Write a Traditional (sounding) Ballad
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@tcelliott Jan 2022
Your challenge, if you choose to accept it, is to write a song that sounds like a traditional ballad.
A couple of examples of traditional ballads recorded in the past half century:
Simon and Garfunkel - Barbara Allen
https://youtu.be/tfClvlf4-Gk
Kathy And Carol - Lady Maisry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nhkkkbx-NA0 -
@donna Jan 2022
I love writing olde-worlde ballade. I'll see what I can come up with.
I wrote one during the 50-90, and two others since then. Maybe I'm still partly in the zone. ;) -
@cleanshoes Jan 2022
I wrote a traditional ballad a couple years ago that was never recorded as it's meant to be a duet. It would be a bit of a cheat, but maybe I'll retool and resurrect it as a collab this year.
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@robynmackenzie Jan 2022
@kenmattsson's got this one in the bag.
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@metalfoot Jan 2022
@cleanshoes I'm sure you could find a willing duet partner!
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@tawny249 Jan 2022
Oh this should be more than doable for me. I've written stuff that's ballad-like anyway. Sure, why not. :)
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@kenmattsson Jan 2022
Yes, @robynmackenzie, this is right in my sweet spot. In fact, I'm just finishing up a recording of one that I wrote last year at FAWM. It has 5 part harmony acapella. Should be out on my EP soon!
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@kenmattsson Jan 2022
@cleanshoes, I'm certainly up for a duet.
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@timfatchen Jan 2022
Done. Or will be. #ballads
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@liz561 Jan 2022
I think I already have an idea!
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@mandolinda Jan 2022
Yes for me too. A mandolin ballad.
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@katpiercemusic Jan 2022
This is my bread and butter. I'm not sure how much writing I'll do. 50/90 is still my main challenge and I'm not pushing that anymore either, but I could always do with another original traditional.
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@tcelliott Jan 2022
So I'm taking an in person course at the local Uni and was just given the option of writing a ballad instead of a paper. I'll have to find out more details but... *when stars align*
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@declan Jan 2022
Always useful to knock out a an acapella ballad on the 28th if your short.
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@vegansongs Jan 2022
I'm inspired. Thank you. I want to get started now but have to wait a day! Titles and structure ideas are swirling around...
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@midwayfair Jan 2022
I do this almost every year! My live stream from this last weekend had some of them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB0VIwpjJhk
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@sheilerk Jan 2022
Going to give this one a go. I seem to wind up with ballads anyway, at some point in every FAWM.
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@boycetown Feb 2022
OMG and now I'm listening to Fairport Convention again, lol. Not sure I'm best placed for this challenge but who knows, maybe... :-)
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@apolez3 Feb 2022
I'll go for it. :)
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@kawautv Feb 2022
As I work as an medieval minstrel, most of my songs have a traditional touch. But German traditional music sounds quite different to traditionals from English speaking countries.
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@kenmattsson Feb 2022
Got mine down and mixed it with the #oraclechallenge. Tried to do it as traditionally as possible.
https://fawm.org/songs/125778/ -
@antlion Feb 2022
didn't know about this challenge when I was writing it, but my first song fits the bill :) https://fawm.org/songs/125692/
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@mandolinda Feb 2022
Here is a ballad, sounds like a ballad to me.
Walking along the beach today.
https://fawm.org/songs/125786/ -
@karlsburg25 Feb 2022
ooo i like this challenge. may have a touch of untraditinal northern english vocals with it of course ;-)
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@lmr Feb 2022
Lukie G.here, So this is my version of an Alaskan miners ballad
http://files.fawmers.org/FAWM_2022/lmr/Sourdough%20Lullaby%202022_1.mp3 -
@jeff9 Feb 2022
Problem posting an edit. Redo below.
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@breezyanna Feb 2022
Had an old poem lying around, this is as close as I could get melody wise. I think it’s make a sweet fiddle tune.
Forgive the link, I’m still getting a handle on this site.
https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/jKjCLGLn5JBEcN646 -
@jeff9 Feb 2022
Repost of an edited music https://files.fawmers.org/FAWM_2022/jeff9/Grieving%20(sans%20perc)%20-%202:2:22,%201.54%20PM.mp3
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@jeff9 Feb 2022
Can't figure out why this link isn't pasting properly. I copied and pasted it from the FAWM hosting site. Part of it shows up in red and part in black so if you click it, it shows file not found. Worked fine, however, when I replaced the link on my FAWM home page. Sorry!
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@jeff9 Feb 2022
https://files.fawmers.org/FAWM_2022/jeff9/Grieving%20(sans%20perc)%20-%202:2:22,%201.54%20PM.mp3
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@jeff9 Feb 2022
I give up
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@breezyanna Feb 2022
@jeff9 oh please don’t give up. I really love your stuff and excited to hear what you got!
