Dancers does it take to...
No, wait, that's not the question.
Today I have seen several references to Morris Dancing, in at least two discussions.
So the real question is, how many of you have past or present connections to Morris or other English traditions?
I briefly danced in a Northwest Morris side, and sometimes play tunes with Morris types, including being in a band with past and present Morris dancers.
My original trad connections were in English folk song and dance tunes (I have no English lineage) before branching out.
So, who else will admit to Anglo-Sassenach practices?
English trad is in a pretty bad way in Australia although we do have the fabulous Wheeze and Suck Band who deserve a gig at Sidmouth next year. I dance North West.
Former stalwart of Gorris Morris North West CLOG, who had a reunion last month in Gorton. Great days, especially when I threw the collection money, £500, into the River Thames in 1982.
In those days the folk clubs in Manchester were plentiful and great.
I played for Durham Rams Morris Men, Cotswold Morris and Rapper (North-East England sword dance - done to fast jigs). But I never got into the dancing side. Nor did I go on side outings to the fabled shrines of The Dance, such as Thaxted and various villages in the Cotswolds.
In my younger days I danced & played for a few morris sides in Australia (and once enjoyed a weekend dancing with the Sherbourne village side). Killed a lot of sorely-missed brain cells at some drunken morris ales over the years and generally enjoyed myself - and played in some 'Old Empire Band' gigs around Oz in the 1980's. There's a great lift and rhythm to the music when its played well, and it's fun to play.
"I still think that English dance music often has more fun in it"
It doesn't take itself too seriously, has no truck with authority and conformity, is open to all sorts of fascinating interpretations. The Wheezers and the Old Empire Band are great examples of the amount of fun to be had with English trad.
I play fiddle for Dartmoor Border Morris here in sunny Devon. Playing for a morris side is great, O.K, the tunes are simple, but the social side of it is brilliant, and you can play all the fast fancy tunes in the music session afterwards.
Oh, and feel free to take the p1ss all you like..... it just makes you look bad!
I often envy those I read these postings from, here at this site -- whether it is uilleann pipers clubs, morris dancing, tons of sessions within an hour's drive, or whatever, RIGHT NEXT DOOR ---
I am glad many of you choose to NOT take it for granted.
Morris Man's Armageddon
------------------------------------
The lightning flashed, the thunder roared,
And all the world was shaken;
The morris man, picked up his stick,
And ran to save his Bacon ....
"Now, let me see, who was it that said that you should try everything once - except for incest and Morris dancing .."
A brief Google search indicates that it has been ascribed to both Sir Malcolm Sargent and Sir Arnold Bax ... but I think it sounds more like Oscar Wilde. Perhaps one or other of the two Sirs nicked it from him.
Apparently, morris is the one type of music that is still legally allowed in English pubs without a licence. Go figure possible practical implications of this ...
An unexpected thing about morris dancing is that the fitter the dancers the slower the music is played. This is because the dancers leap higher and the musicians have to time the beat precisely to coincide with the landing (that needs concentration and skill). The only comparison I can think of is with Irish step dancing where a hornpipe is played slowly so that the dancer can fit in extra complicated steps.
Morris gets a bad press, especially from non-English people. Personally I think it is great, lovely to watch, but should not be compared to Irish or Scottish dancing, which seem much more energetic, etc but just different. Isn't Morris all full of symbolism?
Irate chaufeur outside the Dorchester finds a man jumping up and down on the bonnet of his boss's Rolls Royce and asks him to get down at once. Man replies, I can't as I'm practicing for a Morris dance competition and, because there wasn't a Morris Minor in sight, I'm having to make do with this.
"A brief Google search indicates that it has been ascribed to both Sir Malcolm Sargent and Sir Arnold Bax ... but I think it sounds more like Oscar Wilde"
Morris Dancing wasn't in fact mentioned at all - it was "folk dancing" (specifically Scottish Country Dancing):
For the benefit of those who may be puzzled by the last line of this ditty, "Bacon" is a reference to Lionel Bacon's "A Handbook of Morris Dances" - the morris Bible containing not only detailed descriptions of the dances but the dots of the tunes specifically associated with the dances.
"a closely guarded secret"
Not if it's enshrined in an Act of Parliament it isn't; and everyone is "expected" to know the law ("ignorance of the law is no excuse", as a judge might well say, - one of the daftest dictums around today , imho, bearing in mind the impossibly vast amount of law that's in force).
When the Himalayan peasant meets the he-bear in his pride,
He shouts to scare the monster, who will often turn aside;
But the she-bear thus accosted rends the peasant tooth and nail,
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
I'm quite relieved to know that you are less deadly ...
As to that Act of Parliament, it's a little-known fact that it was drafted incorrectly, and went through all its various readings and became law without anyone noticing the error.
It was supposed to have allowed all forms of accoustic music in public places without the need for a licence - apart from Morris!
I have no connection other than owning a few albums and playing a few of the tunes on the fiddle. Apparently, there are Morris sides all over the Untied Skates. I’ve stumbled across Morris dancers on TV, originating from the Campbell Folk School, not too far from where I live. I love the tunes and it’s always entertaining to see people get costumed up and act silly.
More research on the origin of “you should try everything once ... etc”
"You should make a point of trying everything once, excepting incest and folk-dancing" and is thought to have been first uttered by Guy Warrack (1900-86), the Scottish composer and conductor. The “morris dancing” bit was evidently a later corruption of the original. http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/archive/index.php/t-9511.html
"Act silly" Bobhimself? Its all very serious. Best not to utter those words if within their earshot - you might get kicked in the shins by clogs (Northwest Morris) or pulverised by big sticks (Cotswold Morris) for saying things like that - if reports are to be believed!
I got started on morris dancing as a high school student in the 1970s, when it began taking hold in the US -- the business manager of my school (whose family was involved in morris dance) happened to be organizing a team during my first year there, and held practices in the school meeting room. I got to go to the very first Marlboro Ale in Vermont, still one of the major morris dance events around.
My involvement in morris dance came at just the right time, because I had only recently begun delving seriously into folk music of Ireland, Scotland and the UK. Through morris, I was able to meet a number of musicians and singers who shared my interest, which served to further my development.
And there were some other important outcomes: One former morris team friend and I wound up forming an Irish music band, and through her I met my wife-to-be.
