Folk Files

1d ago

Happy Holidays! Coventry Carol is a lullaby to a "little tiny child"...but surprisingly, that child is not Jesus. Learn more about this Christmas carol that was almost lost to time, including the history of modern Western Theatre and the origins of the picardy third, in this final episode of the second season of Folk Files. Host: Olivia Harding Support Folk Files: https://www.patreon.com/c/FolkFilesPodcast Special thanks to Aaron J. Morton Musical excerpts: ARTIST: The Sixteen WORK: The Coventry Carol SOURCE: https://youtu.be/_jIYyPOoEc8?si=mgPi4WH4G9LUnMT7 ARTIST: Sting (from A Winter's Night Live from Durham Cathedral) WORK: Coventry Carol SOURCE: https://youtu.be/hahwYqQd_gA?si=wJR4Qz-ZmUW9IaD2 ARTIST: Nora Fischer and Marnix Dorrestein WORK: Oblivion Soave from Monteverdi's L'Incoronazione di Poppea SOURCE: https://youtu.be/JTHQqJDV4os?si=820upsG60MJJyC5M ARTIST: Jeanette Blakeley WORK: "Lullaby" from Menotti's The Consul SOURCE: https://youtu.be/nImWN8o1f-E?si=Coj_UsTcod6m1Bbr ARTIST: Barry and Beth Hall WORK: Coventry Carol SOURCE: https://youtu.be/JCFg4S3kSV4?si=CleozvHduvVsAAxB ARTIST: Chicago WORK: Wishing You Were Here SOURCE: https://youtu.be/Zv0OwvsP0ek?si=cVc25wbawFlT7pkw ARTIST: The Zombies WORK: Time of the Season SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8ecsAI3FhY ARTIST: Alison Moyet WORK: The Coventry Carol SOURCE: https://youtu.be/kcrYqDqCN_Y?si=DoKE80e3peRMtvSo ARTIST: The Choir of Magdalen College Oxford WORK: Song of the Nuns of Chester SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0UtKzXb9Js ARTIST: The Cambridge Singers WORK: Coventry Carol (composed by Kenneth Leighton) SOURCE: https://youtu.be/uAA0lZ1YG90?si=VQYE2a0KSeFhZGks ARTIST: Sufjan Stevens WORK: Coventry Carol SOURCE: https://youtu.be/o6492UYw_hs?si=U0k6ZlmkfoIcULct

Dec 5

In this bonus episode of Folk Files, I interview Ruth Perry, the author of The Ballad World of Anna Gordon, Mrs. Brown of Falkland. Anna Gordon is one of the most famous source singers in the history of folk music from the British Isles, and Ruth Perry's book dives into her life as a woman and ballad singer in 18th century Scotland. The book is available at https://global.oup.com/academic/ It's pricy, and understandably so, since it contains a wealth of new information and scholarship, but you can use the discount code AAFLYG6 to save 30%. You can listen to the accompanying ballads for free at https://global.oup.com/booksites/content/9780198939092/ In this episode, I use clips from the following songs: Lady Elspat, King Henry, Lamkin, and Thomas Rymer & Queen of Elfland You can purchase a CD with all twelve of the ballads at birnamcdshop.com or on Amazon (See more information here: https://www.birnamcd.com/birnam-pr/anna-gordon/ ) This interview has been edited for time. Special Thanks to Ruth Perry and Aaron J. Morton

