Ballad of Little Musgrave: Versions

Our Musgrove surname derives from the Musgraves of Cumbria, England. We've blogged about the 'Ballad of Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard'; a tale of infidelity, passion, and murder.

 

'The Roud Folk Song Index contains over 300 instances of this ballad, and shows that the ballad has been collected mostly in North America: 113 versions listed in Roud were found in the USA, with the bulk in North Carolina (24), the Virginias (24), Kentucky (23), New England (16) and Tennessee (9). In Canada, 18 versions were found, the majority in Nova Scotia. Scotland produced 9 versions, and England; only 2.'  Wikipedia

In this post, we share a variety of musical versions of this song.

Nic Jones

Nicolas Paul "Nic" Jones (born 9 January 1947) is an English folk singer, fingerstyle guitarist and fiddle player who was most active in the years 1964–1982. He recorded five solo albums. Wikipedia

His version of 'Little Musgrave' is from his first album, 'Ballads and Songs,' released in 1970.

Nic Jones - Little Musgrave

Jeanne Ritchie

"Jean Ritchie (December 8, 1922 – June 1, 2015) was an American folk music singer, songwriter, and Appalachian dulcimer player. ...(I)n her youth she learned folksongs in the traditional way (orally, from her family and members of her community); and in adulthood she became a successful modern folksinger, promulgating songs in public through concerts and recordings. She was called by some the 'Mother of Folk'." Wikipedia

Jean Ritchie: Ballads from her Appalachian Family Tradition
℗ 2003 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings 

Doc Watson

"Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson (March 3, 1923 – May 29, 2012) was an American guitarist, songwriter, and singer of bluegrass, folk, country, blues, and gospel music. ...Watson's fingerstyle guitar and flatpicking skills, as well as his knowledge of traditional American music, were highly regarded." Wikipedia

Doc Watson - "Matty Groves" - HOME AGAIN (1966) 

Fairport Convention

Matty Groves is one of Fairport Convention's best-known songs. 

"Fairport Convention are a British folk rock band. Formed in 1967, they are widely regarded as a key group in the English folk rock movement....The band have drawn heavily on the Child Ballads, songs of the British Isles from the later medieval period until the 19th century." Wikipedia

Fairport Convention - Matty Groves 

Britten: The Ballad of Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard

Benjamin Britten

"Britten's stance as a conscientious objector in World War II is well known... . Written in the middle of the war years, this ballad was composed 'For Richard Wood and the musicians of Oflag VIIb - Germany'. Wood had organised a music festival at this officers' POW camp at Eichstätt, Bavaria between February and March 1943 and Britten's work was performed at seven of the concerts."   

Hal Leonard

Benjamin Britten wrote his version as a mournful piano piece for an all-male chorus. Think Gregorian chants.

It was your humble family historian's intentions to cull through the numerous performances of this version and present the best to you.

Not long into my research, I realized that plodding piano pieces are depressing, male choirs murder melodies and murmur lyrics. This is the last concert I'd want to hear in a POW Camp. So with apologies to male Glee Clubs, I'll just drop a link to a YouTube search for the various choral versions.

The Little Musgrave - Traditional Arrangement by the Tinto Singing School

"The Tinto Singing School is a joint residential between Scotland Sings and 

Tinto Summer School every July at Wiston Lodge, near Lanark in Scotland."

This version is perfect. The next time you hear "Matty Groves" or "The Ballad of Little Musgrave," you'll recognize it and know;

They're singing our family's song.

Our next post presents the background for this song: The History.

The Little Musgrave

Part of a series on The Ballad of Little Musgrave.

1. Distinguished Surname      4. Versions       7   Origin.     
2. Border Reivers                   5.  History        8.  Author               
3. Ballad                                 6. Text              9. Story
                                              10. Minstrels

Have you been following this series on the Ballad of Little Musgrave? Do you have any thoughts on it? Tell me below in the comment section.