Traditional songs
Posted by: Nathaniel on 09 December 2009
Can anyone recommend any traditional songs, and recordings of those songs, that they really enjoy?
I appreciate that this has huge scope, so let me narrow things down with a single example.
A couple of years ago, I heard Dougie Maclean singing Ca' the Yowes (it's available on his Tribute album). I really like it.
When I first heard it, I knew it was a setting of a Robbie Burns poem, but thought that the music was Maclean's.
A year (or so) ago, I found some other references to Ca' the Yowes set to music, and discovered that the setting was the same--it wasn't Dougie Maclean's at all, but an older traditional song. Arguably, the most famous recording is by Kathleen Ferrier (a thread on another forum made prompted me to start this one).
It turns out that everyone in the generations above me in my family (all Scottish) knows this song and has sung it in their youth. Yet I had neither heard it, nor heard of it. I feel very ignorant.
It makes me wonder what other traditional gems (of any british origin) are out there that may be passing me by, or more worryingly, may be passing away.
I appreciate that this has huge scope, so let me narrow things down with a single example.
A couple of years ago, I heard Dougie Maclean singing Ca' the Yowes (it's available on his Tribute album). I really like it.
When I first heard it, I knew it was a setting of a Robbie Burns poem, but thought that the music was Maclean's.
A year (or so) ago, I found some other references to Ca' the Yowes set to music, and discovered that the setting was the same--it wasn't Dougie Maclean's at all, but an older traditional song. Arguably, the most famous recording is by Kathleen Ferrier (a thread on another forum made prompted me to start this one).
It turns out that everyone in the generations above me in my family (all Scottish) knows this song and has sung it in their youth. Yet I had neither heard it, nor heard of it. I feel very ignorant.
It makes me wonder what other traditional gems (of any british origin) are out there that may be passing me by, or more worryingly, may be passing away.
Try & find a copy of this
Track Listings
1. Rose of Allendale
2. Lovin' You
3. Loving Hannah
4. My Donald
5. Crusader
6. Anachie Gordon
7. Home
8. God Bless the Child
9. Rare's Hil
Track Listings
1. Rose of Allendale
2. Lovin' You
3. Loving Hannah
4. My Donald
5. Crusader
6. Anachie Gordon
7. Home
8. God Bless the Child
9. Rare's Hil
Includes Rivonia
The Corrie Folk TrioThis is Hamish Henderson's famous "Free Nelson Mandela" song recorded at the School of Scottish Studies in 1968 and sent to the South African Freedom Fighters in the field.
And The Freedom Come-All-Ye which many regard as a superior alternative anthem for Scotland
"Roch the wind in the clear day's dawin
Blaws the cloods heilster-gowdie owre the bay
But there's mair nor a roch wind blawin
Thro the Great Glen o the warld the day
It's a thocht that wad gar oor rottans
Aa thae rogues that gang gallus fresh an gay
Tak the road an seek ither loanins
Wi thair ill-ploys tae sport an play
Nae mair will our bonnie callants
Merch tae war when oor braggarts crousely craw
Nor wee weans frae pitheid an clachan
Mourn the ships sailin doun the Broomielaw
Broken faimlies in lands we've hairriet
Will curse 'Scotlan the Brave' nae mair, nae mair
Black an white ane-til-ither mairriet
Mak the vile barracks o thair maisters bare
Sae come aa ye at hame wi freedom
Never heed whit the houdies croak for Doom
In yer hoos aa the bairns o Adam
Will find breid, barley-bree an paintit rooms
When Maclean meets wi's friens in Springburn
Aa thae roses an geans will turn tae blume
An the black lad frae yont Nyanga
Dings the fell gallows o the burghers doun."
track list
Tracks
Listen
1. The Ballad of the D-Day Dodgers
Tune: Lili MarleneSung by Rod Paterson
2. So Long
Poem read by Fred Freeman
3. The Flyting o' Life and Daith
Sung by Alison McMorland
4. Victory Hoedown
Sung by Adam McNaughtan
5. Rivonia
The Corrie Folk TrioThis is Hamish Henderson's famous "Free Nelson Mandela" song recorded at the School of Scottish Studies in 1968 and sent to the South African Freedom Fighters in the field.
6. The Freedom Come-All-Ye
Tune- The Bloody Fields of Flanders / MaclellanSung by Jim Reid
7. Ninth Elegy
Poem: read by Margaret Bennett.Song: Thug Oirinn Oro sung by Margaret - one of Hamish's favourite Gaelic songs.
8. The Ballad of the Men of Knoydart
Tune: Johnston's Motor Car - sung by Geordie McIntyre
9. The Speaking Heart
Sung by Gordeanna McCulloch
10. The Song of the Gillie More
sung by Dick Gaughan
11. The 51st Highland Division's Farewell to Sicily
Tune Farewell to the Creeks: sung by Hamish Henderson
12. The John MacLean March
sung by The Laggan
13. Pipe Tunes / Lament for the Son
Pipe Tunes - Allan MacDonaldLatha Dhan Fhinn Am Beinn Loghnaidh / Taladh Dhomhnaill GhuirmPoem: Lament for the Son - read by Fred Freeman
14. Mouth Music
Hamish Henderson
15. Auld Reekie's Roses
Eurydice Choir with Gordeanna McCulloch
16. My Son David
The magnificent voice of the great Jeannie Robertson recorded by Hamish in 1960.From the archives of the School of Scottish Studies.
Margaret Bennett
In the sunny long ago.
The best collection of traditional music is that of Shirley Collins
However there are other wonderful traditionalists around
However there are other wonderful traditionalists around
Of course - wonderful.quote:Originally posted by Blueknowz:
Try & find a copy of this
Track Listings
1. Rose of Allendale
2. Lovin' You
3. Loving Hannah
4. My Donald
5. Crusader
6. Anachie Gordon
7. Home
8. God Bless the Child
9. Rare's Hil
It's got to be Owen Brannigan for classic Geordie songs. A good selection being neatly available on:
quote:Originally posted by ROTF:
The best collection of traditional music is that of Shirley Collins
However there are other wonderful traditionalists around
ROTF, Is that the Anne Breen from N.Ireland?