Martin Carthy BB4 Friday 28 July

Subject: Martin Carthy BB4 Friday 28 July
From: GUEST,Ian Pittaway
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 05:25 AM

In 2002, when BBC4 was still in its infancy, they made and broadcast a music series called Originals (which has now had its second series). One of the first series was on Martin Carthy. That programme is being repeated this Friday - well, actually Saturday - at 20 past midnight.

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy BB4 Friday 28 July
From: GUEST,Rebecca in DC
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 12:06 PM

Is Marty Carthystill alive? What was his singing voice like?

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy BB4 Friday 28 July
From: Les from Hull
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 12:10 PM

Click here for a link to this programme and hear and see Martin sing.

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy BB4 Friday 28 July
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 12:49 PM

If he wasn't still alive I'm sure there would have been a LONG obituary thread here.

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy BB4 Friday 28 July
From: Surreysinger
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 02:51 PM

He was certainly very alive when he came to our club at the end of last month, and in very good voice - grins hugely!!!

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy BB4 Friday 28 July
From: Folkiedave
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 03:03 PM

Saw him last Friday - he was in fine health.

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy BB4 Friday 28 July
From: GUEST,Ian Pittaway
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 10:55 AM

Rebecca in DC: Saw Martin a few times last year and feared his voice was going. He complained of being dry all the time and he found difficulty sustaining long notes. It is greeeeeeeeaat to say in recent months I've seen him a few times and whatever it was has completely gone away - in 100% fine form again. His performances make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Fantastic.

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy BB4 Friday 28 July
From: GUEST,Ian Pittaway
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 07:30 PM

Martin Carthy Originals just started on BBC4 - except it hasn't. They have broadcast Martin Carthy and Friends - a completely different programme to the one advertised in all the listings!!!!

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy BB4 Friday 28 July
From: GUEST,Ian Pittaway
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 07:38 PM

BTW, please complain via http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/make_complaint_step1.shtml ... and maybe they'll reschedule and next time show the *right* programme as desribed at http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/music/features/martin_carthy.shtml

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy BB4 Friday 28 July
From: The Shambles
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 02:24 AM

I did try and stay awake - but something about the show just did not come over and i kept dozing off. It was all very professional but lacking in something.

It did not seem to build up to anything. Perhaps in giving a taste of all of Martin's many team-ups over many years - this show was trying to do too much in too a short time?

Nice to hear Swarb still playing so well but not so nice to see him not looking so well. That was the best section.........

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy BB4 Friday 28 July
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 03:15 AM

It was nice to see him relaxed - playing and singing well.

He truly is a stunning guitarist - embracing a rhythmic and harmonic complexity that is his vision of English music. His intense committment to the material is always impressive.

As a category of music - and surely all generalisations are vile when it comes to assessing a sincere man's life's work - it seemed to me to have much in common with say the rhythmic complexity of something like Johnny Dankworth's jazz composition, or the classical music of Copeland and Bartok. One or twice, I was reminded of Benjamin Britten

It is unquestionably music of genius, but surely it is of this music that we should be asking - is this folk music?

Rather than the hapless chappies still trying to get the room singing, and tell some truths about their lives.

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy BB4 Friday 28 July
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 03:25 AM

forget that last sentence - of course its bloody folk music. I guess there should be room for us all under that broad umbrella - whatever some folks think.

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy BB4 Friday 28 July
From: The Shambles
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 02:54 AM

It is unquestionably music of genius, but surely it is of this music that we should be asking - is this folk music?

I don't think this question should be forgotten. Not because catorgories of music matter to me. As I consider there are only two - it is music that is either to my taste or it is not.

But I have heared those a lot 'folkier' than me state that whilst recognising his skills - Martin's music is trying to be too clever, does not entertain them in the good old folky sing-and-strum-along together-way and leaves them cold.

The problem with this show could have been partly due to its editing.

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy BB4 Friday 28 July
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 01:54 PM

If you want "entertain them in the good old folky sing-and-strum-along" then listen to The Spinners.

Subject: RE: Martin Carthy BB4 Friday 28 July
From: melodeonboy
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 04:36 PM

No thanks!

I thoroughly enjoyed the broadcast. Shambles is right about the dodgy editing. He's also right about the fact that Carthy does not tend to do a lot of singalong chorus stuff, which can make him seem a bit distant, but I suppose it's horses for courses, and what he does he does bloody well.

Subjectively, I find what he does thrilling to listen to. Objectively, I'm very appreciative of the tremendous contribution that he's made to English folk music.