Our older daughter began dancing with a couple of kids' teams, and some of her teammates were/are incredibly talented musicians. We had some very enjoyable jams and other musical collaborations, and I learned a lot from them.
I'm still an active morris dancer and plan to be for as long as my body will allow me -- and as long as there's beer.
There are obvious differences between Morris and ITM but they do have certain things in common - or maybe in parallel. Their adherents have all the scope they want for obsession, competitiveness, correctness and utter fanaticism, along with more amiable kinds of relationship; and the origins and much of the history of their diversions are murky and mysterious.
Morris lacks ITM's social role as a provider of dance music for the general public: it is more in-turned. Its purpose is to browbeat idle bystanders - via the Bagman (bottler, collector) - into parting with their well-earned so that the side can drink it. A series of dances is done principally to keep a thirst worked up all day, while continually working off the worst effects of drinking rivers of beer.
I think in England generally it is liked when it comes out on the streets, because it does so occasionally rather than over-often in any given place, and isn't accordingly wearisome. On a sunny bank holiday it adds a welcome splash of colour, sound and movement. It's reassuring. And done really well, it can be splendid in its own right.
There are some amazing sides that have black costumes and generally look pagan. That's fun to watch and looks more "right" to me than the very presentable white-clothes-with-decorations style of dancers. However, I'm (as you can tell) incredibly ignorant about Morris. I guess all these costumes are different traditions?
Back in the late 70s early 80s the squire of the Morris Ring was the Reverend Loveless or something, who was famed for always muttering "Splendid, boy". Also sang an amazing version of "To be a Farmer's Boy".
The Morris does bring colour to the streets on a festive occasion, but being from Gorton we danced in many inner city areas which had never seen the like. Indeed, they thought they would get intimidated out of Gorton when they started off.
And always great sessions when the dancing was done.
Cotswold (mainly deriving from the area between Oxford and Gloucester),
North-West (mainly in Lancashire),
Border (round the English / Welsh border).
The more outlandish, raggy get-ups and blacked-up faces tend to belong to those who dance the last two, I think. Cotswold Morris wear tends to be neater - white shirts, colourful tabards etc.
There are extremely few sides with an unbroken tradition - WW1 literally killed off the sides then existing. So they're practically all revival sides, some with much deference to the tradition as they understand it, others with a lot less. This allows for considerable freedom of get-up and approach, always understanding that a side not deemed kosher in these respects won't be allowed or invited to join the Morris Ring.
Entertaining and civilised little discussion you initiated here, oldstrings.
OK, a little bit of leg-pulling (as you would have anticipated) but no actual slagging (yet!), as predicted by david_h.
Reckon that fear of reprisals from all those clogs and sticks must have scared the slaggers away. Not to mention potential violence from those handkerchiefs, of course!
Some would no doubt say that a discussion about Morris is out of scope on an ITM site. However, I've noticed in the past that any public upsurge of interest in any particular tradition has also benefited other traditions.
So much more to be gained by focussing on points in common ...
"always understanding that a side not deemed kosher in these respects won't be allowed or invited to join the Morris Ring"
Don't forget the many excellent sides that wouldn't *want* to belong to the Morris Ring (which is strictly "men only") and who belong to one of the other two national organisations, the Open Morris or the Morris Federation.
I'm not sure that a discussion about Morris is entirely outside the scope of an ITM discussion board. I came to Morris through playing music of the Irish persuasion - 'would I be interested in playing for a North West side?' So I did; then to find that, out and about with the side, meeting other 'English' musos that there were tunes in common though in a differing interpretation and questions of provenance. Later I joined a Rapper side as the musician for which I play music that is essentially Irish for an English tradition. The best of both worlds? I think so - but then that's just me.
As with any 'organisation' be it the Morris Ring, Comhaltas, EFDSS etc. etc. you may be sure to find 'ultras' who will espouse their beliefs and tenets beyond rhyme or reason.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could accept and respect our differences without forcing our ideas on others or am I being too idealistic?
"Is this a trick ? You trying to get us to own up so we can be slagged ?"
Not me, david_h. But I believe your activities have already been noted, and you are due to appear before the Committee Hearing of Unacceptable Musical Practices (CHUMP).
Speaking of "Rapper" and "men only", I once learned a little Rapper on an English folk dance course. There were enough participants to form two sides, which ended up being one of men and one of women. The men's side initially made good progress, led by a Geordie who had done some dancing; but he was enraged to see women being encouraged. Geordie was determined that we should show them up at the evening performance, but had rather too much to drink. It must have looked quite amusing to see us gradually disintegrate into a heap of bodies, while the women's side successfully completed their dance.
Vid shows a very skilful rapper side. I love to watch a group of men dancing well and to a high level. But shuffling from side to side on the dance floor trying to find a beat with an embarrassed look on your face - eek.
clogstepping - the rapper side in your video link are certainly extremely competent, but theatricrical performances like this just takes all the soul out of it.
Rapper sword meets Riverdance....
Ridiculous lighting (you can't see the stepping) and what sounded suspiciously like a drum machine. In rapper, the only percussive affect needed is that provided for by the stepping - nothing else is necessary!
The best place for rapper is inside a crowded pub, with the attendant hazard of punters and bar staff getting in the way carrying drinks, plates of food etc. And often with an audience ranging from the totally disinterested to "over the top" enthusiastic - and everything in between. And the amusing questions after the dance has finished: e.g. "Are you Spanish?" and "Can you get insurance for this?" etc.
And the local who stubbornly refuses to move himself and bar stool back from the perfomance area and endures the whole thing with rapper swords flying inches from his nose - and more importantly, his pint!
... Ornaments and lampshades hanging from the ceiling to avoid as well!
Watch this vid for a much more realistic representation
john knoss - an interesting observation, - your comment on playing Irish jigs for an English tradition.
Some years ago (when I was dancing rapper sword) we somehow managed to get a booking for a spot at at St. Patrick's night at a catholic club. There were jeers and shouts of disapproval when we walked in (in red kit - all other peformers were wearing green!)
When we started though, the atmosphere totally changed, and disapproval quickly changed to approval. Our performance pretty much brought the house down, and there were free drinks for us all for or the rest of the evening.
We certainly did our bit for Anglo/Irish relations on that particular night ...
