(mostly) English Folk Music

Subject: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: Willa
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 10:34 AM

Found this site interesting.

http://www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/~zierke/folk/

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: The Sandman
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 10:38 AM

but hardly comprehensive,not many traditional singers,and many interesting revival singers not even mentioned.http://www.dickmiles.com

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 10:41 AM

There is no such thing as "definitive" when it comes to folk music.

This is a nice site, thanks for sharing it Willa

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: GUEST,Edthe folkie
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 10:49 AM

Not comprehensive, but pretty good for a German based site! And the Sandy Denny stuff is very good. At one time Reinhard's site was really the only good Denny resource on the Web - and then it disappeared (don't know if there were copyright issues as so often with anything associated with Sandy). Anyway, well done Mr. Zierke, it's back.

A scholarly article about Sandy's songs is here
http://www.pemward.co.uk/

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's non parochial Apprentice
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 11:07 AM

"but hardly comprehensive,not many traditional singers,and many interesting revival singers not even mentioned"

I think this one of the better websites out there regardless of what's on it....and I hardly think that each individual taste can be catered, so...as they say around here...get over it

Ed....there were copyright issues so Rheinhard Zierke, the webmaster, had to take down most of the lyrics, which is most unfortunate.

Charlotte

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: The Sandman
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 12:15 PM

yes, it is interesting.
so is much of the music on my space,now Roscoe Holcomb,he is something else,The Real Mccoy.
to my mind a perfect illustration of the difference between traditonal singers,who sing with passion and the rest.

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 12:17 PM

Passion can only be found in "traditional" singers? Somehow I doubt that.

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: The Sandman
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 12:29 PM

hi Ron ,I didnt say that.Not all traditional singers sing with passion,but he is one [IMO]who does,another of my favourite singers is Rosie Stewart[Ireland].

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's Apprentice
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 12:29 PM

some of the most souless and, consequently, boring of singing I have heard come from the mouths of the so-called traditional singers (and some wonder why folk turns off some people), some of the greatest and most passionate singing and playing is coming from the "Young Turks"

Charlotte (a middle-aged Turk)

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 12:31 PM

I agree, Roscoe Holcomb is an inspiring singer to listen to. Did you know that he was a cousin of Jean Ritchie?

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: The Sandman
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 12:48 PM

Charlotte what is soulless to you, may not be to me.
Most singers,become passionate singers through experiencing life.
IMO some of the so called young turks,have no idea about interpretation,the same can be said for a few of the older revivalist singers,and a minority of traditional singers.
some people have it, some dont[regardless of label or age],but most singers [imo] interpretation improves as they get older.
singing with soul is subjective.

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: greg stephens
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 02:27 PM

I can't actually bring to mind a performance by a traditional folk singer that I didn't think was fabulous.(I mean "traditional" as in "traditional", not as in "singer of songs of traditional origin")

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 02:34 PM

I think there's a difference between being passionate and being loud.

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 02:50 PM

You can be passionate AND loud too.

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: The Sandman
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 04:17 PM

Greg,I can only think of one traditional singer I find boring.

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 04:59 PM

Traditional singers play by their own rules.

The rules are different for each singer and tradition.

There are lots of different ways to "sing with passion."

The fact that you cannot hear it does not mean that it is not there.

Russ (permanent GUEST and traditional musician)

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 07:13 PM

I assume you are drawing a distinction Greg, between singers of the tradition and singers of traditional material.

Some singers can bugger up anything, whatever the nature of their material.

I've heard some perfectly bloody dire versions of traditional songs, and another singer has absolutely blown me away with the same song. I think you could say that for all genres of songs really.

What an interesting life you must have led Captain! Only one singer who bored you. I'd love to know what he or she did....... a Steve Davis of the folk music world!

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: The Sandman
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 04:23 AM

one traditional singer that bored me.
the person sang Lord Randall monotonously,ad nauseam.

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: treewind
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 05:41 AM

"some of the most souless and, consequently, boring of singing I have heard come from the mouths of the so-called traditional singers (and some wonder why folk turns off some people), some of the greatest and most passionate singing and playing is coming from the "Young Turks"

The trouble with statements like that is that they add nothing to the discussion because they are equally true if you swap the singer types.
You can always find good and bad examples of anything.

