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Ballads and Songs of the Blue Ridge Mountains: Persistence and Change

Various Artists
Ballads and Songs of the Blue Ridge Mountains: Persistence and Change

Stemming from a want to preserve the dwindling unique oral traditions of the Blue Ridge Mountain back-country region, Eric Davidson, Paul Newman and Caleb Finch performed field recordings of songs that exemplified the evolution of ballads in the region, creating an anthology of music that characterized the musical mountain traditions. Originating from folk music of the British Isles, many of the songs are performed with little or no instrumental accompaniment. These beautiful archaic folk melodies have retained their roots in the ballad and lament tradition, sung here by both men and women (traditionally ballads were sung only by women) with occasional lively banjo accompaniments.

Track Listing

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101
Hanging of Georgie Paul Joines 01:34
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102
Returning Sweetheart Sarah Hawkes 01:54
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103
Barbry Allen Granny Porter and Wade Ward 02:43
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104
Young Men and Maids Paul Joines 02:19
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105
Green Willow Tree Paul Joines 04:21
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106
Ho Lilly Ho Sarah Hawkes 02:15
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107
Walkin' in the Parlor Kilby Reeves 01:22
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108
Little Sparrow Sarah Hawkes 01:50
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109
County Jail Kilby Reeves 01:50
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110
The War Is A-Raging Polly "Aunt Polly" Joines 01:22
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111
Pig in a Pen Spud Gravely and Glen Smith 02:31
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112
Roving Ranger Paul Joines 02:52
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201
Pretty Polly Ivor Melton, Cullen Galyean, Bobby Harrison 02:09
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202
George Allen Spud Gravely 01:16
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203
Roving Gambler Hobart and Larry Delp with Joe Kyles 02:28
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204
Ten Thousand Miles Ruby Vass 03:22
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205
1809 Glen Neaves 03:12
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206
Little Maggie Ivor Melton, Cullen Galyean, Claudine Lambert 03:36
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207
Death of the Lawson Family Glen Neaves 01:55
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208
Lonesome Day Ruby Vass 02:13
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209
Budded Roses Paul Joines and Cliff Evans 02:35