Rapper is one of the very few trad-related activities that require alarming levels of physical prowess and physical risk, and can *purely through their performance* convince punters alien to the mystique that its practitioners are not a bunch of ridiculous ponces and deadbeats. Indeed, I can't think of any other.
Indeed yes, nicholas. And even if you do get any heckers, they usually go very quite after they've witnessed one dance. And even quieter, if you suggest that they might like to take part ...
At a folk festival earlier in the year our (Cotswold) team was dancing a street spot with a rapper side, who introduced themselves and made an announcement that they were *not* morris men.
"Oh yes you are!" went up the cry from our team.
"Oh no we're not!" they replied.
This set the tone for the next half hour. There were three times as many of us as there were of them, so it seemed a bit unfair, but everyone enjoyed themselves.
An interesting point that you raised there, Rob. Is rapper sword part of morris - or is it it not?
One the one hand it is (e.g. I believe that rapper-only sides can apply to join the Morirs Ring).
On the other hand it is not. it is so very diffent from say (Cotswold) morris that it really deserves to stand in its own right.
One thing's for sure though - if you're a rapper side wishing to dance in a pub in the UK that's not licensed for music it would be best to say that you are morris men, as that activity is exempt from the music licensing rules ...
I don't instinctively see the sword dance traditions as being Morris, although socially they often dwell these days under the wing of the Morris world and many dancers do both kinds.
Apart from the obvious differences in terms of the dance itself, the sword dances seem to have been of old the particular property of miners, certainly in rapper and in some longsword traditions though maybe not all. As far as I'm aware Morris was not so exclusively tied to men of a particular calling.
It hardly needs saying that bog-all is known for definite about how they came about and why they are there at all.
Perhaps the way 'Morris' is used might be analogous to 'Celtic' in terms of Irish, Scots, Breton music.
In the end, to my mind, it's all one - it's a fine way to go out have some craic...the promotion/preservation of tradition at the end of the day will be incidental. As kuec observed you won't know what you've got til it's gone unless Joe Public decides to value his own heritage over that of commercialized pap which serves only the interests of the like of Cowell et al.
Mix - that's one hot rapper side. I've sent the link to the dance programmer for the National Folk Festival, who is a rapper man himself, I'm working with the NFF on the Morris program for next year. Any international sides that can get themselves down here for Easter 2009 will be guaranteed a good time!
I agree the dance on the street or in a pub has a real energy but I can see a place for performance. The concert performance provides an opportunity for people (especially kids) to see stuff they may not ordinarily encounter. Hopefully some of them may become interested enough to go beyond the commercial presentation and dig deeper into the tradition.
I was in the UK in 1983 with the Sydney Morris Men who were on their Old Dart Tour. I have a photo of the Rev Kenneth Loveless, clipboard in hand, being carried in his chair by two Sydney dancers. He looks remarkably unperturbed.
The Morris world is a fine example of the English special interest group.
Of these, in vast numbers, great and small, English society entirely consists.
Utterly preposterous and incomprehensible to outsiders, reasonable only in their own eyes, overweening in their annexation of advantages,spurious in their historicity, replete with hierarchies and controllers yet permanently disorganised, engaging the real loyalties of the entire nation in one or another totally mad and disorientating in-world, united solely in their lunacy, they - from the Sealed Knot to New Labour - make the country what it is today, a gridlocked bedlam ruled by misunderstanding and unfettered chaos.
I find it admittedly hard to imagine it being any other way.
Sessioners are not excluded. The Morris scene, AFAIK, is actually more balanced and above-board than most and should be running the country. I'm not sure I'd say the same for sessioners.
Clogs - Black Swan Rapper is one of the best teams in England. Winners of DERT (Dancing England Rapper Tournament) in 2007. However, there are plenty of other teams that dance at a similar standard.
I hasten to add that the rapper side that I once danced with are not quite in the same league! Although no longer dancing with them, I still maintain their website:
Historically, the miners from the NE of England did most of their dancing inside pubs, and that's still the best environment for it.
There may also be a place for rapper on the stage, for the reasons that you pointed out. It was only that inappropriate lighting and percussion in that video link that you posted that made me cringe!
nicholas - I share your view in that I alos don't instinctively feel that sword is part of morris - especially in the case of rapper. However, there are plenty of people would strongly disagree with this viewpoint, especially those who dance both!
Sigh - we are so far away from the sources of these traditions.
But yay for Youtube. Half our side has never seen Morris (never mind rapper) danced by the traditional sides in situ (as it were) so we spend a bit of time looking at Youtube posts.
I note that the rapper side in the stage perf was a collaboration between Black Swan and another northern side. I took the pledge after the Mairead Butterfly thread, vowing not to slag on this thread if I could help it. I was sorely tempted with my Youtube post but resisted adding to my already considerable karmic debt....
"Morris running the country", then nicholas? You're conjuring up quite an image there!
- Squire of Moriis Ring - Prime Minister.
- Bagman of Morris Ring - Chancellor of the Exchequer.
- Highland Mary to be Secretary of State for Scotland.
- Black Rod title changed to "Black Joke" and ceremonial staff replaced with a morris stick.
- Division bell replaced with morris bells.
- "I spy strangers in the House", replaced with "I spy blue-eyed strangers in the house!"
- voting replaced with "balance the straw" polls.
- Princess Royal to replace the queen for the state opening of Parliament.
- Whistle-stop electioneering tours to be replaced by morris pub tours.
- Party-political conferences to be replaced by morris ales.
- Debates to be replaced by ring meetings.
- Lumps of pum pudding to be served as refreshment in the members' dining room and a heated and covered area to be created on the terrace for smoking of bacca pipes and possibly laudnum bunches.
And finally, and most importantly -
- Retain any one of the existing MPs to do duty as the morris fool.
Nicholas,
I thought your country was run on the basis of "It Seemed A Good Idea At The Time"
Your grand description of English society should be copied and framed by everybody who read it. You've only lost me on one thing - what is the Sealed Knot?
I just think that dancers are more fun to watch than, say, train spotters or bird watchers.
The Sealed Knot is an English Civil War re-enactment society - I don't know whether they are Cavaliers (Royalists), or Roundheads (Parliamentarians), or both. They are not necessarily madder than anyone else - it was just the first name that came into my head.
