This is a simple instrumental version of this English folk ballad, also known as "Long-A-Growing" and various other variants. The version I used is based on this one: http://www.kstez.de/Trees_They_Grow_...The__Engl_.pdf Mid-Missouri M-0W mandolin Vintage Viaten tenor guitar Martin
Oh, that’s a sad ballade but very well performed.
Nice! I've heard Altan's version of this, "Daily Growing."
Thanks, Mike and Frithjof. I think what makes it so sad is that until the very last line it seems to be heading for a happy end after the narrator's initial unhappiness with the match made for her. The age of the boy varies quite a lot between versions -- the earliest has him rather disturbingly as a husband at 12, a father at 13 and dead at 14. I think the first version I heard was Steeleye Span ("Long-A-Growing"), quickly followed by Martin Carthy and then Joan Baez. Martin
Really sad. but very full of atmosphere, nicely played, Martin. And thanks for the link to http://www.kstez.de, there are some songs I could try an octave higher.
Sad but beautiful. Wonderful playing.
This must be one of the saddest songs in existence. Listening to it would be almost unbearable if the melody weren't so beautiful. I've heard many versions of this by professional and amateur players, probably all inspired by the Steeleye Span version. Peter Knight plays it to this day, with his new band.
I liked this song a lot, when I first heard it. I didn't know, that it was also sung by Joan Baez or Pentangle. My version is played with a classical guitar and a bowlback mandolin.
After hearing Martin and Christian play this piece so beautifully, and reading the thread, I just had to listen to Joan Baez' version. The music certainly fits the lyrics.
Very enjoyable, both Martin and Christian. Many thanks.
Well done Martin and Christian. In 1968 I bought an album by John Renbourn and a variant version called The Trees They Do Grow High was track number 2 on side 1. I loved the whole album but I learned how to play the guitar part and years later I learned the flute part. Unfortunately I have no recordings from way back then. These two versions reminded me of this wonderful tune. Thanks guys.
And thanks David too for the reminder of this wonderful music: https://youtu.be/845XvRBRYH0 (High Germany by John Renbourn Group)
Wistful performances from both of you, Martin and Christian. A haunting melody.
Very nice, Christian -- I like the octave change for the second verse. Your higher position practice paying off! Thanks also for the nice comments on my recording from February. Playing song airs on melody instruments doesn't always work as some tunes aren't strong enough to stand on their own merits without the words. This one is nice to play as a melody. John Renbourn's instrumental (and rather jazzy) flute/guitar duet version is on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/rMi2NjWqNuw. From his 1968 album, the whimsically titled "Sir John Alot of Merrie Englandes Musyk Thyng and ye Grene Knyghte", the track immediately after his seminal version of "The Earl Of Salisbury's Pavan" (the first indication of his later excursions into early music). Martin
Thank you all! I first heard this tune in Martin's version and supposed, it was an instrumental tune by origin. Its melody is so strong, it could be a mandolin tune.