BACKGROUND:
In late 2021 I decided I needed to increase my repertoire and knowledge of traditional folk song. Faced with the myriad versions of each of the thousands of entries in the Roud Song Index, it was difficult to know where to start. So I started at the beginning. As I was selecting and modifying arrangements and working out how to play them in as simple and direct a way as possible, I realised it might be useful resource for anyone else getting started in traditional song, or who maybe just wanted something rooted in the tradition that was easy to sing, play and understand. So this is it. In the booklet, each song has a brief description and history of the story and the music, and other hopefully helpful notes and suggestions, all written in a contemporary, easy-to-read style.
IMAGES:
"a valuable project...
a great way to guide the uninitiated through the vast and often dimly-lit caverns of traditional song"
"interesting, informative, and written with wit and humour; both the text and the arrangements meet the project's aims of being accessible for beginners and newcomers to folk song"
Folk London
"a lovely project...
want to break into traditional singing but don't know
where to start? Check this accessible little guide."
Old Tunes Fresh Takes Podcast
"marvellous...
a key to the folkie locker and a simple first step to singing and
playing trad songs...I hope it's picked up by everyone with
access to a voice box and/or guitar etc."
Phil Widdows, FolkCast
"a beautiful thing"
Jon Boden
"a stunning piece of work...
making folk songs accessible with lyrics, chords, well-written
background info for each song, and recordings to listen to as well"
George Sansome
"a super idea, beautifully simple and straightforward, excellent for beginners, particularly people who pick up songs by ear"
Jim Causley
"a great resource...
for all traditional singers"
The Folk Forecast
"a rather lovely item...
a beginner's guide to traditional song complete with words, chord charts, song backgrounds and downloadable audio guides that are all easy to follow"
Martin Purdy, Harp and a Monkey
"beautiful...
even if you know every song in Roud's
index, these books are worth
having for Karl's incisive
commentary on the songs
and sources."
Piers Cawley