Alright, here's the situation...

Subject: Alright, here's the situation...
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 10:14 AM

I'm making a compilation for a friend of mine who would like to be introduced to folk music. I need some suggestions as to what to put on. Some lists, top 10 favorites, anything. I don't want to just throw some stuff on there... need a plan.

Subject: RE: Alright, here's the situation...
From: mack/misophist
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 10:21 AM

First, you need to define it. There's the rub.

Subject: RE: Alright, here's the situation...
From: DMcG
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 10:22 AM

I would try to find out what they like first. If its classical, use the melodies and songs that inspired Vaughan Williams "Fantasia on Sea Songs", or whatever. If they like choral, try some harmony singers; for rock, try some Fairport perhaps.

In short, don't start them straight on the early cylinder recordings and expect a classical music enthusiast to be inspired!

Subject: RE: Alright, here's the situation...
From: Amos
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 10:35 AM

Introduced to folk music?

Early Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, The Weavers, Leadbelly, Frank Warner, Burl Ives...maybe some Theo Bikel and some Marais and Miranda for international flavour...

that ought to do for an introduction.

Then they can start a dialogue.

A

Subject: RE: Alright, here's the situation...
From: SINSULL
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 10:36 AM

Oh for heaven's sakes guys, lighten up! Get him some Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie CDs. Add some Kendall Morse, Art Thieme, and the Golden Circle recordings that the Patons put together. Then include all or any of the CDs sold at the Getaway by performers like George P, Alaska Mike, Elizabeth L. - he will have some traditional UK, US folk, and singer songwriter and a taste of what it is like to sit with friends and share some music. Better yet, take him to a local song circle or pub. And add some Guinness to make it truly "folk".

Subject: RE: Alright, here's the situation...
From: SINSULL
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 10:38 AM

Sorry Amos - we cross posted. You had already said it.

Subject: RE: Alright, here's the situation...
From: Amos
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 10:39 AM

Wal, we were pointing in different directions, but I like yours!


A

Subject: RE: Alright, here's the situation...
From: Deckman
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 10:59 AM

Back when I was teaching beginning folk guitar, a hundred years ago, at the local college, I made a compilation tape. We would listen to a few minutes of it at the close of most classes. I had fun making it as the entire world of folk music was open to me.

I only recorded a short piece of each selection, not the entire song. Doing it this way allowed the students the widest exposure to many different performers, styles and pieces. After class, many students would come up and want to hear more of a particular piece, or instumental style, etc. I would then send them on to the library where they could find the entire album of say: Ian and Sylvia, or Richard Dyer-Bennet, or Burl Ives.

I have heard from many students over the years that this was a very useful thing to do. Some students even became quite excited about a particular performer and went on to study their style at great length.

This might be one way to expose your friend to this vast worl. Good luck, Bob

Subject: RE: Alright, here's the situation...
From: open mike
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 11:23 AM

might i suggest purchasing the set of mudcat discs?
there are many wnoderful songs and tunes there..
a diverse cross section of music submitted by
mudcats....the blue plate special set is but a
mere $60 if purchased together....$75 value and
your purchase supports the mudcat. The cuts are
all donated by mudcat members, and there is a
great mix of humourous, serious, traditional,
and new compositions...go to the quicklinks
at the upper right hand corner of the screen
and find the drop down menu "order mudcat c.d.'s"

Other wise, I am sure we must have discussed this
at one time or another: musical favorites, top 10.
etc.

For the Record i would include some Greg Brown,
perhaps the Poet Game, Joan Baez, Kate Wolf,
some bluegrass (Laurie Lewis), Celtic (Chieftains),
John McCutcheon (social comment), blues (Chris
Smithers) old time Ralph Stanley, it is really
hard to narrow it down to one c.d.'s worth of material!
There are cowboy songs, sea chanties, Child Ballads,
and so much more...

Subject: RE: Alright, here's the situation...
From: Amos
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 11:40 AM

ANd let us not lose sight of our origins in the Anglo-Saxon world -- throw in some Richard Dyer-Bennett, and perhaps some good Irish and Scots recordings as a sampler!

A

Subject: RE: Alright, here's the situation...
From: GUEST,Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 11:57 AM

Here's an approach that might work: First, make a list of every genre you can think of (or every genre you like or have examples of) within the general category of folk music. Then pick your favorite song or tune in each genre.

For instance: bluegrass, western swing, acoustic blues, spirituals, Child ballads, Irish jigs and reels (etc.), modern singer-songwriter, modern political protest, old-time country, Tex-Mex, Cajun—that should be enough to get the idea.

If you need more ideas, try sorting out your record collection by instrument, by nationality, by size of group, by language, by vocal/instrumental—by any other categorizing scheme you can think of—and then try to get a representative sample from each category.

Subject: RE: Alright, here's the situation...
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 12:04 PM

Chris

I know some will think I'm a pain in the backside but if you copy CD records etc you infringe copyright, lend your friend the originals and encourage them to buy from artists. Many artists, particularly in the folk scene gain much needed shekels from CD sales

Cheers

Raggy

Subject: RE: Alright, here's the situation...
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 12:16 PM

You seem to be moving toward compiling an anthology - I'd recommend doing the same within each genre. For instance, in bluegrass, a person's first introduction to Bill Monroe's high lonesome sound (or as some might hear it - nasal and shrill) should be off-set by the more mellow tones of Mac Wiseman, etc.

Don't forget to include, sparingly, some of the "Roots" musicians who preceded Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, and the Weavers.

Subject: RE: Alright, here's the situation...
From: open mike
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 12:51 PM

you will get better results if your thread title is more specific and
conveys a bit more of what the topic is. in the future, consider this
when composing threads.

Subject: RE: Alright, here's the situation...
From: PoppaGator
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 12:51 PM

No matter who else, be sure to include some MIssissippi John Hurt.

Subject: RE: Alright, here's the situation...
From: GUEST,Scouse
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 12:54 PM

Don't forget Stan Rogers !!

Subject: Making a folk anthology...
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 04:53 PM

for a friend of mine. I like the suggestions so far, lots of different ideas. I figured this would be the best place to go for help on the subject...

Subject: RE: Alright, here's the situation...
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 05:02 PM

D McG made what seems to me the wisest suggestion: "I would try to find out what they like first."

Getting into folk music is a journey, and you start a journey from where you are.

Subject: RE: Alright, here's the situation...
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 11:23 PM

Row, Row, Row your Boat!

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

It would be a good place for you to start, also, Mr. Nightbird

Subject: RE: Alright, here's the situation...
From: pavane
Date: 27 Oct 04 - 09:18 AM

Some years ago, I played a tape of Young Tradition to a friend who is a musician and was into heavy metal.

He was so impressed that when he found the records were unobtainable, he took his own cassette deck up to the record company and managed to get them to copy the masters for him! (Btw, They ARE now available on CD)

So you can never tell what someone might enjoy.

Since then, he has also discovered Nic Jones.

Subject: RE: Alright, here's the situation...
From: annamill
Date: 27 Oct 04 - 01:02 PM

When you have completed the tape perhaps you would consider auctioning off a couple of copies in our auction. I'd bid on it. All money would go to Mudcat of course.

I know, copyright problems. Phooey!

Love, Annamill

Subject: RE: Alright, here's the situation...
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 28 Oct 04 - 12:27 AM

I could always send my own disc to the CAT, couldn't I?

Subject: RE: Alright, here's the situation...
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 28 Oct 04 - 01:04 AM

YES! Please do that!

Sincerely,
Gargoyle