Beschreibung:
Ballad-singers were central to the cultural, social and political life of Britain for three centuries. Focusing on those who plied this musical trade, and complemented by recordings of over sixty songs, this engaging study offers the first in-depth history of the London ballad-singer during the period of their heyday and decline.
List of Figures; List of Musical Examples; List of Recordings; List of Tables; Acknowledgements; Note on the Text; List of Abbreviations; Introduction; 1. Representations: Seeing the Singer; Interlude I. 'Oh! Cruel'; 2. Progress: Ancient Custom in the Modern City; Interlude II. 'Lord Viscount Maidstone's Address'; 3. Performance: The Singer in Action; Interlude III. 'The Storm'; 4. Repertoire: Navigating the Mainstream; Interlude IV. 'Old Dog Tray'; Conclusion; Bibliography.