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Midwinter

Midwinter (Free Reed FRQCD30)

Midwinter
A Celebration of the Folk Music & Tradition of Christmas & the Turning of the Year
Various Artists

Free Reed FRQCD30 (4 CD, UK, 2006)

Compiled and researched by Nigel Schofield;
Production and coordination by Neil Wayne

Tracks

CD 1: Past & Presents: Ancient Cultures to Advent Calendars

  1. Phil Tanner: Gower Wassail (Roud 209) (1.53)
    from: Phil Tanner (EFDSS LP 1005, 1968)
  2. Robert Frost: Stopping by Woods (0.50) /
    Steve Tilston & Maggie Boyle: A-Roving on a Winter’s Night (Roud 3601; G/D 8:1540) (3.56)
  3. Grace Notes: The River (3.17)
    from Down Falls the Day (Grace Notes GNCD1, 1993)
  4. Jim Lawton: Excerpt by Arthur Ransome (0.55) /
    John Fahey: Skater’s Waltz (1.51) /
    Jim Lawton: Excerpt from The Prelude (0.30)
  5. Lal Waterson: Christmas Is Now Drawing Near At Hand (Roud 808) (1.51)
    from The Watersons: Frost and Fire (Topic 12T136, 1965)
  6. Steve Ashley with Tinderbox: The Spirit of Christmas (2.39)
    from: Stroll On Revisited (Market Square MSMCD104, 1999)
  7. Gary Watson: from Hamlet Act 1 (0.10) /
    Lead Belly: Christmas In A-Comin’ (1.05)
  8. Richard Fariña with Blind Boy Grunt & Eric von Schmidt: Christmas Island (3.12)
  9. David Strawbridge & Tim Laycock: The Humstrum (3.08)
  10. Mabe Choir: Sound Your Instruments of Joy (Roud 8366) (2.33)
  11. John Kirkpatrick: Wassail Song (Roud 209) (3.08)
    from: Wassail! A Traditional Celebration of an English Midwinter (Fellside FECD125, 1998)
  12. The Albion Band with John Tams: Snow Falls (3.54)
    previously unreleased live recording, 2006; originally from Lark Rise to Candleford (Charisma CDS 4020, 1980)
  13. Jean Ritchie: Wintergrace (3.24)
    from: Kentucky Christmas Old and New (Greenhays GR717, 1987)
  14. Shirley Collins: Cherry Tree Carol (Roud 453; Child 54; G/D 2:327) (1.20)
    from: Sing Christmas and the Turn of the Year (Rounder 11661-1850-2, 2000)
  15. Nadia Cattouse: Red & Green Christmas (2.28)
  16. Lal & Norma Waterson: Emmanuel (Roud 26895) (2.28)
    from A Yorkshire Christmas (Witchwood WMCD 2029, 2005)
  17. Peter Bellamy: A Song to Mithras (2.03)
    radio session, 1986, from the Schofield Archive
  18. Coope Boyes & Simpson: The Meadowhall Carol (4.32)
    from Christmas Truce Kerstbestand (No Masters NMCD14, 1999)
  19. The McCalmans: God Bless the Birthday Boy (3.18)
  20. Ewan MacColl: Moving-On Song (Roud 6852) (1.15)
    from: The Travelling People (Argo DA133, 1971)
  21. Suzie Adams and Helen Watson: Christmas Eve Can Kill You (3.14)
    from: Songbird (Dingle’s DIN 327, 1983)
  22. The Halliard: The Workhouse Boy (3.16)
    from The Halliard : Jon Raven (Broadside BRO 106, 1968)
  23. Eleazor Tillett: The Snow Is on the Ground (excerpt) (0.19) /
    Jeff Warner with Barbara Benn: The Snow Is on the Ground (Roud 1121) (3.52)
  24. Enoch Kent: Christmas Comes But Once a Year (2.18)
    from: Revival in Britain Volume 1 (folkways FW 8728, 1962)
  25. Dave Pegg: Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow (3.21)
    from The Cocktail Cowboy Goes It Alone (Woodworm, 1983)
  26. Mike Hockenhull: The Night Before Christmas (3.05)
  27. Charlie Fretwell: The Christmas Tree (Roud 17710) (5.09)

