers and Four Leaf Clover
14. Aqua String Band-Auld Lang Syne
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ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled that you posted this! I'm a former Mummer myself, and I wrote an article about the Mummers on my blog several years ago. It's difficult to explain it to those outside the Philadelphia area, but I hope my article will at least pique your curiosity and provide better resources if you want to learn more. Thanks!
ReplyDeletehttp://meandyouandablognamedboo.blogspot.com/2007/12/meet-mummers.html
And no, most of us aren't gay--at least not consciously so ;)
It's definitely a Philly thing. Grew up in the Philadelphia area and it was required viewing in our house. They've been airing the string band competition on WGN the last couple years, but sadly, not live.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, Mumming has been around for at least a couple thousand years. The god "Momia" was the god of mockery in Greece. Momia oversaw the season of Misrule when all societal roles were seemlingly turned upside down. It's a sort of Carnavale. In Nova Scotia and England, Mummers are bar performers/traveling actors who perform masquerades.
ReplyDeleteOf course, the Mummers' Parades are kind of a whole new thing with string bands and such, dating back quite a few years.
Great!
ReplyDeleteI found this at a thrift store and when I took the vinyl out to check it's condition... it was a different LP altogether.
Yeah, it's mostly a Philly thing here in the US. I recognized the bands instantly. I had a bunch of friends in various bands. And my sister was in the parade one year, back when it was still mostly closed to women.
ReplyDeleteI was just trying to explain to my wife the other day about Philadelphia Mummers. Their parade was the Thanksgiving alternative to Macy's when I was growing up. Thanks for sharing this, so I can share it with her and enjoy Mummer string band music again.
ReplyDeleteChris in Cary