FTX-129 - COUNTRY SONGS & CAROLS

Recorded by Peter Kennedy at Bromsberrow Heath, Herefordshire, Emily sings two ballads, four love songs, one Wassail and eight carols. She also talks about the local Morris dancers, carol-singing and about her school. Few female traditional ballad-singers had been recorded in England, so this somewhat unique tape, dating from the early fifties, fills an important gap in the coverage of English folk song.

1. NO SIR Talk before song - 2'23"

2. Talk about herself, the Morris and local carol-singing - 9'15"

3. BLOW THE WINDY MORNING (Child Ballad No.112/ The Baffled Knight) - 2'14"

4. LORD LOVEL (Child Ballad No. 75) - 1'52"

5. THE BANKS OF THE SWEET PRIMEROSES (talk before) - 2'09"

6. JACK TAR (or THE SAUCY SAILOR) (talk before) - 2'49"

7. THE DARK-EYED SAILOR - 2'58"

8. HERE WE COME A-WASSAILING - 1'43"

9. Further talk about carols and school - 1'20"

10. Carol: THE MOON SHINES BRIGHT (talk before) - 2'27"

11. Further talk about carols - 1'27"

12. THE ANGEL GABRIEL (with talk after) - 7'23"

13. THE FOUNTAIN OF CHRIST'S BLOOD - 0'56"

14. DIVERS AND LAZARUS (talk before & after) - 4'10"

15. THE VIRGIN UNSPOTTED (talk before) - 3'29"

16. ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT (talk before) - 2'01"

17. THE LITTLE ROOM (first few verses only) - 1'19"

18. THE LINE TO HEAVEN - 6'58"

Recorded by Peter Kennedy 1952. #3-8 inclusive the songs are dubbed from disk, the rest from original tapes. Edited by Peter Kennedy and first published on Folktrax Cassettes 1975.

Emily BISHOP was 73 when this recording was made at her home, 3 Bell Cottage, Bromsberrow Heath, near Ledbury, Herefordshire. Her father kept the village inn and was the "King" (Fool) of the local team of Morris dancers.

When Peter Kennedy first asked her about songs, she said she could only remember bits, as she had not sung them for about 40 years. However the equipment failed and when Peter returned a few days later, she kept the recording machine busy for several hours without a break. Asked where she learned most of her songs she said: "from my brothers and old people in the village".