CD 2: Comfort & Joy: The Nativity in Folk and the Tradition

  1. Nigel Schofield: Luke 2:1 (0.07) /
    Scan Tester: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (Roud 936) (1.58)
    from I Never Played to Many Posh Dances (Topic 2-12TS455/6, 1990)
  2. Johnny Coppin: Christmas Must Be Tonight (5.29)
  3. Jim Lawton: On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity (0.25) /
    John McCutcheon: For Unto Us a Child (3.55)
  4. Copper Family: Shepherds Arise (Roud 1207) (2.21)
    field recording, 1961, from the Bellamy Archive
  5. Nigel Schofield: Luke 2:8 (0.05) /
    Sacred Harp Convention: Sherburne (Roud 936) (1.53)
  6. Singers at The Black Bull: Hark Hark What News (Roud 389) (3.05) /
    Nigel Schofield: Luke 2:7 (0.07)
  7. Martyn Wyndham-Read: Once in Royal David’s City (4.21)
    especially recorded for this compilation; original version from Yuletracks (Greenwich Village GVR 235, 1986)
  8. Coope Boyes & Simpson: The Three Harks (Roud 8337) (3.33)
    from A Garland of Carols (No Masters NMCD13, 1998)
  9. Maggie Boyle: Wexford Carol (Roud 22086) (3.57)
    especially recorded for this compilation
  10. Shirley Collins: I Sing of a Maiden That Is Makeless (1.53)
    from Adieu to Old England (Topic 12TS238, 1974)
  11. Young Tradition: Lullay My Liking (2.10)
    from The Holly Bears the Crown (Fledg’ling FLED 3006, 1995)
  12. Chloe Coburn, Bernie Parry: Silent Night (Roud 27088) (2.05)
  13. BACCApella: The First Nowell (Roud 682) (3.10)
    from The Haworth Set (private release, 1999)
  14. Nigel Schofield: Matthew 2:1 (0.05) /
    St Agnes Foundation: Follow That Star (4.39)
  15. Debra Cowan, John Roberts: Star in the East (Brightest and Best) (Roud 5743) (1.52)
    from Dad’s Dinner Pail and Other Songs From the Helen Hartness Flanders Collection (Falling Mountain FM-1044, 2005)
  16. Johnny Coppin: Astrologer’s Journey (4.27)
  17. T.S. Eliot: Journey of the Magi (0.58)
  18. Maggie Boyle, Gary Boyle: Follow That Star (3.44)
  19. Nowell Sing We Clear: Herod and the Cock (Roud 306; Child 55) (1.05)
    from Nowell Sing We Clear Vol. 3 (Front Hall FHR-036, 1985) /
    Nigel Schofield: Matthew 2:18 (0.11)
  20. Joan Baez: Coventry Carol (Roud 19028) (1.57)
  21. New Scorpion Band: The Carnal and the Crane (Roud 306; Child 55) (4.19)
    from The Carnal and the Crane (New Scorpion Band NSB02, 2001)
  22. Mahalia Jackson: Go Tell It on the Mountain (Roud 15220) (3.10)
  23. May Bradley: On Christmas Day (Roud 1078) (1.29)
    from: Garners Gay (EFDSS LP 1006, 1971)
  24. Druidstone: Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring (4.17)

CD 3: Peace & Goodwill: The Message of Midwinter

  1. Steve Ashley: Fire and Wine (4.33)
    from: Stroll On (Gull GULP 1003, 1974)
  2. Laura Hockenhull, John Dipper: In the Winter (2.41)
  3. Butterbeans & Susie: Papa Ain’t No Santa Claus (3.20)
  4. Martha Tilston: Winter Flowers (4.37)
    from Of Milkmaids & Architects (Squiggly SQRCD03, 2006)
  5. Fishken & Groves: Christmas in Prison (2.57)
  6. John Kirkpatrick: Jogging Along With Me Reindeer (4.03)
    single (Dingle’s SID 226, 1980)
  7. Alan Hull: Cardboard Christmas Boxes (2.58)
  8. Clive Gregson: Comfort & Joy (4.44)
    from Comfort & Joy (Fellside FECD164, 2001)
  9. Jethro Tull: First Snow in Brooklyn (4.58)
  10. Buell Kazee: Lady Gay (3.06)
  11. Coope Boyes & Simpson with Freya, Fraser & Boyes: Peace o’er the World (Roud 17729) (2.42)
    from Fire and Sleet and Candlelight (No Masters NMCD21, 2003)
  12. Oh What a Lovely War (excerpt) (0.26) /
    Mike Harding: Christmas 1914 (4.44)
  13. Tim Moon: Christmas Isn’t What It Used to Be (3.27)
  14. John Tams: Christmas (1.07)
  15. Mandy Morton: The Ghost of Christmas Past (3.37)
  16. Loudon Wainwright III: Christmas Morning (3.38)
  17. Artisan: Days of Holly and Mistletoe (2.55)
  18. Carol Duveneck: Huron Carol (1.57)
  19. The Strawbs with Maddy Prior: The King (1.57)
    single (L.O. LO1, 1980)
  20. Muckram Wakes: The Christmas Hare (2.24)
    from Roger Watson: The Pick & the Malt Shovel (Traditional Sound TSR 017, 1974)
  21. John Kirkpatrick: Chariots (6.21)
    from: Wassail! A Traditional Celebration of an English Midwinter (Fellside FECD125, 1998)
  22. Kevin Loughran: Remember Bethlehem (2.39)