Nov 21

For a long time, "The Death of Queen Jane" has been considered a folk song that takes artistic liberties with the historic event of the birth of Edward VI to Jane Seymour in 1537. But is it possible that the song hints at a more complicated story, filled with propaganda and intrigue? Explore the intersection of Tudor history and folk ballads in this episode of Folk Files. Host: Olivia Harding Support Folk Files: https://www.patreon.com/c/FolkFilesPodcast Musical excerpts: ARTIST: Oscar Isaac WORK: The Death of Queen Jane SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfeKFKG3JWM ARTIST: Cyril Tawney WORK: The Death of Queen Jane SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESUdOHChNKw ARTIST: Joan Baez WORK: The Death of Queen Jane SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6ZNp9le6x8 ARTIST: Bedlam Early Music WORK: The Death of Queen Jane SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYGWmV2XAnU ARTIST: Peggy Seeger WORK: The Death of Queen Jane SOURCE: https://youtu.be/7z0KILKEZhk?si=qmkqUwFtPVlKyaGH ARTIST: Duncan Williamson WORK: The Death of Queen Jane SOURCE: https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AB34LE2XNHS5FC8O ARTIST: John Jacob Niles WORK: The Death of Queen Jane SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnUaWKysPQM ARTIST: Isla Cameron WORK: The Death of Queen Jane SOURCE: https://youtu.be/mMmHkgq1_T0?si=MAzM8qm8_0wHxoAc ARTIST: Karine Polwart WORK: The Death of Queen Jane SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT2uqT3am1M ARTIST: Bothy Band WORK: The Death of Queen Jane SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYHkpjkZvJA

Oct 30

Long Lankin is the bogeyman of the Child Ballads. A mysterious figure who lives in the moss (or the gorse, or the hay), he is known as a bloodthirsty murderer. But what's the full story? Explore the origins of the horror-filled ballad in this Halloween episode of Folk Files. Host: Olivia Harding Support Folk Files: https://www.patreon.com/c/FolkFilesPodcast Musical excerpts: ARTIST: The Wainwright Sisters WORK: Long Lankin SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8vzCkJJlSQ ARTIST: Steeleye Span WORK: Long Lankin SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74Rw1SVfa_U ARTIST: Martin Carthy WORK: Long Lankin SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlYuv1ZUsZ0 ARTIST: George Fradley WORK: Lankin SOURCE: https://youtu.be/yrEuzBE0uTs?si=aIpFgzidrF7YGpnN ARTIST: Geordie McIntyre WORK: Lamkin SOURCE: https://youtu.be/LQF9M1Omrfs?si=d0yAQwvibFAIDLeQ ARTIST: Alasdair Roberts & Friends WORK: Long Lankin SOURCE: https://youtu.be/es-bKUVLtUE?si=yxV9vFgzZoMpPPVC ARTIST: Lisa Knapp WORK: Long Lankin SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zahxuV3H9Sk ARTIST: Frank Proffitt WORK: Bo Lamkin SOURCE: https://youtu.be/G6MLv__s_cU?si=9kG2WJSa1F0fZ1dg

Oct 20

Who Killed Cock Robin? It was I, said the Sparrow. But where did the song come from? And what does it mean? Explore a world of birds, nursery rhymes, mythology, and history in this month's episode. Host: Olivia Harding Support Folk Files: https://www.patreon.com/c/FolkFilesPodcast Yuri Gohen: @yurigohenfolksong Who Killed Cock Robin by Yuri Gohen: https://yurigohen.bandcamp.com/album/who-killed-cock-robin https://open.spotify.com/album/5I5HTXbYVPOxc7MtKFU9jX?si=LXPUC86NQ1iamUUntn4GtA Musical excerpts: ARTIST: Peggy Seeger WORK: Who Killed Cock Robin? SOURCE: https://www.y outube.com/watch?v=hVTcXtK_8Qo ARTIST: Tim Hart and Friends WORK: Who Killed Cock Robin? SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjGyLkGJBlI ARTIST: King's Singers WORK: Of All the Birds SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnr6Oxybkq4 ARTIST: Dana and Susan Robinson WORK: Who Killed Cock Robin? SOURCE: https://youtu.be/HqP26mqO4GY?si=xS2SAHX8BItCQ00U ARTIST: Jean Ritchie WORK: Who Killed Cock Robin? SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otcP8CCCt3c ARTIST: Glenn Yarbrough WORK: Who Killed Cock Robin? SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACX6OS6oO5k ARTIST: Richard Dyer-Bennet WORK: Who Killed Cock Robin? SOURCE: https://youtu.be/lhTXFbYn3WY ARTIST: John Jacob Niles WORK: Who Killed Cock Robin? SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-_lfkMQGPs ARTIST: Robin Roberts WORK: Who Killed Cock Robin? SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qB9eTpc-G1U ARTIST: Silly Symphony WORK: Who Killed Cock Robin? SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GK66CFljA0 ARTIST: St. Michael's Junior School for Girls in Cumberland WORK: Cock Robin is Dead and Lays in his Grave SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YteMR9prrQ ARTIST: Yuri Gohen WORK: Who Killed Cock Robin? SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40-TqWBPoDs

Aug 28

Robbers, bandits, highwaymen…there are a lot of English folk songs about outlaws. In this episode of Folk Files, we'll look at why there are so many songs about criminals and what patterns exist in these ballads. Then, we'll look at Robbers' Retreat in an attempt to figure out why the song (also known as Cadgwith Anthem) doesn't seem to follow any of those patterns. Host: Olivia Harding Support Folk Files: https://www.patreon.com/c/FolkFilesPodcast *This episode of Folk Files was recorded on the road. Apologies for any lapses in quality.* Musical excerpts: ARTIST: Steeleye Span WORK: Cadgwith Anthem SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMBpPYA8ebY ARTIST: Ewan MacColl WORK: Alan Tyne O'Harrow SOURCE: https://ewanmaccoll.bandcamp.com/track/alan-tyne-o-harrow ARTIST: Martin Carthy WORK: Newlyn Town SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM7hDJI85uI ARTIST: Roger McGuinn WORK: Whiskey in the Jar SOURCE: https://youtu.be/i8iAp0mTKjo?si=htJCj3YzGDz4UWso ARTIST: Loreena McKennitt WORK: The Highwayman SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=YGFo0xn4JeY ARTIST: Ewan MacColl WORK: The Crafty Farmer SOURCE: https://youtu.be/GT_uXRERmsE?si=bNwLhDjFCXB9yuij ARTIST: Magpie Lane WORK: The Highwayman Outwitted SOURCE: https://youtu.be/kXHL6omuz3c?si=pnX3AOzB6sbfoNZu ARTIST: Jackie Oates WORK: Robbers' Retreat SOURCE: https://youtu.be/ZzPA52DWzwM?si=ZkM3a4WDugEpC4yp ARTIST: The Mousehole Male Voice Choir WORK: The Cadgwith Anthem SOURCE: https://youtu.be/yXFIUuWARB0?si=mgpBLQqoKOYtge7N ARTIST: The Longest Johns WORK: Cadgwith Anthem SOURCE: https://youtu.be/UiBlnnN2PWU?si=78Mzy7npMptFomP1 ARTIST: Bounding Main WORK: Cadgwith Anthem SOURCE: https://youtu.be/KQbYYnoM3wM?si=UF20bLf7VaKn-lGD

