FTX-504 - THE BITTER WITHY

EARLY FOLK CAROLS

20 traditional carols mainly from the West Midlands. Though carols are now mainly sung at Christmas, also included here are carols that were once used at other times of the year, such as the Corpus Christi, DOWN IN YON FOREST, recorded in Derbyshire. Some, such as THE CHERRY TREE CAROL, THE CARNAL AND THE CRANE and DIVERS AND LAZARUS were included in Prof F.J.Child's "ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH POPULAR BALLADS". In addition, some of the singers talk about the carols and the custom of singing them around the villages.

1. ALL HAIL AND PRAISE - Ralph Thomas, Ashton-under-hill, Evesham, Worcestersh rec by Peter Duddridge May 1958 - 1'48"

2. ALL YOU THAT ARE TO MIRTH INCLINED - "The Sinner's Redemption" Elizabeth Hall, Castleton, Derbysh rec by PK May 1957 - 0'36"

3. Mrs. Hall talks about carol-singing - 1'34"

4. THE ANGEL GABRIEL - George Derrington of Marston Green, Warwicksh rec Guarlford, Malvern, Worcs May 1963 & Emily Bishop, rec by PK, Bromsberrow Heath, Herefordshire rec Oct 1952 - 7'48"

5. AS I SAT ON A SUNNY BANK - "I saw three ships" John Thomas, Camborne, Cornwall, rec by PK Sept 1956 - 1'04"

6. THE BITTER WITHY - (a) "The Holy Well" Charlotte Smith (gypsy), Tarrington, Herefordsh, rec by PK Oct 1952 - 0'43"

7. THE BITTER WITHY - (b) William Payne, Gloucester, rec by Maud Karpeles & Patrick Shuldham-Shaw, Aug 1952 - 4'20"

8. THE CARNAL AND THE CRANE [Child #55] - George Derrington (from John James of Cloverley, Staffordshire 1911) - 4'55"

9. THE CHERRY TREE CAROL [Child #54] - John Partridge, Cinderford, Gloucestershire rec by Maud Karpeles & Patrick Shuldham-Shaw Aug 1952 - 4'25"

10. Talk about carol-singing by Emily Bishop - 0'39"

11.CHRISTMAS IS NOW DRAWING NEAR AT HAND - Emily Bishop - 1'45"

12. THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS - "The Christmas Presents" Bob & Ron Copper, Rottingdean, Sussex, rec by PK 1952 - 2'51"

13. DIVERS AND LAZARUS - Emily Bishop (talk bef & aft) - 3'18"

14. DOWN IN YON FOREST (Corpus Christi Carol) - Elizabeth Hall (talk bef & aft) rec by PK 1955 - 0'54"

15. THE FOUNTAIN OF CHRIST'S BLOOD - Emily Bishop - 1'08"

16. THE HOLLY AND THE IVY - Peter Jones, Bromsash, Herefordsh rec by Maud Karpeles & Patrick Shuldham-Shaw 1952 - 2'30"

17. THE JOYS OF MARY - Teresa Maguire, rec by Sean O Boyle, Belfast 1955 - 1'42"

18. THE LITTLE ROOM - Emily Bishop (talk bef) - 1'18"

19. THE MOON SHINES BRIGHT - Albert Beale, Kenardrington, Kent rec by PK & Maud Karpeles 1954 - 2'49"

20. ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT ALL CHRISTIANS SING - Emily Bishop - 1'44"

21. SHEPHERDS ARISE - Bob & Ron Copper - 3'34"

22. THE TWELVE APOSTLES - George Derrington (learnt in Warwickshire 1905) - 2'52"

23. THE VIRGIN UNSPOTTED - Emily Bishop - 3'01"

Recorded & edited by Peter Kennedy and first published on Folktrax cassettes 1978.