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Description: | This small song book was published by Stevenson and Dryden of Newcastle. It contains over 40 pages of local songs composed by William Dunbar, along with extracts from 'Chater's Diary and Local Remembrancer'. Most of the songs are given the tune to which they were intended to be sung and are classified into 'local', 'motto', or 'comic' song types. The songs contain strong moralistic overtones and reflect the Victorian society in which Dunbar was composing. The book was published in 1874, probably on the death of William Dunbar.Dunbar began his life in the service of Gateshead painter and glazier, Mr. Romanis. After working for a short time in the service of a Felling cartwright, he spent the remainder of his life in the coal pits. He varied the monotony of the pit life by appearing at amateur concerts at which, although not much of a singer, he was always well received. Along with his talent for composing, Dunbar had a decided taste for drawing and spent much of his spare time producing water-colours and pencil sketches. During the last few years of his life he spent most of his time writing pieces for the local annuals, published by J.W. Chater of Newcastle. He won a number of medals and competitions and on his death in 1874 was fondly remembered with a number of tributes in Chater's publications. ; A printed collection of songs composed by William Dunbar. | Publisher: | Stephenson and Dryden St. Nicholas Church Yard, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear | Rights holder: | rights holder : Beamish Museum | Temporal: | start=1861;end=1900; | Source: | Folk Archive Resource North East | Identifier: | farne:B0200000 | Go to resource |
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