The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #156684 Message #3693508
Posted By: GUEST,Mike Yates
13-Mar-15 - 04:07 AM
Thread Name: Longest ballad in recent tradition
Subject: RE: Longest ballad in recent tradition
Many Travellers sing their ballads at a slow pace. For example, Phoebe Smith's version of "Barbara Allen" takes over 11 minutes (Veteran VT136CD - Phoebe Smith: The Yellow Handkerchief.)And many of Jeannie Robertson's ballads seemed to go on for ever! Not that this bothered me - she was a wonderful singer. Then there was Gordon Hall, another singer who liked to take his time. His version of "Broomfield Hill" lasts for some 10 minutes (Veteran VT131CD - When the May is all in Bloom.) I feel certain that some of his other songs and ballads actually took longer to sing.