"Golden Songs of Devon"


Golden Songs of Devon	x Unbelievable! This was the FIRST CD collection of purely Devonshire Songs, and is still in demand. A true taste of Traditional Devon by Ian Marshall (Winner of the 2008 SONG4DEVON Competition: Choral Category)
	The traditional songs of Devon have been seriously neglected for many years. They are rarely heard in folk clubs, nor have they been widely recorded and made available to the public - even to the people of Devon whose heritage they are. They may know Widecombe Fair, but..... Some time ago, local singer Ian Marshall recorded many of these songs for his own pleasure. Some of the music was sourced from the famous collections by Baring Gould in Plymouth`s Central Library; some of the songs Ian had heard sung by other singers. These recordings, still as fresh as ever, form the basis of Ian`s new CD *Golden Songs of Devon* Buy online or direct from Ian See below.
Devon`s heritage of song is not summed up in Widecombe Fair! Famous though it may be, it is only one of the many superb traditional songs on this brand new CD. Here you will find the hilarious tale of a trip to Tavistock Goosey Fair; a Plymouth sailor`s view of his lifestyle; a jingoistic account of Drake`s defeat of the Armada; a sad reminder of the links between Kingsbridge and the wars in America; a story of the all-conquering bell ringers of North Lew; a deer hunt in Yelverton - from the deer`s point of view! - and many other picturesque and evocative tales, all told to the tune of melodies arising from the heart of Devonshire`s rich cultural and historical past	CDs GBP 10 each, plus GBP 2 p/p per item E-mail: ian@floraldance.com OR Telephone: 01579 321433 See below for the Complete Song List with details & extracts	*Do you do requests?*
GOLDEN SONGS of DEVON is still the BEST CD of traditional Devon songs currently available. Ian Marshall`s other CDs include: 21 SONGS of CORNWALL The first and still most comprehensive album of `proper Cornish` songs, both humorous and historical, romantic and strange. SINGING for CORNWALL The follow-up album, with many more songs plus a selection of Cornish dance tunes recorded in Ian`s unique multi-track arrangements. SWITCHED-ON CORNWALL A wide-ranging selection of Cornish dance tunes meet and mingle in an entertaining electronic adventure. FUNNIEST ANIMAL ALBUM and SING SPORT Entertaining songs about animals, sports and games of all kinds. THE FATHER CHRISTMAS SONG The seasonal title song is followed by more of Ian`s songs for children plus a selection of favourites that parents will remember. All CDs GBP 10 + GBP 2 p/p per item Click HERE for details OR E-mail ian@floraldance.com. Telephone 01579 321433 For details of Ian`s book The Amazing Story of THE FLORAL DANCE Click HERE	*SONG LIST and SLEEVE NOTES* 1.TAVISTOCK GOOSEY FAIR. This famous song written for voice and piano by C J Trythall in 1912 shows how fond he was of the Devonshire scenes and characters. 2.EDDYSTONE LIGHT. A slightly ersatz ditty, but great fun. The Eddystone Lighthouse is fourteen miles off Plymouth. Glim means light. PLAY 3.WELCOME TO MORWELLHAM (IM) I wrote this extended piece to celebrate the success of the Morwellham Trust on reviving Morwellham Quay, near Tavistock, as a superb living monument to the past. If you haven`t been there... go! . PLAY 4.TAVISTOCK RAMBLEAWAY. This radiant tune supports a fairly common story of seduction and its consequences, though related in some picturesque language. 5.THE CALABAR. A wonderful bit of nonsense. Songs about the perils of sea trips and battles are lampooned here. The Calabar is a flat-bottomed barge, apparently going the wrong way up the Teignmouth to Newton Canal. 6.THE FRIGATE. Many songs allude to girls as sailing vessels. Sadly, this `frigate` has too many faults. 7.NEWFOUNDLAND. A truly amazing tune, matching the ruggedness of the merchant sailors` lives, which is vividly described in these detailed verses. 8.PLYMOUTH OUTWARD BOUND. A sailor`s dream: a quick blast at the enemy, then back to the pub and the girls. 9.FAREWELL KINGSBRIDGE. No glamorous or heroic poses are struck here as recruits assemble in Kingsbridge en route to America during the War of Independence. 10.SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. Local hero Drake and his inept enemies. The historical inaccuracies suggest it was written well after the event, and/or by someone more interested in humour than history. 11.GREEN BESOMS. Rustic brooms made from broom-tree branches did not resemble witches` broomsticks. Our craftsman may sing partly to advertise, partly to keep himself company. 12.BELLRINGING. Ringers may find some anomalies in this account of the famous North Lew men, but it`s all good-natured and the bell-like tune is delightful. 13.BAMFIELD MOORE CAREW (IM) A colourful Devon traveller and trickster, whose exploits showed both daring and imagination. 14.YELVERTON DOE. I find this `green` tale unbearably sad, not only because of the animal`s suffering but because it is so at odds with the bouncing tune. Yelverton is a corruption of Elford`s Town 15.WIDECOMBE FAIR. Does Widecombe deserve its fame? Neither Tom Pierce nor the ill-fated riders actually came from Widecombe, after all, since they needed to ride there for the Fair! 16. HEAVE AWAY. This song is known all over the country, and this locally-known version preserves the superb dance-like melody. In the end, the cheeky girl gives the sailor the brush-off. 17. BARLEY MOW. A cumulative song in celebration of the barley harvest (mow), and a breakneck lesson in Imperial liquid measures. 18. SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY (IM) Like No 3 above, a sort of `singing guidebook`. The enterprise, which started life as the Dart Valley Railway, has expanded impressively over the years. I think I`ve got the dates right in charting the events and local implications of the `Beeching` years. (IM 2006) NB. Titles marked (IM) are Ian`s own songs. The rest are Devon trad.