My hat is off to the bytown ukulele group, aka bug, for their arrangement of the log driver s waltz, which was the subject of yesterdays posting. The log drivers waltz is a canadian folk song written by canadian songwriter wade hemsworth 19162002. Birl is an old scots verb meaning to cause to revolve. In lyrics set to a sprightly tune, ballad singer describes this annual spectacle. Written in the 50s, but popularized by a national film board video in 1979, the tune about a young womans delight in dancing with a lightfooted log driver has been turned into a childrens book. According to the film board, the threeminute animated short is actually among its most requested videos. He goes birling down a down white water a log driver s waltz pleases girls completely the log driver goes congoing under a spear. Log drivers waltz, the bytown ukulele group bug ottawa. Although it was written by wade hemsworth, it is a womans story sung by a woman.
Why canadians are still celebrating the log drivers waltz, more. Easily one of the most oftenrequested films in the nfb collection, this lighthearted animated short is based on the song the log drivers waltz by wade. The log driver s waltz john weldon, 1978 is one of the nfb s most popular animated shorts. If you ask any girl from the parish around what pleases her most from her head to her toes shell say im not sure that its business of yours but i do like to. Canadian illustrator, jennifer phelan has created an incredible childrens book adaptation of the nfb classic animation the log driver s waltz. Log driving is almost an art, and women love the log driver because he knows how. Forty years later, the log drivers waltz which is only three minutes in length remains one of the nfbs mostrequested films. Finding and building stories, with besen as author of animation unleashed. A short illustrating a traditional canadian folk song about a womans. Easily one of the most oftenrequested films in the nfb collection, this lighthearted animated short is based on the song the log driver s waltz by wade hemsworth. It celebrates the practice of log driving down the rivers in the lumbering industry, whereby the mens movements. Watch james braithwaites biology made uneasy for free on nfb. Log drivers waltz, john weldon, provided by the national film board of canada.
To help, weve taken some of the best films from 2016 and matched them up with nfb films that are similar in theme and subject matter. The popularity of the song led to it being one of 5 films chosen by canada post this spring to commemorate the 75 th anniversary. Use up some of that endless leisure time with these fun, funny, colourful, musical, and educational films for kids. Its an nfb smash though the nfbs best known for canadian obscurities, log drivers waltz most certainly was one. In 1977, cbc television approached the national film board nfb about producing short films that could be used to fill in gaps between its. The log drivers waltz, as most people know it, was one of the canada vignettes series of short films that were made by the national film. She finds that all of those people are too stiff footed to dance with and she would rather dance with a log driver. This lighthearted, animated short is based on the song the log drivers waltz by wade hemsworth. This year, weve selected frames from some classic nfb animated films for you to colour in. One of the most popular short films to ever come out of the nfb, the log driver s waltz aired on canadian television well into the 1990s. There is still romance in phelans version, but this time readers experience the courtship from the unnamed womans perspective. I cannot read the title without the music playing in my head. The national film board of canada nfb has over 4,000 films available for free online, offering a vast selection of short and featurelength films, whether youre looking for animation, documentary or fiction. The nfb short film revolves around a young girl who loves to dance but her parents want her to marry a doctor, merchant, or lawyer.
This one starts out as a real film, showing log drivers, doing there perilous job on the river. Apr 20, 2011 long way from log drivers waltz just four years after taking the helm as chairman and commissioner at the national film board, tom perlmutter has helped turn the nearly 72yearold film board. The log drivers waltz, as most people know it, was one of the canada vignettes series of short films that were made by the national film board of canada and aired on cbc and other canadian broadcasting companies as interstitial programming. Kate and anna mcgarrigle sing along to the tale of a young girl who loves to dance and chooses to marry a log driver over his more welltodo competitors. Canada vignettes from the log drivers waltz to instant french, discover this series of classic shorts exploring every facet of canadian culture and history. She is impressed with the waltzing skills of the log driver over the doctors and merchants and lawyers her parents try to fix her up with. Kate and anna mcgarrigle sing along to the tale of a young girl who loves to dance and chooses to marry a log driver. About the log driver s waltz the canadian national film board nfb attached this description to an animated short film set to this song. Arranged and performed by kate and anna mcgarrigle and the mountain city four. Celebrate lumberjack day with the nfb s famously nimblefooted log driver himself in the classic canada vignettes. The log driver s waltz is a canadian folk song, written by wade hemsworth. Log driver s waltz, directed and animated by independent filmmaker john weldon, is a threeminute animated piece made as part of the canada vignettes series hosted by the nfb, and is based on the national folk song of the same name written by wade hemsworth. He goes birling down and down the white water a log driver s waltz pleases girls completely now ive had my chances with all sorts of men but none is so fine as my lad on the river so when the drives over if he asked me again i think i will marry my log driver for he goes birling down and down the white water thats where the log driver learns. The log drivers waltz the song of the week is a canadian composition by the brantford, ontario born folksingersongwriter wade hemsworth.
Easily one of the most oftenrequested films in the nfb. Canada vignettes from the log driver s waltz to instant french, discover this series of classic shorts exploring every facet of canadian culture and history. Nov 07, 2016 the log drivers waltz is one of the nfbs most popular animated shorts. The log driver s waltz is also a canadian animated film from the national film board, released in 1979 as part of its canada vignettes series. The lighthearted, animated short below is based on the song the log driver s waltz by wade hemsworth.
