John Clare a Poet and his Tradition

For admirers of the poetry of John Clare. George Deacon discusses the relationship between John Clare and the folk traditions of nineteenth-century rural Northamptonshire. Clare’s parents were singers and he was himself a noted fiddle player. Deacon contends that it was from this tradition that Clare drew his early models of poetry and song. Illustrated with readings of Clare's poetry and performances of the tradition that surrounded him.

John Clare - a Poet's record of the Folk Tradition

John Clare was the earliest collector of Folk-song in Southern England. He recorded the songs, music, folklore, custom and village rituals of the Northamptonshire Hamlet in which he grew up providing a unique insight into the folk traditions of pre-industrial village. George Deacon will examine the importance of this unique collection. Illustrated with perfromances of many of the songs that Clare collected and wrote.

Following a successful career as a performer George Deacon spent several years editing the Clare manuscripts to produce John Clare and the Folk Tradition. This important study brings together Clare’s Collection of the song, musical and folk traditions of his Northamptonshire home and establishes their importance as a formative influence on Clare’s development as a poet. The book also reveals the full extent of Clare’s activities as the earliest collector of folk song in Southern England.

In his preface to the recently re-published edition Tom Paulin says: George Deacon’s study of Clare … is a classic work, which brings us so close to Clare we can almost hear his living voice. We can also hear his father’s and mother’s voices, so that a vanished world and a neglected culture comes back with an eager and vital freshness. We return to the greenwood and feel free. Here, we watch Clare’s imagination grow in confidence, as he transcribes songs, adapts them and writes his own songs.

The Clare scholar, Prof Eric Robinson writes: The outstanding contribution made by George Deacon in his John Clare and the folk tradition to the study of this subject has placed all lovers of Clare in his debt.

George is currently editing for publication his doctoral thesis – Popular Song and Social History – a study of the Miners of the North-East. He has written and composed for BBC Radio 4 – including a series of Time for Verse and the music for the Trilogy Between Earth and Sky. He also acted as the period music adviser for the Bill Douglass film – Comrades – the story of the Tolpuddle Martyrs.

Copies of both the paperback and original hardback editions of John Clare and the Folk Tradition and of George Deacon’s recording of 17 songs from the Clare manuscripts Dream Not of Love will be available at the lecture.

Performers on the Recording

George Deacon became a full-time folk singer in 1966. In 1987 he completed a PhD on song and social history at the University of Essex. He has written both scripts and music for BBC Radio 4 and was commissioned as period music adviser for Bill Douglas's film story of Tolpuddle Martyrs Comrades. He has recorded previously: Sweet William's Ghost (XTRA 1130 ). On this recording he plays his 1930 Martin 0017 guitar and sings.

Isobel Deacon plays a nineteenth-century three octave, double row, portable, collapsible harmonium.

Christine Hodgkinson is a member of the Corelli players and a lecturer in music. On this recording she plays a gut-strung baroque violin.

The Book