Product Description

A seminal work by one of the most influential figures of the English folk revival of the 1950s, "Folk Song in England" (1967) is an expansive account of the development of English traditional song, from the very oldest, ritual verse, through epic balladry, to the development of lyrical song in the industrial era. In a unique and ambitious approach, Lloyd marries the tradition of folk-song scholarship, largely derived from Cecil Sharp, with the radical historiography of E. P. Thompson, and in so doing produces a work of exceptional insight. In particular, his defining of 'industrial folk song' reveals traditional verse as an ebullient, living expression of the working people, perfectly adaptable to reflect their ways and conditions of life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #279168 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-18
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 434 pages

About the Author
A. L. Lloyd (1908-82) was born in London and emigrated to Australia in his teens, where he worked as a farmhand and shepherd. It was in Australia that he first became interested in folk song. On his return to England, he was introduced to a group of left-wing intellectuals that included Dylan Thomas and A. L. Morton, who in turn led him to the Communist Party, of which he was to become a life-long member. Along with Ewan MacColl, Lloyd was instrumental in the British post-war folk revival, as a prolific writer, performer and broadcaster.

Customer Reviews

A learned and accesible account and such a page turner!
I can't recommend this book too highly. I read it years a go as a teenager having become interested in folk music through a Peggy Seeger/Ewan McColl concert at Romford library (that dates me).

A while ago I picked it up ad re-read parts. I now realise what had kept an adolescent mind transfixed: it is such a beautifully written and gripping read. It is also highly intelligent writing from which I certainly learned a lot (perhaps all i know) on subjects such as medieval modes (pre-cursors of our major and minor scales, but more of them) and how they have been handed down in so many ancient songs, tunes and hymns.

Probably my favourite chapter was on sea shanties, which is a well told tale of the history of sail and the songs that powered them along. I believe Lloyd was at some point a seafarer and later lived in Greenwich in London, the former naval capital of the UK (though i may be wrong), which may account for the particular excellence of this chapter, but the whole book is a brilliant summary of the English traditional music from one of our foremost experts and collectors.

A terrific read.