English folk?

[Lateralthinking1]

Almost missed that link Paul. Like it! Very funny. And doesn't the main vocalist sound like Alex Turner there?

Now then, JC's recommendation. I've just been listening to it. Without any shadow of a doubt, my favourite album of the year so far. The opener and those two songs written by Cyril Tawney. Absolutely magnificent. What a writer! He did "On a Monday Morning" too. The only tracks that didn't fully grab me were the last two and even they were pretty good. Here's the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH8ldei0yjQ

I've never seen June perform live. Think I must see her this year.

[Globaltruth]

Hi Patrick - if you are interested in this area, I would recommend the The Penguin Book of English Folk Songs by
Ralph Vaughan Williams and Albert Lancaster Lloyd as an excellent starting place.

It's a seminal work and provides a basis for some rewarding research if you have the time and inclination.

The book contains music, lyrics, and, fascinatingly, the history of many traditional songs whose influence is still felt.

On the old r3 MB's, for example, I documented the story of the song which ended up in America as St James's infirmary ....

The book is tricky to find - there is a copy on Amazon for 13.99 (that may have gone by the time you get there...), but because it is rare and hugely desired by folk musicians there also copies on offer for up to £79!. I bought my previous copy from Abebooks... lent it to some folk musicians and never saw it again. Although I still get the benefit of an improved set list..

A CD of some of the songs is still available - here is the track list:

1 The golden vanity Jez Lowe
2 Young and single sailor Linda Adams
3 The Whale Catchers Martin Carthy
4 The false bride John Bowden
5 Ratcliffe Highway Roy Harris
6 The green bed Martin Carthy
7 When I was young Jez Lowe
8 The streams of lovely Nancy Linda Adams
9 One night as I lay on my bed Roy Harris
10 Basket of eggs Linda Adams
11 Banks of green willow Martin Carthy
12 The Grey cock Jez Lowe
13 The Gaol Song Roy Harris
14 All things are quite silent Linda Adams
15 Banks of newfoundland John Bowden

(Ratcliffe highway is another song with deep resonance - this particular part of the country has always 'enjoyed' a long and black history - I wonder why?).

Anyway, here is a personal favourite sung by a personal favourite:
spotify:track:4wob4nOKm5Sb67TLzpwwER

(And, regular readers please note, I got this far without mentioning The Inclosure Act(s) and its influence on the music of this country)

[Simon]

I love British folk, but am only generally interested in the national musics of other countries, which is so variable. There are the ragas from India which can be wonderful and the bongo bongo type of things along with various middle eastern wailings which don't float my boat. Some cultures seemed to manage some sort of standard in music, some didn't. That's evolution, I suppose.

As to the Unthanks, I'm afraid that with that lovely, hypnotically soporific song lulling me into semi-consciousness and two attractive girls with amazing mouths singing it, the only thing I ended up thinking about was which of them would be the best snog.

[PatrickOD]

I thank you all for your suggestions. I am currently working my way through the examples via spotty and youtube.
In my quaint Irish way I am finding it difficult to place Paul's link, except to say that The Oldham Tinkers remind me in some other ways of groups in my part of the world.
Eliza Carthy on the other hand is more like what I was hoping to find, along with Jackie Oates, while June Tabor is certainly someone to admire on several levels.
I still have some listening to do.
Global (Sir!), you are a hard taskmaster! May I have some time to consider the assignment you have set? At the moment my interest is of the shallow kind - responding to performances, which I am currently enjoying doing.

Simon, I take it you too enjoyed the performance by Rachel and Becky - there were a few others as well, didn't you notice?
I'm sure there are English folk songs on the snogging theme - you probably know them. Here is a bodhran bodhran type of Irish thing in the meantime.
I would recommend a cold shower afterwards. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX9SVwkjQzA

[Paul Sherratt]

Patrick,
Not sure which link is giving you the bother but here's a pic of the pub where those lovely The Oldham Tinkers
performed their session for BBC Radio 3 - it's in Langham St - close by Broadcasting House

http://www.fancyapint.com/pubpics/pic13.jpg

It was a fun afternoon !

