Songs of the Great Australian Balladists
Graham Jenkin
Paperback Book
First Published Rigby Limited 1978
Revised Edition 1983 by the Education Department of South Australia
This Song Book, with its informative notes on bush ballads and balladists, will provide useful resource material for primary and secondary teachers.
Ex-Library book with typical markings and protected laminated cover
Comes as shown in photographs, has name written in front. Is in
good pre-owned vintage condition
sent via Australia Post standard delivery
About this book
"This Captures The Original Spirit Of Australia, Free, Roving, Jaunty, Disrespectful. Australian ballads reflect the paradoxical characteristics of the Australian spirit: fierce pride, independence and egalitarianism combined with gentleness and compassion. The lyrics express a range of moods - from comic to melancholy - and the ballads vary from exuberant occupational songs to sensitive songs of love and tragedy.
Graham Jenkin composed musical accompaniments for those poems he believed to be ideal for singing. Being a poet himself, as well as a historian and musician, he was able to reflect the individual spirit of the poems, and to echo the contrast between the boisterous and gentle tomes of the lyrics in the music he created.
With music composed by Graham Jenkin. Includes musical notation.
Balladists include Henry Lawson, Will Ogilvie, John O'Brien, Breaker Morant, Banjo Paterson, Barcroft Boake, C J Dennis & E J Brady. The author has divided the book into five sections, being the story of the "bush song" and the "bush ballad" and the history of this folk culture; construction of the ballot and the mode and craftsmanship of the balladists, composition of the balance, the words of the ballads and songs, briefed the life stories of the balladists, and finally the music, which Graham Jenkins has written for the ballads set out for ready access and easy use by musicians."