CD 4: The Old & the New: One Year to the Next

  1. Nowell Sing We Clear: Old Christmas / Shooting (4.13)
    from Nowell Sing We Four (Front Hall FHR-039, 1988)
  2. The Watersons: Apple Tree Wassail (Roud 209) (2.28)
    from For Pence and Spicy Ale (Topic 12TS265, 1975)
  3. Albion Christmas Band: Gloucester Wassail (Roud 209) (3.15)
    from An Albion Christmas (Talking Elephant TECD060, 2003)
  4. Maddy Prior: The Oxen (2.50)
    from Gold Frankincense & Myrhh (Park PRKCD59, 2001)
  5. Mike Hockenhull: The Burning Babe (3.25)
  6. Sandy Denny: Bushes and Briars (2.37)
    from Live at the BBC (Universal, 2007)
  7. Richard Thompson: The Poor Ditching Boy (3.01)
    live recording from Celtschmerz (Flypaper FlYCD 007, 1998), originally from Henry the Human Fly (Island ILPS 9197)
  8. Jim Lawton: Reading Clock Almanack (0.33)
  9. Coope Boyes & Simpson: Hush My Babe (The Dunstan Lullaby) (Roud 8885) (1.29)
    from Christmas Truce Kerstbestand (No Masters NMCD14, 1999)
  10. Maddy Prior: Watts’ Cradle Song (3.27)
    from Carols & Capers (Park PRKCD9, 1991)
  11. The Tees-side Fettlers: The Boar’s Head Carol (Roud 22229) (1.47)
    from Ring of Iron (Traditional Sound TSR 016, 1974)
  12. Boris Karloff: The Grinch (0.32)
  13. Joe & Winifred Woods: Hunting the Wren (Roud 236) (1.40)
    from Songs of Ceremony (The Folk Songs of Britain Volume 9; Topic 12T197, 1970)
  14. Ian Campbell Folk Group: The Cutty Wren (Roud 236) (2.26)
    from Songs of Protest (Topic TOP82, 1962)
  15. Martin Carthy, Dave Swarbrick: The Wren (The King) (Roud 32955) (1.40)
    from Prince Heathen (Fontana STL 5529, 1969)
  16. Artisan: First Christmas Away From Home (3.43)
  17. Fred Whiting: The Miner’s Dream of Home (Roud 1749) (3.58)
    from It Was on a Market Day—One (Veteran VTC6CD, 2005)
  18. Symondsbury Mummers (excerpt) (0.34)
  19. Alan Rose et al.: Happy Christmas (War Is Over) / We Sing Hallelujah (3.08)
  20. Jean Ritchie: None But One (6.16)
  21. John Clough: Mary Llywd (1.09)
  22. Nowell Sing We Clear: Carol for the New Year (4.07)
    from Hail Smiling Morn! (Golden Hind GHM-102, 1995)
  23. Johnny Collins: The Oxplough Song (Roud 686) (3.14)
    from The Traveller’s Rest (Traditional Sound TSR 014, 1973)
  24. Steve Tilston: Three Ships Suite (9.38)
    from Silently the Snow Falls (Shanachie 95007, 1989)
  25. Phil Tanner: Gower Wassail (reprise) (Roud 209) (0.39) /
    Midnight chimes (0.57)
  26. Martin Carthy: The January Man (4.58)
    previously unreleased club recording, 1971