Real Folk - Real Folk Song ...?

Subject: Real Folk - Real Folk Song ...?
From: GUEST,ChrisJBady
Date: 13 Feb 17 - 10:16 PM

Whilst the topic of 'what is folk, what is folk singing, et al, rambles on but as usual gets nowhere, huh - somewhat like the proverbial 'rambling boy,' ohers are digging deep into the nation's psyche to bring out a darker side to English traditional song.

Such is Sussex-born and bred Shirley Collins, now in her 80s.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/feb/05/shirley-collins-city-halls-glasgow-review-celtic-connections

What is wonderful about [her new album - her first since 1978] Lodestar – and this was accentuated in performance – is how absolutely willing it is to embrace the difficult and sinister sides of English folk. Collins opened [a recent concert] with Awake Awake, a penitential song from the 1580s about the great earthquake of London, with menacing scenes of ritual burning (Lewes bonfire night) projected on to a screen behind her. Without hysteria or overstatement, she reminds us that folksong taps a collective history that we ignore at our peril.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/oct/27/shirley-collins-lodestar-album-review-austere-foreboding-folk-music

She says "When I sing I feel past generations standing behind me."

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/may/31/shirley-collins-sing-past-generations-standing-folk-music

THAT - to my mind - IS folk song.

Chris B.

Subject: RE: Real Folk - Real Folk Song ...?
From: Howard Jones
Date: 14 Feb 17 - 03:46 AM

There was also an article in yesterday's Times:

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-02-13/times2/how-my-voice-returned-after-forty-years-of-hurt-rt205t32w

(Sorry, blue clicky not working)

Subject: RE: Real Folk - Real Folk Song ...?
From: GUEST,ChrisJBady
Date: 14 Feb 17 - 04:34 AM

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-02-13/times2/how-my-voice-returned-after-forty-years-of-hurt-rt205t32w

Subject: RE: Real Folk - Real Folk Song ...?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Feb 17 - 06:17 AM

One day somebody may be able to tell a bloke (me) who only really loves Irish and classical music why he loves Shirley Collins so much. Go on, have a go, somebody!

Subject: RE: Real Folk - Real Folk Song ...?
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 14 Feb 17 - 09:07 AM

This penitential song from the 1580s, Chris? In what sense IS it folk
song, i.e., which meaning of folk song are you using?

Subject: RE: Real Folk - Real Folk Song ...?
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 14 Feb 17 - 10:41 AM

I've always loved Shirley's unadorned style of singing and the way she lets the song tell its story. Nothing more, nothing less. I also love some Irish music and some classical music and a lot else besides. There you go.

Subject: RE: Real Folk - Real Folk Song ...?
From: David Carter (UK)
Date: 14 Feb 17 - 12:33 PM

Funny, Steve (Shaw), in another thread not so long ago you were telling us that your favourite female folk singers were Sandy Denny and Shirley Collins.

Subject: RE: Real Folk - Real Folk Song ...?
From: GUEST,keith price
Date: 14 Feb 17 - 12:40 PM

I should read Steve Shaw's post again Mr Carter

Subject: RE: Real Folk - Real Folk Song ...?
From: David Carter (UK)
Date: 14 Feb 17 - 12:42 PM

Steve Gardham, according to Shirley Collins' actual sleeve notes, Awake, Awake is a survival of a penitential song written by Thomas Deloney in 1580, but as she sings it it was collected by Vaughan Williams from a Mrs. Caroline Bridges in 1909. Presumably having passed through oral tradition over the intervening 329 years.

https://mainlynorfolk.info/shirley.collins/songs/awakeawake.html

Subject: RE: Real Folk - Real Folk Song ...?
From: David Carter (UK)
Date: 14 Feb 17 - 12:44 PM

And the only differences between this and Barbara Allen are 1) Awake, Awake is older, and 2) in this case we actually know the name of the original writer.

Subject: RE: Real Folk - Real Folk Song ...?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Feb 17 - 12:51 PM

Yeah, I didn't exclude Sandy!

Subject: RE: Real Folk - Real Folk Song ...?
From: The Sandman
Date: 14 Feb 17 - 01:22 PM

is it possible to listen to samples anywhere?

Subject: RE: Real Folk - Real Folk Song ...?
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 14 Feb 17 - 02:21 PM

Thankyou, David, I should have known that. I do now.

Subject: RE: Real Folk - Real Folk Song ...?
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 14 Feb 17 - 02:28 PM

If anyone wants chapter and verse on this 'Awake, Awake,' there is chapter and verse in Journal of the Folk Song Society, No. 14, (1910).
Fascinating stuff!

Subject: RE: Real Folk - Real Folk Song ...?
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 19 Feb 17 - 03:11 AM

I love the comment in this thread ...

http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=161526&messages=18

"Sitting with my wife one evening long ago in an absolutely packed Cheltenham Town Hall, with The Spinners on stage, and the whole audience singing their hearts out, I suddenly understood what folk music is really about! It is not about 'performance' but about 'joining in' The audience were entertaining The Spinners!"

CJB

Subject: RE: Real Folk - Real Folk Song ...?
From: GUEST,Some co messiah or other
Date: 19 Feb 17 - 04:39 AM

I'll have a try Steve.

I think her new work to be stunning. Not just on the nostalgia for old folkies level but artistic on its own merit. Been listening to it again this morning in fact.

I was chuffed to bits when I heard it. A friend who does a radio show sent me a pre release copy. I will buy a download too of course.   Interestingly, The Guardian did an article asking singers for their favourite blah blah and I started reading it thinking I wouldn't have heard of any of those they interviewed. I sat staring at the iPad when I saw the second interviewee was her. (As well as telly show winners (I assume) they also had Wilco Johnson, another musical hero of mine.)

Listen to some of the never ending cadences in a couple of the songs and you'll find more than a hint of JSB...