A lot of the Flanders field recordings are in really rough shape sonically so, though we would have preferred a cd of field recordings (that was the original idea), the only real option was to have modern-day singers record the songs. Most of the songs on the cd, which is Irish Songs from Old New England, Folk-Legacy CD-132 are unchanged textually and melodically from the originals. Some singers altered their songs. To those who might say that they've heard plenty of field recordings and field recordings are good enough for them, I would only reply that these recordings were improperly stored and simply not suitable to be cleaned digitally and reissued.         

Back in 1982 when I was writing the introduction to my song book, The Bonnie Bunch of Roses, I noted, "Singers come in three categories: those who tell the tale precisely as they heard it, those who would only occasionally alter certain details to clarify the message, and those very individualistic singers who stamp much of their repertoire with their own trademark." I think those words rang true in the making of this cd. Most singers sang the song as they heard it. A few filled in missing words that the source singer simply forgot and one singer, an architect, did a remodeling job.

The index to the collection was issued as a book in 1983. Don't know whether there are any left. I was able to get one about five years ago. The Flanders Ballad Collection comprises more that 4,000 performances, which is to say including some retakes, fiddle tunes, etc.

Thanks for your interest Roberto. I'll give a listen tomorrow and check the words for you. I think you're very close.

All the best,
Dan Milner