Scarborough Fair. This is a famous riddle-type ballad that was first published in 1670 as a black-letter broadside (16th & 17th century newspaper) titled "The Elfin Knight." In it, a whimsical suitor makes impossible requests of a woman who will be his true love if she can fulfill these.
Click here to listen and see the lyrics:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w7kIcTHO0g
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Greensleeves. Dating to 1584 when it appeared as a black-letter 'broadside' (16th & 17th century newspaper), this popular folksong refers to a high-ranking man's futile attempt to win the heart of the courtesan Lady Greensleeves by bestowing upon her luxurious gifts of all sorts. Many versions of "Greensleeves" have been used over the years as carols, political statements, background music for public hangings, and dance music.
Click here to listen and see the lyrics.
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Fair Sally. This lovely English folksong was collected by Cecil Sharp and Maud Karpeles from a British descendent living in an isolated region of the Southern Appalacian mountains in the United States. Dating from the 18th century, it is the story of a doctor's love for a beautiful and wealthy lady named Sally. After snubbing his affections, Sally falls sick, realizes her folly, and begs for forgiveness and for his cure. But he refuses, saying vengefully he will dance on her grave. Click here to listen and see the lyrics.
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Bound for South Australia. Dating from the early 1800's, this was a work song, or sea shanty, sung by sailors to ease the burden of their difficult tasks on board ship. In 1923, "Bound for South Australia" was sung by the sailors on board the famous S.S. Flinders as it was being sailed on its final journey to the shipwreckers. This piano and instrumental version is from Cheryl Shantz's book "Australian Folksongs for Piano."
Click here to listen and see the lyrics.


Down by the Salley Gardens. This old Irish tune, with lyrics by poet W.B. Yeats, tells a passionate youth to take love and life "easy, as the leaves grow on the tree, and the grass grows on the weirs." But he does not take heed and, when older, finds himself "full of tears."
Click here to listen and see the lyrics.


The Blacksmith. A favorite of composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, this is the story of a young woman and a blacksmith. Her love for him is so strong that she feels she will live forever if she was always with him. He leads her on, but then marries another. Overcome with anguish and despair, she pours out her grief and wishes God's wrath upon him for deceiving her.
Click here to listen and see the lyrics.
Oranges and Lemons. Written for children, this simple English folksong is a rhyme about famous places in the old City of London such as the two churches of St. Clement's and St. Martin's as well as the Old Bailey. The song was also sung as part of a children's game called "Oranges and Lemons."
Click here to listen and see the lyrics.

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The Foggy Dew. "The Foggy Dew" is about the Easter Uprising of 1916, and encourages the Irish to fight for Ireland's cause, rather than for the British, as many men were doing in World War I. The song portrays the Irish fighting courageously like true heroes.
Click here to listen and see the lyrics.

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Blow the Wind Southerly. This is a sad song, originating from Northumberland in England, about a woman whose lover has not returned from the sea. She returns over and over to the offing (land near the sea) but sees no sign of him. While the lyrics do not make it clear that her lover has died, it is often concluded that his life was claimed by the sea.
Click here to listen and see the lyrics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef1iZmpFaPo

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.House of the Rising Sun. While the origin of this song remains uncertain, some musicologists trace it to an 18th century broadside (a 16th to 19th century newspaper) ballad that was taken to America by early settlers. In 1948, Huddie Ledbetter ("Lead Belly") recorded a version called "In New Orleans," while the British rock group "The Animals" did a popular version in 1964. The phrase "House of the Rising Sun" refers to a New Orleans brothel, but it is not known whether the house described in the lyrics was an actual or fictitious place.

Click here to listen and see the lyrics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmYODfRYKBA

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.Maa Bonny Lad. The origin of this Northumbrian folksong, which probably dates to the 18th century or earlier, remains elusive. Sir Richard Runciman Terry, who belonged to a Northumbrian shipping family and collected sea shanties, remembered this folksong from childhood and gave it to William Gilles Whittaker (born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1876 and died in the Orkney Isles in 1944) who was a composer, teacher, and choral conductor.

Click here to listen and see the lyrics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ei8AP8Yr44

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Copies of
"Folksongs for Piano: A Classical Interpretation"
are available from:



.To hear and read about Cheryl Shantz's compositions for full orchestra, click here:


To hear Cheryl Shantz's original songs, click here:




















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