Sources for Child and same age songs?

Subject: Sources for Child and same age song tunes?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 26 Nov 06 - 05:01 AM

My recent (disappointing so far) experience with the Heritage Muse Child CDs has started me thinking again (careful there...).

It is such a disappointment that Child collected (mostly) only words when for me the most important thing is the tune to the song (I'm not into diddly (Celtic) or humpty (English) tunes with no words either), that I wonder what other people find the best sources, if not for traditional song tunes, at least for tunes that go well with the old words (for example the Lykewake dirge, or the Joan Baez version of the Great Silkie of Soulskerrie - or even the Dylan version of Fenario which I am slowly putting back to the earlier words of Pretty Peggy of Derby).

Suggestions? I read dots so badly that audio versions would be the bestest.

Subject: RE: Sources for Child and same age songs?
From: nutty
Date: 26 Nov 06 - 05:32 AM

Richard ... can I suggest that you look into the abc tune files on the Bruce Olson WebSite which is accessed through 'Quick Links' at the top of the page.

On this site Bruce, (who sadly died some years ago), was able to link many old ballads to tunes he also identified through his research.
These may help you in your quest.

Subject: RE: Sources for Child and same age songs?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 26 Nov 06 - 05:38 AM

Thank you Nutty. It seems only recently he was still posting here....

Subject: RE: Sources for Child and same age songs?
From: Susan of DT
Date: 26 Nov 06 - 11:38 AM

Prof. Child was a literature professor and was not interested in tunes. Bronson collected tunes, but has been out of print for a while and copies go for too much money on ebay. Heritage Muse is planning a digital Bronson, which sounds wonderful, but it will be a while before it appears.

There are many wonderful CDs of Child ballads sung by source singers and careful revival singers. Here are a few:

Classic Ballads of Britain and Ireland, volumes 1 and 2, Rounder
The Muckle Sangs: Classic Scots Ballads, Greentrax
Voice of the People, vol 3 and 17, Topic
Ballads, Fellside
Child Ballads, 3 CDs, Ewan MacColl
Blood and Roses, 5 CDs, Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger
Ballads from her Appalachian Family Tradition, Jean Ritchie
Ballad Tree, Alison McMorland
Ballads Thrice Twisted, Margaret MacArthur
Songs from Aberdeenshire, John Strachan
Ballad Legacy, Texas Gladden
On ae bonny Day, Moira Craig

all available from Camsco Music :-)

Subject: RE: Sources for Child and same age songs?
From: Susan of DT
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 07:42 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Sources for Child and same age songs?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 08:59 AM

Thank you Susan - I had better start planning the application of my Xmas money.....

Subject: RE: Sources for Child and same age songs?
From: Maryrrf
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 08:44 PM

I have the 5 CD set "Blood and Roses" CD and it is an excellent source for ballads, most of them Child. I can also highly recommend Moira Craig's "On Ae Bonny Day". Another one I recently got was "Dark Ships in the Forest" - Ballads of the Supernatural by John Roberts and Tony Barrand and if I'd known how good they were I'd have gotten their other albums too.

Subject: RE: Sources for Child and same age songs?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 29 Nov 06 - 12:27 PM

Maryrf-
Have no regrets--there's always phone orders. 800/548-FOLK (3655)