Anthems in Eden turns 50

Subject: RE: Anthems in Eden turns 50
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 16 Sep 19 - 08:48 AM

I love Anthems in Eden, but I do prefer 'Love, Death and the Lady'. Heard it before Anthems, and it really got to me. The arrangements are just that bit starker. I do tend to gravitate towards the darker stuff.

Subject: RE: Anthems in Eden turns 50
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 16 Sep 19 - 08:29 AM

The 'studs' are also ceramic, but I guess have been used to make the items look a bit tapestry-like.

Subject: RE: Anthems in Eden turns 50
From: Andy M
Date: 16 Sep 19 - 07:33 AM

Can you clarify what medium the artwork is in please? The first entry mentions ceramic, while it looks like Toft style slipware there appears to be studding around the edge suggesting tapestry.

Subject: RE: Anthems in Eden turns 50
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 16 Sep 19 - 06:36 AM

Here's another archival find - Dolly's handwritten score for 'Searching for Lambs':

https://www.facebook.com/shirleycollinsmovie/photos/a.320610738096599/1368845609

Might have a few more to share over the course of the week.

Subject: RE: Anthems in Eden turns 50
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 16 Sep 19 - 03:03 AM

I met Shirley a few years ago when she was doing the book tour for her book ' America Over the Water ' I fell in love with her instantly.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Anthems in Eden turns 50
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Sep 19 - 08:13 PM

The song cycle is just wonderful. I like the other tracks too but they are just makeweights. I played it to death when I first bought it but now I play it about once a year when balm to the soul is needed. I don't know why I love it so much but I don't need to ask the question. If they ever ask me to go on Desert Island Discs, Anthems will definitely be in my "eight." Shirley's voice is so vulnerable but so "normal." And what about "No Roses"? If you haven't got that album, you haven't lived!

Subject: RE: Anthems in Eden turns 50
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 15 Sep 19 - 06:14 PM

It's on YouTube.

Subject: Anthems in Eden turns 50
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 15 Sep 19 - 05:57 PM

I meant to post this earlier in the day, but I thought many users may be interested to know that Anthems in Eden by Shirley and Dolly Collins was released 50 years ago today.

What are people's reflections on this album? Do you have favourite pieces from it?

I know for ultra-traditionalists it may be too grand and esoteric, but I consider it to be one of the greatest LPs of the era, in any genre.

By encompassing medieval arrangements and instrumentation (a triumph for both Dolly, and the Early Music Consort of London under David Munrow's direction), the album radically expanded the parameters not only of folk but of English visionary music.

To mark the occasion David Tibet from Current 93, who now owns Michael Clifton's original ceramic artwork from the LP, sent some pics of the pieces with my partner and I, to share via our Facebook page for 'The Ballad of Shirley Collins':

http://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1368288886662107&id=275248009299539&fs=5&focus_composer=0