Anahata

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: The Sandman
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 08:05 AM

spot on, treewind.

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's non hardcore folkie Appre
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 11:12 AM

"The trouble with statements like that is that they add nothing to the discussion"


I said what I said and meant it...regardless of what some may think, and yes the statement does work both ways...how astute of you *LOL*

and I'm sure we're not all as perfect as some, I'm certainly glad I'm not.

Charlotte (trying very hard not to take this TOO seriously)

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: M.Ted
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 02:02 PM

The problem with Roscoe Holcomb is that he didn't record nearly enough.

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 02:56 PM

Reads like a guide to the sorely reduced Folk section of your local Virgin Megastore - all the usual suspects, but barely scaping the seagull droppings off the tip of the iceberg. Hoefully our German friend will be casting her / his net a wee bit wider in future, as indeed should we all.

Is that Roddy McDowell there in Batman tonight? Certainly sounds like him, but behind those glasses it's hard to tell.

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: GUEST,The Mole catcher's Apprentice
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 03:02 PM

"Reads like a guide to the sorely reduced Folk section of your local Virgin Megastore"

As you may well know, there are basically two sorts of people in this world, those that do and those that wish they had done....

Charlotte (doing)

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 05:20 AM

Doing what exactly?

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: treewind
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 06:19 AM

Singing or playing, presumably.
(As opposed to train-spotting)

Anahata

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 07:33 AM

In see. So what about that third class of person (most of us here I would imagine) who does both? And as for wishing I had done - I'm just glad that someone did, and that they continue to do so.

Otherwise, I must confess to a bit of trainspotting too, should the opportunity should present itself - like the glad day I came across the A4 Pacific Silverlink in a Tyneside museum, and, in a reverential moment, wondered if those were the very wheels Will Hay had tapped in the opening sequence of Oh, Mr Porter!.

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: the button
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 07:44 AM

One thing I like about that website is the way it compares different versions & sources of the same song -- their page on Greenland Whale Fisheries for instance, compares the Watersons' recorded version with other (longer) versions. It's interesting for me to see the different stanza lengths, how some versions have a chorus & others don't, etc.

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: Giant Folk Eyeball (inactive)
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 07:59 AM

"As you may well know, there are basically two sorts of people in this world, those that do and those that wish they had done...."

Not that he needs defending in any way, but Sedayne is someone so prolific that he probably ought to employ someone full time to rein him in. He's a handy feller to have at a singaround, too. He's amongst the last people on earth I'd dream of accusing of having a problem with 'doing'... though I bet even he's not quite as prolific as Alan from the Kitchen Cynics, who recorded a tune-a-day every day in 2007.

Cheers

Nigel

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's avian observer Apprentice
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 11:04 AM

actually bird spotting at a nearby nature sanctuary is high on my list

Charlotte (watching the tits twitter)

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: GUEST,Edthefolkie
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 12:09 PM

Quite right Sedayne, nowt wrong with trainspotting as long as you call it gricing!

Actually, the A4 Pacific "Silver Link" which you saw was really 60019 "Bittern" under several coats of aluminium paint (covers a multitude). "Bittern" is now restored at enormous cost and back on the main line after about 30 years. See rather nice phot in the link -

http://www.ukrailpics.co.uk/railpics/2007/Late2007-BitternGoesandReturns/photos/photo4.html

Sorry about thread creep....

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: Mr Happy
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 12:18 PM

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=M1lxDjd_fi8

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 12:32 PM

Beautiful picture, Ed - my soul ascends! I'll download it & put it into my Cultural Icons folder. My favourite Irish ballad is The Yellow Bittern (An Bunnan Bui) - and as gricing turns towards twitching...

Charlotte - I saw a tiny black bird pecking away at the seaweed washed up on the beach yesterday (Lytham St Annes on the Ribble Estuary); in shape it looked like a wagtail, but it certainly wasn't pied or grey and it was a good deal smaller too. Any ideas? I was going to pop into the local RSPB centre today but I've been too stuffed to venture out into the gales without!

Subject: RE: (mostly) English Folk Music
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 12:36 PM

PS - Thanks for the link, Mr Happy - never thought to use You Tube to look out such things. Here's a thing though, I always confuse Buggleskelly in Oh! Mr Porter!, with Bucklesford Berry in Planxty's Little Musgrave...