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@philkmills Feb 2022
One of the ballad forms, I believe.
https://fawm.org/songs/126179/ -
@jeff9 Feb 2022
I didn't put those there. I'm just copying and pasting the URL that shows up in the FAWM hosting site. It worked fine when I did that to my home page for both songs I have posted there, including this one, so it doesn't quite make sense. And thank you @breezyanna , for the kind words. If you like, you should be able to hear it if you go to my FAWM home page.
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@declan Feb 2022
I'm not posting this to FAWM as I only did the vocal and final mix in February. But this is an epic ballad ...
https://declaniom.bandcamp.com/track/the-saga-of-snae-bane
If you have time feedback would be welcome. (It's quite long) -
@karlsburg25 Feb 2022
i think i managed one. Its not completely traditional, but has the ballad theme...... i think ;-)
https://fawm.org/songs/126551/ -
@timfatchen Feb 2022
Spent too much time because it's loooong. Gave up on recorders and harps and treated it like Cecil Sharpe would have if he had my DAW rather than just a piano... https://fawm.org/songs/126583/
I'll listen through to others tomorrow. No, wait, it is tomorrow. WHen I get out of bed then. -
@berni1954 Feb 2022
Here's my first in this traditional vein. I have given it the "Steeleye Span" treatment, rather than imagined I was an 18th C. street balladeer.
https://fawm.org/songs/126683/ -
@tageule Feb 2022
I did one, too. One vocal track plus the tiniest bit of guitar picking. I wish I could play one of these huge accordeon-things that you play on the floor, don't even know the name, but they sound awesome... anyway, here's my song: https://fawm.org/songs/128790/
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@mikeb Feb 2022
Molly Bloom: https://fawm.org/songs/128486/
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@lowhum Feb 2022
I thought you meant the Dubliners!
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@owl Feb 2022
My latest one I think counts as a ballad in the general sound and the fact that it’s a story song but the setting is not so traditional:
https://fawm.org/songs/128555/ -
@elenaduff Feb 2022
Oh I might try this one out...I'm a week behind already! But one song is written, so this might help prompt the 2nd.
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@taracraig Feb 2022
I think my collaboration with @bithprod fits the bill here: https://fawm.org/songs/128885/
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@johnpeekstok Feb 2022
Here's a melody. Lyrics may be forthcoming.
https://fawm.org/songs/128639/ -
@gflatminor Feb 2022
Here's an old timey one. Not sure if it's a ballad, but kind of traditional:
https://fawm.org/songs/129752/ -
@metalfoot Feb 2022
This collab with @kellyk might fit the bill...
https://fawm.org/songs/129430/ -
@clioem Feb 2022
I think my first offering might accidentally fit this one (with a sci-fi twist, what else...) https://fawm.org/songs/126523/
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@liz561 Feb 2022
Here is my take on a traditional English ballad, tragedy and all!
https://fawm.org/songs/130934/ -
@musicsongwriter Feb 2022
Here is my attempt: https://fawm.org/songs/130997/
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@vegansongs Feb 2022
Here is a collab with John Peekstok that we just finished and should fit nicely in this challenge.
https://fawm.org/songs/134131/ -
@mariekevinkmusic Feb 2022
I suppose this song makes the cut. A traditional balled about a woman who gave birth to rabbits in 1726.
https://fawm.org/songs/133957/ -
@midwayfair Feb 2022
I realize this is very slightly different from the thread challenge, but my ballad rewrite this year was of The Twa Sisters, transplanted to mob-era NYC as a one-chord blues song, which is a different kind of balladry. Hopefully my fellow balladeers will forgive the deviation. :)
https://fawm.org/songs/134231/ -
@chickenjail Feb 2022
This skirmish probably qualifies.
https://fawm.org/songs/133589/ -
@chroes Feb 2022
Yeah! I did a murder ballad! And it's a waltz.
https://fawm.org/songs/135050/ -
@tcelliott Feb 2022
Non traditional, but my attempt at an American Ballad:
https://fawm.org/songs/136591/
Okay, I guess that's sort of traditional. -
@elainedimasi Feb 2022
Still only halfway through listening to the tracks posted here, but let me add to the collection: The Ballad of Canon Fulbert, is the story of Abelard and Héloïse, told from the perspective of her guardian:
https://fawm.org/songs/134261/ -
@cleanshoes Feb 2022
Here's my traditional-ish duet with @sorby69!
https://fawm.org/songs/137043/ -
@declan Feb 2022
I thought I might do a lot of ballads this Fawm - my top artist of 22 is Ewan MacColl & Peggey Seeger and I've been researching song collectors for a prose piece but it's been lo-fi electronics and punk all the way.
This, however, is Child 95 rewritten - if it good enough for Page & plant ...
https://fawm.org/songs/137419/ -
@tuneslayer Feb 2022
Turns out I did one of these a couple of weeks ago.
https://fawm.org/songs/132992/ -
@rubberbandage Mar 2022
Here’s mine— not a ballad, but it’s pretty traditional-sounding, and I worked in some 3-part low harmonies and clumsy mandolin-picking. https://fawm.org/songs/138406/