HistoryExtra podcast Smash hits: 17th-century style
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Apr 30, 2024 
Music historians Professor Christopher Marsh and Dr Angela McShane discuss the top 100 17th-century English ballads, exploring themes of love, politics, and dark tales. They delve into the commercial organization, accessibility, and cultural impact of these historical songs, highlighting famous ballad singers and the role of woodcuts in conveying narratives. The podcast also touches on a popular ballad inspired by the tragic love story of Dido and Aeneas.
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Elements of a Hit Ballad
- Good ballads needed gripping stories, memorable tunes, and sometimes visuals.
- They dramatized common fears, like losing children or the babes in the woods.
Political Ballads and Allegory
- Political ballads aimed to engage people in politics, often using allegory. -'Lillibullero' attacked James II's policies allegorically without directly calling for his removal.
Humor in Political Ballads
- The "Rare Virtue of an Orange" used humor to welcome William of Orange.
- It cleverly disguised political commentary as a street seller's patter.