Our trek through the tanglewood of the spooky season continues…
Think I’m gonna sign up for this workshop: Folksongs of Fall, Death, and Mystery Workshop with Saro Lynch-Thomason by Folk Music Society of NY, Inc.
In many traditions, late October marks the time of the last harvest, a period of abundance that mingles with an awareness of death and a sense of closeness to the unseen world. In this program, award-winning ballad singer Saro Lynch-Thomason will share songs and folklore of ghosts, death, magic, and mystery. Drawing from Appalachian and the North Atlantic Island traditions of Scotland, Ireland, and England, Saro will sing songs and share traditional wisdom about the return of the dead, enchanted animals, and magic-wielding women.
Saro Lynch-Thomason is an award-winning ballad singer, song leader, folklorist, and documentarian from Asheville, North Carolina. Saro has been studying and teaching traditional song and balladry from Ireland, the British Isles, and Appalachia for over a decade. Saro believes that old songs help modern learners access history, folklore, and (most importantly) compassion for the experiences of others, and she uses in-person teaching, film documentary, podcasts, and more to convey these lessons. Saro’s song “There Are More Waters Rising” has gained international attention, becoming an anthem in the movement to end global warming and garnering praise in the Huffington Post. She holds an M.A. in Appalachian Studies and a Certificate in Documentary Studies.
So is this…
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My living room picking of late has been heavily focused on some o’ them dark folk songs I love so… Mattie Groves, Oh, The Dreadful Wind and Rain, Peggy-O. They fit the mood of the season. Going to work on learning Half-Hanged MacNaghton this weekend.
Keith West says
The Frankie Silver video reminded me of Sharon McCrumb’s novel THE BALLAD OF FRANKIE SILVER, a fictionalized account of the murder and trial. I read it about a quarter century ago, so I probably should give it a reread. The details have faded.
JimC says
McCrumb did a whole “Ballad” series of mysteries. I read a couple and liked em.