68-4 Winter 2006
This issue complements the new 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. See sound files.
Scottish Travellers’ Project – Sara Reith outlines this project based at Aberdeen’s Elphinstone Institute.
Gypsy Step-Dancing – Derek Schofield investigates.
Two English Gypsy Singers – May Bradley and Caroline Hughes, and their influence on present-day singers Chris Coe and Jim Causley.
A Tribute to Nibs – a two-page photo-spread from this September event.
The Not Quite Forgotten Mary Neal – Lucy Neal explains her personal quest to find out more about her famous relative who was an instigator of the folk revival.
Morris Women not Women’s Morris – Sally Wearing looks back at more than 30 years of women’s role in the morris scene.
Fiddles in Aberdeen – Elaine Bradtke reviews a recent festive occasion.
Morris Taster Days – Ann and John Bacon explain their successes in bringing morris dancing into schools.
Raising the Roots – Joan Crump outlines a new folk dance initiative in Loughborough.
Doc Rowe’s Gold Badge Citation by Malcolm Taylor.
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.
Regular Features:
Branching Out; Festive Round-Up; Lives Remembered, Songs under the Microscope; News; Dancing into the Spring (list of dance events); EFDSS Matters; Letters; The Source.
Music credits
Sound files that complement the features are included here:
‘A Wager, A Wager’ sung by Jean Orchard (acc Tom Orchard), from Holsworthy Fair (Veteran). Thanks to Jean Orchard and John Howson of Veteran for permission to include this recording. www.veteran.co.uk
‘John Locke’s Polka’ played by John Locke. Recording courtesy of the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library.
Three tunes from John Locke: ‘John Locke’s Polka, Such a Getting Upstairs I Never Did See, Polly Put the Kettle on [not from John Locke], and Speed the Plough’ played by John Kirkpatrick, from The Duck Race (Fledg’ling FLED3043, 2004). Courtesy of John Kirkpatrick and David Suff of Fledg’ling. www.thebeesknees.com
