Maria Cunningham - folk songs about Sussex

We have managed to source four other tracks that Maria did not include on her own recordings. Two were professionally recorded and included on a compilation CD

These notes about Maria were included in the book; A Kentish Songster

Pete Castle has kindly allowed us to use his material and Maria's recordings from the CD

"Apples, Cherries, Hops and Women" Folk songs in Kent - Volume Two

MARIA CUNNINGHAM; Although she was born in Kent Maria is usually thought of as a Sussex singer - she lives in Eastbourne. However her songs form an ideal link between our two albums - Ron’s Song is a tribute to Ron Spicer and P.Y.O. is a very apt pastiche of Hopping Down in Kent. She describes herself as ‘a songwriter who sings’.

Jack and Jill was not recorded by Maria, though she wrote this song in 1994 (November). The words were supplied by Dave Middleton and the tune was taken from his recording of the same. They had been kept by Carole Etherton and Andrew McKay from the time of Maria's life celebration 'Sing for Maria', which they organised. (Happily, they were able to find them in the 'ether' three years later!!) They also kindly supplied other source material for this project.

Maria also came along to the Lewes Saturday Folk Club for Steve Nevill's 'Spotlight' evening in July 2011. We made a personal recording of the evening and Maria sang a new song. We didn't catch the title but we have included it as 'The Devil in Sussex'. It was a 'warts and all' recording as you will hear - but it is still worthy of inclusion, as otherwise it may well be lost.

BE AWARE: IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO LOAD AND START THE PLAYERS.

P.Y.O;

Words by Maria Cunningham (1995) to the tune of Hopping Down In Kent. Copyright Control. Sung by Maria with Pete, guitar and Andy, concertina. A very good pastiche of a very popular song which works especially well because the subject is so relevant.

P.Y.O. - Maria Cunningham

00:00 / 00:00

PYO .pdf

For Ron;

Words & Music: Maria Cunningham 26.11.96: Copyright Control. Composed by Maria on the day Ron died. She says: “This song flooded out of me on the morning Ron died. I heard the news at about 8am and by 9.30 I had finished the song, or rather it had written itself. Ron was very special, his love of the music and the songs was infectious and this is how I shall always remember him.”

For Ron - Maria Cunningham