Ideas for regional folksong book

Subject: Ideas for regional folksong book
From: GUEST,Adrian Allan
Date: 15 Apr 18 - 03:48 PM

Hello

I have published two books of guitar and voice arrangements of Robert Burns songs. (You can see my books on Amazon etc)

My next project will be a music/ heritage book where I will divide England up into regions (ie, Midlands, South West, etc) and I hope to include a number of folksongs for each region fully arranged for guitar and voice, ie. not just chord symbols, but fingerstyle.

I know that some songs have been found in various places, but others have quite a strong regional link. For example The Lincolnshire Poacher, or the Keel Row. If a folksong is definitely from one region, I would include it in that region.

So I'm asking all you good people here for your suggestions. They could be more obscure if you think they are worthy of inclusion and might represent a region. A link to any sheet music melody would help, as I mainly work from printed sources

Many thanks

Adrian Allan

Subject: RE: Ideas for regional folksong book
From: Jack Campin
Date: 15 Apr 18 - 04:05 PM

I hope you've read Roy Palmer's book on songs of the Midlands - shows what can be done if you work at it right.

Subject: RE: Ideas for regional folksong book
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 15 Apr 18 - 04:17 PM

This can be fraught with difficulty. The vast majority of English songs can be found all over England and indeed further afield. If you're not bothered whether they are traditional or not then local archives might be useful. The Lincolnshire Poacher was also The Northamptonshire Poacher. The Keel Row is also strongly claimed by Edinburgh. The earliest versions of The Derby Ram actually mention Durham and Diram.

Many regions already have long-established song books (Tyneside for instance) and other regions have put their songs online (Yorkshire).

Are you looking for old songs, new songs, both?

Subject: RE: Ideas for regional folksong book
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Apr 18 - 06:18 PM

Many thanks for the ideas so far. I did realise that there are issues with provenance etc. I hope to have an introduction that explains that the book is not definitive in any way.

It is mainly the older songs I am after after, and of course they must be non copyright.

Subject: RE: Ideas for regional folksong book
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Apr 18 - 02:19 AM

Thanks for the advice on the books and the Yorkshire song website.

Any similar examples for other regions, please let me know.

Subject: RE: Ideas for regional folksong book
From: Murpholly
Date: 16 Apr 18 - 04:13 AM

Having set myself the task of singing at least one song from each of the old English counties you should not have too much trouble. Cornwall has a great deal e.g. Padstow May song and indeed many counties have their own May Day songs. Devon and Norfolk also need little research. It was Middlesex, Bucks and Berks that caused me some problems but I got there in the end. Best of luck.

Subject: RE: Ideas for regional folksong book
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Apr 18 - 01:24 PM

Thanks - some very good suggestions so far