Morris Dancing is a bit like the Mummers of SE Ireland. They also march in two lines, carry sticks and dress up, but as historical figures from Irish History. Following a bit of dancing usually to a jig and quite a bit of clacking of sticks, each figure steps forward in turn and relates his or her part in Irish History. The story is usually told in rhyme.
... but what exactly is this new custom? Mapper or Rorris? Or (given the venue) maybe it's a ritual that precedes a three-a-side basketball game - equivalent to "Abide With Me" at Wembley, England.
Bacca Pipes Jig? Reckon that we'd better enforce the "no smoking" ban.
Sorry, "Charm City Rappers" I wasn't at all charmed by your performance. Your best bet would be to switch to sharp swords, then maybe your custom would quickly die out!
Mein Gott, I received an e-mail from someone who was with the Earls of Essex and remembers my casting of the filthy lucre into the Thames.
I went to the US of A for the first time this year and when I arrived at Capitol Hill there was a Morris display on. All the teams were from the US of A.
The odd thing is that finding that clip today was unrelated to this discussion. It was the tune I was searching for as a relative of this: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6271.
Mind you I can think of dance sides around here that say there aim is to entertain without getting stuck into any one tradition. But they do have to show there (unblacked) faces when there are traditionalists around.
Bacca Pipes ("Tobacco Pipes") is a solo "jig" in the English Morris Tradition, but if a side has more than one man with funny coloured (ie neither white nor grey) hair, it frequently brags of this by getting them all (ie both) to do this extremely energetic dance at the same time.
Don't ask me why the dance is called a "jig" when it's not in 6/8, unless it's a much older use of the term.
"Bacca Pipes" is an example of morris dance jig, i.e., performed not as a team but solo, duo, trio or sometimes more, depending on whim.
One of the more innovative/creative teams in the UK I've seen (albeit only on video, thus far) is The Outside Capering Crew. Because of their small numbers, they focus on doing jigs rather dances for teams. This is one of their versions of "Bacca Pipes": http://tinyurl.com/5bd5xb
And here they are doing a couple of more "conventional" morris jigs, in a pair of pairs: http://tinyurl.com/696ca2
[Giving credit where it's due, these videos are housed by Tony Barrand at his wonderful site of morris and other traditional dance, at www.bu.edu/dbin/dance/]
Ebor_fiddler, a lot of old English tunes called "jigs" aren't in 6/8 time because, as you suspected, an old usage of "jig" was for a dance involving jumping or leaping (think of "jigging up and down"), and they would more likely be in 2/4 or 4/4.
In fact, a couple of years ago I posted a tune called "The Coleford Jigge", which is an old English hornpipe. I deliberately mis-spelled "jig" so as to get it into the tune's title, because tune types ("reel", "jig", etc) aren't allowed in tune titles on the tunes database.
I feel a bit bad about posting the link to that clip. Its a dance where you step around something crossed on the floor, they have rapper swords, so thats what they use. They are having fun. Like all those people on youtube playing Drowsy Maggie...
No need to feel bad about posting that link, david_h - it was hilarious - albeit cringeworthy!
Can't see anything like that happening in England though - not with other Morris sides looking on, anyway! If it did, I imagine that they would be laughing at them, rather than laughing with them ...
Mix-
It's not unheard of for six -- and even more -- dancers to get up and do "solo" jigs together (albeit with some occasional interaction). I was at a kids' morris ale when a whole bunch of them got up to do "The Fool's Jig": http://www.angelfire.com/folk/thegingerale/gingerale2003/massedjig.jpg
If you have the right dancers for it -- those who are not only talented and experienced, but with a sense of fun and show -- the multi-performer "solo jig" can be quite entertaining. Ideally, there's a spirit of friendly competition among the dancers doing the jig, an "Oh yeah? Watch this" kind of oneupmanship. Sometimes it's subtle; sometimes -- again, depending on the dancers -- it's hilariously arch.
But, in the end, everyone gets beer (well, not in the end...ah, you know what I mean.)
How many Morris
How many Morris
Dancers does it take to...
No, wait, that's not the question.
Today I have seen several references to Morris Dancing, in at least two discussions.
So the real question is, how many of you have past or present connections to Morris or other English traditions?
I briefly danced in a Northwest Morris side, and sometimes play tunes with Morris types, including being in a band with past and present Morris dancers.
My original trad connections were in English folk song and dance tunes (I have no English lineage) before branching out.
So, who else will admit to Anglo-Sassenach practices?
# Posted on October 23rd 2008 by oldstrings
Re: How many Morris
Playford tunes are pretty hot, especially the early editions.
# Posted on October 23rd 2008 by Dragut Reis
Re: How many Morris
And 3/2 hornpipes. Hot.
# Posted on October 23rd 2008 by Dragut Reis
Re: How many Morris
English trad is in a pretty bad way in Australia although we do have the fabulous Wheeze and Suck Band who deserve a gig at Sidmouth next year. I dance North West.
# Posted on October 23rd 2008 by zepherin
Re: How many Morris
Former stalwart of Gorris Morris North West CLOG, who had a reunion last month in Gorton. Great days, especially when I threw the collection money, £500, into the River Thames in 1982.
In those days the folk clubs in Manchester were plentiful and great.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: How many Morris
My dad was born in Gorton. He played cornet and piano accordion.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by zepherin
Re: How many Morris
I played for Durham Rams Morris Men, Cotswold Morris and Rapper (North-East England sword dance - done to fast jigs). But I never got into the dancing side. Nor did I go on side outings to the fabled shrines of The Dance, such as Thaxted and various villages in the Cotswolds.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by nicholas
Re: How many Morris
Like the name "Wheeze and Suck"
I have tried Morris Dancing many years ago but I quit because I prefer playing music to dancing.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by fauxcelt
Re: How many Morris
I actually played guitar for a longsword side here in the US called Orion.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Steve L
Re: How many Morris
In my younger days I danced & played for a few morris sides in Australia (and once enjoyed a weekend dancing with the Sherbourne village side). Killed a lot of sorely-missed brain cells at some drunken morris ales over the years and generally enjoyed myself - and played in some 'Old Empire Band' gigs around Oz in the 1980's. There's a great lift and rhythm to the music when its played well, and it's fun to play.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by dogbox
Re: How many Morris
My uncle was one and cousin IS one --- he's trying to kick the habit
but the Morris patches don't work
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Hup
Re: How many Morris
I'm English, live in England and I dance Cotswold morris. Sing it loud and proud!
