An Evolving Tradition: The Child Ballads in Modern Folk and Rock Music

The Child Ballads are a collection of over 300 traditional ballads from England and Scotland, anthologized by Francis James Child in the nineteenth century, and have been recorded by numerous artists over the last century, influencing a wide range of modern music genres. Dave Thompson's book explores the history and legacy of the ballads, including their dominant themes and their survival as a mainstay of field recordings.

Format: Hardback
Length: 544 pages
Publication date: 15 July 2023
Publisher: Globe Pequot Press

The Child Ballads are a collection of over 300 traditional ballads from England and Scotland, compiled by folklorist Francis James Child in the nineteenth century. An Evolving Tradition explores the history and significance of these ballads, which are widely regarded as the world's best-known and most highly regarded repository of traditional English folk songs. With over 10,000 recordings made over the last century, from obscure musicological archives to classic releases by Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, and Led Zeppelin, the Child Ballads have had a profound impact on modern music. Author Dave Thompson delves into the definition of a ballad, highlights its dominant themes, and recounts how these ballads have survived to become a mainstay of field recordings made by Cecil Sharp, Alan Lomax, and others. Thompson's exploration spans a wide range of musical genres, including rock, pop, folk, roots, experimental music, industrial, and goth, revealing the remarkable legacy and incalculable influence of the Child Ballads on all manner of modern music.

Weight: 836g
Dimension: 157 x 236 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781493068067