Edna Ritchie of Viper, Kentucky
Edna Ritchie is an older sister of the famed musician and lap-dulcimer revivalist Jean Ritchie. Theirs was an important family of tradition-bearers from southeastern Kentucky, significant for the popularization of many traditional British and Irish songs first collected by folklorist Cecil Sharp during his historic trips to Appalachia in the early 20th century. While Jean has a prolific catalog of recordings, this is the only album to feature Edna exclusively. Though she performed music and built a repertoire all her life, Ritchie’s focus was as an English teacher and librarian in Perry County. The songs, ballads, and carols of her rich family tradition are presented here in an intimate, unpretentious, but deeply tuneful style, sung both unaccompanied and with a dulcimer—the instrument most associated with her family.
Track Listing
101
|
May Day Carol | Edna Ritchie | 2:03 | |
102
|
Gentle Fair Jenny | Edna Ritchie | 2:39 | |
103
|
The Riddle Song | Edna Ritchie | 1:42 | |
104
|
Old Tyler | Edna Ritchie | 1:13 | |
105
|
Old Crumley | Edna Ritchie | 1:03 | |
106
|
Aunt Sal's Song | Edna Ritchie | 1:56 | |
107
|
Foriegn Lander | Edna Ritchie | 1:52 | |
108
|
Dear Companion | Edna Ritchie | 2:06 | |
109
|
Old King Cole | Edna Ritchie | 1:11 | |
110
|
Somebody's Tall and Handsome | Edna Ritchie | 1:11 | |
111
|
Down Came an Angel | Edna Ritchie | 5:02 | |
112
|
The Cuckoo | Edna Ritchie | 1:26 | |
113
|
Old Chimney Sweeper | Edna Ritchie | 2:01 | |
114
|
Fair and Tender Ladies | Edna Ritchie | 3:05 | |
115
|
Blackest Crow | Edna Ritchie | 2:19 | |
116
|
I Wonder When I Shall Be Married | Edna Ritchie | 2:24 | |
117
|
An Old Man Came Courting Me | Edna Ritchie | 3:29 | |
118
|
Jackaro | Edna Ritchie | 3:37 | |
119
|
As Joseph Was A-Walking | Edna Ritchie | 3:44 |