FOLK SONGS OF THE BRITISH ISLES

The rich traditional song heritage superbly displayed by Legendary Voices. This collection of popular folk songs from the British Isles includes several sea shanties thatpossibly have their origin from further afield: Blow the Man Down is thought to have been sung on ships in the West Atlantic and the tune is similar to those sung by African Americans. Its lyrics are indicative of the rough conditions on board ship where discipline was ruled by the fist or the cat o’ nine tails: the chief mates were known as Blowers and their second mates were referred to as Strikers. As well as portraying the violence on board ship shanties told of the loose living when sailors came on shore: A’ Rovin, sometimes called the Maid of Amsterdam, was first mentioned in Robert Heywood’s Rape of Lucrece (1608) and is a lighthearted exchange between a sailor and his lass.Total time: 72:37   The Keel Row Trad. Kathleen Ferrier / Phyllis Spurr (piano) Cushie Butterfield Trad. Owen Brannigan / Gerald Moore Th