Trad ballad into modern works

Subject: Trad ballads incorporated into modern works
From: TinaP
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 10:03 PM

The thread about originality prompts my question. I am looking for incidences of traditional murder ballads, e.g. Little Musgrave, incorporated into current literature, film, and other arts. For instance, there is a mystery novel by Deborah Grabien called Matty Groves, Charles Frasier incorporated trad ballad stories into Cold Mountain [carried over into the film], the book The Rose and the Briar has modern authors riffing on ballads.
As always, thank you in advance....I always learn so much from you all.
Cheers,
Tina

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: GUEST,Jack Campin
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 05:47 AM

"Macpherson's Farewell" in Alex Benzie's "The Year's Midnight".

"The Twa Corbies" in Andrew Greig's "When They Are Bare"

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 05:51 AM

A year or two ago (I think) BBC Radio 4 broadcast a play based on Barbara Allen.

Mick

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: Purple Foxx
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 07:17 AM

"The Fire Worm" by Ian Watson (1988) is a science fantasy reimagining of "The Lambton Worm"

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 02:37 PM

Tam Lin and Thomas the Rhymer have both been turned in to pretty good Sci-fi books.

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 02:42 PM

And the plot to the ballad Lord Thomas & Lady Margaret has been re-used by the Dixie Chicks in their song, "Earl."

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: michaelr
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 03:15 PM

Charles de Lint has incorporated numerous traditional themes in his novels.

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: Purple Foxx
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 03:17 PM

Agatha Christie often used quotes from traditional rhymes as titles for her books.

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 03:33 PM

Manly Wade Wellman's collection of science fiction stories called "John the Balladeer"--
available in full-text on-line by clicking here.

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: Purple Foxx
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 03:36 PM

The Lambton Worm was also influential on Bram Stoker's "The Lair of the White Worm"
A rather poor parody of the song The Lambton Worm features in Ken Russell's film of Stoker's novella.

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 04:04 PM

Sharyn McCrumb's Ballad Novels
http://www.sharynmccrumb.com/ballad_overview.asp

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 04:10 PM

The Barbara Allen play I referred to above was writen by David Pownall, some details of the broadcast can be found at: Barbara Allen.

Mick

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 04:19 PM

Several of the late Ellis Peters detective stories (before she got into Brother Cadfael). Notably Black is the Colour of my True Love's Heart

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 12:20 PM

TAM LIN is the actual name of a film (movie). I'm holding the video cassette in my hand even as we speak. The back of it has this paragraph:

Academy Award nominee, Ava Gardner, delivers a mesmerizing performance in director Roddy McDowall's wickedly suspenseful tale of decadent young thrill-seekers and the sinister seductress who holds them spellbound. But amid the dawn-to-dusk revelry at the fabulous "country estate" of wealthy, sophisticated, Mrs. Cazaret (Ava Gardner) the impulsive Tom Lynn (Ian McShane) discovers that being the life of "this party" could have murderous consequences!

It is rated PG
106 minutes

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: GUEST,J C
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 06:08 PM

The motif of the dead being mourned too long, as found in the ballad The Unquiet Grave, was used beautifully in 'Truely, Madly, Deeply' - a thousand times better film than the one it is often comapared to - the awful 'Ghost'.

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 08:11 PM

Of course, the film "Roane Inish"

Art

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 11:02 PM

The movie Robin and Marion with Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn pretty much is "The Death Of Robin Hood." My favorite rendition of that song was done by none other than Art Thieme.

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: Scoville
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 10:29 AM

Not a song, but can anyone explain to me why the Stephen King book Tommyknockers was called that? I was horribly disappointed to discover that it was about . . . I forget what, exactly. Aliens? But there were no tommyknockers involved and, as an ex-resident of Colorado, I was sure ticked.



(According to Wikipedia, we borrowed them from the Welsh and Cornish miners, but they are also a feature in Colorado mining lore.)

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: GUEST,wayne
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 11:03 AM

There's an excellent literary detective novel set in the 19th century called The Fiend in Human by (I think) John Mchlachlan Young, featuring the broadside ballad writing sleuth Henry Owler. Most of the ballads quoted are, I believe, the author's own invention but they're pretty impressive nonetheless.

Cheers

Wayne

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: TinaP
Date: 10 Apr 06 - 04:02 PM

Thank you so much for this varied list....and let's not forget the film "The Corpse Bride" from Tim Burton which references kissing clay cold lips, one of the most powerful images in murder ballads, to my way of thinking. As ever, you all are the best!

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: Purple Foxx
Date: 10 Apr 06 - 04:10 PM

The Hound Of The Baskervilles was loosely inspired by Folk Tales about Black Dogs.(One of which also features in Dracula also by Bram Stoker.)

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: Artful Codger
Date: 10 Apr 06 - 05:31 PM

Deborah Grabien has written an entire series of mysteries with folk song themes, not just the "Matty Groves" ones.

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: harmony
Date: 10 Apr 06 - 05:34 PM

Not traditional but Johnny Cash 'Hung my head' is wonderful. Great song about a man tormented by a man he killed.

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: Bert
Date: 10 Apr 06 - 08:28 PM

Hi Purp. There is also a black dog called "The Grim" in Harry potter and the prizoner of Azkaban. In Folklore he is often called "Old Shuck" and   is usully cast as evil but sometimes lucky.

Lionel Bart borrowed heavily from folk music. Especially in his musical Maggie May which has several shanties reworked to suit the script. It's a great musical if you can ever get the chance to see it. It's a bit too bolshie for most producers though.

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 10 Apr 06 - 08:55 PM

You've got to Love Richard Thompson's 1952 Vincent Black Lightning for it's Ballad structure.
JohnB

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: Mr Fox
Date: 11 Apr 06 - 08:15 AM

There was, a few years ago, a collection of 'Arthurian' stories ('Invitation to Camelot', iirc) in which one of them was 'Crazy Man Michael'. Not "resembled" or "based on" - it WAS. Raven and all. Only the protagonist's name was changed. Oh, and King Arthur was shoehorned into it somewhere.

I don't remember the story title or the author's name and wouldn't write them even if I could.

Subject: RE: Trad ballad into modern works
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Apr 06 - 04:57 PM

Since when was 'Crazy Man Michael' a traditional ballad???

Get with the program...