This recording is the last one by Steeleye Span before violinist Peter Knight left in November 2013, prior to Jessie May Smart becoming the new violinist. This leaves vocalist Maddy Prior as the only founding member still with the band.
Wintersmith is a novel by the late and much missed Terry Pratchett who passed on earlier this year. He worked closely with the band as they adapted the novel as a song cycle. It is a young adult novel though discerning adults will enjoy it as well. The story centers on a young witch named Tiffany and a character called Wintersmith — who is Winter himself. As to the story, let’s just say the usual comic antics of a story set on Discworld ensue.
For how well Steeleye Span did in adapting this into songs and tunes, go read Michael Hunter’s superb review. I will note that Pratchett was very pleased with the album, and did extensive interviews about it. The recording was, no doubt in large part to being tied to Pratchett, Steeleye Span’s best-selling recording in many years.
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