News and Comment No 24

New MT CD-ROM

Contents:

• "Ribbons, bells and squeaking fiddles" - the social history of morris dancing in the English south Midlands, 1660-1900
  Republication of the complete book, unavailable since 1996, with minor textual emendations and a horde of new photographs, many never before published.  A detailed account looking at historical development of the morris dance tradition, contexts of performance, the social and cultural milieu in which it operated, the musicians, detailed case studies of Headington Quarry and Adderbury, and the late 19th century decline and final abandonment.  Practically every 'who, why, where, when' question you can think of answered in detail.

  Morris dancing in the English south Midlands, 1660-1900 : A chronological gazetteer

  Republication of the complete book, extensively revised since its first appearance in 1993.  Featuring two 'new' locations, details of many previously unknown dancers, and numerous fresh sources.  Complete details on 152 confirmed locations which fielded a dance set during the period covered chronology of performance, names of recorded dancers, potted biographies of hundreds of participants, a comprehensive listing of all known sources.  Also included are numerous features which never made it into the hardcopy version for lack of space.  These include details of a further 22 locations for which less conclusive evidence of performance activity exists; an extensive chronology of morris dance performance between the dates shown, giving specific details of which side was active when.  There are figures depicting activity of both morris sides and the incidence of Whitsun Ales, by decade.  For this CD-ROM republication every primary source has been re-assessed and dozens of fresh sources added.

  Morris dancing in the Forest of Dean

  A substantial piece of research never before published in any form.  The Dean Forest equivalent of the 'Chronological gazetteer' listed above, giving details of a score of dance sides in the forest.

  Articles republished here (many of them in revised form) include two substantial and several shorter pieces on the morris at Bampton; shorter pieces on Chipping Campden, Ilmington, Oddington, and other locations; three long articles detailing the life and playing career of four 19th century morris dance musicians; obituaries for a number of 20th century dancers, which offer historical information on more recent activity, unavailable elsewhere; and a lengthy piece on the Adderbury Morris fool William 'Old Mettle' Castle (1793-1841), told almost entirely from contemporary sources.

Corofin Traditional Festival 2002

The festival consists of outdoor street entertainment on the Corofin Comhaltas Festival stage, Saturday morning instrument classes, an acoustic concert in the intimate setting of the local Teach Ceilidhe, and a special festival mass.  The main attraction of the festival, however, will be the holding of over 30 sessions in the village's 9 pubs, anchored by more than 50 of Ireland's finest musicians.

Friday March 8
8:00 p.m.	Official Opening by Kieran Hanrahan
8:00 p.m.	Open-air Céilí with the Corofin Ceili Band (special once-off line-up including Tony Linnane, Garry Shannon, Hugh, Colm and Eric Healy, Padraic, Damien and Liam O'Reilly, Dave Sanders, Sinead Heagney to celebrate Festival launch – band appearing on Ceili House on March 2nd).
10:00 p.m.	Pub sessions
Saturday March 9
10:15 a.m.	Workshops in association with Corofin CCE Fiddle: Tony Linnane, James Cullinan, Yvonne Leahy Banjo: Kieran Hanrahan Flute: Niall Keegan, June McCormack, P.J. Crotty Concertina: Ernestine Healy, Michael Rooney Pipes: Jimmy Morrisson Accordion: Ned Kelly, Maurice Egan
1:00 p.m. to late	All-day sessions in pubs.
8:00 p.m.	Acoustic Concert in Teach Ceilidhe. Adm €7. with Tony Linnane, James Cullinan, Carol Talty, Kieran Hanrahan, Paddy Canny, Michael Rooney, plus many more
Sunday March 10th
11:30 a.m.	Festival Mass
12:00 p.m.	Open-air Ceili with All-Ireland Champions 2001 The Ennis Ceili Band
1:00 p.m. to late	Sessions all day.

