Farewell, Farewell - Over the Ocean Far & Wide
Relaxing selection of music & song old and new from the world of folk music and beyond
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Folk songs about leaving, departing, saying goodbye have long been a staple and during the 17th to 19th centuries, the age of empires, colonialism & expansion - in the Americas, Australia and the Indian subcontinent in particular, population movement was a constant theme. Whether travelling for work, conscription, due to penury & transportation or simply emigrating in search of a better life, it was an era of great demographic change & movement. While enjoying incredible economic expansion this was also, pointedly, a time of great social upheaval, poverty inequality, disinheritance and largely unregulated urbanisation with unprecedented levels & new types of social pressure. Political choices also led to specific episodes of emmigration, such as the highland clearances & potato famine. The songs of the time, then, expressed a full range of emotions but were often tinged with an underlying sense of sorrow. During this period the age-old arts of storytelling & singing enjoyed a revival with a whole range of exciting new topics & experiences to write about and relate. Advances in printing technology also allowed for the cheap publishing of songs & music scores for easy distribution and, then, for posterity.
Traditional songs rub shoulders with modern compositions. Classic folk artists like Bert Jansch, Dick Gaughan, Bob Dylan, June Tabor, Martin Simpson, Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger, The Chieftains, Show of Hands, Van Morrison, Judy Collins, Anne Briggs, Eliza Carthy, Chris Brain and artist/composer/producer Jack Hallam.
Features 3 starkly atmospheric tracks from the Cowboy Junkies' superb 2023 album Such Ferocious Beauty. Spotlight on the talented Anne Briggs with tracks from the 1960s & early 70s. Casting the net beyond the traditional folk scene we hear songs by some artists better known in other genres that fit beautifully here. Emmylou Harris & Willie Nelson both make appearances while Elvis Costello comes with 3 astounding tracks from his 1996 LP All This Useless Beauty. Patti Smith explodes on the scene with songs from Horses (1975). Classic & cool breezy 70s folky rock from Heart while Robert Plant smashes it with his Carry Fire song with the Space Shifters from 2017. Perhaps the most surprising (and very pertinent) inclusions are 2 Madonna tracks from the 1997 album Ray of Light. The power of goodbyes. She might just be right y'know... few things rouse the emotions like a farewell.
Continuous mix 3 hours
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