Description
A Shropshire Lad (Softcover) – Book
(English Folk Guitar Series)
By Michael Raven
First Edition 1994, 64 Pages
Includes Transcriptions of the 17 Housman poems settings and 20 welsh aires and dances arranged for guitar and voice on the CD of the same name by Michael Raven and Joan Mills.
In the Dark Ages Shropshire was ruled by the Princes of Powys and Welsh blood still flows in the veins of many a Salopian. There is a link too, between the poetry of A Shropshire Lad and the pre-Celtic Iberians from over the border, namely a melancholy of mood. Somber, brooding melodies are as typical of the Welsh as jigs and reels are of the Irish. As to our poet, Housman’s epitaph might well have been “With rue my heart is laden.”. The ancient music of the Welsh and the timeless verses of the English bard travel well together. However, these glum companions do have their lighter moments and are also represented here.
Sources The Housman poems are all from A Shropshire Lad, except The Deserter, In Midnights of November, an Half Moon which are from Last Poems. All the tunes are traditional, fitted by Michael Raven, except those of the Deserter and Is My Team Ploughin which were composed by Michael Raven. The Welsh tunes are all traditional arranged for solo guitar by Michael Raven, excep Galaru and Rhoslan Reel which were composed by him.
Sample Tracks
Along the Fields from the companion CD: A Shropshire Lad
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.