A young girl who loves to dance and is ready to marry. About this site subscribe to our newsletters create your free nfb. Log driver s waltz nfb gold standard canadiana that aired on every channel back in the day between shows. Log drivers waltz 1979 aubry mintz and ellen besen creators of the short sea dream and coauthors of ideas for the animated short. Why canadians are still celebrating the log drivers waltz. I grew up watching the short nfb film of the song the log driver s waltz without fully understanding the lyrics. You just need a good magnifying glass and a strong stomach to see it. Log driver s waltz 1979 aubry mintz and ellen besen creators of the short sea dream and coauthors of ideas for the animated short. Canadian folk anthem log drivers waltz finds new life in. The animated version of log driver s waltz was released in 1979 and is said to be one of the most requested films in the nfb catalogue to this day. The history of the log drivers waltz toronto guardian.
This lighthearted, animated short is based on the song the log driver s waltz by wade hemsworth. Now, his great nephew has helped turn it into a childrens book. The history of the log driver s waltz december 8, 2016 joel levy history, the city the log driver s waltz, as most people know it, was one of the canada vignettes series of short films that were made by the national film board of canada and aired on cbc and other canadian broadcasting companies as interstitial programming. He served in the royal canadian air force during world war 2 and worked in northern ontario, quebec and labrador as a wilderness surveyor. The log driver s waltz, as most people know it, was one of the canada vignettes series of short films that were made by the national film board of canada and aired on cbc and other canadian broadcasting companies as interstitial programming. Within each basic human interaction, there are many other. I contacted weldon through his website and asked him about his work on the film, which he animated and directed. Theres much more than the log driver s waltz but sure, you can start there. The log drivers waltz is also a canadian animated film from the national film board, released in 1979 as part of its canada vignettes series. A young girl who loves to dance and is ready to marry chooses a log driver over his more welltodo, landloving competition.
Which brings me to the log drivers waltz directed by john weldon. This lighthearted, animated tale is based on the song the log drivers waltz by wade hemsworth. A vast aggregation of logs moves downstream on a river, spurred by dynamite and sharptipped cant hooks, tossed and twirled by the boots of leaping men. I know that come evening theyll be in the town and we all like to waltz with the log driver. The log drivers waltz is also a canadian animated film from the national film. Easily one of the most oftenrequested films in the nfb collection, kate and anna mcgarrigle sing along to the tale of a young girl who loves to dance and chooses to. Canada vignettes log drivers waltz enchanted little world. Oct 24, 2019 the animated version of log driver s waltz was released in 1979 and is said to be one of the most requested films in the nfb catalogue to this day. If you should ask any girl from the parish around what pleases her most from her head to her toes, shell say im not sure that its business of yours, but i do like to waltz with a log driver. Canadian folksinger wade hemsworth wrote the log driver s waltz, but it was made famous by the mcgarrigle sisters in the 1979 nfb film. Easily one of the most oftenrequested films in the nfb collection, this lighthearted animated short is based on the song the log drivers waltz by wade hemsworth. The 1979 log drivers waltz cartoon short featured a nimble log driver floating in and out of the life of a female admirer as she looked on with literal googly eyes. When the drives nearly over i like to go down and watch all the lads while they work on the river. Sep 19, 2016 the log drivers waltz in a september 19, 2016 september 23, 2016 cat leave a comment my hat is off to the bytown ukulele group, aka bug, for their arrangement of the log drivers waltz, which was the subject of yesterdays posting.
Driving logs down the river has made him the best dancing partner to be. Its an nfb smash though the nfb s best known for canadian obscurities, log driver s waltz most certainly was one. Dec 10, 2009 this lighthearted, animated short is based on the song the log driver s waltz by wade hemsworth. Parental objections are no match for this fellows fancy dance moves. Log drivers waltz by john weldon easily one of the most oftenrequested films in the nfb collection, this lighthearted musical short animation tells the tale of a young girl who loves to dance and chooses to marry a log driver over his more welltodo competitor. If youre an oscar junkie, youre probably looking for more films to sate your oscar craving. The log drivers waltz is a canadian folk song, written by wade hemsworth. The log drivers waltz is one of the nfb s most popular animated shorts. Canada vignettes nfb from the log driver s waltz to instant french, discover this series of classic shorts exploring every facet of canadian culture and history. And now the logs drivers waltz is also a childrens book.
Nfb has over 4,000 free films online vancouver blog miss604. The national film board of canada has long since 1939 been an organization that. Which brings me to the log driver s waltz directed by john weldon. A young girl who loves to dance and is ready to marry chooses a log driver. Made as part of the series canada vignettes, which has aired on canadian tv since the late 1970s, the log drivers waltz was also released theatrically in canada and did well overseas. The log drivers profession required them to walk or run on the logs as they floated down rivers. One of the most popular short films to ever come out of the nfb, the log drivers waltz aired on canadian television well into the 1990s. While listening to the nfb of canada video and reading the words on the printout, i realized two things. Easily one of the most oftenrequested films in the nfb collection, kate and anna mcgarrigle sing along to the tale of a young girl who loves to dance and chooses to marry a log driver over his more welltodo competitor. Another little gem from the national film board of canada. An experience of the ultimate is the ultimate experience.
The log drivers waltz is the most canadian song of all time excluding oh, canada. But i really had a hard time singing it in the key of c. This is a very canadian unique short video that is a blend of animation and historic black and white footage created by john weldon in 1979. Called man seeing, the nfbs iconic logo was designed in 1969 by georges beaupre, and is recognized across the country and around the world as a symbol of canadian excellence in film and animation. National film board of canada a young girl who loves to dance and is ready to marry chooses a log driver over his more welltodo, landloving competition.
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