#4046: Theme And Variations - Pretty Polly
Hear an hour of arrangements of the murder ballad, “Pretty Polly,” which is also known as "The Gosport Tragedy" or "The Cruel Ship's Carpenter." It’s one of our Theme and Variations programs, containing both instrumental versions and vocal versions of the traditional English language folk song – some with origins in the British Isles, and some from the Appalachian region. The song tells the story of a young woman lured into the forest where she is killed, although some versions of the story also contain a villain – a ship’s carpenter- who promises to marry Polly, but kills her when she is found to be pregnant.
Listen to sounds as old as the Red Fox Chasers (from the 1920’s & 1930’s), along with many newer renditions of the song, including two very recent recordings/performances: one from singer and multi-instrumentalist Emily Pinkerton & NOW Ensemble featuring the banjo, and a version performed by the actress Sophie Reid, as part of the indie film Barracuda. Then hear a computerized recreation of “Pretty Polly” from Princeton University-based composer Paul Lansky and his record called “Folk Images.”
There’s also an instrumental arrangement of the tune by composer and guitarist Bryce Dessner (of The National), for the chamber group eighth blackbird, along with a Bill Frisell arrangement for a dream trio that includes bass player Ron Carter and the drummer Paul Motian.
Plus hear British folk singers Shirley Collins, from a very recent recording, and one from the late Sandy Denny of Fairport Convention, along with a version featuring the husband-and-wife team of virtuoso banjo players Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn. And more.
PROGRAM #4046, Theme And Variations - Pretty Polly (First Aired: 11/15/2017)
ARTIST: Red Fox Catchers
WORK: Pretty Polly, excerpt [1:30]
RECORDING: I'm Going Down To North Carolina : The Complete Recordings of The Red Fox Chasers (1928-31)
SOURCE: TSQ 2219 Tompkins Square
INFO: Available via forcedexposure.com OR Amazon.co
ARTIST: Sophie Reid
WORK: Pretty Polly, arr. Colin Gilmore [3:10]
RECORDING: Barracuda, OST
SOURCE: Not yet commercially available.
INFO: soundtrack.net/movie/barracuda-2017
ARTIST: NOW Ensemble & Emily Pinkerton
WORK: Pretty Polly [5:10]
RECORDING: Rounder Songs
SOURCE: New Amsterdam 092
INFO: nowensemble.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Bill Frisell Ron Carter Paul Motian
WORK: Pretty Polly (Trad.), arr. Bill Frisell [6:53]
RECORDING: Bill Frisell Ron Carter Paul Motian
SOURCE: Nonesuch 79897
INFO: nonesuch.com
ARTIST: Edgar Meyer, Darol Anger, Mary Chapin Carpenter
WORK: Pretty Polly [8:43]
RECORDING: Heritage
SOURCE: Six Degrees #314 524 434
INFO: sixdegreesrecords.com
ARTIST: Paul Lansky
WORK: Pretty Polly [3:15]
RECORDING: Folk Images
SOURCE: Bridge #9060
INFO: bridgerecords.com
ARTIST: Sandy Denny
WORK: Pretty Polly [2:58]
RECORDING: Sandy Denny
SOURCE: Saga Records 1970. Out of print.
INFO: sandydennyofficial.com
ARTIST: eighth blackbird
WORK: Bryce Dessner: Murder Ballads, Pretty Polly [2:39]
RECORDING: Filament
SOURCE: Cedille Records CDR 90000 157
INFO: cedillerecords.org
ARTIST: Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn
WORK: Pretty Polly [3:45]
RECORDING: Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn
SOURCE: Rounder Records
INFO: rounder.com
ARTIST: Shirley Collins
WORK: Pretty Polly [4:09]
RECORDING: Lodestar
SOURCE: Domino Records
INFO: Available at Amazon.com
