English Folk Music- A suspect medium?

Subject: RE: English Folk Music- A suspect medium?
From: mattkeen
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 07:34 AM

I think there is an element of truth in the idea.
But I also think that traditional/folk music and arts in England especially has been repressed by the establishment classes right back to and probably before the great Dissenting period of the 17th/18th century.

It is the music and culture of the workers/poorest read "those who must be controlled"

Subject: RE: English Folk Music- A suspect medium?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 07:31 AM

Did someone mention...

The Ballad of John Axon

;0)

I'm going to be very good and keep out of this thread now..because you so don't want to hear my opinion on that question, nutty.   :0)

Subject: RE: English Folk Music- A suspect medium?
From: The Sandman
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 07:30 AM

interesting,my brother whio is completely non political,was told he would never get promotion ,as a civil servant,because my parents were members of the communist party[this was when his file was re examined at the time of the Anthony Blunt exposure].

Subject: RE: English Folk Music- A suspect medium?
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 06:48 AM

Theory? The BBC fired Radio Ballads producer Charles Parker. They also failed to renew Michael Rosen's contract when his time as graduate trainee was up, though his career is somewhat recovered nowadays (or so's the Word Of Mouth). I had the privilege of working with Charles Parker towards the end of his life on a dramatised Ballad of John Axon at colleges. His experience, as related to me, made McCarthyism seem like park-walking.

Subject: RE: English Folk Music- A suspect medium?
From: Chris Green
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 06:46 AM

Hmmm. I think you may be mistaking lethargy for policy as far as the BBC goes!

Subject: English Folk Music- A suspect medium?
From: nutty
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 06:37 AM

I am at present reading 'A Class Act' Ben Harker's book on Ewan MacColl and was taken by the assertion that MacColl was blacklisted by the BBC for his communist connections. (apparently MI5 records bears this out)

This has made me wonder if this was why folk music in England has never been fully embraced by the media.

Folk music in Scotland. Ireland and Wales is applauded as nationalistic but English folk - possibly suspect - associated with communism?

Anyone got any thoughts on this theory??