The folk music of England is a tradition-based music, which has existed since the later medieval period. It is often contrasted with courtly, classical and later commercial music. Folk music is traditionally preserved and passed on orally within communities, but print and subsequently audio recordings have since become the primary means of transmission. The term is used to refer both to English traditional music and music composed or delivered in a traditional style. It can be seen as having distinct regional and local variations in content and style, particularly in areas more removed from the cultural and political centres of the English state, as in Northumbria , or the West Country. Cultural interchange and processes of migration mean that English folk music, although in many ways distinctive, has significant crossovers with the music of Scotland. When English communities migrated to the United States , Canada and Australia , they brought their folk traditions with them, and many of the songs were preserved by immigrant communities. English folk music has produced or contributed to several cultural phenomena, including sea shanties , jigs , hornpipes and the music for Morris dancing. It has also interacted with other musical traditions, particularly classical and rock music , influencing musical styles and producing musical fusions , such as British folk rock , folk punk and folk metal. There remains a flourishing sub-culture of English folk music, which continues to influence other genres and occasionally gains mainstream attention.
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Linda Crampton has loved music since childhood. She plays the piano and recorder, sings, and listens to classical, folk, and early music. Traditional folk songs were often sung unaccompanied, but sometimes a fiddle or other instrument provided an accompaniment. Folk songs are an important part of our culture. They are often very enjoyable to hear and can transmit facts and ideas to listeners. Traditional folk songs generally come from a culture that no longer exists, but they are still interesting. They allow us to glimpse a time that has passed but that may still influence us. The traditional songs that I've chosen for this article are four of my personal favourites. The definition of "folk song" is somewhat nebulous.
I Gave My Love a Cherry
Click on the link or the drop-down menu above to take a listen. When we first came to traditional folk music, we stood at the foot of the mountain and wondered at the sheer size of what loomed ahead. You might find it by chance — a centuries-old song that grabs you and sticks with you and makes you wonder what else might be out there — or you might find that someone offers you a leg-up. After all, each have tales about some chap in some pub somewhere who can play the hind legs off all the donkeys, but chose not to make a career out of it, or someone legendary who passed away years ago but, boy, you shoulda heard them play the spoons. We hope you find it useful.
It's a compelling story, boasting a number of thrilling twists and cinematic moments. A young nobleman returns to his country estate to find his servants gossiping hysterically, and his newlywed wife gone, apparently kidnapped by a troop of gypsies. He saddles his pony and rides after them only to discover that, far from being taken by force, his renegade wife has no intention of returning to her caged former existence, preferring a life with her wild new companions, in a cold open field under the stars —Daniel Brittain, countertenor. It features a stunning solo by our second tenor, Dominic, and utilises some wonderfully subtle and radiant harmony. Very sadly, John unexpectedly passed away in , leaving behind a pregnant wife, Lily.
