Search - Amber Quartet;Dr. Faustus;Jon Spires;Ian Page;Ian Giles;Dragonsfire;Matthew Spring;Sharon Spring;and many more :: Folk Music of the British Isles

Folk Music of the British Isles This 4 cd boxset presents some of Britain s finest folk musicians performing a selection of songs and instrumental music. These recordings have the air of spontaneous, impromptu performance, a coming together to make music, which is one of the hallmarks of the folk music scene. It is as is the recording engineers were allowed to eves drop on the music making and captured frozen improvisations. The variety of sound on this album is remarkable and the number of instruments and voices involved produces some remarkable programmes. But don t be fooled by the apparent ease these musicians work hard, rehearsing and arranging behind the scenes (or discreetly working and honing their style during a jam session in a quiet town or country pub). The result is a carefully crafted music, which honours the past but which, like all living things, moves on and develops. Next time they play and sing the results will be different. The old folk melodies are honoured and respected and are treated as raw material for high quality music making. Disc 1 Folk Music from England
The album presents songs from throughout the country. Local songs from Lancashire (tracks 9-11) rub shoulders with the Lincolnshire Poacher. Morris tunes mix with sailors' hornpipes, drinking songs and songs of harvest and hunting as the recording celebrates the mixture of seafaring and country living which has marked the development of England over the centuries. Disc 2 Folk Music of Ireland
This album presents famous tunes (track 1) alongside some which are less well-known outside the folk tradition. The river Bann, the counties of Kildare and Galway and many other places all inspired music making and songs at one time or another throughout the history of this musical land. Jigs, reels and other dances mix with songs about nature, folk legends and characters from the past. Disc 3 Folk Music from Scotland
This album presents some of the finest music from the Northernmost part of the British Isles. Songs of nature and dancing predominate, but there are Celtic tales of magic and mystery such as 'Tam lin', dreamy sounds such as 'Mingulay Boat Song' and the down to earth humour of 'Tibby Fowler'. Disc 4 Folk Music from Wales
Lullabies, legends and country dances mix with genteel drawing room music on this album of the folk music of Wales. Harp, voices, dulcimer and oboe bring a richness of sound to ancient songs with origins lost in the midst of time.