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by robharper
Re: How many Morris
Is this a trick ? You trying to get us to own up so we can be slagged ? I know the sort of things they say about M****s here.
('retired' but I still think that English dance music often has more fun in it)
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by David50
Re: How many Morris
Dance and play for longsword.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by c.g.
Re: How many Morris
"I still think that English dance music often has more fun in it"
It doesn't take itself too seriously, has no truck with authority and conformity, is open to all sorts of fascinating interpretations. The Wheezers and the Old Empire Band are great examples of the amount of fun to be had with English trad.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by zepherin
Re: How many Morris
I play fiddle for Dartmoor Border Morris here in sunny Devon. Playing for a morris side is great, O.K, the tunes are simple, but the social side of it is brilliant, and you can play all the fast fancy tunes in the music session afterwards.
Oh, and feel free to take the p1ss all you like..... it just makes you look bad!
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Freddy Frog
Re: How many Morris
After getting chucked out of a local ladies side for bringing the team into disrepute, I played for Hook Eagles border morris for about 10 years
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Tarrantella
Re: How many Morris
Now, let me see, who was it that said that you should try everything once - except for incest and Morris dancing ...
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: How many Morris
Thomas Beecham ?
No wait!!
Sir Arnold Bax?
Rincewind?
Joe the Plumber?
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Lint - upon - Tweed
Re: How many Morris
More likely 99.9999% of the English population!
By and large the English, (unlike any most other European nationals) prefer to sneer at, rather than support their country's traditions ....
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: How many Morris
I often envy those I read these postings from, here at this site -- whether it is uilleann pipers clubs, morris dancing, tons of sessions within an hour's drive, or whatever, RIGHT NEXT DOOR ---
I am glad many of you choose to NOT take it for granted.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Piece
Re: How many Morris
Well, I know that this wasn't really the object of this discussion, but ...
Q. How many Morris dancers does it take to change a lightbulb?
A. None. You can't change it - it's traditional!
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: How many Morris
Or to subvert one of the standard morris in-jokes:
A. Dunno, but the music will tell you.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by robharper
Re: How many Morris
Morris Man's Armageddon
------------------------------------
The lightning flashed, the thunder roared,
And all the world was shaken;
The morris man, picked up his stick,
And ran to save his Bacon ....
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: How many Morris
"Now, let me see, who was it that said that you should try everything once - except for incest and Morris dancing .."
A brief Google search indicates that it has been ascribed to both Sir Malcolm Sargent and Sir Arnold Bax ... but I think it sounds more like Oscar Wilde. Perhaps one or other of the two Sirs nicked it from him.
Apparently, morris is the one type of music that is still legally allowed in English pubs without a licence. Go figure possible practical implications of this ...
An unexpected thing about morris dancing is that the fitter the dancers the slower the music is played. This is because the dancers leap higher and the musicians have to time the beat precisely to coincide with the landing (that needs concentration and skill). The only comparison I can think of is with Irish step dancing where a hornpipe is played slowly so that the dancer can fit in extra complicated steps.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Trevor Jennings
Re: How many Morris
Couple of decades hard-playing (and drinking) for Green Oak and Cheswold morris in Bonnie Doncaster.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by geoffwright
Re: How many Morris
Morris gets a bad press, especially from non-English people. Personally I think it is great, lovely to watch, but should not be compared to Irish or Scottish dancing, which seem much more energetic, etc but just different. Isn't Morris all full of symbolism?
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Rudall the time
Re: How many Morris
Apologies in advance but I can't resist this:
Irate chaufeur outside the Dorchester finds a man jumping up and down on the bonnet of his boss's Rolls Royce and asks him to get down at once. Man replies, I can't as I'm practicing for a Morris dance competition and, because there wasn't a Morris Minor in sight, I'm having to make do with this.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Bannerman
Re: How many Morris
Symbolism?
We do it all day,
We do it all night,
Because it is our fertility rite.
Nah, it's all about the beer.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by robharper
Re: How many Morris
"A brief Google search indicates that it has been ascribed to both Sir Malcolm Sargent and Sir Arnold Bax ... but I think it sounds more like Oscar Wilde"
Morris Dancing wasn't in fact mentioned at all - it was "folk dancing" (specifically Scottish Country Dancing):
http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Sir_Arnold_Bax/
Oh well, it's been mis-quoted in more illustrious places than this (including Hansard).
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by DavyR
Re: How many Morris
"Apparently, morris is the one type of music that is still legally allowed in English pubs without a licence".
That's true, lazyh - but wouldn't been better if you'd kept that information a closely guarded secret?
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: How many Morris
"Morris Man's Armageddon" (a few posts above)
For the benefit of those who may be puzzled by the last line of this ditty, "Bacon" is a reference to Lionel Bacon's "A Handbook of Morris Dances" - the morris Bible containing not only detailed descriptions of the dances but the dots of the tunes specifically associated with the dances.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Trevor Jennings
Re: How many Morris
Right again, lazy! But my omission to explain "Bacon" was deliberate. Kind of a bear trap - set to see who would fall into it!
Could I suggest a new handle for you - Ursa Major
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: How many Morris
No. "Ursa" means "she-bear"
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Trevor Jennings
Re: How many Morris
"a closely guarded secret"
Not if it's enshrined in an Act of Parliament it isn't; and everyone is "expected" to know the law ("ignorance of the law is no excuse", as a judge might well say, - one of the daftest dictums around today , imho, bearing in mind the impossibly vast amount of law that's in force).
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Trevor Jennings
Re: How many Morris
Sorry lazy - Latin was never my strong point ...
... however
When the Himalayan peasant meets the he-bear in his pride,
He shouts to scare the monster, who will often turn aside;
But the she-bear thus accosted rends the peasant tooth and nail,
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
I'm quite relieved to know that you are less deadly ...
Perhaps "Ursus Major", then?
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: How many Morris
Too reminiscent of "John Major" for my liking.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Trevor Jennings
Re: How many Morris
As to that Act of Parliament, it's a little-known fact that it was drafted incorrectly, and went through all its various readings and became law without anyone noticing the error.
It was supposed to have allowed all forms of accoustic music in public places without the need for a licence - apart from Morris!
