Bill Monroe Sings An Old British Ballad, "Pretty Fair Maiden In The Garden."

I believe I remember having heard Bill Monroe say that he learned this piece from his mother, who would sing around the house when Bill was a boy. The history of the ballad is enormously widespread and vague, and not at all easy to pin down. It would seem to have been around in the early 19th century, in similar versions, but doubtless goes back much further than that, as the theme per se is ancient. Monroe has added a modern touch, turning what is most commonly rendered as "soldier" into "cowboy." The ballad's plot line is a curiosity, to the degree that the two do not recognize each other until he says at the end that he is her betrothed, returned from the wars. I suppose it's possible, as in old times people might not see each other for years on end, but it is almost certainly a literary invention, as opposed to a likely or realistic one.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Bill
• Monroe
• Bluegrass
• Pretty
• Fair
• Maid

[EdmundStAustell]

@unpodimusica1 :)  :) :)

[unpodimusica1]

Delightful! Sounds like true hardcore bluegrass, hard to believe this ballad might originally have been about knights and chastity belts. Thanks!

[EdmundStAustell]

@SuperLuckydream Thank you very much for an erudite and incisive comment! Always appreciated!

[SuperLuckydream]

A wonderful ballad! Thank you for posting! There is a ballad in the Russian culture as well,and it is as well usually has a detective plot. :-) . And these songs become something more than the music pieces. They seem to give people the same emotions as fairy tales give to the kids. And a singer should save this magic effect , adding a modern touch. A difficult task brilliantly fulfilled by Bill Monroe.



[EdmundStAustell]

@Bivolari Thank you. Yes, not many men (or women) have ever been credited with creating--or at the very least resurrecting--an entire musical genre, such as bluegrass. Quite a musician!

[Bivolari]

Expert singing and playing. Immensely enjoyable.