English Folk Music for classical guitar

Subject: English Folk Music for classical guitar
From: GUEST,Joe Moran
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 10:59 AM

I know a few classical composers have arranged English folkmusic for classical guitar ( John Duarte, for example ), but I've never heard any arrangements that really capture my imagination. Can anyone out there recommend anything that would fit the bill?

Subject: RE: English Folk Music for classical guitar
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 11:12 AM

Most arrangements I've heard tend to be disappointing from a folk music point of view.

There is the volume of Britten folk song arrangements for voice and guitar, with accompaniments varying from very simple chordal accompaniment to some rather more startling ones (Bonny At Morn!).

There have been quite a few arrangements of tunes - David Russell has an album of celtic music (Message of the Sea). And Gerald Garcia has arranged some - Carolan and others IIRC.

Scott Tennant of the LAGQ has an arrangement of Wild Mountain Thyme, but I'd say it's fairly straightforward - pleasant but not not wildly exciting.

There is an album Chords & Thyme by Edward Flower of English Folksong for guitar. I haven't listened to it for a long time and I can't remember what the arrangements were like.

I'll have a look and see what else I've got.

Mick

Subject: RE: English Folk Music for classical guitar
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 11:14 AM

Oh, and Toru Takemitsu's 12 Songs For Guitar includes an arrangement of The Londonderry Air ('Danny Boy') that's quite good.

Mick

Subject: RE: English Folk Music for classical guitar
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 11:34 AM

And Timothy Walker did a record with the tenor James Griffett Bushes And Briars and other English Folk Songs, with arrangements by Britten, Geoffrey Burgon, Chris Vale, David Posnett, Mark Brown and himself.

Sor also wrote his Op40 No8 fantaisie on a Scottish theme ("Ye Banks and Braes O' Bonnie Doon").

Mick

Subject: RE: English Folk Music for classical guitar
From: s&r
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 11:40 AM

Michael Raven has published a wide range of material, here's a contact

Stu

Subject: RE: English Folk Music for classical guitar
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 11:44 AM

If you're willing to change tunings (at least for one string) there's a lot of lute music available---and it's generally written in tab.

Subject: RE: English Folk Music for classical guitar
From: eleanor c
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 03:01 PM

Oo, can you give a bit more detail about the lute music please? Recommend a book/source/tune?
I also like some of John Renbourn's renaissance-sounding tunes but I'm no purist....tab available for most of them
Thanks

E

Subject: RE: English Folk Music for classical guitar
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 06:07 PM

Haven't tried lute music for several decades, but a Google search for "Lute Music" seems like a fruitful start.

Subject: RE: English Folk Music for classical guitar
From: curmudgeon
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 06:34 PM

Back in the early 60s John Runge put out a couple of books of English folk songs with lute accompaniments for guitar. I don't know if they're still in print, but may be available on bookfinder .com. I have one around somewhere, lent by a friend. Will post more if I can find it -- Tom