#England #Ballad #FairyTale
Ancient Ballad of Two Sisters, or The Twa Sisters (Binnorie)
Finished this mournful and beautiful piece. Сreative adaptation of the plot and performance by Yana Ainsanova. Chords are in the comments. + English subtitles
The recording features flutes and even my small harp, which perfectly fits the atmosphere. I reviewed various versions of the text and music for this ballad, explored fairy tales, and created a compilation with my own additions. The music is based on one of the oldest versions, but I added a verse-chorus transition with a changing melody (which is not present in the original).
A bit of history: The Ballad of Two Sisters is an Anglo-Scottish folk ballad first published in 1656. Also known as "The Miller, and the King’s Daughter" and appears in early ballad collections like Wit and Drollery and Wit Restord. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the ballad was recorded from oral sources by folklorists such as William Motherwell and George Ritchie Kinloch. Walter Scott published a version based on Charlotte Brooke's record and William Tytler’s manuscript in his collection "Songs of the Scottish Border." Francis James Child lists over 20 versions of the ballad's text.
Among various titles, the ballad is known as "Binnorie," "The Cruel Sister," "The Wind and Rain," and "The Bows of London." Since the mid-20th century, the ballad has become popular among folk performers.
Plot:
A knight visits the two sisters. He proposes to the elder sister, but his heart belongs to the younger one. Consumed by jealousy, the elder sister invites the younger one for a walk and, seizing the moment, pushes her into the river (or sea). The younger sister begs for help, promising various treasures and victory in the love contest. However, the elder sister is unyielding, and the younger one drowns. Later, her body, washed ashore, is found by a minstrel. He makes a harp from her bones and strings from her hair. With this harp, he goes to the wedding feast, where the harp plays a tune that reveals the bride’s guilt in the murder.