English Folk-song and Dance

Abstract

IT is only in recent years that with the active collection and study of European folk-lore the folksong and folk-dance have begun to receive the attention which they deserve. The collecting of English folk-songs, begun by the Rev. J. Broad-wood in 1843, has since that time been actively prosecuted by Miss L. Broadwood, W. Chappell, Dr. Barrett, and Mr. Baring Gould. In 1898 the Folk-song Society commenced its labours, and has year by year added to our knowledge of British and Irish folk-music. A summary of the progress already made and instructions to the collector were badly wanted. This has now been supplied in. the present book, which deals satisfactorily with the problem of the origin of folk-music, and fully describes the methods of nota-tion. fhe song's of the folk are classified under ihe heads of narrative ballads, love and mystic songs, pastorals,, the songs of the poacher and the highwayman, the soldier and the sailor, the pressgang, hunting, sporting and labour songs, carols, singing games of children, the popular street ballad, and the broadside.

English Folk-song and Dance.

By F. Kidson M. Neal. Pp. vii + 178. (Cambridge: At the University Press, 1915.) Price 3s. net.