The Fiddle and the Drum - Folk music through the ages

With a special perfromance by the Herebugh Morris from 5 30 - 6 pm.

Welcome

to The Fiddle and the Drum, Vox Populi’s concert of folk music.

While devising this programme with Kate, I came across some words by Sydney Carter (an idiosyncratic singer, songwriter and combative Christian who lived for many years before the 1960s folk revival but plowed his own furrow through it) and writer of Crow on the Cradle:

‘If you feed on folk music, what you write and sing will show it. I do eat and drink folk music; but my early diet was chapel, church and music hall, followed by a strong dose of the classics. All this may show up as well.’ SC

Like Sydney, I have many absorbed many musical influences and the arrangements for this concert will show many of those up, while adhering loosely to a ‘folk’ idiom.

‘There is no one right or wrong way of doing these songs. Any way that works is right. What works in a Cathedral may not work in licensed premises. SC

In the best tradition of folk music, I’ve stolen (rather than borrowed) arranging ideas from many artists that I admire, as credited below. Kate introduced me to the work of Lady Maisery and we could have done many more of their songs, they are taken from such interesting sources and arranged so well. I hope the choir and our audience will listen to the original versions of The Crow on the Cradle or Elsie Marley and others.

[A song is not] ‘a simple statement. What is sung or said is only half the song, the silent part is where the action really is. The statement made is a device to spring a question; but the question, and the answer, must come from the listener’ SC

This is particularly true of a folk music audience - who often know a huge amount of repertoire and the origins of the songs.

So the interaction between performers and listeners can be closer than in other idioms.

We used the excellent Mainly Norfolk: English Folk and Other Good Music website (https://mainlynorfolk.info/folk/) quite extensively for their comparisons of different versions of many of the songs.

Really, no song should be learned out of a book. What is written down is only an approximation. Songs should be learned the way you learn to make an omelette or drive a car. By demonstration, imitation and experiment.’ SC

We will learn half the programme by ear, a slow but extremely rewarding process resulting in a truer connection with the music and words and a more direct communication with the listeners.

We are very lucky to be performing with this brilliant band tonight: our love and thanks go to all of them for the inspiration they bring. And we thank our soloists and Vox Populi, for leading us in song.

Finally I salute Vox Populi for their trust, patience and willingness to put together the unusual and exciting programme which we present to you tonight.

Harvey Brough

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Holy Trinity Leamington, Beauchamp Avenue, Royal Leamington Spa, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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