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Chart toppers of 17th century revived by historians and musicians
Pirates, kings and kidnappers feature in songs on website showcasing origins of modern music industry
Their 100 Ballads project has compiled song sheets, summaries, analysis and new recordings on a website, launched last week, that showcases the origins of the music industry. Struggling contemporary artists may recognise aspects of the business model: itinerant singers toured the country performing songs in the hope of selling the sheets, typically for a penny. Many hits focused on relationships, especially romance, courtship and problems between husbands and wives, including a couple who swapped working roles with disastrous results.
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