Musicians confirmed for festival (subject to some change)

Mick Broderick, Paddy Canny, Timmy Collins, Martin Connolly, Pat Costello, Maurice Coyle, PJ Crotty, James Cullinan, Martin Dermody, Graham Dunne, Maurice Egan, Brian Fitzgerald, Claire Griffin, Freda Hatton, Eric Healy, Colm Healy, Hugh Healy, Ernestine Healy, Nuala Hehir, Michael Hynes, Fabien Joyce, Niall Keegan, Ned Kelly, John Kelly, Laura Kerr, Tony Linnane, Yvonne Leahy, Denis Liddy, John Lynch, Pat Lynch, Conor McCarthy, Anne-Marie McCormack, June McCormack, Maurice McHugh, Marcus Moloney, Jimmy Morrisson, Aisling Mulhern, Aoife O'Connor, Brian O'Dea, Carmel O'Dea, Niamh O'Dea, Cyril O'Donoghue, Noel O'Donoghue, Eoin O'Neill, Padraic O'Reilly, Anthony Quigney, Michael Rooney, John Rynne, David Sanders, Garry Shannon, Carol Talty, Sean Vaughan.

Further info and booking details on the Corofin website: www.corofin.eu.com

Two events from the Elphinstone Institute:

The first event of its kind in the area, the festival is especially for those who like to hear and tell stories, and enjoy a ceilidh atmosphere, which includes songs and music.  Informal and friendly, it will be just the place to encourage less experienced storytellers, as well as welcoming old hands.  The weekend includes workshops, storyrounds, expert talks, and ceilidhs featuring the guests.

From North East Scotland:

Stanley Robertson, Sheena Blackhall, Lorna Alexander, Bunty Penny, Jackie Ross, and Sandy Stronach

From the Highlands

Bob Pegg and Alec John Williamson

From Ireland

John Campbell and Len Graham

Talks

Dr Mairi MacArthur on Gaelic Storytelling

Prof Bill Nicolaisen on Contemporary Legends

Guests include:

• Mick Quinn - Mullaghbawn, N. Ireland
• Patricia Flynn - Mullaghbawn, N. Ireland
• Jeff Wesley - Northants, England
• Vic Legg - Cornwall, England
• Jock Duncan - Perthshire, Scotland
• Margaret Bennett - Edinburgh (originally Isle of Skye)Scotland
• Jim & Kate Taylor - Aberdeenshire, Scotland
• Danny Couper - Aberdeen, Scotland
• Billy Budge - Hoy, Orkney
• Janice and Kathleen Clark - Aberdeen, Scotland
• and, of course, our hosts Tom and Anne Reid.

The weekend includes:

• Ceilidhs featuring the guest singers.
• Singarounds for everyone who wants to join in.
• A Talk on 'Highland Folkways' by Dr Margaret Bennett.
• Workshops:
  • Writing Bothy Ballads (Sheena Blackhall)
  • Waulking Songs (Margaret Bennett)
  • Farmhouse Cooking (Anne Reid)
  • Farm Museum Tour (Tom Reid)
  • Clipping and Sheepdog Demonstration (Colin Riach)
  • Quilting (Daisy Kennedy)

For more details and to book, contact The Elphinstone Institute, University of Aberdeen, Tel 01224 272996, e-mail elphinstone@abdn.ac.uk

Cellar Upstairs club dates:

As they have a number of performers in the current session who might interest MT readers, I thought I'd include a listing.

• 5 Jan: Copper Family
• 26 Jan: Moira Craig and Annie Power
• 9 Feb: Chris Wood
• 16 Feb: Norma Waterson and Martin Carthy
• 23 Feb: Ray Fisher and Colin Ross
• 4 May: Tom Paley
• 11 May: The President's Men
• 25 May: Ballad Evening: Peta Webb, Ken Hall and Andrew King

George Dunn: Chainmaker double CD now out

Also, Volume 3 of The Complete Musical Traditions CD-ROM is now out, containing the entire output of the magazine - from the articles in the 'paper' editions of the magazine of 1983 onwards, right up to the last files uploaded to the Website on December 31st 2001.  It's an ideal way of accessing the bulk of MT without having to go online, contains a number of articles still not available on the Net, has all the sound clips, saves you a load of disc space (over 108Mb), and only costs a tenner!

