Sing me a tale

A book that recently came accross my desk is Broadstreet Ballads: songs from the streets, taverns, theatres and countryside of 17th century England (Can't find any links to buy it at this time - still working on that). It's a really cute assortment of songs with comentary by the editor, who seems to have really done her homework on the histories. They include lyrics and either the tune for the song, another tune it was published with in the past, or an alternate tune when the original is not available.

I really love music from the 15th - 17th centuries in England. Am I one of those Renny people? Yep. The ballads of the times were often v. fun and lighthearted. Or, they acted as Variety, singing about gossip or events. They were v. ephemeral, as well. Some were written down, others not. Some were saved through the years, others forgotten just as quickly as they were composed. It was a part of the long bardic history, and a song becoming v. popular was like topping the Billboard charts.

I wonder if is the aural aestheic of the period that appeals to me? It's so lilting and light. I guess this is due to the neccessity of singing a capella or with a few carried instruments, but there is definately a plus to minimal accompianment and simple melodies. Maybe it's the instrumentation - lyres, harps, mandolins, wooden flutes - and the certain timbres they have. I think that's the most of it - the sound of the intstruments. Hmm, no the storytelling. Oh, Bugger. All of it - I love all of it!

Today I don't know that there is a real corelate in the music world. Country often has the storytelling aspect to it, but then so do some r&b songs. The American folk tradition, esp. from the 1960s definately has some trends like that - the current events, the lilting, bardic sound. Even before the sixties I think the folk music would be sort of similar. Alot of storytelling, history making, and all that.

Sounds like I 've rambled, but I'm feeling too terrible to clean it up. Take it as it is.