Old Tunes Fresh Takes – Details, episodes & analysis

We’re back with Martin Green to chat through your fantastic takes of Lyke Wake Dirge, an ancient funeral poem detailing a soul's journey through purgatory into the beyond. 

If you haven’t already, definitely go and check out part one of this episode where we introduce the song.

Listen: Part 1 of Lyke Wake Dirge

Also, check out Martin on tour with Lau from late October.

/// YOUR TAKES ///

Listen to the playlist here.

We’ve got 15 brilliant versions of Lyke Wake Dirge to share, huge thanks to all our contributors: Crack Lassi; My First Dog; Kev Pritchard; Vanishing Faces; Liz Hassack; Joshua Kirch; Richard Toller; Matt Milton; Mr Cat Hair; asymptotes; Cerys Hafana; Burd Ellen; and Julian Hayman.

/// JOIN THE COMMUNITY ///

Even though the series is over, we’ll be keeping the conversation going on our Facebook group. It’s a place for our Old Tunes Fresh Takes community to share ideas, submit tracks for feedback and just generally geek out about trad tunes and music production. 

Whether you’re thinking of submitting a take in the future or just want to go deeper into the world of modern folk music then join us. We’re also really keen to get your ideas about how to take the project even further so if you’ve got any ideas for things you’d like to see, drop us an email or a message on social media.

Hosted by jacktherobot and hevelwood

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This episode we're joined by Martin Green who is challenging you to reimagine Lyke Wake Dirge, an ancient funeral chant about the soul’s journey through purgatory.

Martin is a multi-award winning musician and composer who has collaborated with many artists and musicians including the likes of Eliza Carthy, Joan Baez, Anais Mitchell and Aidan Moffatt. As a member of Lau he has won four BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards for Best Group and in 2015 he was nominated in the Best Musician category. In 2019 he won the Ivor Novello award for his sound walk “Aeons” that was part of The Great Exhibition of the North.

We first came across Martin’s work in his 2015 show Flit, a multimedia, collaborative song cycle on the theme of migration. As a performer steeped in traditional music but with a process informed by sampling, electronics, and interdisciplinary storytelling, we wanted to get his insight on how he traverses these multiple planes

Check out Martin’s recent project The Portal here.

/// TAKE PART ///

Charts: example score, chords & lyrics (.pdf)

Playlist: Spotify playlist of existing versions of Lyke Wake Dirge.

Find a quick guide on how to submit here.

Martin will be back to listen to your takes in the second part of this episode released on Monday 27 September. If you’d like to be included in the podcast then try and get your version to us by Monday 20th September to get your versions included in the podcast. Drop us a message if you have any questions.

/// COMMUNITY ///

If you’re interested in getting deeper into the conversation, come and join our group on Facebook. There’s been some amazing chats over the last month with people sharing demos, feedback and ideas.

/// MUSIC CREDITS ///

10:54 - Strange Sky - Martin Green (featuring Becky Unthank) [From Flit]

17:10 - Etteridge - Martin Green (featuring Brìghde Chaimbeul) [From The Portal]

19:46 - A Place Of Crisps And Pianos - Martin Green

28:48 - Lyke Wake Dirge - The Young Tradition

34:30 - Lyke Wake Dirge - Martin Green (featuring Becky Unthank)

39:41 - A Lyke Wake Dirge - Alasdair Roberts

42:06 - Dirge from Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings - Benjamin Britten (featuring Peter Pears)

43:45 - Lyke Wake Dirge - Trumpets of Death

46:55 - Lyke Wake Dirge - Tom Chapman, Claire Chapman and Dave Allen (members of the Lyke Wake Walking Club)

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Hosted by Jack The Robot and Hevelwood

In our final episode of the first series, we look at Young William otherwise known as 'Kiss me in the Dark'. Perhaps the most challenging song of the series, listeners be warned that this episode has some uncomfortable subject matter concerning sexual assault and humiliation. Still, our contributors have taken the dive and come up with some amazing responses which we discuss in depth.

We're totally emotional about finishing our first series but fear not as we've got big plans for the future. Keep an eye on our social media for a mixtape coming in the next few months and a second series in the new year.

Hosted by Tim Woodson and Jack The Robot

// TIMESTAMPS //
Intro to Young William - 1:42
Jack's version - 7:20
Tim's version - 15:02
Submissions - 24:37
Series summary - 47:55

// PLAYLIST //
Listen to the full versions of tracks featured in the episode.

Featuring Ian Jackson, Kev Pritchard, asymptotes, Catapholc, Cerys Hafana, Stuart Clark The Goodnight Mistress and John Dom Paiva

// SOCIAL //

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/// BONUS EPISODE ///

We had such a great chat with Jon we had to share the full version with you! Jon goes in depth on tales of eccentric song collectors, the intercontinental history of 'Geordie', and why books of folk songs may have more in common with Youtube playlists than you think...

Make sure to check out Jon's show The Old Songs Podcast here.

Hosted by Tim Woodson and Jack The Robot

Check our latest regular episode here.

// GET INVOLVED //
If you want to take part in episode 6 and learn Young William along with us, you can get resources here: bit.ly/otft-resources

To feature on the podcast, make sure you get your version to us by Monday 14 September. Feel free to get in touch if you've got any questions via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

We pick up the conversation about Geordie with writer, musician and self-confessed traditional music geek Jon Wilks. Then we discuss our takes on this desperate tale of one woman's quest to save her husband from the gallows.

