Is there a Welsh two-minute ballad?

Subject: Is there a Welsh two-minute ballad?
From: wendyg
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 09:55 AM

My downstairs neighbor (in London) is a musical comedy actor and he posed me the following question today: could I find him a "story song" that he could perform at auditions? The idea is both to show off the fact that he can sing and give him a chance to do something dramatic. It occurred to him that folk would be a good genre to look in (duh). I told him he wants a nice traditional ballad full of gore and guts and ghosts.

He himself is Welsh, so he'd ideally like to find something he could do in a Welsh accent (I guess ethnic sells). And -- this is the real problem -- because auditions tend to be quite short, ideally he'd like a ballad that could be trimmed to two minutes or less.

Anyone got any ideas that don't include speed-singing?

wg

Subject: RE: Is there a Welsh two-minute ballad?
From: Gareth
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 10:25 AM

No sure about the time or the actions, but he could do worse than this Click 'Ere or dig at that site.

I suspect Boyce is overworked and passe now.

You might try digging here Click 'Ere

or here Click 'Ere

OR use the serch facility in the DT

Hope this helps, I have every confidence that other 'Catters will have thier thoughts.

Gareth

Subject: RE: Is there a Welsh two-minute ballad?
From: moocowpoo
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 08:26 AM

I know there are indonesian 2-minute noodles........

Subject: RE: Is there a Welsh two-minute ballad?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 09:05 AM

Tough one, Wendy. The Welsh cannot say anything in less than 2 minutes. It takes longer than that to pronounce ther place names...;-)

Dai the Gnome
(Running for cover)

Subject: RE: Is there a Welsh two-minute ballad?
From: sian, west wales
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 12:37 PM

Can any ballad be done in 2 minutes?? I'll give a think to it, but ...

Although there is a Canadian song, "The Jones Boys" which might do. Crappy little tune, but quick. It was someone's (Lord Beaverbrook?) favourite song.

sian

Subject: RE: Is there a Welsh two-minute ballad?
From: breezy
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 02:49 PM

if its in welsh, then thats whats called 'consideration'

Subject: RE: Is there a Welsh two-minute ballad?
From: Chris in Wheaton
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 03:38 PM

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/radiocymru.shtml
this is a player for a number of Radio Cymru archived shows
unfortunately, not a lot of folk music -
I'd suggest that you write John Roberts of Barrand and Roberts - he might have an idea for an English song that could be performed with an accent.
Pob lwc, Chris yn Wheaton

Subject: RE: Is there a Welsh two-minute ballad?
From: wendyg
Date: 05 Feb 04 - 06:37 AM

Thanks for the suggestions, folks. I knew Johna nd Tony when they lived in Ithaca (and afterwards, when we met at various festivals 'n' stuff), so I guess that's an option.

For the moment, I'll let downstairs rummage through that site above.

wg