Re: June Tabor on Mike Harding R2

David Kilpatrick wrote:

> What's excellent about June Tabor's approach is that these are minimal 
> performances - Martin Simpson on guitar and June singing, one-take, 
> first-take recording - effectively live. What is deceptive is that such 
> an approach might persuade the listener that this must also be 
> authentic


But whose fault is it if someone is deceived into some misguided belief 
in 'authenticity?'
Tabor makes no attempt to promote authenticity in her work; in fact, she 
is quite clear that she is a modern interpreter of songs, be they 
ancient ballads or modern compositions by her contemporaries. The very 
fact that she is accompanied by a guitar ought to ward off the 
tradition-bound listener before he or she even gets to the adapted 
language or melodies. They are simply, as David notes, an excellent 
approach to performances of songs.

Buyer beware?

cliff furnald
cliff  ^at^ rootsworld ^ com