Review: In Yonder's Wood [Willy Claflin]

Subject: RE: Review: In Yonder's Wood [Willy Claflin]
From: Bettynh
Date: 17 Sep 10 - 01:09 PM

Nottamun Town

Subject: Review: In Yonder's Wood, Willy Claflin
From: GUEST,Vicki Burns on behalf of Robert Rodriquez
Date: 31 May 09 - 09:43 AM

In Yonder's Wood, Willy and Bran Claflin, For CD and performer information: www.willyclaflin.com

Willy Claflin, best known in his alter ego as Mainard the Moose, has been a professional story teller for a quarter of a century. Those who were fortunate enough to have attended the 2007 Bay Area Storytelling Festival also know that he is more than a fair hand at rendering traditional ballads and story songs.
The Ballad workshop that Willy Claflin co-hosted with Sheila K. Adams was well worth attending and showed when done correctly, scholarship and entertainment do not have to be mutually exclusive.

Along with son Brian, Claflin takes us on a musical journey accross the Anglo-American ballad landscape for the past half a millenium and what results is a musical effort worthy ofmore than just a few listens. If you like ballads and story songs, then this is just what the medical narratologist might perscribe.Five of the ballds are from Child, including the grim and spectral Rose and the Lindsey-O (Cruel Mother), the witchery ballad of the Rolling Of The Stones, (Two Brothers) and Lord Bangam(Sir Lionel), from whose lyrics the recording takes its title.

Brian's vocal talents come to the fore on several worthy efforts, including the seemilngly contadictory and enigmatic/mysterious Nottamun Town, learned from the singing of Jean Ritchie and Banks of Pontchartrain, a Southern U.S. tale of unrequited love and painful parting; cannot help it folks, a lot of ballads just have unhappy endings. Familiar songs that lend themselves to lusty choruses include General Taylor, Country Life Pleasant and Delightful and Jones Ale, although actual choruses are in reality Brian's technical wizardry with multiple voices. From the American side of the big pond come such stalwart pieces as the moonshiner's anthem aka Copper Kettle, Down Bound Train, a drunkard's dream of impending damnation and possible redemption, the dark and hard edged nineteenth century occupational Buffalo Skinners and Woody Gutherie's tale of Oklahoma's Robin Hood, Pretty Boy Floyd.Perhaps the most unusual piece on this entire recording is its last cut, a Willy Claflin original entitled Ooralie-aye. In his own words, it is a song written in the old style with poetic, musical and vivid images from a variety of narrative landscapes that have been part and parcel of Claflin's development as both a storyteller and ballad singer. Claflin knows how to get inside a story, whether it is a spoken word piece, or as in this recording, story songs that have been part of the Anglo-American traditional landscape for centuries. This excellent recording comes very highly recommended.

Subject: RE: Review: In Yonder's Wood
From: GUEST,MAG at work
Date: 20 May 09 - 04:19 PM

I have ordered this for my Library; I encountered Willy as a storyteller and really like his stuff.

Subject: RE: Review: In Yonder's Wood
From: ClaireBear
Date: 20 May 09 - 01:56 PM

Just thought I'd refresh this again, for all of you who were away last Friday and Saturday.

C

Subject: RE: Review: In Yonder's Wood
From: GUEST,Brian Claflin
Date: 16 May 09 - 02:41 PM

Thanks for the feedback, folks! My Pa & I live on opposite coasts so collaboration (and promotion thereof ) isn't easy. Here's to grass roots! - Brian

Subject: RE: Review: In Yonder's Wood
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 16 May 09 - 12:30 PM

Actually, it was rather weird because the first track I clicked on was the one they call The Rose and Lindsy. I know it as The Cruel Mother and I sang it (at Wimborne Folk Club) last Thursday for the first time since 1966 (honest!). Their version has the same tune as mine and the verse I heard is exactly as I sing it. I learned it from the singing of Robin Hall, on his Last Leaves of Traditional Ballads LP.

Subject: RE: Review: In Yonder's Wood
From: ClaireBear
Date: 16 May 09 - 12:29 PM

Dan, I knew you'd like them! Glad you dropped by.

We are very much enjoying your CD here at our house, by the way. Thank you so much for sharing!

C

Subject: RE: Review: In Yonder's Wood
From: olddude
Date: 16 May 09 - 12:18 PM

wonderful thank you clairebear

Subject: RE: Review: In Yonder's Wood
From: ClaireBear
Date: 16 May 09 - 11:57 AM

Thank you, Terry! I've never known it to be quite this quiet here; wonder what's up?

This kind of intricate two-part harmony is what I live and breathe, and like this duo I too bounce back and forth between British Isles and American traditions, so I haven't been so excited about a new discovery in a long time. Especially so because I found them via such a circuitous route.

C

Subject: RE: Review: In Yonder's Wood
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 16 May 09 - 11:51 AM

I listened yesterday and was impressed - excellent duo.

Subject: RE: Review: In Yonder's Wood
From: Leadfingers
Date: 16 May 09 - 11:48 AM

Looks like you've picked a quiet weekend Claire ! I had a listen , and they are pretty good !

Subject: RE: Review: In Yonder's Wood
From: ClaireBear
Date: 16 May 09 - 11:38 AM

Gosh, I hope someone posts to this thread someday -- and hears this very impressive duo. Getting kind of lonely here...

C

Subject: RE: Review: In Yonder's Wood
From: ClaireBear
Date: 15 May 09 - 04:42 PM

I am still listening! It's really, really good stuff.

To bring this up to the top of the page again, here's some info from their Myspace page:

"Willy Claflin has been singing, collecting traditional songs and writing his own material for decades. He is also a children's author, and an award-winning storyteller for all ages, having performed at storytelling festivals around the world. He has numerous storytelling recordings in print for both children and adults, as well as two indie albums of original songs released in the 1980's (which featured Brian on harmonies).

"Brian is a published songwriter, having collaborated with writers Nanci Griffith and Adam Duritz, and is a children's author as well. An indie CD from 1991 is currently out of print. He has been singing with his dad his whole life, but In Yonder's Wood is their first formal collaboration as a duo.

"Also featured on In Yonder's Wood are Tom Carr: bass on Downbound Train, Ooralye Aye and Copper Kettle (Tom also mastered the CD); Dan Kellar: fiddle on Wind & Rain, and Dave Halberg: percussion on Nottamun Town."

Subject: Review: In Yonder's Wood
From: ClaireBear
Date: 15 May 09 - 01:14 PM

I just happened across the Web page of this father-son duo, In Yonder's Wood, this morning while searching for something completely different. What blessed happenstance!

They are local to me, yet I have never heard of them. I've sampled all the songs and am now happily streaming their Myspace content. Their choice of material, arrangements, and recording quality are all superb.

The father is storyteller Willy Claflin; his son is Brian Claflin.

Enjoy!

Claire