Under the Greenwood Tree

by The Mellstock Band

Overview

The Mellstock Band's magnum opus, augmented by a trio of players on cello, percussion, and flute and a group of ten singers. Under the Greenwood Tree is a concept album, consisting of carols and dances from 19th century Wessex (also known as Dorset) that were known in the time of Thomas Hardy, the novelist who immortalized that part of the English countryside in books such as Tess of the D'Urbervilles and Far from the Madding Crowd. All of the material here is known to have been known by Hardy, and it has been restored to authentic period scoring and instrumentation by modern musicologists. The mix of songs and dances is compelling, almost hypnotic in its beauty and variation, as the record alternates between wild, raw, rhythmically driven reels and soaring carols. Even casual listeners will recognize the English variants of American folk tunes in a lot of this material, and the playing is as strong and enthusiastic as you'll find on the best Steeleye Span record, except it's all acoustic (which doesn't mean it's soft) and very disciplined. An ideal Christmas record for any English folk music buff, but also good listening any time of the year. ~ Bruce Eder

Product Details

Release Date:	03/10/1993
Label:	Saydisc
UPC:	5013133436023
Rank:	221574

Tracks

1. Arise & Hail the Joyful Day
2. Morgianna / The Pantaloon Quadrille
3. Hail Happy Morn
4. Kiss Me My Love & Welcome / Drops of Brandy (1) / Drops of Brandy (2)
5. Awake & Join the Cheerful Choir
6. The Gipseys Hornpipe / Ashley's Hornpipe / The One Eyed Fiddler
7. See Heaven's High Portals
8. I'm Off to Charlestown
9. Awake Awake Ye Mortals All
10. While Shepherds Watched
11. Fairy Dance / Tink a Tink
12. Behold the Morning Star
13. Moss Roses / Droll Johnny / The Flight
14. The Musical Lovers
15. Lord Nelson's Hornpipe / Enrico
16. Arise & Hail the Sacred Day
17. Rejoice this Glorious Day is Come
18. The Triumph

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Mellstock Band   Primary Artist,Band
The Mellstock Choir   Choir/Chorus

Technical Credits

T. Webster   Cover Art
David Wilkins   Producer,Recording
Dave Townsend   Liner Notes,Composer
Gef Lucena   Recording,Producer