Learning the folk
Somebody asked me the other day how they could get their kids interested in folk. A hard question really. In the good old days (which I am so fond of spouting about) there were dozens of folk clubs in any town of a half decent size and, since folk was then regarded as alternative music, the clubs were full and very welcoming. So it was much easier for people who wanted to learn an instrument to do so. Then, when they felt proficient enough, they could get up and practice their craft before an audience.
It's a lot harder now; there aren't the number of folk clubs there were, folk has a hard time getting any serious coverage in the press and, with the exception of , there aren't many organisations devoted to encouraging people (young or old) to get involved in what, to me, is the most important kind of music there is: music made by ourselves, for ourselves, and for the sheer love of it.
I've always believed that schools should teach children the music of these islands as part of the curriculum. It is our heritage. England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales have a fantastic repertoire of traditional song and dance music and some of the longer narrative ballads are as exciting as anything gets involved in. Strangely (although there is a Folk Club) there doesn't seem to be the appetite amongst politicians of any colour for The People's Music. Perhaps that's because a lot of it is to do with protest and riot and rebellion - or am I just an old conspiracy theorist?
I was greatly overjoyed earlier this year when told me that the late was shifted into the schools department of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ because he was a communist. There of course he had free rein to introduce children to the wonders and delights of folk song. It's because of Bert and the folk songs that he introduced into ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio's schools programme Singing Together that so many of us can still remember the tune and the words to at least a handful of our traditional songs. He was a great man;Ìýhow good itÌýwould be if his ghost still walked the corridors of . Then we might get some really good reality TV programmes. What about 'I'm A Celebrity - Teach Me To Play The Banjo?'
Comment number 1.
At 24th Sep 2008, NAWOCMOT wrote:What ever happened to folk? Well there is a great community of musicians based in Brighton of which i am hugely proud to be a part. The willkommen collective consists of an ever expanding repertoire of folk based bands, ranging from the experimental sea shantesque ensemble of the 12 piece 'sons of noel and adrian' to the beautiful delicate songs of moonshinemoonshine.
What ties all these bands together is their use of acoustic instruments, banjos, violins, classicla guitars, really lovely instruments and the fact that everyone supports each others projects.
This is the spirit of folk music. One of sharing, supporting, passing on songs, ideas, and really enjoying the music.
we love what we do and we hope that people who are looking for folk music in 2008/2009 will enjoy what we do and share in our music.
If you want some new folk then check out www.myspace.com/willkommencollective for mnore info, songs, videos etc.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
At 25th Sep 2008, localfreak wrote:I got into folk without any particular clubs being available to me. My family had tapes from The Spinners, The Houghton Weavers, Lindesfarne etc and I grew up listening to them in the car whenever we went on long journeys and loved singing along to them. From there I branched out into other folk music that my mum listened to, like The Clancy Brothers, and my fondness for folk simply grew up with me from there. Prior to seeing The Houghton Weavers last month I had never been to an actual folk gig before- it didn't stop me being able to like the music! Additionally some songs we learnt as compulsorary in school- such as 'The Leaving of Liverpool' and 'Haul Away Joe' and 'Hill and Gully Rider' and the enthusiasm in the performances we gave and the wonderful story-telling feel you get in most folk songs really inspired me.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
At 1st Oct 2008, Jon Freeman wrote:I class Singing Together as being important in my life. It wasn't just that as we would sing songs at home too while Pip/mum played the piano. I learned some songs from a Clancy Brothers series, where I got songs like Paddy West and New South Wales, etc.
I think I mostly (but not entirely) departed from folk in my teens but some songs were always with me as well as an attraction towards simple folk melodies.
Eventually at the ripe old age of I think 27 I started to find the Irish sessions and tenor banjo/mandolin, etc. were to be more for me but however small (cf a real "folk family) I'm grateful for every opportunity and opening I had.
I'd love to see all kids get an instrument and learn they can sing and play and get benefit from the wealth of music that is freely on offer from these Isles.
Perhaps most of all, with my own bias, I'd like them to discover what fun it can be singing or playing together but maybe I'm getting a little fussy there.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 3)