Ban and Arriere Ban: A Rally of Fugitive Rhymes

A lively anthology gathers verses that drift between history, myth and everyday wit, inviting listeners to wander through eighteenth‑century tavern ballads, wistful elegies, and playful parodies. The collection opens with a spirited tribute to Jeanne d’Arc, where a Scottish guard’s voice sings of loyalty and loss, while a raucous piece about “how they held the Bass” brings the clamor of old taverns to life. Sprinkled throughout are nods to literary giants—lines borrowed from Omar Khayyám, a toast to Wordsworth’s influence, and a gentle homage to Mark Twain—creating a patchwork that feels both familiar and fresh.

Each poem stands on its own, yet together they form a mosaic of the era’s cultural currents, from solemn sonnets to frothy song‑snatches about golf and ghostly towers. Listeners will hear the cadence of Victorian magazine halls, the echo of private correspondences, and the quiet humor of a poet who lets the reader finish an incomplete sonnet. The result is a charming, varied listening experience that celebrates the enduring power of rhyme.