I see an advertisement in my new Sing Out! for a two cd rom edition of Francis Child's magnum opus. One cd is advertised as including a fully searchable text with new maps and gazeteer, MIDI files, and annotation and glossary hyperlinks and the other cd rom is advertised as including full ballad audio tracks from Jean Ritchie, Martin Carthy, Lou Killen, Barrand & Roberts, Heather Wood, Archie Fisher, Heather Heywood, the Patons and others. No price is given. The publisher is Heritage Muse, They say it will be available in October 2002.

Does anyone know anything aabout this? It sounds like the greatest thing since Bronson? Are these new recordings or a collection of previous releases? What kind of new scholarship is included, and how much new scholarship, etc.? Should this be on my Hanukah wish list?

As some of the named performers participate in this mudcat thing I thought this might be a good place for some advance reviews or at least detailed explanantions of what we should expect.