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: How many Morris
"Too reminiscent of John Major?" You're clearly not a "ladies" man, then.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: How many Morris
I have no connection other than owning a few albums and playing a few of the tunes on the fiddle. Apparently, there are Morris sides all over the Untied Skates. I’ve stumbled across Morris dancers on TV, originating from the Campbell Folk School, not too far from where I live. I love the tunes and it’s always entertaining to see people get costumed up and act silly.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Bob himself
Re: How many Morris
More research on the origin of “you should try everything once ... etc”
"You should make a point of trying everything once, excepting incest and folk-dancing" and is thought to have been first uttered by Guy Warrack (1900-86), the Scottish composer and conductor. The “morris dancing” bit was evidently a later corruption of the original. http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/archive/index.php/t-9511.html
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Trevor Jennings
Re: How many Morris
"Act silly" Bobhimself? Its all very serious. Best not to utter those words if within their earshot - you might get kicked in the shins by clogs (Northwest Morris) or pulverised by big sticks (Cotswold Morris) for saying things like that - if reports are to be believed!
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: How many Morris
I got started on morris dancing as a high school student in the 1970s, when it began taking hold in the US -- the business manager of my school (whose family was involved in morris dance) happened to be organizing a team during my first year there, and held practices in the school meeting room. I got to go to the very first Marlboro Ale in Vermont, still one of the major morris dance events around.
My involvement in morris dance came at just the right time, because I had only recently begun delving seriously into folk music of Ireland, Scotland and the UK. Through morris, I was able to meet a number of musicians and singers who shared my interest, which served to further my development.
And there were some other important outcomes: One former morris team friend and I wound up forming an Irish music band, and through her I met my wife-to-be.
Our older daughter began dancing with a couple of kids' teams, and some of her teammates were/are incredibly talented musicians. We had some very enjoyable jams and other musical collaborations, and I learned a lot from them.
I'm still an active morris dancer and plan to be for as long as my body will allow me -- and as long as there's beer.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by sts
Re: How many Morris
And if the clogs and sticks don't shut you up you'll get a hanky across your face.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by David50
Re: How many Morris
There are obvious differences between Morris and ITM but they do have certain things in common - or maybe in parallel. Their adherents have all the scope they want for obsession, competitiveness, correctness and utter fanaticism, along with more amiable kinds of relationship; and the origins and much of the history of their diversions are murky and mysterious.
Morris lacks ITM's social role as a provider of dance music for the general public: it is more in-turned. Its purpose is to browbeat idle bystanders - via the Bagman (bottler, collector) - into parting with their well-earned so that the side can drink it. A series of dances is done principally to keep a thirst worked up all day, while continually working off the worst effects of drinking rivers of beer.
I think in England generally it is liked when it comes out on the streets, because it does so occasionally rather than over-often in any given place, and isn't accordingly wearisome. On a sunny bank holiday it adds a welcome splash of colour, sound and movement. It's reassuring. And done really well, it can be splendid in its own right.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by nicholas
Re: How many Morris
There are some amazing sides that have black costumes and generally look pagan. That's fun to watch and looks more "right" to me than the very presentable white-clothes-with-decorations style of dancers. However, I'm (as you can tell) incredibly ignorant about Morris. I guess all these costumes are different traditions?
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Mark Harmer
Re: How many Morris
I love that word splendid, Nicholas.
Back in the late 70s early 80s the squire of the Morris Ring was the Reverend Loveless or something, who was famed for always muttering "Splendid, boy". Also sang an amazing version of "To be a Farmer's Boy".
The Morris does bring colour to the streets on a festive occasion, but being from Gorton we danced in many inner city areas which had never seen the like. Indeed, they thought they would get intimidated out of Gorton when they started off.
And always great sessions when the dancing was done.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: How many Morris
Mark - There are three main branches of Morris:
Cotswold (mainly deriving from the area between Oxford and Gloucester),
North-West (mainly in Lancashire),
Border (round the English / Welsh border).
The more outlandish, raggy get-ups and blacked-up faces tend to belong to those who dance the last two, I think. Cotswold Morris wear tends to be neater - white shirts, colourful tabards etc.
There are extremely few sides with an unbroken tradition - WW1 literally killed off the sides then existing. So they're practically all revival sides, some with much deference to the tradition as they understand it, others with a lot less. This allows for considerable freedom of get-up and approach, always understanding that a side not deemed kosher in these respects won't be allowed or invited to join the Morris Ring.
# Posted on October 25th 2008 by nicholas
Re: How many Morris
Thanks, Nicholas.
# Posted on October 25th 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: How many Morris
Entertaining and civilised little discussion you initiated here, oldstrings.
OK, a little bit of leg-pulling (as you would have anticipated) but no actual slagging (yet!), as predicted by david_h.
Reckon that fear of reprisals from all those clogs and sticks must have scared the slaggers away. Not to mention potential violence from those handkerchiefs, of course!
Some would no doubt say that a discussion about Morris is out of scope on an ITM site. However, I've noticed in the past that any public upsurge of interest in any particular tradition has also benefited other traditions.
So much more to be gained by focussing on points in common ...
# Posted on October 25th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: How many Morris
If the slagging was witty or cleverly ironic I might just aim for a single ankle using my rubber-soled clogs rather than the irons....
# Posted on October 25th 2008 by zepherin
Re: How many Morris
'I've noticed in the past that any public upsurge of interest in any particular tradition has also benefited other traditions.
So much more to be gained by focussing on points in common ..."
Lovely stuff. I wave my hankies your way!
# Posted on October 25th 2008 by zepherin
Re: How many Morris
"always understanding that a side not deemed kosher in these respects won't be allowed or invited to join the Morris Ring"
Don't forget the many excellent sides that wouldn't *want* to belong to the Morris Ring (which is strictly "men only") and who belong to one of the other two national organisations, the Open Morris or the Morris Federation.
# Posted on October 25th 2008 by DavyR
Re: How many Morris
I'm not sure that a discussion about Morris is entirely outside the scope of an ITM discussion board. I came to Morris through playing music of the Irish persuasion - 'would I be interested in playing for a North West side?' So I did; then to find that, out and about with the side, meeting other 'English' musos that there were tunes in common though in a differing interpretation and questions of provenance. Later I joined a Rapper side as the musician for which I play music that is essentially Irish for an English tradition. The best of both worlds? I think so - but then that's just me.
