FolkSongs

• Folk Songs of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales
  Edited by William Cole
  A paperback reprint of my favorite songbook. The arrangements are excellent but not complex. The selection has practically ALL the standards from Greensleeves to Men of Harlech. If I had to choose only one resource, this would be it. This is on backorder, but is available. (I got another copy because my old copy was falling to pieces!)
  
  
• The Book of Navy Songs
  Here it is - the book with Abdul Abulbul Amir, - and countless other of my Dad's (the sea captain) favorites. Not to be missed. This is also currently on backorder at Amazon and may take some weeks to get, but where else can you find two great songs like Abdul Abulbul Amir and Rhyme of the Chivalrous Shark?
  
  
• The Joan Baez Songbook
  Easy arrangements, lots of broadsides and Child ballads.
  
  
• Golden Encyclopedia of Folk Music
  This is currently on backorder at Amazon and may take some weeks to get. I include it because it is a resource I use a great deal. The arrangements are not as complex as Hopekirk and Sharp.
  
  
• The Irish Songbook
  Compiled and Edited by Joy Graeme
  Music by The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem. Includes many traditional tunes as well as new music and words by The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem. This is on backorder but my copy arrived in a couple of weeks. Easy arrangements, great music.
  
  
• Seventy Scottish Songs
  Originally done in 1905 by Helen Hopekirk. Many lesser known as well as standards. Excellent piano arrangements.
  
  
• The Robert Burns Songbook, Vol. I
  By Serge Hovey
  Eighty-five songs by Burns with full arrangements, information on each and an excellent introduction.
  
  
• Folk Songs of the Southern Appalachians
  As Sung by Jean Ritchie
  Single line melodies and some information on many English & Scot songs that were transplanted to the Appalachians.
  
  
• American Songbag
  By Carl Sandburg and Garrison Keillor
  A large book, a reference book more than songbook but there are piano arrangements for many tunes. Guess you could copy them and put the music on the piano... Great information.
  
  
• One Hundred English Folksongs
  by Cecil Sharp. A fantastic resource of excellent piano arrangements and tune information.
  
  
• Songs of the British Isles
  by Jerry Silverman
  Easy piano/vocal arrangements, good information. With selections like Benbow, Captain Kidd, Cruel War, Lilibulero, Vicar of Bray, Croppy Boy, Old Orange Flute, Johnnie Cope, MacPherson's Farewell, Maid of Llanwellyn and the like.
  
  
• Songs of Ireland
  by Jerry Silverman
  Mostly single line melodies. Great information.
  
  
• Ballads and Songs of the Civil War
  by Jerry Silverman
  Easy arrangements, great information, lots of songs.
  
  
• Civil War Songbook : Complete Original Sheet Music for Thirty Seven Songs
  by Richard Crawford
  Reprints of original sheet music.
  
  
• The American Song Treasury
  This has easy arrangements with guitar tabs and a lot of great information on the tunes.
  
  
• Classic Songs of America : Arrangements for Piano, Guitar and Electronic Keyboard
  Some old, some new, with a short history of the tunes.
  
  
• From Sea to Shining Sea
  "A Treasury of American Folklore and Folksongs"
  Folklore tales and folksongs. Great for young children. Most are fairly easy piano arrangements and it's illustrated by Caldecott Award Winners.
  
  

Carolan and Harp Music

• The Complete Works of O'Carolan
  
  
• Irish Music by Carolan
  
  
• O'Neill's Music of Ireland
  
  
• Forty O'Carolan Tunes for All Harps
  by Sylvia Woods
  
  
• Ancient and Modern Songs of Ireland for Piano
  by Gail Smith
  An EXCELLENT songbook.
  

Sources of Information and Lyrics

• American Ballads and Folk Songs
  By John A. and Alan Lomax. Has single line melodies and a great deal of information on the tunes. A well-known, great work.
  
  
• Folksongs of Britain and Ireland
  Edited by Peter Kennedy. A huge book (800 pages) with an incredible amount of information and single line melodies. Considered a follow-up to the Lomax's work.
  
  
• Folk Songs of Old New England
  by Eloise Hubbard Linscott (reprint). A great deal of information and single line melodies. Not as definitive as Lomax and Lomax, but very worthwhile.
  
  
• Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia
  by Helen Creighton. A great many single line melodies and information on many of the tunes. A great resource for songs of the sea.
  
  
• Shanties from the Seven Seas
  by Stan Hugill. A fantastic selection of sea shanties with single line melodies and a lot of information.
  
  
• Folksingers Wordbook
  Compiled and Edited by Fred and Irwin Silber
  Oak Publications, New York 1973.

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