We then discuss the brilliant submissions from listeners (check out the playlist of all versions below!) and introduce next month's tune, Young William, a light-hearted romp with some slightly questionable ethics.

Hosted by Tim Woodson and Jack The Robot

Keep your eyes out for a bonus episode with Jon coming in the next few days where we go into even more depth on the history of this popular folk song. Also check out The Old Songs Podcast here.

// TIMESTAMPS //
Intro to Geordie - 1:40
Tim's Version - 2:30
Jack's Version - 8:08
Submissions - 14:17
Introducing Young William - 44:12

// PLAYLIST //
Listen to the full versions of tracks featured in the episode.

Featuring Ian Jackson, Kev Pritchard, asymptotes, Catapholc, Cerys Hafana, James Parrish, Lucy Brissenden, Blue Jeans, John Paiva and John & Jane Hearson.

// GET INVOLVED //
If you want to take part and learn Young William along with us, you can get resources here: bit.ly/otft-resources

To feature, make sure you get your version to us by Monday 14 September. Feel free to get in touch if you've got any questions via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

 

We discuss our takes on The Brisk Lad, a bleak character portrait of a man driven to sheep-stealing in order to feed his family.

We then discuss the brilliant submissions from listeners (check out the playlist of all versions below!) and introduce next month's tune, Geordie, a ballad about a woman's fight for her husband's freedom.

Hosted by Tim Woodson and Jack The Robot

// TIMESTAMPS //
Intro to The Brisk Lad - 1:40
Jack's Version - 2:30
Tim's Version - 8:08
Submissions - 14:17
Introducing Geordie - 44:12

// PLAYLIST //
Listen to the full versions of tracks featured in the episode.

Featuring Ian Jackson, asymptotes, Henry Parker, Catapholc, Pomegranate Jones, Cerys Hafana, The Goodnight Mistress, Stuart Clark, SMOPH, Twouke Folk and the Wonky Blokes, Winter's, Hope House Assemble and John Paiva

Check out JK's video take here.

// GET INVOLVED //
If you want to take part and learn Geordie along with us, you can get resources here: bit.ly/otft-resources

For inspiration, check out this playlist of existing takes of Geordie.

To feature, make sure you get your version to us by Monday 10 August. Feel free to get in touch if you've got any questions via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

We discuss our takes on Edward, a chilling account of a son confessing murder to his mother before fleeing on a bottomless boat.

We then discuss the brilliant submissions from listeners (check out the playlist of all versions below!) and introduce next month's tune, The Brisk Lad, a gnarly tale of stealing sheep under moonlight.

// TIMESTAMPS //
Intro to Edward - 1:49
Our versions - 5:53
Submissions - 20:01
Introducing The Brisk Lad - 45:47

// PLAYLIST //
Listen to the full versions of tracks featured in the episode.

Featuring Stuart Clark, Ian Jackson, asymptotes, Catapholc, Hevelwood, Jack The Robot, Pomegranate Jones and Winter's, Johnny Black, SMOPH, JIAL and Meg Wassell, Hope House Assemble, John Dom Paiva and Jarv

// GET INVOLVED //
If you want to take part and learn The Brisk Lad along with us, you can get resources here.

To feature, make sure you get your version to us by Monday 13 July.

To help you get some ideas we'll be sharing some of the versions we like across our social media pages over the next few weeks, so make sure you follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

We discuss our takes on The Bitter Withy, a mysterious 14th century tune from Hereford where young Jesus gets lashed by his mother for murdering a couple of posh lads.

We then discuss the brilliant submissions from the community  and introduce next month's tune, Edward, a beautifully simple tale of fratricide and a study in the economy of storytelling.

// TIMESTAMPS //
Intro to Bitter Withy - 1:35
Tim's version - 4:42
Jack's version - 13:49
Submissions - 23:32
Introducing 'Edward' - 52:34
Outro - 60:40

// PLAYLIST //
Listen to the full versions of tracks featured in the episode here.

Featuring: Stuart Clark, Ian Jackson, asymptototes, catapholc, Hevelwood, Jack The Robot, Pomegranate Jones, Cerys Hafana, John Dom Paiva and Robert Semp.

// GET INVOLVED //
If you want to take part and learn Edward along with us, you can get resources here.

To feature, make sure you get your version to us by Monday 8 June.

To help you get some ideas we'll be sharing some of the versions we like across our social media pages over the next few weeks, so make sure you follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Soundcloud.

We discuss our approaches to interpreting the Cruel Mother, a dark and somewhat problematic song with themes of infanticide and ghostly apparitions, as well as incredible submissions from the Old Tunes Fresh Takes community: listen to the full playlist of submissions here.

We also introduce the next episode's tune, the Bitter Withy - a 14th Century song from Hereford where we meet a young Jesus drowning a few local posh lads. If you want to get involved and have a go for next month's episode, you can find resources to get you started here. To feature, make sure you get it to us by 17:00 on Friday 15 May.

In the meantime, make sure you stay up to date and keep in touch by following us on Facebook, Twitter or SoundCloud.

Episode 1 coming 20/4

If you want to take part, please check out our Facebook and Twitter pages below. A pack of resources to help get you started can be found here: bit.ly/39GAnfE

Can't wait to hear from you!

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