Bob Copper's Birthday

Shirley Collins said that Steve Bassam, now Lord Bassam of Brighton, had taken up the challenge of trying to get an honour for Bob and that they had both been invited up to the Lords.  It'll probably be more of a culture shock for the House of Lords than for Bob!

Bob Lewis was there as well, and singing quite beautifully.  It's sometimes easy to forget just how lucky we are in Sussex.

Roger Johnson - 8.1.02

Malcolm Taylor OBE

As one who has been the grateful recipient of these services, both as an individual and an Institution, over many years, I would like to add my voice to all those who've said "Couldn't have happened to a nicer chap!"  But, nice chap though he clearly is, Malcolm's far more than that - I can't think of anyone in a similar position who has been so consistently helpful and co-operative with anything I've ever asked of him.

He says he's had just about every quip under the sun in the past couple of days, and a huge amount of warmth.  The announcement was quite a shock to him, but when he found out that it had been generated by the Library users over the past 18 months or so (i.e. not by the EFDSS per se) it all of a sudden meant a very great deal.

His comment to me was "I've been discussing appropriate clothing for the Palace with Lord Carthy.  Can you imagine!!!  Anyway, up the workers!"

Rod Stradling - 5.1.02

Nathan and Anthony Orchard killed in car crash:

Nathan and Anthony were well-known to all at South Zeal and to those who attended the Dartmoor Folk Festivals every August.  Nathan leaves a wife, Leo and a one-month old son, also named Nathan.  The funeral is at St Peter and St Paul's church, Holsworthy, Devon, on Friday 21 Dec at 1pm.  Very sad news indeed.  Our sympathies to all the family and friends.

Kevin and Ellen Mitchell: Have a Drop Mair - double CD

Musical Traditions Club dates for the New Year:

• Friday 25th January
  Anne Martin, singer, and Ingrid Henderson, clarsach. Two excellent young performers in the Scots Gaelic tradition, from The Isle of Skye.

  Friday 15th February

  Donal Maguire - traditional songs, ballads and music.

  Friday 15th March

  Judy Cook and Fred McCormick - from Virginia and Merseyside.

  Friday 5th April

  Tim Eriksen - US traditional songs and ballads; many from the Warner Collection.

The 3rd Jimmy McHugh Memorial Concert

Artistes appearing:

• Paddy Glackin - Fiddle (Donegal)
• John Regan - Accordion (Sligo)
• Catherine McEvoy - Flute (Meath)
• Padraig Kinsella - Accordion (Offaly)
• Nora Butler - Singer (Tipperary)
• Geraldine Cotter - Piano (Clare)
• Also appearing are artistes from previous years, including Eileen O'Brien, Nuala Hehir, Pat Bass, Robert Gleeson, Deirdre McSherry, members of the Kinsella family, and many more.

• Brendan McHugh 0141 569 3557 or 07855 292062
• Ann McHugh 0141 562 5421 or 0141 647 3791
• Ticket Centre, Candleriggs, Glasgow 0141 287 5511

Sardinian cantu a tenores CD rescued from oblivion:

Royal Oak Club dates:

• Nov 29 - Andy Irvine
• Dec 13 - Tim Laycock
• Jan 3 - Bob Copper's Birthday Party
• Jan 10 - Jeff Davis
• Feb 14 - Kevin Mitchell & Ellen Mitchell
• Mar 14 - Peta Webb, Ken Hall & Fred McCormick
• Apr 11 - Jimmy Crowley
• May 16 - Bayou Seco

Correspondence: