The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #125836 Message #2789622
Posted By: GUEST, Sminky
16-Dec-09 - 09:49 AM
Thread Name: John Bell Song Collection
Subject: John Bell Song Collection
Volume 196 of "The Publications of the Surtees Society" (1985) contains the entire collection of "local songs and poetical pieces" collected by John Bell "many of them from the original manuscripts".
There are 490 items in total, 92% of which are dateable to 1830 or before. All the songs are fully annotated.
I know some of Bell's songs appear elsewhere, but I hadn't realised the whole collection had been reproduced in a single volume. The book is still in print (and available here), but at £25, it may be worthwhile keeping an eye on the second-hand book market.