As with any 'organisation' be it the Morris Ring, Comhaltas, EFDSS etc. etc. you may be sure to find 'ultras' who will espouse their beliefs and tenets beyond rhyme or reason.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could accept and respect our differences without forcing our ideas on others or am I being too idealistic?
# Posted on October 25th 2008 by john knoss
Re: How many Morris
Thank you DavyR. Gorton wouldn't join the ring due to its sexist nature.
I don't think they were keen to invite a load of inner city Northern ruffians anyway.
# Posted on October 25th 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: How many Morris
"Is this a trick ? You trying to get us to own up so we can be slagged ?"
Not me, david_h. But I believe your activities have already been noted, and you are due to appear before the Committee Hearing of Unacceptable Musical Practices (CHUMP).
Speaking of "Rapper" and "men only", I once learned a little Rapper on an English folk dance course. There were enough participants to form two sides, which ended up being one of men and one of women. The men's side initially made good progress, led by a Geordie who had done some dancing; but he was enraged to see women being encouraged. Geordie was determined that we should show them up at the evening performance, but had rather too much to drink. It must have looked quite amusing to see us gradually disintegrate into a heap of bodies, while the women's side successfully completed their dance.
# Posted on October 25th 2008 by oldstrings
Re: How many Morris
# Posted on October 25th 2008 by David50
Re: How many Morris
oldstrings - you're lucky no-one got their head chopped off by an over-enthusiastic sword plait.
# Posted on October 25th 2008 by nicholas
Re: How many Morris
Morris and Molly dancing are incredibly strong in Cambridgeshire - I seem to know loads of perpetrators though I haven't attempted it myself. Visit Ely on the Saturday of the Ely Folk Festival for more morris than you can shake a stick at. Here's a couple of snaps from this year:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bakerart/2673484263/in/set-72157605639742830/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bakerart/2674303578/in/set-72157605639742830/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bakerart/2679169709/in/set-72157605639742830/
Gunther in the cap in the last pic plays box at our Monday session.
# Posted on October 25th 2008 by RichardB
Re: How many Morris
I don't dance, I only read and write about it
http://www.folk-seiten.de/folk_dances.htm#folk%20dances
# Posted on October 26th 2008 by kuec
Re: How many Morris
I did Morris dancing for a while myself ... but I'm not admitting to it
# Posted on October 26th 2008 by Clear Drops
Re: How many Morris
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=TWMhJGWPoto
Vid shows a very skilful rapper side. I love to watch a group of men dancing well and to a high level. But shuffling from side to side on the dance floor trying to find a beat with an embarrassed look on your face - eek.
# Posted on October 26th 2008 by zepherin
Re: How many Morris
"I don't dance, I only read and write about it"
Good article, kuec! I've looked at your site before, and had intended to compliment you on your work.
# Posted on October 26th 2008 by oldstrings
Re: How many Morris
Thanks.
Looking at Germany's musical tradition is a case of "You don't know what you've got till it's gone". Be grateful for your Morris teams.
# Posted on October 26th 2008 by kuec
Re: How many Morris
clogstepping - the rapper side in your video link are certainly extremely competent, but theatricrical performances like this just takes all the soul out of it.
Rapper sword meets Riverdance....
Ridiculous lighting (you can't see the stepping) and what sounded suspiciously like a drum machine. In rapper, the only percussive affect needed is that provided for by the stepping - nothing else is necessary!
The best place for rapper is inside a crowded pub, with the attendant hazard of punters and bar staff getting in the way carrying drinks, plates of food etc. And often with an audience ranging from the totally disinterested to "over the top" enthusiastic - and everything in between. And the amusing questions after the dance has finished: e.g. "Are you Spanish?" and "Can you get insurance for this?" etc.
And the local who stubbornly refuses to move himself and bar stool back from the perfomance area and endures the whole thing with rapper swords flying inches from his nose - and more importantly, his pint!
... Ornaments and lampshades hanging from the ceiling to avoid as well!
Watch this vid for a much more realistic representation
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=TlUpzpb_dt4&feature=related
Listen carefully for the calls in this one to "watch the light"..
(Breaking pub lampshades is not an uncommon occurrence on rapper pub tours!)
# Posted on October 26th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: How many Morris
john knoss - an interesting observation, - your comment on playing Irish jigs for an English tradition.
Some years ago (when I was dancing rapper sword) we somehow managed to get a booking for a spot at at St. Patrick's night at a catholic club. There were jeers and shouts of disapproval when we walked in (in red kit - all other peformers were wearing green!)
When we started though, the atmosphere totally changed, and disapproval quickly changed to approval. Our performance pretty much brought the house down, and there were free drinks for us all for or the rest of the evening.
We certainly did our bit for Anglo/Irish relations on that particular night ...
# Posted on October 26th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: How many Morris
Rapper is one of the very few trad-related activities that require alarming levels of physical prowess and physical risk, and can *purely through their performance* convince punters alien to the mystique that its practitioners are not a bunch of ridiculous ponces and deadbeats. Indeed, I can't think of any other.
# Posted on October 26th 2008 by nicholas
Re: How many Morris
Indeed yes, nicholas. And even if you do get any heckers, they usually go very quite after they've witnessed one dance. And even quieter, if you suggest that they might like to take part ...
# Posted on October 26th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: How many Morris
At a folk festival earlier in the year our (Cotswold) team was dancing a street spot with a rapper side, who introduced themselves and made an announcement that they were *not* morris men.
"Oh yes you are!" went up the cry from our team.
"Oh no we're not!" they replied.
This set the tone for the next half hour. There were three times as many of us as there were of them, so it seemed a bit unfair, but everyone enjoyed themselves.
# Posted on October 26th 2008 by robharper
Re: How many Morris
An interesting point that you raised there, Rob. Is rapper sword part of morris - or is it it not?
One the one hand it is (e.g. I believe that rapper-only sides can apply to join the Morirs Ring).
On the other hand it is not. it is so very diffent from say (Cotswold) morris that it really deserves to stand in its own right.
One thing's for sure though - if you're a rapper side wishing to dance in a pub in the UK that's not licensed for music it would be best to say that you are morris men, as that activity is exempt from the music licensing rules ...
