The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #131826   Message #2979560
Posted By: Steve Gardham
03-Sep-10 - 07:04 PM
Thread Name: Child Ballads survived in oral trad.
Subject: RE: Child Ballads survived in oral trad.
Brian
re broadsides of Cambric Shirt. Depends what you mean by early. Late 18thc 'The Humours of Love' is just the riddle parts. There are others but I suspect the same. I can't put my hand on them at the moment. I can't remember seeing any 17thc ones.
I disagree on 'Acre of Land'. There is a relatively scarce progression from versions of 'Cambric Shirt' into 'Acre of Land' although I prefer to think of 'Acre of Land' nowadays as an autonomous song in its widespread form as it is so different in meaning to the riddles.
I wonder on what grounds 'Shooting of his dear' should be in Child, although some of his humorous ballads are no older and have had a similar transmission history.
'Craigieston' (Long a growing) is my favourite of those he didn't get to include. Bitter Withy perhaps.
Since you mention recasting. Where versions of songs differ widely from each other this is often the result of recasting in some form either by hacks or literary people rather than oral tradition. (IMHO)