Blow the wind southerly - Kathleen Ferrier

British contralto who died of cancer at the age of 41. Apart from her classical works she recorded several British folk songs, of which this is one. Reminds me of primary school in the fifties and early sixties.

• Category

  Music

[Lennart Torstensson]

We love Jussi Bjorling here in Sweden. But the whole world must love Kathleen... if they only were so happy that they could listen to this!

[hawkmoon03111951]

I had not heard of Jussi Bjorling until your post. I have just listened to some of his recordings. What a wonderful voice.

[Katietoo]

Really!!!! When I've asked peers that, they think 'I'm away with the fairies' - how great!!! I know this would be too much but you did you ever learn the sea-shanty "Spanish Ladies"? That programme formed my lifelong love of folk.

[hawkmoon03111951]

Pehaps we're both away with the fairies. No I never learnt that one. Did learn 'Bobby Shafto', 'Dashing away with the smoothing iron', 'Early one morning' and 'Among the leaves so green o' from that programme.

[wentonmastermind]

Did it by any chance inform us that "from Ushant to Scilly is 35 leagues?" It certainly did at Stanburn Primary in Middlesex. Best wishes from a fellow folk-lover.

[hawkmoon03111951]

Stanburn Primary near Belmont Circle? I moved from central London to near there in 1966.

[Ted Davidson]

Kathleen is the master no doubt ,but check out that kid singing in video response above Grace ,really quite something i think esp for 14 .

[TheSealOfTheRose]

We love Jussi Bjorling here in England too. My favorate operatic Tenor. Kathleen is wonderful too.

[Philip Humphreys]

Unacopined. fantastic

[Scotty Mat]

It's so sad that the World lost such a lovely lady with an angelic voice at such an early age.Wonderful memories of hearing this sung when I was a child in the 50's

[Tenortalker]

Interesting discussion - let's list 3 exceptional , natural voices and very moving singers, Kathleen Ferrier , Jussi Bjorling and Kirsten Flagstad. They all deserve to be remembered and listened to over and over again. Kathleen Ferrier is at her finest here in this lovely folksong.

[Zedwoman]

I can.

[Bigman240]

unaccompanied

[ChevCheliosi]

Oh ... :D:D Fucking enimels

[Philip Humphreys]

Pure vocal,unaccompined.

[Michael Clayton]

The Scottish poet Robert Burns used the first section of this northern English song for his song 'Sweetest May'. It seems that, when young, Burns carried a book of English songs with him  everywhere (a fact which will make Scottish nationalists choke in their porridge).