This collection of melodies evoke spookiness through two distinct paths: some earn their haunting reputation through their musical character—minor keys, modal scales, and melancholy melodies that seem to drift from shadowy corners—while others simply bear names that conjure Halloween imagery, like “Black Cat in a Briarpatch” or the ghostly-titled “Spootiskerry.” Whether it’s the genuinely dark and brooding tones or cheerfully-played tunes whose titles happen to reference a Halloween theme, these traditional songs prove that folk music has always had a delightfully spooky side.
15 tunes found