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Description
Free Reed's award-winning Revival Masters series of box-sets has so far explored the careers of some of the greatest folk and folk-rock stars.
This UK label's next release dedicates four CDs and a 156-page book to the music and traditions of Mid Winter?.
the period that Americans now refer to as "the holidays".
Most of the key elements and a great many of the songs that make up what we call the Traditional Christmas began life in America, but as this set shows there are midwinter traditions which stretch back hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus ? including practices both pious and pagan, which were among the first exports from Britain to the New World.
The set's 115 recordings include music and readings from both sides of the Atlantic and cover an astounding range of traditional genres ? from Sacred Harp to the Sheffield Carols, big ballads to blues, singer-songwriters and tradition-bearers, living legends and recent stars.
For the first time in its Revival Masters series, Free Reed is proud to include a who's who of stars of the American folk scene: Joan Baez, Jean Ritchie, Leadbelly, Loudon Wainwright III, Richard Farina, "Blind Boy Grunt", John McCutcheon, John Fahey, Mahalia Jackson, Jeff Warner, Debra Cowan.
And the greatest names in British Folk: The Watersons, Peter Bellamy, Maddy Prior, Shirley Collins, Young Tradition, Sandy Denny, Martin Carthy.
Folk Rock too: Richard Thompson & Jethro Tull offer unique tracks.
Exclusive new recordings from (among others) John Tams, Steve Tilston, Martha Tilston, Martyn Wyndham-Read, Laura Hockenhull, Maggie Boyle & Gary Boyle.
Rare source recordings from great traditional performers including Phil Tanner, The Copper Family, Scan Tester, Buell Kazee, Leadbelly, Sacred Harp, May Bradley and Fred Whiting.
To complement the classic and new songs and tunes of the Midwinter season, the set features readings by John Betjeman, Robert Frost, T S Elliott, Tony Barrand, Jim Lawton, Boris Karloff and even a rare on-disc appearance of Free Reed's author-and-compiler Nigel Schofield.
Never before has an exploration of the traditions that span the holidays of mid-winter brought together such a collection of essential recordings with an authoritative, in-depth and copiously illustrated text.
Here you'll discover that Christmas traditions have deep and sometimes startling roots: among the scores of topics explored are - wassailing, mumming, feasting and fasting, traditional sports (including the only true game of football!), the evolution of Santa Claus, a range of Nativities and the question of "just who were the wise men?" Covering the time of year between Advent and Plough Monday, here's a set that proves that an "Xmas" album isn't just for Christmas ? it'll last the whole season round. -
Tracklisting
1. Gower Wassail (first part)
2. Stopping by Woods
3. The River
4. Skater's Waltz
5. Christmas is now drawing near at hand
6. The Spirit of Christmas
7. from Hamlet Act 1 Christmas Is A Comin'
8. Xmas Island
9. The Humstrum
10. Sound your instruments of Joy
11. Wassail
12. Snow Falls
13. Wintergrace
14. Cherry Tree Carol
15. Red & Green Christmas
16. Emmanuel
17. Song to Mithras
18. The Meadowhall Carol
19. God bless the birthday boy
20. Moving on song
21. Christmas eve can kill you
22. Workhouse boy
23. Snow is on the ground
24. Christmas comes but once a year
25. Jack Frost & The Hooded Crow
26. The Night before Christmas
27. Christmas Tree
1. READING: Luke 2:1
2. Christmas must be tonight
3. On the morning of Christ's Nativity John McCutcheon
4. Shepherds Arise
5. READING: Luke 2:8
6. Hark Hark What News
7. Once in royal David's city
8. The Three Harks
9. Wexford Carol
10. I sing of a maiden
11. Lullay My Liking
12. Silent Night
13. The first Nowell
14. READING: Matthew 2:1
15. Star in the east (Brightest
16. Astrologers' Journey
17. Journey of the Magi
18. Follow the star
19. Herod & The Cock
20. Coventry Carol
21. The Carnal & The Crane
22. Go tell it on the mountain
23. On Christmas Day
24. Jesu Joy of Man's desiring
1. Fire & Wine
2. In the winter
3. Papa ain't no Santy Claus
4. Winter flowers
5. Christmas in Prison
6. Jogging along with my reindeer
7. Cardboard Christmas boxes
8. Comfort & Joy
9. First Snow in Brooklyn
10. Lady gay
11. Peace o'er the world (Bradda Anthem)
12. Oh What A Lovely War
13. Christmas 1914
14. Christmas isn't what it used to be
15. Christmas (edit)
16. Ghost of Christmas Past
17. Christmas morning
18. Days of Holly & Mistletoe
19. Huron Carol
20. The King
21. The Christmas Hare
22. Chariots
23. Remember Bethlehem
1. Old Christmas / Shooting
2. Apple Tree Wassail
3. Gloucestershire Wassail
4. The Oxen
5. The Burning Babe
6. Bushes and Briars
7. Poor Ditching Boy
8. Reading Clock Almanac
9. Dunstan Lullaby
10. Watts' Cradle Hymn
11. Boar's Head Carol
12. The Grinch
13. Hunting the Wren
14. Cutty Wren
15. The Wren (The King)
16. First Christmas away
17. Miner's dream of home
18. Excerpt
19. Happy Christmas (War is
20. None but One
21. Mari Llwyd
22. Carol for the New Year
23. The Oxplough Song
24. Three Ships suite
25. Gower Wassail (reprise)
26. Midnight chimes
27. The January Man
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