Stories as the foundations of traditional folk music.

Norma Waterson: English Folk Singing - for iPad/Mac/PC

Telling a Story

Norma Waterson: English Folk Singing

Norma Waterson remembers her childhood and reveals how she became a traditional English folk singer.

Becoming a folk singer

How traditional songs relate to other musical movements. Differences in gender within the music.

Tradition and History

The meanings behind the songs, where they originate from, dating back to the Vikings.

Rituals and Ceremonies

The tradition of Wassailling, looking to it's roots, and how it is still being carried out today.

Wassails

The story behind the song 'Green Goes the Laurel'.

"Green grows the laurel" – intro

Norma Waterson performs the song 'Green Goes the Laurels'.

"Green grows the laurel" – performance

Norma Waterson performs the song 'Bright shiny morning'.

"Bright shiny morning”

Norma Waterson performs the song 'the flowers of knaresborough forest'.

"The flowers of Knaresborough forest"

Norma introduces the song 'Death and the Lady' explaining the meanings behind the words and where the song originated from. She then performs it.

"Death and the lady"

Song, in its many forms, surrounds us - and may have been a feature of life since the very beginnings of human history. It is practiced in every society in the world, its importance undiminished in modern times. The tracks on this album focus on English Folk singing, the traditions behind the songs, and the stories behind the traditions. Performances from folk singer Norma Waterson complete the fascinating journey through English folk heritage. This material is drawn from The Open University course AA317 Words and music.