This issue complements the EFDSS book and CD, Traveller’s Joy, and has a special theme:

The Music, Song and Dance of Gypsies and Travellers

Why Gypsies? Why Travellers? – Mike Yates (compiler of Traveller’s Joy) explains the enduring interest in the folklore of Gypsies and Travellers.

The Singer, Song and Source: The Singer is Devon Gypsy, Jean Orchard … the Song is ‘A Wager, A Wager’ … and the Source is Jean’s mother, Amy Birch. See sound file.

The Fiddle Tunes of John Locke – a Gypsy fiddler whose tunes were noted by Cecil Sharp, which in turn inspired John Kirkpatrick’s music. Notations of three tunes are included.

Reviews – including Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick, Nic Jones, Waterson:Carthy, Swarb’s Lazarus, The Dartmoor Pixie Band, Jackie Oates, John Kirkpatrick, Mawkin, Pete Cooper, Barry Lister, Robert Harbron & Emma Reid, Paul & Liz Davenport, Jeff Warner, Keith Kendrick, The Albion Band, MidWinter, Bill Whaley & Dave Fletcher, Ron Taylor & Jeff Gillett, Bodega, Belzebub, Matt Norman.

A Hampshire Special

Voices from Hampshire – Bob Askew looks at George Gardiner’s folk song collecting in the county.

Community Singing – Derek Schofield investigates the popularity of community choirs.

The Singers, Song and Source: The Singers (Alton Community Choir from Hampshire) … the Song (Polly Vaughan) … and the Source (William Bone and Mrs Matthews). See sound file.

Hampshire Folks: folk music and dance organisations in the county.

A Pyle of Tunes from Hampshire – Bob Shatwell looks at the Pyle manuscript tune book and CD.

A Smaller Pyle of Dances from Hampshire – the ms also included the notations of ten dances.

Folk Songs and Hymn Tunes – Julian Onderdonk

Knees up at Cecil Sharp House – Florence Bearman on this regular ceilidh series. |

Gold Badge Award to Tony Engle – citation by Reg Hall.

Peter Kennedy Remembered.

Regular Features:

Festive Round-Up; Lives Remembered, Songs under the Microscope; News; Dancing in the Season of Mellow Fruitfulness (list of dance events); EFDSS Matters; Letters; The Source.

Iv-diff! – The Inter Varsity Folk Dance Festival

The Singers, Song and Source: The Singers (Mary Humphreys and Anahata) … the Song (The Cuckoo and the Nightingale) … and the Source (Charlotte Dann).

The Rakes’ Progress – Fifty years of The Rakes – Sean Goddard

Norfolk to Chester via Michigan and eBay – a newly-discovered Norfolk tune book

The Library goes Live – the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library Online

DERT! – the annual rapper competition.

Reviews – including Nancy Kerr & James Fagan, Kathryn Tickell & Corrina Hewat, Alasdair Roberts, Jennifer Cutting’s Ocean Orchestra, Aglo International!, Florida, Jim Moray, Dave Bordewey & Dave Young, Craig; Morgan; Robson, James Ross, Mark Dowding, Graham Metcalfe, Steamchicken, Hughie Jones, The Occasionals, Roy Clinging & Neil Brookes, Finest Kind, Audrey parks, Stomp, Chumbawamba, Shirley Collins & Davy Graham, Dancing Folk DVD, The Day it Daws book, History and the Morris Dance book.

The Singers, Song and Source: The Singers (Lauren McCormick &Emily Portman) … the Song (The Seeds of Love) … the Source (George ‘Pop’ Maynard). See sound files.

From Folkworks to Folk Degree – Alistair Anderson

Four Years in Newcastle: An Apprenticeship of Learning – Sandra, Kerr, Vic Gammon, Fay Hield and current under-graduates.

Folk Britannia – a review of the BBC4 series – Derek Schofield

Century-old Folk Song Manuscript Recovered – Gerald Porter

Will Atkinson’s Tune; ‘Ninety Three Not Out – Derek Schofield

Branching Out – BBC Folk Awards

Reviews – including The Anglo Concertina Music of William Kimber by Dan M. Worrall (Vic Gammon), Sara Grey, Pauline Cato, James Raynard, Flook, Catriona McKay & Chris Stout, Brian Peters, Anna Tabbush, Crucible, Davy Graham, Bruce Scott, The Askews, Alan Bell, 422, Jim Causley, CrossCurrent, The Halliard.