Gems of traditional English song, mined from the manuscripts of Sabine Baring-Gould and Cecil Sharp. Some of the songs are presented here for the first time since they were collected. Many are variants of songs that are well known but we feel that the differences give them freshness and renewed charm. The songs we have chosen are mainly from the South-West of England, particularly Devon, though Cornwall is well represented. There are also two songs written by Martin. Vocals - Martin and Shan Graebe Concertina - Keith Kendrick Fiddles - Nick Wyke and Becki Driscoll Additional Vocals - Doug Bailey, Keith Kendrick and Sylvia Needham Track Listing: 1. The bold privateer 2. American stranger 3. Hunting the hare / Adam the poacher 4. Among the green hay 5. Shropshire Union 6. A frigate well manned 7. Come all you worthy Christians 8. Henry Martin 9. The great galleon of Plymouth 10. The lark in the morn 11. The setting of the sun 12. The complaining maid 13. Down in the coal mine 14. My coffin shall be black Reviews: Phil Thomas The Living Tradition (01 July 2009) This second album from Martin and Shan is a self-confessed and unashamed `raid' on the cobweb-ridden corners of the collections of Sabine Baring-Gould and Cecil Sharp and it contains some gems. Martin and Shan are real tradition-bearers, allowing simple, tasteful arrangements to permit the melody and words to stand proudly to the fore. The comprehensive and informative sleevenotes make reference to the difficulties the original collectors had in notating the songs they heard and acknowledge the personal imprint the duo (ably assisted by Keith Kendrick, Nick Wyke, Becki Driscoll and Sylvia Needham) have left on the material. Any such imprint is no distraction. The 'weird' tunes (their description, not mine) of such songs as The Complaining Maid are challenging to listen to (and sing, I'm sure) and worth the effort. A Frigate Well Manned is another song that repays repeated listening. I have admired Martin's songwriting for some years and particularly enjoyed his two original songs on this album ('Shropshire Union' and the really memorable `Great Galleon of Plymouth'). I'm sure they will shift plenty of these at their gigs. Yet another tip of the hat to Doug Bailey at Wild Goose Studios ...he doesn't seem to put a foot wrong these days. Vic Smith fRoots (01 May 2009) The received opinion of the collecting work of Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould as a folk song collector seems to have changed over the last few decades from 'Victorian bowdleriser' to 'important song collecting pioneer'. This was mainly the result of lots of new documentary evidence about the man coming to light and the way that this information has been researched and disseminated, mainly by Martin Graebe. No surprise then that there are 11 items here -the second album from Martin and Shan on WildGoose - that are culled from the Baring-Gould manuscripts. The most significant things about the ones that they have chosen to include from this archive are the interesting and different melodies that they advance to carry the familiar stories of Molly Bawn, Henry Martin and The Lark In The Morn. Of course, for many older readers, the first time that we heard the name was back in 1973 when Martyn Wyndham-Read recorded Martin's composition, Harry The Hawker Is Dead as the title track of an album and there are reminders of Martin's songwriting here with a canal song from the 1970s and the delights of a gargantuan Great Galleon Of Plymouth which is at one remove from The Derby Ram. Two tracks really grab the attention. The skilful pairing of Hunting The Hare and Adam The Poacher is given a considerable lift by the punchy twin fiddles of Nick Wyke and Becki Driscoll providing strong cross-rhythms. Then they finish the album with My Coffin Shall Be Black which is heard as a children's song amongst Scots travellers and is given an interesting anthemic, fugal treatment. Clive Pownceby EDS (EFDSS) (02 March 2009) 'For this, our second CD together, we have mined the collections of Sabine Baring-Gould and Cecil Sharp for these little gems' say the artists in their liner notes to this rewarding release. The title comes from 'Down in the Coal Mine', noted at Hambridge, Somerset, in 1903 from Louie Hooper and Lucy White, and in Sharp's manuscripts but unpublished -presumably because of his note 'not, of course a folk song.' What you'll hear from these two singers decidedly is folk song and they have produced a potent, heartfelt album; a cohesive work, not just a grab-bag of odds and sods. Continuing themes from their first recording Parallel Lines, though not a strict sequel, theirs is a fresh and beautifully realised approach to English traditional song, mainly from the south-west. Featuring solos and harmonies, facilitated by additional voices, fiddle and concertina, the Graebes' CD show a deep understanding of the tradition, with arrangements and accompaniments directing the listener to the essence of the material - and what material! 'Among the Green Hay', sung exquisitely by Shan, perfectly complements the melody behind and similarly `The Lark in the Morn' sounds as organic and natural as possible, with the partners' vocals making for an emotional whole, rather than 'style over substance' singing. The choice blend of subject matter, an ample booklet with photos of the source singers and a scholarly overview demonstrating an appreciation of core values, should all endear Martin and Shan to you. They've surely found a place in this reviewer's heart. Seriously satisfying. |
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