Field Trip-England

In 1952, Jean Ritchie—iconic folksinger and dulcimer player from Kentucky—received a Fulbright scholarship enabling her to travel to the British Isles to trace the origin of her Kentucky versions of songs and compare them with British versions. During the course of her travels, she and husband George Pickow, with the assistance of prominent British folk song authorities, made many field recordings, some of which appear on this album.

The collection includes old British ballads, drinking songs, children’s songs and games, hand bell ringing, dance tunes, lyrical love songs, and an excerpt from a Mummers’ Play. Instruments include fiddle, Northumbrian small pipes, melodeon, and pipe and tabor (drum).

The liner notes, written by Ritchie, provide background information and lyrics about each performance.

Track Listing

101	Leapfrog / The Guid Man of Ballingigh Winsome Bartlett	01:11
102	The Death of Queen Jane Douglas Kennedy	02:56
103	The Church Bells of Empingham W. Maddison	01:18
104	Orange and Lemon Dianne Endicott	01:10
105	Cherry Stones Schoolchildren of Sidbury, Devonshire	00:37
106	Have a Cigarette, Sir Schoolchildren of Sidbury, Devonshire	00:59
107	Johnny Todd Isla Cameron and Ewan MacColl	01:35
108	Windy Old Weather Bob Roberts	02:37
109	The Young Sailor Cut Down in His Prime Harry Cox	01:58
110	Widdecombe Fair Bill Westaway	04:14
201	My Bonnie Lad Jane Hair	02:33
202	John Barleycorn Jane Haxey and the Hood Singers	03:55
203	Three Scamping Rogues George Endicott	01:29
204	Bushes and Briars Isla Cameron	02:17
205	Earsdon Sword Dance English country dancers at a festival	00:56
206	Barbara Allen Mr. Rew	01:50
207	Marshfield Mummers Play and Their Song The Marshfield Mummers (aka The Old Time Paper Boys)	02:46
208	Hark, The Herald Angels Sing Charles Wilson and the Empingham Hand Bell Ringers	00:59