Bramble Briar / Bruton Town tune

Subject: Bramble Briar / Bruton Town tune
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 19 Oct 19 - 05:58 PM

I love the tune collected by Vaughan Williams for Bramble Briar (aka Bruton Town) in the Penguin Book of English Folk Songs.

But I've never heard anyone sing that tune, though it's been recorded famously loads of times with a different, minor key melody (e.g. Sandy Denny, Pentangle, Martin Carthy, Fotheringay and others).

Are there any recorded versions with the tune as given in the Penguin book?

Subject: RE: Bramble Briar / Bruton Town tune
From: Brian Peters
Date: 21 Oct 19 - 03:45 PM

Reinhard Zierke's Mainly Norfolk site is always a good place to start when seeking revival versions:

Mainly Norfolk: The Bramble Briar

That page lists several recordings of 'Bramble Briar' (as opposed to 'Bruton Town' etc). Lloyd and MacColl appear to have used a modal tune from George Whitcombe, but I'm pretty sure this is the Penguin tune you're looking for:

Lou Killen: The Bramble Briar

Subject: RE: Bramble Briar / Bruton Town tune
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 21 Oct 19 - 04:09 PM

Brian, the Killen link doesn't work for me. Anyone else with the same problem cand hear Killen's melody at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL8papW8Vtg

Subject: RE: Bramble Briar / Bruton Town tune
From: Brian Peters
Date: 22 Oct 19 - 04:47 AM

The link works for me, but thanks Starship.

I suspect it's a very early Killen performance, with a strange vocal style that sounds quite 'Irish'.

Subject: RE: Bramble Briar / Bruton Town tune
From: GUEST,RA
Date: 22 Oct 19 - 05:05 AM

Maybe it is the same as the tune that Glasgow singer Burd Ellen uses on their CD 'Silver Came'? I believe it is on Bandcamp if you want to hear it...

Subject: RE: Bramble Briar / Bruton Town tune
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 22 Oct 19 - 06:34 AM

There is recording of Bruton Town on Fred Wedlock’s album The Folker (1971), but it sounds like the same tune as the Killen version. It’s on YouTube if you want to check it out.

Subject: RE: Bramble Briar / Bruton Town tune
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 22 Oct 19 - 06:42 AM

Sorry, I meant the same as Pentangke, etc.

Subject: RE: Bramble Briar / Bruton Town tune
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 23 Oct 19 - 10:11 AM

"'Irish'."
I've failed to find an Irish version Brian - I was hoping to use it as an example of a ballad Child missed
It urn up regularly here as 'The Constant Farmer's Son'
Jim

Subject: RE: Bramble Briar / Bruton Town tune
From: Brian Peters
Date: 26 Oct 19 - 06:21 AM

It turns up regularly here as 'The Constant Farmer's Son'

Interesting, that one: pretty much the exact same plot as 'Bramble Briar', but told in completely different words.

'Irish' referred to the rather strange singing style Lou Killen adopted on the recording - I'm interested in the evolution of the revival vocal style(s).

Subject: RE: Bramble Briar / Bruton Town tune
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 26 Oct 19 - 06:44 AM

"I'm interested in the evolution of the revival vocal style(s)"
I was at one time but found it impossible to distinguish the styles from the personal idiosyncrasies, some of which were taken up and developed into styles (I'm thinking of Martin C's distinctive phrasing in particular which eventually ceased to become unique to Martin)
Jim