Child Ballads Performance Archive

 

Welcoming in 2014, Ceoltóir have launched this new and exciting 'mammoth' project:

 

Over the coming months our aim is to begin to run through the list of no less than 305 traditional ballads which were collected and archived by Francis James Child 1825-1896 during the second half of the nineteenth century.  These ballads, some which date as far back as the thirteenth century contain within them the familiar motifs of forbidden love, enchantment, obsession and jealously along with those of death and the supernatural, something for every musical taste and interest!

 

Many Child Ballads have been recorded over the years and many from household names which have become popular mainstays in the National folk song repertoire.  We wish to encourage students and friends of Ceoltóir to arrange, perform and record material from the list which will be showcased here.  Performances can be either audio or video but must be of good quality.

 

Further information on the collection of Francis James Child together with links to sites of interest and sample recordings of some popular recorded Child ballads can be accessed from our 'Resources' page.