chin-music

• Format: Manuscript
• Language: English
• Published: 1971
• Subjects: English language > Dialects > Newfoundland and Labrador; Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/elrcdne/id/13260

chin n The expression "chin-music" in many places was given to a form of singing or humming by one or more presons to provide the rhythm for dancing when a musical instrument, such as a fiddle or an accordeon was not available, e.g. "diddely-diddely-diddely-do, diddely-diddely- dumpty. In Gander Bay, however, the expression "chin-music" was used in a different sense, and only in relation to singing at Church Services. It sometimes happened that the organist was absent for some reason and on those occasions the hymns would be sung without the organ accompaniment. A person with a good voice started the hymn and all the others then joined in. This was know as "chin-music". It was a poor substitute and detracted somewhat from the service. The usual comment was : " We had to put up with chin-music at the service this morning." DNE-cit JH 10/71 Used I and Sup Used I and Sup Used I CHIN MUSIC, MOUTH MUSIC Checked by Cathy Wiseman on Sun 26 Apr 2015