Abstract By analyzing and comparing traditional and modern ballads, some characteristics of traditional ballads imitated by modern ballad writers can be found. The examples of the former are "Sir Patrick Spens" and "Lord Rendal," and those of the latter are "The Murder of Maria Marten" and "Ballad of Birmingham" by Dudley Randall. The discussion of the similarities between these four ballads in this paper focuses on the structure of a ballad stanza, the use of repetition and the manner of story-telling.
From the Paper "Another interesting similarity between the ages of ballads is in the objectivity in which the stories are told. The composer has little emotional reactions and the focus is on the events of the story rather than the effects on the storyteller. In a ballad, therefore, the personality of the narrator is not important. The dialogue in "Ballad of Birmingham," which takes place between a mother and her young daughter, gives an example of a rhyme using a question and answer pattern (Laws 59-60). The little girl asks if she may "go downtown" to join "a Freedom March today?" and the mother answers, "No, baby, no, you may not go" ("Ballad of Birmingham" 1, 4-5)."
Abstract The paper portrays how the song, "A Warning for Married Women" represents the growing divide in the English class system that was developing in England in the seventeenth century.. The paper describes how the song is purposely morally ambiguous, lauding women and giving them choice and power, but also reinforcing the Christian ideals of the nobility. The paper explains that the song highlights the class tensions that were developing in England in that era.
From the Paper "Music in seventeenth century England carried a very important role in molding society: while acquisition of musical knowledge and instrumentation was essential in forming the identity of nobility, the communal folk songs and sing-alongs were left to the peasants . As such, folk songs were a way to unite commoners while reinforcing societal values; music was becoming both a communal experience and a symbol of status. The song, "A warning for married women," written anonymously in 1685 and printed as a broadside is a good example of the tensions created by the expansion of folk music. Yet, the song is purposely morally ambiguous, at once lauding women and giving them choice and power, but on the other reinforcing the Christian ideals of the nobility, depending upon the perception of audience. The piece represents the growing tensions of the English burgeoning class system."
Tags:broadside, folk, commoners, nobility, status, class
