This will be my first time at the festival. The Flanders symposium is going to be very exciting. This New England collection has been sorely neglected. Having listened to nearly all of the 4500 field recordings, I know that there are many, many songs waiting to be sung by this generation of singers. Many rare versions of known ballads and other fine songs.

Dan and I have been collaborating on this effort to showcase the Irish influence in the Flanders Collection. When people moved west or the men didn't return from the Civil War, there was a bid gap in the work force. The Irish came in waves and settled all over New England. They brought songs they knew and made up more to express their pioneer experience here.

The CD is a treasure--a wonderful choice of songs and a great variety of singers representing Irish singing. I feel blessed not only that Dan is so interested in my grandmother's collection, but that he has all these great singers as friends. The lineup of folks on this CD is truly amazing...and also a testimony to the rich material in this collection.

Hope to see many of you!

Nancy-Jean Ballard (Seigel)