Who Killed Cock Robin? (Paperback)

Stephen Sedley

ISBN 10: 1789148588 / ISBN 13: 9781789148589

Published by Reaktion Books, London, 2024

About this Item

Paperback. At the heart of traditional song rest the concerns of ordinary people. And folk throughout the centuries have found themselves entangled with the law: abiding by it, breaking it, and being caught and punished by it. Who Killed Cock Robin? is an anthology of just such songs compiled by one of Britain's senior judges, Stephen Sedley, and most respected and best-loved folk singers, Martin Carthy.The songs collected here are drawn from manuscripts, broadsides, old songbooks and oral tradition. They are grouped according to the various categories of crime and punishment, from Poaching to The Gallows. Each section contains a historical introduction, and every song is presented with a melody, its lyrics and an illuminating commentary that explores its origins and sources. Together, they present a unique, sometimes comic, often tragic, and always colourful insight into the past, while preserving an important body of song for future generations.'Who Killed Cock Robin? explores the origins and history of ancient ballads dealing with the wilder sides of life.There are some constants - such as murder, theft, and prison - between the ancient and the modern songs, but Who Killed Cock Robin? deals with other issues, including the gallows, piracy, poaching, and incest, that are less likely to appear today, when drug smuggling and bank robbery feature regularly.' Duncan Campbell, Observer'On the face of it, Sedley and Carthy are an unlikely pair of literary collaborators. But together they have written an unusual book which combines deftly their respective areas of expertise. Who Killed Cock Robin? is an examination of how the themes of crime and punishment were treated in traditional folk music in Britain.In this book, they illuminate the unique nature of folk music itself.What Sedley and Carthy have produced is not just a musical compendium. It is a bridge to our past.' Prospect Magazine A unique, colourful anthology of traditional British folk songs of crime and punishment. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781789148589

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Who Killed Cock Robin? (Paperback)
• Publisher: Reaktion Books, London
• Publication Date: 2024
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1789148588
• ISBN 13: 9781789148589
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Now in paperback, an entertaining and enlightening compendium at the intersection of two great British folk traditions: song and encounters with the law.
 
At the heart of traditional songs rest the concerns of ordinary people. And folk throughout the centuries have found themselves entangled with the law: abiding by it, breaking it, and being caught and punished by it. Who Killed Cock Robin? is an anthology of just such songs compiled by one of Britain’s most senior judges, Stephen Sedley, and best-loved folk singers, Martin Carthy. The songs collected here are drawn from manuscripts, broadsides, and oral tradition. They are grouped according to the various categories of crime and punishment, from Poaching to the Gallows. Each section contains a historical introduction, and every song is presented with a melody, lyrics, and an illuminating commentary that explores its origins and sources. Together, they present unique, sometimes comic, often tragic, and always colorful insight into the past, while preserving an important body of song for future generations.

About the Authors

Stephen Sedley was appointed a High Court Judge in 1992 and an Appeal Court Judge in 1999, and on retiring from the Bench in 2011, visiting professor of law at the University of Oxford.

Martin Carthy MBE is a singer and guitarist and one of Britain’s most highly regarded folk musicians. In 2014 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.