FolkRec - Auprès de ma blonde

This traditional French song is also known as "Le prisonnier de la Hollande", and according to Wikipedia it dates back to the 17th century (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aupr%C3%A8s_de_ma_blonde). I think it might have been composed as a military song; through the centuries a few alternative versions appeared, and now the song is also a popular nursery rhyme.

At the Cambridge Folk Festival I had the chance to discover Olivia Chaney, who writes and sings beautiful songs: I then stumbled upon her version of this song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY2izR3fN_U) - mine is slightly different (I played a bit with the words so that they make sense to me and yes, I played with ornamentation as well!), but I have to thank Olivia Chaney for teaching me this tune from a distance, so to speak.

Enjoy and do not fall asleep if you can! ;)

FolkRec - Cambridge Folk Festival

Going to Cambridge Folk Festival at the end of July was an absolutely wonderful experience. The festival, whose first edition dates from 1964, is worth going (at least once, if one is into folk music... and perhaps even if one isn't?!); I also had the chance to go with my friend Paola - such an amazing company! When I came up with the rather crazy idea of signing up for a floor spot in the Club Tent, she was very encouraging - I should really thank her for her support and the recording that she made of my open mic (which took place exactly two months ago!), as the whole experience wouldn't have been the same without her.
Here it is then - all four songs are traditional, namely:
1. Fair Nottamun Town.
2. The Recruited Collier (02:00).
3. Gathering Rushes in the Month of May (05:00).
4. The Banks of Red Roses (09:08).