Saturday 18 November 2023:Robert Hard, the Dartmoor song men and their songs’ at 7.30pm in the Old School Community Centre. An evening with musician and folk song expert Sam Richards, who will be joined by his old friend, highly regarded singer-songwriter-guitarist, Martin Scragg to sing and discuss the songs of South Brent's Robert Hard (1813-1892), along with those of other Westcountry song men who sang to the Victorian song collector the Rev. Baring-Gould (1834-1924). Sam will also discuss the social and historical background to Baring-Gould's collecting and the folk song movement. Sam, now better known as an accomplished pianist and composer, was in previous years a member of ‘70s folk group ‘Staverton Bridge’, author of ‘The English Folk Singer’ (1979) and one of the Westcountry's leading folklorists, song collectors and performers. In 1980, he compiled and wrote ‘The Village Song Man’, a play for Radio 3, set in South Brent and telling the story of Robert Hard and Baring Gould’s song collecting in South Brent. (Martin Scragg was also in the cast). This is a rare chance to see him performing in the folk world again. There are descendants of Robert Hard still living in the village today. Many of the songs from Hard and other local singers together with details of where they were collected, were included in Baring-Gould's 'Songs of the West' published in various editions from 1889. “What could be better; local history, song, and the roots of the folksong revival?” Tickets at £8 on sale now from Artworks, South Brent, or phone 01364 73117, or on the door if any remaining.

 

NB. You can also pay on-line by BACS:

Account name: South Brent Folk

Sort Code: 30-94-58

Account no: 29968268

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