[johncorrigan]

Patrick - I thought you might be interested in this article from today's Guardian about Tommy McCarthy.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/mar/10/thomas-mccarthy-irish-traveller-songs

[PatrickOD]

Thank you very much, John. I did indeed find the article most interesting. It's great to read a heartwarming and positive story about Travellers, and Tommy McCarthy seems to have much to add to Irish traditional music. The Birr accent is a bit hard to follow, judging from the little bit I heard:

http://www.tinfolkmusic.com/www.tinfolkmusic.com/Recordings/Recordings.html

but a couple of listenings sorts it out. My father-in-law came from Birr - and I had no trouble at all understanding him! He thought I talked funny.
I followed up the links to the Folk music page - also very enlightening for me. I now realise, sheepishly, that The Unthanks are big news. But I take comfort that I found them for myself, and glad I am that I did.

[Globaltruth]

Why do anarchists drink herbal tea?

Probably the right sort of thread to post this...kind of English folk/world/performance..


last night we went to see Hugh Lupton perform the story of Beowulf, with Rick Wilson on percussion. In a cosy village hall in the village of Elton (two villages away from us - we were greeted warmly, just had to hand in our weapons on the door).

It was a convincing performance, an ancient bloody tale of an epic hero - a grim, entrancing layered Saxon story. I always think there is a comedy version to be done (just when B.O. Wulf rips Grendel's arm off and they're having a party, along comes his Mum, twice as nasty and really, really angry - ain't it always the way?). But this wasn't the comedy version...
He's a commanding and charismatic performer I'd recommend to anyone especially when supported by some sparse but effective percussion work (never heard the cymbals played with a violin bow before - ethereal sound)

His book is now on sale:
The Ballad of John Clare [ which features on Amazon, , incidentally, some of the longest, most comprehensive reviews I have read for any book on Amazon]

Here's a small clip from Youtube of Hugh performing something else... (he's the elder of the two)

and Chris Wood performing one of Hugh Lupton's populist songs, probably his best known:

At half-time we were set a few riddles...for example:

why do anarchists drink herbal tea?






Because proper tea is theft

[Lateralthinking1]

Because proper tea is theft.

[johncorrigan]

Thanks for that Global - I'll have a look out for the Clare Book. Sounds like you had a very interesting evening - I can't wait for the comedy version, with or without red nose - might assist the B O Wulf version.

[JoeG]

By amazing coincidence someone has just lent me a Tommy McCarthy CD to listen to - not heard it yet though

[johncorrigan]

On a vaguely similar subject there's an evening of Irish Folk on Beeb 4 on Friday evening starting off with a Christy Moore concert.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00zj2m1

[PatrickOD]

John, thanks for the links to Tommy McCarthy and Christy Moore. I saw the latter in that same concert on RTE a couple of weeks ago. As always with Christy, I find him too much in my face, but don't tell him I said that!
It was interesting to read that the former had been to Cecil Sharp House where he made such an impression. Coincidentally, on In Tune this evening there was an item about a Cecil Sharp Project involving seven or eight folk musicians, mostly English I gathered, on a visit to Appalacia with a brief to produce some original work based on CS's research there. I heard three of their songs live in the studio, with vocal harmonies and instrumental backing. They sounded really well. I recognised Jackie Oates from my recent dallying, but not the others - one Catherine Roberts; an American - Caroline Herring, and Steve?. The whole group will be appearing at a folk festival in Shrewsbury at the August Bank Holiday. If you wanted to listen, the item began at about 6.15. I think I shall myself, but it's not up yet.

I tell a lie. It's up now.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00zm53g

[johncorrigan]

Thanks Patrick - I'll have a listen to that. There was something about the project in the paper today.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/mar/24/cecil-sharp-project-folk-hero-villain

I heard a good tune from it during the week - may have been the R2 folk programme.

[Lateralthinking1]

Festies!

Here are the first names for Cambridge - http://www.cambridgefolkfestival.co....s-playing-when.

Full line-up for Shrewsbury - strong imo - http://www.shrewsburyfolkfestival.co...up/index.shtml

Sidmouth so far - http://www.sidmouthfolkweek.co.uk/in...ault_templates

There is news on Womad but I thought we could do Womad on a separate thread?