The "Child Ballads" are a large collection of 305 songs from England and Scotland compiled by Francis James Child in the late 19th century. Here, Ewan MacColl presents 13 of these songs, sung without accompaniment. MacColl explains the notion of the ballad: "Defined in it's simplest terms, the ballad is a folksong that tells a story... is always narrative, and is always learned from the lips of others rather than by reading." the songs presented here all detail historical events from Scotland and England. It is appropriate then that they are sung by MacColl who himself played a role in English history through his affiliation to the communist parties of the 1930's which hindered his musical career at the time. His roots in the laboring class add authenticity to the concept of the ballad which grew out of the "popular" lower classes. Liner notes include some song information and lyrics.
5 The Burning O'Auchendoun - Willie MacIntosh- Child 183
6 Oud Goodman - Our Gudeman - Child 274
7 The Rantin Laddie - Child 240
8 Bawbee Allan - Barbara Allen - Child 84
9 The Brown Girl - Lord Thomas and Fair Annet - Child 73
10 The Three Ravens - Child 26
11 The Bonnie Earl O' Murray - Child 181
12 The Battle of Harlaw - Child 163
13 Thomas Rhymer - Thomas Rymour - Child 37
The "Child Ballads" are a large collection of 305 songs from England and Scotland compiled by Francis James Child in the late 19th century. Here, Ewan MacColl presents 13 of these songs, sung without accompaniment. MacColl explains the notion of the ballad: "Defined in it's simplest terms, the ballad is a folksong that tells a story... is always narrative, and is always learned from the lips of others rather than by reading." the songs presented here all detail historical events from Scotland and England. It is appropriate then that they are sung by MacColl who himself played a role in English history through his affiliation to the communist parties of the 1930's which hindered his musical career at the time. His roots in the laboring class add authenticity to the concept of the ballad which grew out of the "popular" lower classes. Liner notes include some song information and lyrics.
