Folksongs & Ballads of Scotland

Book excerpt: The Great Ballad Tradition of Scotland is one of the most important influences on the folk songs of the English-speaking world. The descendants of the old Scottish ballads appear in countless variants in England, Canada, Australia and the United States. Now Ewan MacColl, himself raised in this tradition, has drawn on this great wealth of tradition to fashion an outstanding collection of Scottish folk songs and ballads. Here are 70 songs,complete with words,music, historical notes, and appropriate guitar chords (supplied by Peggy Seeger). Documentary illustrations and a glossary of the Scottish idioms employed help to make this a book that is both useful to the musician and singer, and a fine work of art as well.