[From nobody Sat Jul  1 09:33:53 2006
Message-ID: <3528F3C5.EE6EE437@ix.netcom.com>
Date: Mon, 06 Apr 1998 08:24:53 -0700
From: Brett and Karen Williams <brettwi@ix.netcom.com>
Reply-To: brettwi@ix.netcom.com
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To: Joshua Badgley <fsjlb4@aurora.alaska.edu>
Subject: Re: minstrel: Tam Lin
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Joshua Badgley wrote:
> 
> I am looking for anyone with knowledge of tunes to Child #39, "The Ballad
> of Tam Lin".  The opening lines are thus:
>         "Oh I forbid you maidens a'
>          That wear gowd in your hair
>          To come or gae by Carterhaugh
>          For young Tam Lin is there."
> I've read much on the ballads and how they were meant to be sung, but I
> haven't found a tune for this particular ballad yet.  I have seen other
> versions of the ballad as well, but I don't know if the tunes work or not
> with the old Scottish dialect.
 

Well, I can cite two different tunes off the top of my head in various
stages of availability:

My fav: Steeleye Span, Tonight's the Night: Shanachie 79080

The Bulgarian tune they use has an abrupt stylistic change at a
significant plot twist, but nonetheless scans perfectly to the first
verse you quote above.

Fairport Convention: Liege and Lief (my copy is vinyl, but it is
currently in print in CD-- look it up in the music equivalent of 'books
in print' in one's finer music shops) A more leisurely-paced, less
intense tune and delivery than that of SS.

There's also an a capella version from Holly Tannen, however I can't
remember which tape it was released on-- and it's probably next to
impossible to find (over fifteen years old).

The remainder of your question I'll leave to others-- my impulse would
be to edit the piece while memorizing it, thus having memory and folk
process smooth out any rough edges. You're facing a ten minute ballad,
though... ;)

ciorstan
]