Spent the morning listening to Pentangle via my ND5XS2 into my Harbeths via a Nait 50, sometimes the music just comes together and today was one of those days
I really like that track.
Back in the day when I first had an interest in acoustic music I was recommended Bert, but I did not appreciate his art. Fifty odd years on, his work is a pleasure.
I was lucky enough to see him a few times. A master of his art, he could wring any emotion he chose from those strings. I can remember a couple of times with a non-original Pentangle line-up at a small club in London in the mid-80s (it might have been called Jacqui McShee’s Pentangle Club), I remember the line-up had Jansch, McShee and Danny Thompson of the originals.
Then he gave a master-class in solo acoustic guitar at Cambridge Folk Festival in 1990 (in a lineup that included Altan, the Albions, Don MacLean, Kathryn Tickell, June Tabor & The Oysterband and Michelle Shocked, I’m pretty sure it was that year where Rory Gallagher was due to play one electric and one acoustic set and got ill and had to cancel).
Shirley Collins on Desert Island Discs. How did I miss this first time around, or is it a new episode?
Delightful music and story of her life.
National Folklore Survey. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/oct/20/robin-hood-morris-dances-and-ufos-english-folklore-survey-gets-post-brexit-reboot
In Worcestershire there are lots of reports of big cats at the moment. Not sure how folklore might connect with music, so apologies if this is off-topic.
First broadcast last year. But an excellent mix of biography and music.
Interesting thought … I’ll ask around.
I don’t go to the folk clubs around here, Stroud, but I would expect contemporary folk music to reflect local stories.
If you like “Rosemary Lane” search You Tube for "Bert Jansch Royal Festival Hall 1971, you’ll find a recording I made from a front row seat, it was his current album at the time and features heavily in the set. Sound is remarkably good…considering.
Their tracks with Sandy Denny are certainly worth seeking. ‘All our own work’ I think?
Enjoying listening to Clannad’s “Legend” on Qobuz. The 40th anniversary extended edition, including previously unreleased tracks from the much-loved tv series “Robin of Sherwood”.
A local musician has recently set Laurie Lee’s stories to music. Not exactly contemporary stories and perhaps reflecting on a recent anniversary. I must see if I can get a copy.
I think there’s no CD/download yet? But demos and a spoken commentary on the site you posted. I listened to ‘Murder at the Cross’, Lisa Fitzgibbon and Jon Fletcher. ‘Cider with Rosie’ was on the school curriculum in the 1970s, so I guess many will know the stories.