I’m co-teaching a really special workshop with Becky Beyer of Blood and Spicebush at the end of this month all about magic lore in folk song and balladry. Here’s a recording of me singing one ballad that we’ll explore- a short Appalachian version of a very old (and very long) Scottish ballad- Thomas the Rhymer!
In this workshop, we’ll explore several British Isles ballads to learn what they can tell us about Witches and their craft through the ages. These songs, originating from the Middle Ages to more recent times, contain pieces of lore that can tell us much about popular beliefs about witches, magic, and the fae (watch out!).
These songs often contain elements of both Pagan and Christian belief systems, sometimes in conflict and sometimes in coordination with each other. Additionally, most of these songs do not treat witches kindly, but in doing so these songs carry the dual effect of publicly condemning magic while preserving important knowledge about these ancient arts. We’ll teach the melodies and refrains to some of these songs, and dive deep into their meanings!
This workshop is brought to you by award winning ballad singer Saro Lynch Thomason and Becky Beyer of Blood and Spicebush.
When: Sunday, April 28th, 12:00-2:30pm