English Folk Songs

English Folk Songs is a collection of traditional songs compiled by composers Ralph Vaughan Williams and A.L. Lloyd, first published in 1959. The book contains over 100 folk songs from across England, complete with musical notation and lyrics. The songs are organized by theme and type, including ballads, love songs, sea shanties, work songs and more. Each entry includes historical context about the song's origins, variants, and cultural significance in English musical tradition. The accompanying commentary explores the relationship between folk music and English identity, examining how these songs reflect rural life, social customs, and oral traditions. This work stands as a key text in folk music scholarship and preservation of England's musical heritage.

Search results show minimal reader reviews online for this folk song collection. The book appears to be out of print and not listed on Goodreads or major retail sites. Readers noted: - Clear musical notation and lyrics for each song - Historical context and background notes for songs - Practical arrangement for piano accompaniment - Songs suitable for beginner to intermediate singers Criticisms: - Some arrangements oversimplified compared to field recordings - Limited number of songs included (total of 80) - Musical accompaniments too basic for advanced performers No ratings or review scores could be found on major book review platforms. Most mentions appear in academic references or music education contexts rather than consumer reviews. Note: This book seems to be different from the separate works by Ralph Vaughan Williams and A.L. Lloyd individually. The collaborative version appears to have limited circulation, making comprehensive review analysis difficult.

The Penguin Book of English Folk Songs by Ralph Vaughan Williams, A.L. Lloyd. This collection presents 100 traditional English folk songs with historical context and musical notations.

Folk Song in England by Cecil Sharp. Sharp's seminal work documents his collection of folk songs from Somerset and other English regions between 1903-1924.

The Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection by Patrick Shuldham-Shaw and Emily Lyle. This eight-volume compilation contains over 3,000 folk songs collected in North-East Scotland.

Traditional Songs of England by Fred Hamer. This collection features songs gathered from traditional singers across England with musical transcriptions and background notes.

The Oxford Book of Ballads by James Kinsley. This comprehensive anthology traces the development of English-language ballads from medieval times through the twentieth century.

🎵 Ralph Vaughan Williams collected many of these folk songs by traveling through the English countryside with a phonograph, recording elderly villagers who remembered the traditional tunes from their youth. 🌿 The book preserves songs that might have otherwise been lost forever, as it was published during a period of rapid modernization when many oral traditions were fading away. 👥 A.L. Lloyd, co-author of the book, was not only a folk song collector but also a working sailor and whaler in his youth, giving him firsthand experience with sea shanties and maritime folk music. 🎼 Many of the songs in the collection have influenced modern classical music, with Vaughan Williams himself incorporating these melodies into his symphonic works, most notably in his "English Folk Song Suite." 📚 The book was instrumental in the English Folk Revival movement of the early 20th century, helping to spark renewed interest in traditional music among both scholars and performers.