Pepperbox Studio

Copshawholme Fair

• MP3 play whole song, hi-fi (broadband)

(Words and music traditional)

RR: vocals, gurdy and whistle; Mary McGinniss: vocals; Kristina Stykos: mandola.

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"A story song describing a “hiring fair” first documented in 1953 in northern England on a field recording sung by Bob Forrester from Carlisle.  The name “Copshawholme” seems to be a variation for the name of a town in the Scottish borders named Castleton (now called Newcastleton), a place that held an annual hiring fair each April until well into the 20^th century.  Learned from the singing of Maddy Prior on “Folksongs of Old England,” an album recorded with Tim Hart, and also from a later version on “Hark the Village Wait,” an album she made with Steeleye Span."

- Robert

Waltz Medley

• MP3 play whole song, hi-fi (broadband)

Hőkpers Waltz/Far Away/ Je Ne Voulais Voir L'Oiseau (Lars Hökpers/Peter Jung/Daniel Thonon)

RR – melodeon; Kristina – guitar

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"I first heard Hökpers performed by Karen Tweed, one of the world’s great piano accordionists – even though the composer is from Sweden, the B part of the tune sounds as if comes directly from Eastern Europe, which is just fine with me. “Far Away” also goes by the name “Up Down and Around.”  Thanks to my neighbor Mary Ann Samuels, who taught it to me many years ago.   Daniel Thonon is one of my accordion heroes, and seems to have been born with the ability to create luscious waltzes that embody “saudade” and longing.  Kristina’s guitar work on this waltz always gives me the sweet shivers!"

- Robert