> Folk Music > Records > The Transports

The Transports - A Ballad Opera by Peter Bellamy

The Transports A Ballad Opera by Peter Bellamy Free Reed FRRD 021/022 (2 LP, UK, November 1977) Topic Records TSCD459 (CD, UK, 1992) Free Reed FRDCD 2122 (25th year Commemorative Issue) (2CD, UK, March 2004)

Arranged by Dolly Collins, ensemble directed by Rod Skeaping.

This unique project relates the true story of Henry Cabell and Susannah Holmes, convicts transported to Australia on the “First Fleet” in 1787 and the trials and tribulations which culminated in that historic voyage. The tale is presented as a cycle of new compositions in the idiom of traditional English folk song, linked by narrative passages in the style and to the melodies of broadsheet ballads of the time. The orchestral passages and arrangements for the accompanied songs have been conveived in such a way as to underline the overall feeling of “period” and the instruments used are those likely to have been heard in the church bands or “quires” of East Anglian villages in those days. The singers have been chosen from the front rank of the English folk song revival, and the melodies composed to suit their individual style. A detailed account of the historical background to the story by Eric Fowler (the man who originally researched it) is included in the booklet.

This recording was remixed and reissued in 2004 as part of Free Reed's 2CD 25th year Commemorative Issue, see below.

The Cast Henry Cabell: Mike Waterson Susannah Holmes: Norma Waterson The Turnkey: Martin Carthy The Father: Nic Jones The Mother: June Tabor Abe Carman: A.L. Lloyd The Shantyman: Cyril Tawney The Convict: Martin Winsor The Coachman: Vic Legg The Transport: The Watersons Street Singer: Peter Bellamy

The Ensemble Rod Skeaping: director; Philippa Davies: flute; Sophia Wilson: oboe; Keith Thomlinson: whistle, garklein-flötlein; Felix Warnock: bassoon; Alan Lumsden: serpent; Oliver Brookes: cello; Dave Swarbrick: violin on The Ballad of Henry and Susannah

Tracks

Side 1	Side 2
Overture (5:39) The Ballad of Henry and Susannah - 1 (1:02) (Peter Bellamy as Street Singer) Us Poor Fellows (5:15) (Nic Jones as The Father) The Robber's Song (2:51) (A.L. Lloyd as Abe Carman) The Ballad of Henry and Susannah - 2 (2:35) (Peter Bellamy as Street Singer) The Leaves in the Woodland (4:52) (June Tabor as The Mother)	The Ballad of Henry and Susannah - 3 (2:35) (Peter Bellamy as Street Singer) I Once Lived in Service (4:52) (Norma Waterson as Susannah) Norwich Gaol (4:44) (Martin Windsor as The Convict) Sweet Loving Friendship (3:44) (Mike and Norma Waterson as Henry and Susannah)
Side 3	Side 4
The Ballad of Henry and Susannah - 4 (2:57) (Peter Bellamy as Street Singer) The Black and Bitter Night (7:10) (Mike Waterson as Henry) The Humane Turnkey - 1 (1:49) (Martin Carthy as the Turnkey) The Plymouth Mail (4:28) (Vic Legg as The Coachman) The Humane Turnkey - 2 (2:20) (Martin Carthy as the Turnkey)	The Green Fields of England (5:32) (Peter Bellamy and Dolly Collins, with Mike and Norma Waterson singing chorus, as The Transports) Roll Down (4:25) (Cyril Tawney as The Shantyman) The Still and Silent Ocean (4:25) (Mike and Norma Waterson as Henry and Susannah) The Ballad of Henry and Susannah - 5 (3:24) (Peter Bellamy as Street Singer) Dance: The Convict's Wedding (1:08)

Miscellaneus

Steve Winick's article on Peter Bellamy's work.

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> Folk Music > Records > The Transports at Whitby

The Transports at Whitby

The Transports at Whitby
Various Artists

RED 011 (cass, UK, 1993)

This was a memorable performance of Peter Bellamy's ballad opera, The Transports, recorded by Dave Howard at Whitby Folk Festival, August 1992.

The Cast Henry Cabell: Damien Barber Susannah Holmes: Eliza Carthy The Turnkey: Mike Bettison The Father: John O'Hagan The Mother: Norma Waterson Abe Carman: Martin Carthy The Shantymen: John Eaves, Ashley Howard The Convict: Chris Sugden The Coachman: Tim Laycock Street Singer: George Faux (who provided his own fiddle accomapniment)

The Ensemble John Kirkpatrick Mike Lynskey Vince Edwards Ian Blake Chorus of 37 persons, including Kate Rusby, Kathryn Roberts and Jenny Bellamy

 

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> Folk Music > Records > The Transports - 2004

The Transports - 2004

The Transports - 2004 Various Artists Free Reed FRDCD 2122 (25th year Commemorative Issue) (2CD, UK, March 2004)

In 2004, Free Reed published a 25th year Commemorative Issue of Peter Bellamy's ballad opera The Transports. This consists of 2 CDs, first a re-mastered version of the original 1977 recording - see above for cast and track list - and a second CD with newly recorded tracks by lots of well known musicians. There is no one cast to a certain role as in the original recording but every song is sung by different singers. Even if I like most of the individial interpretations, I miss the consistency and charm of the original recording.

Tracks

1. Cockersdale: Black & Bitter Night (4:14)
   From the Cockersdale album Doin' the March
2. Jim Lawton: Raking the Embers (0:33)
3. Simon Nicol & Chris Leslie: The Ballad of Henry and Susannah - 1 (1:02)
4. David Jones: Us Poor Fellows (4:12)
   From the album From England's Shore
5. Joel Griffiths: The Robber's Song (3:42)
6. Simon Nicol & Chris Leslie: The Ballad of Henry and Susannah - 2 (2:31)
7. Grace Notes: The Leaves in the Woodland (4:07)
8. Simon Nicol & Chris Leslie: The Ballad of Henry and Susannah - 3 (1:11)
9. Witches of Elswick: I Once Lived in Service (4:31)
   From the Witches' album Out of Bed
10. Chris Sugden: The Ballad of Norwich Gaol (2:46)
11. Laura Hockenhull & Pete Morton: Sweet Loving Friendship (3:27)
12. Simon Nicol & Chris Leslie: The Ballad of Henry and Susannah - 4 (1:59)
13. Damien Barber & John Kirkpatrick with The Wilsons & Grace Notes: The Black and Bitter Night (5:01)
14. Mal Jardine with Jamie O'Dywer: The Humane Turnkey (3:56)
15. John Roberts: The Plymouth Mail (4:14)
16. Coope Boyes & Simpson: The Green Fields of England (4:56)
17. Kimber's Men: Roll Down (4:03)
    From the album See You When the Sun Goes Down
18. Steve Tilston: The Still and Silent Ocean (5:00)
19. Simon Nicol & Chris Leslie: The Ballad of Henry and Susannah - 5 (2:24)
20. Fairport Convention: Dance: The Convict's Wedding (2:09)
21. Tim Moon: Black Concertina (2:40)
    Live at Bacca Pipes Club, also on the album Anger and Kiss
22. Peter Bellamy: Roll Down (excerpt) (2:04)
    Live at The Focal Point, St Louis, Missouri, 1991