For an explanation of the cover design see here 

The text below is based on the CD notes. If you click on the track title you can see the notes on each of the songs and the lyrics. For a number of the songs we have provided a brief sample (as an MP3 file) Click on the icon to play the track (though this may depend on your computer settings).

Introduction

This recording has been a long time in the making. It has been on my ‘To Do’ list for at least 5 years and I had done some planning for a solo CD but those plans had not been translated into much action. Two years ago I started to sing with Shan and we have both enjoyed performing a growing repertoire of songs from the Baring-Gould collection. When Doug Bailey invited us in the summer of 2004 to make a CD with Wildgoose Records, he wanted to do something that brought that traditional material together with my own songs (his provisional title for the CD was ‘The Two Faces of Martin Graebe’!). And so the concept of ‘Parallel Strands’ was born.

Initially we thought more of the CD might be unaccompanied but we were very pleased to find that a number of musicians, some old friends and some new, were keen to help. Working with musicians in this way was new to us and, it has to be said, some of the things that we naively asked them to do were a bit of a stretch. It has been a real pleasure to work with them and to learn together - we are both grateful to them and awed by their talent. So, my solo, unaccompanied, traditional CD has grown a bit. A number of the songs are here recorded for the first time since Baring-Gould noted them down in the late 19^th Century. In the case of my own songs the arrangements are all new. Shan and I have greatly enjoyed putting this collection together for you. We hope that you enjoy listening to it. 

The Songs

To see the words click on the title of the song.  If you want to listen to the song samples please click on the icon.

Lavender's Green (Traditional, Arr Graebe/Cowan) Roud 3483

Vocal – Martin Graebe and Shan Cowan, Mandola - Jeff Gillett, Anglo Concertina – Keith Kendrick, Fiddle – Paul Burgess, Accordion – Paul Wilson

 Click to hear sample

 

Stonecracker John (Written by Martin Graebe, Arr Graebe /Gillett)

Vocal – Martin Graebe, Guitar - Jeff Gillett, Percussion – Paul Wilson

 Click to hear sample

 

Tyburn Hill (Traditional)

Vocal – Martin Graebe, English Concertina – Keith Kendrick

 

Peter’s Private Army (Written by Martin Graebe, Arr Graebe/Cowan/Gillett)

Vocal – Martin Graebe and Shan Cowan, Mandola - Jeff Gillett, Anglo Concertina - Keith Kendrick, Fiddle – Paul Burgess, Tuba – Barry Lister, Percussion – Paul Wilson,

 Click to hear sample

 

Tobacco (Traditional, Arr Graebe/Cowan)

Vocal - Martin Graebe and Shan Cowan

  

I had Two Ships (Traditional, Arr Graebe/Cowan)

Vocal – Martin Graebe and Shan Cowan, Mandola - Jeff Gillett, Anglo Concertina – Keith Kendrick, Fiddle – Paul Burgess

 

Sly Reynard / The Hunting Song Traditional / Written by Martin Graebe, Arr Graebe/Cowan)

Vocal – Martin Graebe and Shan Cowan

 

One Night at Ten O’ Clock (Traditional, Arr Graebe/Gillett))

Vocal - Martin Graebe, Guitar – Jeff Gillett

 

Maiden Under Willow (Traditional. Arr Graebe/Cowan)

Vocal – Shan Cowan and Martin Graebe, Anglo Concertina – Keith Kendrick, Fiddle – Paul Burgess

 Click to hear sample

 

Jack in the Green (Written by Martin Graebe, Arr Graebe/Cowan/Gillett)

Vocal – Martin Graebe and Shan Cowan, Guitar - Jeff Gillett, Accordion – Paul Wilson

 

Jacky My Son (Traditional, Arr Graebe/Cowan)

Vocal – Shan Cowan and Martin Graebe

 Click to hear sample

 

 Honiton Lace (Written by Martin Graebe, Arr Graebe/Cowan)

Lead vocal – Martin Graebe and Shan Cowan, English Concertina – Keith Kendrick, Fiddle – Paul Burgess

 

The Maid and her Swain (Traditional, Arr Cowan/Gillett)

Vocal – Shan Cowan, Guitar - Jeff Gillett

 Click to hear sample

 

From Severn, By the Somme (Written by Martin Graebe)
Vocal - Martin Graebe

 

Rouse, Rouse (Traditional, Arr Graebe/Cowan)
Lead vocal – Martin Graebe and Shan Cowan, Anglo Concertina – Keith Kendrick, Fiddle – Paul Burgess, Accordion – Paul Wilson. Tuba – Barry Lister, Oboe – Paul Sartin, Additional vocals - Doug Bailey, Lynn Heraud, Barry Lister and Pat Turner.
 Click to hear sample

 

Laying My Life on the Line (Written by Martin Graebe, Arr Graebe/Cowan/Gillett)

Vocal – Martin Graebe and Shan Cowan, Guitar - Jeff Gillett

  

 

The Musicians

Paul Burgess – Fiddle
Jeff Gillett - Guitar and Mandola
Keith Kendrick - English and Anglo Concertina
Barry Lister - Tuba and Trombone
Paul Sartin – Oboe
Paul Wilson - Accordion and Percussion (Granite, Slate and Tom-Tom)
Doug Bailey, Lynne Heraud, Barry Lister and Pat Turner - additional vocals

 

 

Thanks

A number of people have been involved in this project in different ways and our thanks are due to all of them, particularly to the musicians and singers listed above. We would, though, like to give an extra-special acknowledgement to :

Doug Bailey for the invitation to record, for maintaining our will to live through the more difficult bits and for his vision, skill, patience and help. Also, of course, Sue Bailey for her hospitality and unfailing cheerfulness.

Paul Wilson and Jeff Gillett deserve particular recognition for the help and advice they have given us on the musical content. I have worked with Paul and with Wren, the community arts organization that he co-founded, for many years and I continue to be amazed at his talent and the way that he uses it to unselfishly support others. Jeff is someone else I have known for many years and one of the finest accompanists that I know. It is a great privilege for us to have had his talent at our disposal. 

 

 

  More Studio shots hereSabine Baring-Gould for his vision and energy in securing and leaving for us ‘a sweet cup for posterity'

And, since she handed the job of writing the notes to me, I get a chance to thank Shan Cowan (now Graebe) for her love, support and encouragement and for her willingness to push the boundaries - and pull me along with her

 

Martin Graebe