The Land

Dismayed by the total lack of Peter Bellamy on YouTube, we offer this interpretation of his setting of Rudyard Kipling's 'The Land' in the hope that it might inspire the uploading of some much needed footage of the great man himself...

The poem is from Kipling's 'Friendly Brook' (1914) and is taken by many to be something of a Socialist Polemic rather than the touching overview of the continuity of Folk-life under Feudalism that it actually is. For the words: http://www.kipling.org.uk/poems_land.htm -

Peter Bellamy's setting of The Land appears on his splendid 1982 album 'Keep on Kipling', lately reissued by Fellside in an exanded double CD set with the superlative live set 'Songs an' Rummy Conjurin' Tricks'

The performance is by Sedayne; Northumbrian born storyteller, player of odd instruments, singer of traditional songs & devoted Bellamist since 1984. Check http://www.sedayne.co.uk/storytelling.html for on-line resume.

This was filmed during the recording, though the video editing software doesn't allow for anything so sophisticated as accurate sound / image synchronisation; but as viewer of YouTube you'll be used to that.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Rudyard
• Kipling
• Peter
• Bellamy
• Citera
• Zither
• Folk
• Music
• Song

[Bunnahabhain1982]

I like this interpretation very much. The very simple, almost continuio like accompaniment suits the song, and the accent works as well.

[gaspode18]

He wrote it about the land he owned - part of the valley of the River Dudwell near Burwash in East Sussex.

[Elinitsam]

When did this brilliant man pass away?

[hexagonzombie]

Hi, does anyone know if Kipling wrote this about a particular location/region? I'm savvy enough on English history.

[rogthedodger]

Peter - RIP

Shame you could never know how the digital age has led so mnay to hear your music and appreciate you unique talents.

Gone but not forgotten

[decroses]

Hi sabrinaden..I look forward to it.DecRoses.

[sabrinaeden]

I've got about an hour's worth on VHS right now - but, as yet, no way of digitising it. Watch this space!

[decroses]

I do hope someone somewhere has the footage of himself...

[decroses]

Pete and I were good friends at school...he loved Elvis in those days!Its so good to see him on here.He was a  sincere dedicated authentic singer.

[UncleChickenMan]

oak ash and thorn  and merlins isle of gramarye have got to be by favorite albums ...if there is such a thing