Folk Files

Is "The MTA Song" a conservative song or a communist song (or neither)? And why did record companies try to hide the origins of the tune of one of the most prolific early 20th century country songs? Find out in this episode of Folk Files, which discusses "The MTA," "The Wreck of the Old '97," and "The Ship That Never Returned."
Host: Olivia Harding
Support Folk Files: https://www.patreon.com/c/FolkFilesPodcast
Check out the new website: https://folkfilespodcast.com/
Special thanks to Aaron J. Morton
Reach out to Folk Files at [email protected]
For a full list of musical excerpts associated with this episode, head to the episode page on the Folk Files website: https://folkfilespodcast.com/season-3/episode-3-2/

Welcome to the third season of Folk Files! We are starting off the year with a Robert Burns-themed episode to celebrate Burns Night on January 25th. Learn about the traditions associated with the Burns Night Supper and discover how Robert Burns was indispensable when it came to preserving Scottish folk music. 
Host: Olivia Harding
Support Folk Files: https://www.patreon.com/c/FolkFilesPodcast
Check out the new website: https://folkfilespodcast.com/
Listen to The Rhythm Atlas: https://rhythmatlas.com/listen/
Special thanks to Aaron J. Morton
Reach out to Folk Files at [email protected]
For a full list of musical excerpts associated with this episode, head to the episode page on the Folk Files website: https://folkfilespodcast.com/season-3/episode-3-1/

Happy Holidays! Coventry Carol is a lullaby to a "little tiny child"...but surprisingly, that child is not Jesus. Learn more about this Christmas carol that was almost lost to time, including the history of modern Western Theatre and the origins of the picardy third, in this final episode of the second season of Folk Files.
Host: Olivia Harding
Support Folk Files: https://www.patreon.com/c/FolkFilesPodcast
Special thanks to Aaron J. Morton
 
Musical excerpts:
ARTIST: The Sixteen
WORK: The Coventry Carol
SOURCE: https://youtu.be/_jIYyPOoEc8?si=mgPi4WH4G9LUnMT7
 
ARTIST: Sting (from A Winter's Night Live from Durham Cathedral)
WORK: Coventry Carol
SOURCE: https://youtu.be/hahwYqQd_gA?si=wJR4Qz-ZmUW9IaD2
 
ARTIST: Nora Fischer and Marnix Dorrestein
WORK:  Oblivion Soave from Monteverdi's L'Incoronazione di Poppea
SOURCE: https://youtu.be/JTHQqJDV4os?si=820upsG60MJJyC5M
 
ARTIST: Jeanette Blakeley
WORK: "Lullaby" from Menotti's The Consul
SOURCE: https://youtu.be/nImWN8o1f-E?si=Coj_UsTcod6m1Bbr
 
ARTIST: Barry and Beth Hall
WORK: Coventry Carol
SOURCE: https://youtu.be/JCFg4S3kSV4?si=CleozvHduvVsAAxB
 
ARTIST: Chicago
WORK: Wishing You Were Here
SOURCE: https://youtu.be/Zv0OwvsP0ek?si=cVc25wbawFlT7pkw
 
ARTIST: The Zombies
WORK: Time of the Season
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8ecsAI3FhY
 
ARTIST: Alison Moyet
WORK: The Coventry Carol
SOURCE: https://youtu.be/kcrYqDqCN_Y?si=DoKE80e3peRMtvSo
 
ARTIST: The Choir of Magdalen College Oxford
WORK: Song of the Nuns of Chester
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0UtKzXb9Js
 
ARTIST: The Cambridge Singers
WORK: Coventry Carol (composed by Kenneth Leighton)
SOURCE: https://youtu.be/uAA0lZ1YG90?si=VQYE2a0KSeFhZGks
 
ARTIST: Sufjan Stevens
WORK: Coventry Carol
SOURCE: https://youtu.be/o6492UYw_hs?si=U0k6ZlmkfoIcULct

In this bonus episode of Folk Files, I interview Ruth Perry, the author of The Ballad World of Anna Gordon, Mrs. Brown of Falkland. Anna Gordon is one of the most famous source singers in the history of folk music from the British Isles, and Ruth Perry's book dives into her life as a woman and ballad singer in 18th century Scotland.


The book is available at https://global.oup.com/academic/
It's pricy, and understandably so, since it contains a wealth of new information and scholarship, but you can use the discount code AAFLYG6 to save 30%.


You can listen to the accompanying ballads for free at https://global.oup.com/booksites/content/9780198939092/
In this episode, I use clips from the following songs: Lady Elspat, King Henry, Lamkin, and Thomas Rymer & Queen of Elfland


You can purchase a CD with all twelve of the ballads at birnamcdshop.com or on Amazon (See more information here: https://www.birnamcd.com/birnam-pr/anna-gordon/ )


This interview has been edited for time.
Special Thanks to Ruth Perry and Aaron J. Morton

For a long time, "The Death of Queen Jane" has been considered a folk song that takes artistic liberties with the historic event of the birth of Edward VI to Jane Seymour in 1537. But is it possible that the song hints at a more complicated story, filled with propaganda and intrigue? Explore the intersection of Tudor history and folk ballads in this episode of Folk Files.


Host: Olivia Harding
Support Folk Files: https://www.patreon.com/c/FolkFilesPodcast


Musical excerpts:
ARTIST: Oscar Isaac
WORK: The Death of Queen Jane
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfeKFKG3JWM


ARTIST: Cyril Tawney
WORK: The Death of Queen Jane
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESUdOHChNKw


ARTIST: Joan Baez
WORK:  The Death of Queen Jane
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6ZNp9le6x8


ARTIST: Bedlam Early Music
WORK: The Death of Queen Jane
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYGWmV2XAnU


ARTIST: Peggy Seeger
WORK: The Death of Queen Jane
SOURCE: https://youtu.be/7z0KILKEZhk?si=qmkqUwFtPVlKyaGH


ARTIST: Duncan Williamson
WORK: The Death of Queen Jane
SOURCE: https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AB34LE2XNHS5FC8O


ARTIST: John Jacob Niles
WORK: The Death of Queen Jane
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnUaWKysPQM


ARTIST: Isla Cameron
WORK: The Death of Queen Jane
SOURCE: https://youtu.be/mMmHkgq1_T0?si=MAzM8qm8_0wHxoAc


ARTIST: Karine Polwart
WORK: The Death of Queen Jane
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT2uqT3am1M


ARTIST: Bothy Band
WORK: The Death of Queen Jane
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYHkpjkZvJA