Frost and Fire: A Calendar of Ritual and Magical Songs

by The Watersons

Frost and Fire: A Calendar of Ritual and Magical Songs cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: 1965
  • Label: Topic
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Community rating: 4.01/5 from 4 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

A haunting, utterly transportive masterpiece of the British folk revival, 'Frost and Fire' presents a chronological cycle of ancient, pagan-rooted seasonal carols and ritual songs. The Watersons utilize stark, complex, unaccompanied four-part vocal harmonies, entirely rejecting modern instrumentation. The record was crucial in establishing a highly authentic, scholarly approach to traditional English working-class music.

Genres

Descriptors: Folk, folklore, seasonal, vocal-group, a-cappella, medieval, christmas, holiday, folk, traditional, choral, ritualistic, vocal

Tracklist

  1. Here We Come A-Wassailing
  2. The Derby Ram
  3. Jolly Old Hawk
  4. Pace-Egging Song
  5. Seven Virgins Or The Leaves Of Life
  6. The Holly Bears A Berry
  7. Hal-An-Tow
  8. Earsdon Sword Dance Song
  9. John Barleycorn
  10. Harvest Song: We Gets Up In The Morn
  11. Souling Song
  12. Christmas Is Now Drawing Near At Hand
  13. Herod And The Cock
  14. Wassail Song

Credits

More from The Watersons: full discography