Bijou Créole

We went out to see Cedric (Watson) and looking for the right clip I found this historic one, from 1986, of people and dancehalls that are no longer. Geno (Delafose) is on it even younger than when I first saw him and besides those two there are other musicians and bands who were children or … More Bijou Créole

Francis James Child

It just would turn out that Child was an American and was late 19th century. It also just would be the case that he collected things that had already been collected and has been said to have a third eye or sixth sense that enabled him to ensure that what he collected was truly old. … More Francis James Child

Skjaldesang

At last I have found this skjaldesang, a medieval ballad I have been looking for for years. It is apparently not medieval, though it may sound so. The melody is old, but the words are nineteenth century and the author is Grundtvig. It is a nationalistic and pedagogical text nostalgic for the time of Kings … More Skjaldesang

Dejlig er jorden

I am still looking for all the right Scandinavian, but especially Danish carols, but many good recordings are Norwegian. Here is the choir of Oslo Cathedral, with an old photograph on which you can see a tree with real candles. They have candles on the pews in church on Christmas Eve, too. I have already … More Dejlig er jorden

Frank Davis

This is to get over reading about the Inquisition, which was abolished in 1834. These people here are not Catholic, and are thus in a position to provide relief. Axé.

Santa Claus Blues

Now that it is winter, we can discuss Christmas. Here is a recording from Copenhagen, 1975, and I see am going to have to go into town and attend some sessions at the Spotted Cat. Hattie, on whose blog I cannot post reliably, is going to send me some Danish DVDs and I may have … More Santa Claus Blues