La balada "SCARBOROUGH FAIR" procede de una balada escocesa más antigua (y oscura) "THE ELFIN KNIGHT" ("El Caballero Duende") que data de 1670 o incluso antes. En esta balada un duende amenaza con obligar a una joven a ser su amante a no ser que ella cumpla una tarea imposible y ella responde con una lista de tareas que él debe cumplir.
Al hacerse la canción popular, fue adaptada, modificada y reescrita hasta el punto de que existen docenas de versiones a finales del siglo dieciocho. Aunque pocas se oyen ahora. Las referencias a la feria de Scarborough y a las especies son del siglo diecinueve. En el siglo veinte se grabaron múltiples versiones: Simon y Garfunkel, Sarah Brightman y en España, Luar na Lubre la adaptó a la leyenda de los peregrinos a San Andrés de Teixido e incluso Mago de Oz. Aquí las escuchamos hoy.
"SCARBOROUGH FAIR" was a hit by Simon & Garfunkel, although it wasn't written by them. It's a traditional medieval song. During the late middle ages the seaside resort of Scarborough in North Yorkshire was an important venue for tradesmen from all over England. It was host to a huge 45-day trading event, starting August 15, which was exceptionally long for a fair in those times. Merchants came to it from all areas of England, Europe, Norway, Denmark, the Baltic and the Byzantine Empire. Scarborough Fair originated from a charter granted by Henry III King of England on 22 January 1253. The charter, which gave Scarborough many privileges, stated "The Burgesses and their heirs forever may have a yearly fayre in the Borough, to continue from the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary until the Feast of St Michael next following". (On the modern Roman Catholic calendar, the equivalent dates are August 15 to September 29.) Naturally, such a large occasion attracted a lot more than just tradesmen; they needed to be entertained and fed, therefore large crowds of buyers, sellers and pleasure-seekers attended the fair.
The ballad "Scarborough Fair" appears to derive from an older (and now obscure) Scottish ballad, The Elfin Knight (Child Ballad #2), which has been traced to at least 1670 and may well be earlier. In this ballad, an elf threatens to abduct a young woman to be his lover unless she can perform an impossible task, she responds with a list of tasks that he must first perform.
As the song spread, it was adapted, modified, and rewritten to the point that dozens of versions existed by the end of the 18th century, although only a few are typically sung nowadays. The references to "Scarborough Fair" and the refrain "parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme" date to nineteenth century versions. In the twentieth century many versions were recorded: Simon & Garfunkel's, Sarah Brightman's and in Spain, Luar na Lubre adapted it to the legend of the pilgrims to San Andres de Teixido and even Mago de Oz.
Video "ROMEIRO AO LONXE", Luar na Lubre:
Video "SCARBOROUGH FAIR", Simon & Garfunkel live:
Video "SCARBOROUGH FAIR", Sarah Brightman live:
Video "DUERME", Mago de Oz:
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