The traditional Irish song "The Nightingale" and two reels, "The Girl That Broke My Heart" and "Woman of the House," recorded by Ceol Corvus (Emily Peterson, Steve Levy and Sean Smith) in August of 2012 at The Den, North Reading, Mass. Recorded and engineered by Doug Batchelder.

The Nightingale/Reels

"The Warlike Lads of Russia," a traditional song from the British Isles. Recorded in 2007 by Lev Friedman, Summit Sound Studios, Waban, Mass.

The Warlike Lads Of Russia

Les Barker -- a masterful poet and songwriter of both comic and serious material -- set his lyrics to the melody of a traditional Scottish Gaelic lullaby from the Hebrides, "Bidh Clann Ulaidh" ("The Clans of Ulster").

Stamm Smith's Album

A Wall of Death (by Les Barker)

From the singing of Nic Jones, who devised the tune for it. 

Warlike Lads Of Russia

Written by Roger Watson from Derbyshire, England. Learned this via a recording by The Young Tradition. Home recording, Oct. 2014.

Watercress-O

One of many versions of Child Ballad 110, in which the young lady in question demands accountability from the errant knight for his actions [you can read more about it here: [http://mainlynorfolk.info/lloyd/songs/theknightandtheshepherdsdaughter.html]. First heard this via John Roberts and Tony Barrand. Recorded 11/1/2014.

Knight William and the Shepherd's Daughter

Although this was written by Dick Connette, it's got folk tradition fingerprints all over it, from the melody ("Pretty Saro") to much of the lyrics. But there's a modern-day feel as well, sitting amidst the timeless push-pull of emotions we often experience when those we once loved move on. 
My version takes some inspiration from that by Martin Simpson.

Bachelor's Hall (D. Connette)

The traditional song "The Barleygrain for Me" and a pair of Irish jigs as played by Dark Eyed Sheep (Margy Rydzynski, fiddle; Tom Kagan, viola, fiddle, backing vocals; Sean Smith, lead vocals, guitar) with the kind assistance of Anabel Graetz and Anne Goodwin, backing vocals. Recorded 1985 in Dun Raven Studios, Rhode Island. 

The Barleygrain For Me/Jigs

Ceol Corvus performs the Irish reels "Porthole of the Kelp," by Bobby Casey, and "Maids of Mitchelstown" at BCMFest (Boston's Celtic Music Fest), 1/10/2015, Club Passim, Harvard Square, Cambridge, Mass. Emily Peterson - whistle; Steve Levy - mandolin; Sean Smith - bouzouki. Engineered by Kristina Latino. Recording courtesy of Passim. 

Porthole of the Kelp/Maids Of Mitchelstown (Live At BCMFest 2015)

Traditional Scottish song from the singing of the late, dearly missed Tony Cuffe, found in Ord's Bothy Ballads and Songs (with an additional verse here from a slightly different version in the Bodleian broadside collection). Recorded 3/28/2015

Kelvin's Purling Stream

Ceol Corvus (Emily Peterson, concertina and vocals; Steve Levy, bouzouki; Sean Smith, guitar and lead vocals) performs the traditional Irish song "On Yonder Hill," followed by an Irish barn dance, "Lucy Farr's." Recorded at Summer BCMFest, 7/4/2015, Club Passim, Harvard Square. (Thanks to Passim for the recording.)

On Yonder Hill/Lucy Farr's (Live at Summer BCMFest)

A medley that starts with "Michael Turner's Waltz," associated with a 19th-century fiddler, bell ringer and grave-digger from Sussex who apparently heard and transcribed one of Mozart's "German Dances" and turned it into a waltz [you can read more about this at http://www.folk-network.com/miscellany/index.html -- see the bottom of the page]; the second tune is a reel written by Andy Martyn and Kevin Boyle of the London-based group La Cheile. 

