I'm ressurecting this old thread because I had a question.   I'm still kind of new to the MudCat -- I've seen this done before so hopefully it's the right thing to do (as opposed to starting a new thread). :)

Here are my conclusions on the discussion so far:

If I'm reading this correctly, we only have a couple of versions of "The Two Magicians", One is Buchan's version, which Child includes in his collection. The other is the only one we have a tune for, which originates with a Mr. Sharp and is included in Cecil Sharp's collection. There's the A.L. Lloyd version too, which appears to be an attempt to adapt the Buchan version and set it to music. We're not sure if it's A.L. Lyod who wrote the tune or not.

(Is that right? Yes/no? If I'm missed something, please correct me! :) )

Okay, here's my question: where did the Sparks recording come from? Who collected it? Is there a reference made to it in one of those scholarly books on ballads somewhere? I have Cecil Sharp's ONE HUNDRED ENGLISH FOLKSONGS and he doesn't make mention of Sparks. I'm curious to know who collected that version.

Related question, sorta: did Alan Lomax ever collect a version of this song? I have the CLASSIC BALLADS OF BRITAIN AND IRELAND cd's from Rounder, which are, if I understand right, an abridgement of previously released Lomax recordings. I'm wondering if "The Two Magicians" was ever collected by Lomax and perhaps included in some of these earlier recordings.

Thanks for the help!

xo,
E. Bess