The Singing Game
The Singing Game by Iona Opie, published by Oxford University Press in 1985, is a comprehensive exploration of children’s singing and clapping games that have been enjoyed since the Middle Ages. This first edition spans 521 pages and is presented in English. The book is the result of thirty years of research by the authors, who delve into the rich tradition of children’s lore and language, showcasing popular games such as “Pop Goes the Weasel,” “Skip to My Lou,” and “Ring a Ring o’ Roses.”
Readers will find a detailed categorization of over 150 games, organized into themes like “Matchmaking,” “Wedding Rings,” and “Clapping.” The Singing Game not only provides historical descriptions but also includes firsthand accounts from practitioners, illustrating the games’ evolution and regional variations. Beautifully illustrated with photographs and prints, this volume features the lyrics and music for many games, along with footnotes, a bibliography, and comprehensive indexes, making it a valuable resource for those interested in games and activities related to children’s play and folklore.
Official synopsis Publisher
This volume, based on thirty years of collecting and research by two pioneers in the field of children’s lore and language, presents hundreds of singing and clapping games popular with children since the Middle Ages, including such favorites as “Pop Goes the Weasel,” “Lazy Mary Will You Get Up?,” “Skip to My Lou,” “The Muffin Man,” and “Ring a Ring o’ Roses.”
Serving as an exposition of both the workings of folklore and the perennial ways of young children left to play on their own, The Singing Game categorizes over 150 of these games into groups such as “Matchmaking,” “Wedding Rings,” “Cushion Dances,” “Witch Dances,” “Calls of Friendship,” “Eccentric Circles,” “Buffoonery,” and “Clapping.” The Opies provide a detailed, historical description of each game, as well as a vivid, firsthand account from one of its most recent practitioners on the playgrounds and backstreets throughout England.
Demonstrating how the games have evolved over the years, and how they vary from country to country, this book offers a comprehensive, authoritative history of a universal folk genre. Beautifully illustrated throughout, it contains photographs, lithographs, and prints; the words to each game as well as the music for many of them; footnotes; a bibliography; a general index; and an index of songs, games, and dances.
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