The Old Garden Gate

A song collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams, this time from a Mr. Broomfield, in the village of East Hornden, Essex. It’s a poetic song describing a young girl’s disappointment, and the tune is surely one of the great glories of English folk song.

Green Broom

Green Broom, sung by Julie and Gavin Atkin. We learned the song after listening to traditional singer Sam Larner’s excellent performance of the song.

Raking the Hay

Raking the Hay, sung by Julie Atkin. This is her interpretation of a song, which she was inspired to learn after listening to a CD of
the wonderful traditional singer Phoebe Smith.

In Yonder Old Oak

In Yonder Old Oak sung by Julie and Gavin Atkin, and learned from Kent’s famous singing family The Millens of Smarden. For more from us, see http://singdanceandplay.net

The image of rural life painted by Helen Allingham is taken from Wikimedia Commons.

The album is out!

The Julie and Gavin Atkin album Sentimental Journey is officially out and is available to order from the record label Red Admiral, and as downloads on Amazon and iTunes.

Here’s what the record label blurb says:

‘A 19-track album stuffed full of well-known songs from a bygone age and which you have been hearing all your life – maybe initially on your mothers knee.

‘Julie’s soulful voice is accompanied by Gavin on his Jeffries duet concertina, and melodeon.

‘Recorded in a natural environment they are virtually in the room with you, performing the often nostalgic combination of Tin Pan Alley songs and music from the twenties and thirties.’

And it’s just in time for Christmas! See the Red Admiral website.