FOLK SINGING “AN INDIVIDUAL ART”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29540, 15 June 1961, Page 11

FOLK SINGING “AN INDIVIDUAL ART”

Singing ballads and folk songs with a background of a choir or an orchestra holds little appeal for William Clauson. To him the true art of the folk singer is best expressed by one person. Visiting Christchurch for the third time, Mi- Clauson said that he considered himself as following the traditions of the troubadoors who travelled from town to town and country to country continually learning new songs and. stories. It was an individual life, and an individual art. Mr Clauson is always searching for fresh songs from the countries he visits. In former visits to New Zealand he had found some new songs, he said, but this time little had turned up. “However, there is one song. ‘Hori and his Spanish Guitar,’ which I found this time, and I will be singing it at concerts in New Zealand.” he said. For this tour of New Zealand. Mr Clauson has added many new songs learnt on his travels. Something else that is new is the Swedish lute, with which he accompanies himself. Shaped like a mandolin, the lute gave a more melodius tone than a guitar, he said. Reasons for Change Asked why he should suddenly have changed to using the lute. Mr Clauson said that it was for two rea-

sons. First, he thought it better than a guitar. Second, it was similar to the instrument used by Carl Michael Bellman, a great Swedish troubadoor of the eighteenth century. Mr Clauson said he used many of the songs that Bellman sang, and it seemed appropriate that he should also use the same type of instrument. “Ballads and folk songs are now among the most popular music in the United States—not the traditional songs as I sing them, but songs with a few new words and a rhythmical beat added,” he said. “These songs have made a great impact with amateur singers, many of whom began singing these songs after the success of the Kingston Trio in this field. The pepped up ballad has supplanted rock *n’ roll as the most popular form of muste with teen-agers, particularly as well known rock ‘n’ roll singers are now changing to ballads,” he said. Although he wants to continue travelling and sineing. Mr Clauson said that from now on he would rest for part of the year instead of travelling continually. This would enable him to prepare new songs for his next tour, revise some of his older ones, and devote more time to h's wife and child.