FOLK CONCERT - Songs and Stories by Mike Bosworth

A Folk Concert of Devon Folk Songs from the collection of Rev Sabine Baring-Gould and the first part of the story of his life given by Mike Bosworth.

This will be the first concert in a South Devon Church in the Centenary year of Sabine's death.

SABINE BARING-GOULD was a songman not a musician "A Most Remarkable Devonian", who was a pioneer in the field of Folk Song. His life story is not often told in song and tales. Some of the songs you may even know and there will be opportunity to sing along.

He was an early collector and recorder of folk tunes and songs from all over the West Country between 1888-1903. In the 1800’s he travelled over Dartmoor on foot, by dog cart and horse drawn carriage visiting farms to collect songs from local 'Song Men', some of whom were reputed to be descendants from 16th Century minstrels. He had connections with many families from all over Devon.

His hymn compositions were ‘Onward, Christian soldiers’ and ‘Now the day is over’. The most famous of these is Onward! Christian Soldiers and it is his translation we sing at Christmas, in the carol, The Angel Gabriel.

He also wrote many novels.He was regarded as one of the top ten novelists of his time, but wrote prolifically on his travels, religious matters, historical figures and on many other topics. Over 1200 publications are listed in his bibliography. 

The Baring-Gould family are descended from an ancient Devon family called Gould that were mostly based in Staverton, South Devon until the 1620’s when some moved to Lewtrenchard a small parish in West Devon where he died in 1924.

TICKETS IN ADVANCE ONLY via email: imwdavey@gmail.com or phone/text 07767 771590.