Jul 31

This episode of Folk Files looks at a family of songs where the main character "dies for love." In particular, I explore "The Butcher Boy," a song with American, Irish, and English versions. The versions vary drastically: they swap out characters, drop details, and change the reasoning behind the narrator's decisions. I investigate what effect these changes have on the listener and what lessons we can draw from those effects. Host: Olivia Harding Check out more from Pollyanna: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Rgyvnw9WrAm20MhlS2kyp?si=irIKZtNOTFaZWDOt9mh0cA Special thanks to: Aaron J. Morton Support Folk Files: https://www.patreon.com/c/FolkFilesPodcast *This episode of Folk Files was recorded on the road. Apologies for any lapses in quality.* Musical excerpts: ARTIST: Alisa Marie WORK: O'Carolan's Cup SOURCE: https://youtu.be/zrBwqFco0Xs?si=-SdsYnEWGiD5SnFO ARTIST: Sarah Makem WORK: The Butcher Boy SOURCE: https://youtu.be/x_mtUaBHWCE?si=tBXVy9ELCV9dECgh ARTIST: Derek and Hazel Sarjeant WORK: A Sailor Coming Home on Leave SOURCE: https://youtu.be/e91Ug-CAjAc?si=sMcd-NpQC-FQmNSL ARTIST: Music the Gathering WORK: Johnny Jump Up SOURCE: https://www.musicthegathering.com/store/lvl-3-digital-album-esexe ARTIST: Frank Profitt WORK: Morning Fair SOURCE: https://youtu.be/wdyO1890Zpc?si=1esdsYhrRNWTg7zD ARTIST: Sam Lee WORK: Over Yonders Hill SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2jcdbFRRYc ARTIST: The Kings of Calicutt WORK: Sheffield Park SOURCE: https://youtu.be/o1lDKhJd6Pw?si=XWyn9hQQ3ImN2PRq ARTIST: Bellowhead WORK: Cold Blows the Wind SOURCE: https://youtu.be/WvuxL8UQiLQ?si=Sdr7Zz7yUVEXi7zg ARTIST: Jean Ritchie WORK: Go Dig My Grave SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGrcOqcbzYk ARTIST: The Clancy Brothers WORK: The Butcher Boy SOURCE: https://youtu.be/WMc8QSxZe_M?si=PIv8GZyRL_1vkSRD ARTIST: Buell Kazee WORK: Butcher's Boy SOURCE: https://youtu.be/lwSJoMNRGuI?si=fehdH-zflcTkTbY2 ARTIST: Pollyanna WORK: Railroad Boy SOURCE: https://pollyanna.bandcamp.com/album/man-time-deluxe-edition

Jun 23

Welcome to Part II of Folk Files' exploration of the history of folk instruments! Learn about the origins and etymology of accordions, concertinas, harmonicas, bagpipes, whistles, and a sampling of percussion! (Recorded with a head cold - please excuse any stuffiness). Host: Olivia Harding Special thanks to: Aaron J. Morton Support Folk Files: https://www.patreon.com/c/FolkFilesPodcast Musical excerpts: ARTIST: Duo Synkro WORK: Live at Paris Bal Folk SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1XgiYjo1HE ARTIST: Wu Wei WORK: Sheng performance with Helsinki Philharmonic SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xios4KtjG2A ARTIST: Mark Kloeg WORK: Cantiga 100 SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtWazpkuz7o ARTIST: Paul Young WORK: Michael's Jig SOURCE: https://youtu.be/f8TX7jO-_es?si=AWS2GmtPtNJhMRMc ARTIST: Sofia Ros WORK: La Campanella SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ARC2YxsbE0 ARTIST: Nick Ariondo WORK: Flight of the Bumblebee SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxTOwXEy2Mo ARTIST: Yuxin Ding WORK: The Entertainer SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8kmUkDwgIs ARTIST: Sonny Boy Williamson WORK: Bye Bye Bird SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-PhBryFuIM ARTIST: Carlos Vives WORK: Hijo de Vallenato SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORzwHmeJAmU ARTIST: Piper Jones Band WORK: Live at the Loch Norman Scottish Festival 2023 SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teJu3_eJGnM ARTIST: Chris McMullan WORK: The Limerick Lament SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=Dm3EpfuxuG0 ARTIST: Christy Barry WORK: Traditional Irish Tin Whistle Music (Doolin Style) SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpN36I9xr-o ARTIST: Spokes Mashiyane WORK: A song off the 1959 album "King Kwela" SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adyM1Gx1lHU ARTIST: John Joe Kelly WORK: Bodhrán solo from "Island Songs" SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi1G-A-wdu0 ARTIST: Abby "The Spoon Lady" and Lyle Rickards WORK: I'll Fly Away SOURCE: https://youtu.be/Ibye4LNpWD8?si=Y5wPiddyQXs5Pmj1 ARTIST: Dom Flemons WORK: How To Play the Bones with Dom Flemons SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMokBr9cTxM