Michael Turner's Waltz/The Brook

Bob Dylan's "The Man in the Long Black Coat," performed by Colleen White (vocals) and Sean Smith (guitar). Dylan is thought to have written the song as a reimagining of Child Ballad 243, known as "The Demon Lover" or "The House Carpenter," variants of which originated in Scotland -- accordingly, we've added a subtle musical reference or two to affirm its Scottish roots. Home recording, January 2016.

The Man In The Long Black Coat

A traditional Irish song, learned from a recording of Tommy McGrath of County Waterford, performed by Colleen White and Sean Smith at the Newton Free Library, Newton, Mass., 2/7/2016.

The Colleen From Coolbawn (Live)

Ceol Corvus performs two traditional Irish reels "The Green Fields of Rosbeigh" and "The Torn Jacket." Emily Peterson (concertina), Steve Levy (mandolin), Sean Smith (bouzouki) Recorded live at Belmont Public Library, 3/5/2016

Green Fields Of Rosbeigh/The Torn Jacket (Live 3.5.16)

"The Ballad of the Ladies of Past Times" comes from a 15th-century poem by François Villon, regarded as one of the most prominent French poets of the late Middle Ages. (It's perhaps best-known for introducing the phrase "where are the snows of yesteryear?" A translation is available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballade_des_dames_du_temps_jadis) We were inspired to learn this after hearing it from English singer-songwriter Olivia Chaney. Colleen White (vocals, whistle) Sean Smith (guitar). Recorded live at BCMFest 2017 in Club Passim, Harvard Square. Engineered by Abby Altman. Recording courtesy of Passim.

Sean Smith's Album

Ballade des dames du temps jadis (live at BCMFest 2017)

Traditional Irish song of emigration -- this version is an amalgam of a few different ones, including from Cathal McConnell and the duo of Peta Webb & Alison McMorland. Sean Smith (vocals, guitar) Colleen White (vocals). Recorded live at BCMFest 2017 in Club Passim, Harvard Square. Engineered by Abby Altman. Recording courtesy of Passim.

Farewell My Love and Remember Me (live BCMFest 2017)

Two slides, "When the Cock Crows It Is Day" and "Dinny Delaney's," performed by Colleen White (whistle) and Sean Smith (guitar). Recorded January 2018 at BCMFest, Club Passim, Harvard Square. Thanks to Matt Smith and Abby Altman for sound and engineering.

When the Cock Crows It Is Day/Dinny Delaney's (BCMFest 2018)

A set of traditional Irish reels, "The Holly Bush/Limestone Rock/Mayor Harrison's Fedora," played by Ceol Corvus (Emily Peterson, concertina; Steve Levy, tenor banjo; Sean Smith, guitar). Recorded at BCMFest, January 2018, at Club Passim, Harvard Square. Thanks to Matt Smith and Abby Altman for recording and engineering.

The Holly Bush Set (Live at BCMFest 2018)

Ceol Corvus (Emily Peterson, concertina; Steve Levy, tenor banjo; Sean Smith, vocal, guitar) perform a version of "The Kilmuckridge Hunt," written by Shay Healy, followed by "The Knockaboul Polka." Recorded at BCMFest, January 2018, at Club Passim, Harvard Square. Thanks to Matt Smith and Abby Altman for recording and engineering.

Kilmuckridge Hunt/Knocknaboul Polka (Live at BCMFest 2018)

-I play mainly traditional tunes and songs from Ireland, Scotland and England
-Instruments: guitar, bouzouki, bodhran and mandolin
-Live in the Boston area
-Member of traditional Irish music trio with Emily Peterson and Steve Levy [http://seansmithmusic.webs.com/trio.html]
-Have performed solo or in various collaborations at Club Passim, BCMFest (Boston's Celtic Music Fest), NEFFA, Boston College Arts Festival, Midwinter Coffeehouse, notloB Kitchen Concerts, Concerts at the Captain's House series, Irish Cultural Centre of New England, Nameless Coffeehouse, Elysium Arts Folk Club, Oasis Coffeehouse and The Mill, among others.

Sean T. Smith

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