# Posted on October 26th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: How many Morris
I don't instinctively see the sword dance traditions as being Morris, although socially they often dwell these days under the wing of the Morris world and many dancers do both kinds.
Apart from the obvious differences in terms of the dance itself, the sword dances seem to have been of old the particular property of miners, certainly in rapper and in some longsword traditions though maybe not all. As far as I'm aware Morris was not so exclusively tied to men of a particular calling.
It hardly needs saying that bog-all is known for definite about how they came about and why they are there at all.
# Posted on October 26th 2008 by nicholas
Re: How many Morris
Perhaps the way 'Morris' is used might be analogous to 'Celtic' in terms of Irish, Scots, Breton music.
In the end, to my mind, it's all one - it's a fine way to go out have some craic...the promotion/preservation of tradition at the end of the day will be incidental. As kuec observed you won't know what you've got til it's gone unless Joe Public decides to value his own heritage over that of commercialized pap which serves only the interests of the like of Cowell et al.
# Posted on October 26th 2008 by john knoss
Re: How many Morris
Mix - that's one hot rapper side. I've sent the link to the dance programmer for the National Folk Festival, who is a rapper man himself, I'm working with the NFF on the Morris program for next year. Any international sides that can get themselves down here for Easter 2009 will be guaranteed a good time!
I agree the dance on the street or in a pub has a real energy but I can see a place for performance. The concert performance provides an opportunity for people (especially kids) to see stuff they may not ordinarily encounter. Hopefully some of them may become interested enough to go beyond the commercial presentation and dig deeper into the tradition.
I was in the UK in 1983 with the Sydney Morris Men who were on their Old Dart Tour. I have a photo of the Rev Kenneth Loveless, clipboard in hand, being carried in his chair by two Sydney dancers. He looks remarkably unperturbed.
# Posted on October 27th 2008 by zepherin
Re: How many Morris
The Morris world is a fine example of the English special interest group.
Of these, in vast numbers, great and small, English society entirely consists.
Utterly preposterous and incomprehensible to outsiders, reasonable only in their own eyes, overweening in their annexation of advantages,spurious in their historicity, replete with hierarchies and controllers yet permanently disorganised, engaging the real loyalties of the entire nation in one or another totally mad and disorientating in-world, united solely in their lunacy, they - from the Sealed Knot to New Labour - make the country what it is today, a gridlocked bedlam ruled by misunderstanding and unfettered chaos.
I find it admittedly hard to imagine it being any other way.
Sessioners are not excluded. The Morris scene, AFAIK, is actually more balanced and above-board than most and should be running the country. I'm not sure I'd say the same for sessioners.
# Posted on October 27th 2008 by nicholas
Re: How many Morris
Clogs - Black Swan Rapper is one of the best teams in England. Winners of DERT (Dancing England Rapper Tournament) in 2007. However, there are plenty of other teams that dance at a similar standard.
I hasten to add that the rapper side that I once danced with are not quite in the same league! Although no longer dancing with them, I still maintain their website:
http://www.bristol.rapper.freeuk.com
Regarding your NFF programme, you may find the following link useful:
http://www.rapper.org.uk/
Historically, the miners from the NE of England did most of their dancing inside pubs, and that's still the best environment for it.
There may also be a place for rapper on the stage, for the reasons that you pointed out. It was only that inappropriate lighting and percussion in that video link that you posted that made me cringe!
# Posted on October 27th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: How many Morris
nicholas - I share your view in that I alos don't instinctively feel that sword is part of morris - especially in the case of rapper. However, there are plenty of people would strongly disagree with this viewpoint, especially those who dance both!
# Posted on October 27th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: How many Morris
Sigh - we are so far away from the sources of these traditions.
But yay for Youtube. Half our side has never seen Morris (never mind rapper) danced by the traditional sides in situ (as it were) so we spend a bit of time looking at Youtube posts.
I note that the rapper side in the stage perf was a collaboration between Black Swan and another northern side. I took the pledge after the Mairead Butterfly thread, vowing not to slag on this thread if I could help it. I was sorely tempted with my Youtube post but resisted adding to my already considerable karmic debt....
# Posted on October 27th 2008 by zepherin
Re: How many Morris
"Morris running the country", then nicholas? You're conjuring up quite an image there!
- Squire of Moriis Ring - Prime Minister.
- Bagman of Morris Ring - Chancellor of the Exchequer.
- Highland Mary to be Secretary of State for Scotland.
- Black Rod title changed to "Black Joke" and ceremonial staff replaced with a morris stick.
- Division bell replaced with morris bells.
- "I spy strangers in the House", replaced with "I spy blue-eyed strangers in the house!"
- voting replaced with "balance the straw" polls.
- Princess Royal to replace the queen for the state opening of Parliament.
I look forward to that day ....
# Posted on October 27th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: How many Morris
... forgot to mention
- Whistle-stop electioneering tours to be replaced by morris pub tours.
- Party-political conferences to be replaced by morris ales.
- Debates to be replaced by ring meetings.
- Lumps of pum pudding to be served as refreshment in the members' dining room and a heated and covered area to be created on the terrace for smoking of bacca pipes and possibly laudnum bunches.
And finally, and most importantly -
- Retain any one of the existing MPs to do duty as the morris fool.
# Posted on October 27th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: How many Morris
Er, what's this ?
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wloL_Fj8LIo
# Posted on October 27th 2008 by David50
Re: How many Morris
Morris sides have a Bagman who is usually better at counting than whoever has lately been in charge of UK serious crime figures;
They meet regularly, unlike the Cabinet;
They do not operate outside their accustomed territory without a mandate;
Et cetera!
# Posted on October 27th 2008 by nicholas
Re: How many Morris
Well, David, I'm pretty darn sure that wasn't morris -- and I suspect any self-respecting rapper side would disown it too.
# Posted on October 27th 2008 by robharper
Re: How many Morris
Nicholas,
I thought your country was run on the basis of "It Seemed A Good Idea At The Time"
Your grand description of English society should be copied and framed by everybody who read it. You've only lost me on one thing - what is the Sealed Knot?
I just think that dancers are more fun to watch than, say, train spotters or bird watchers.
# Posted on October 27th 2008 by kuec
Re: How many Morris
@kuec:
The Sealed Knot is an English Civil War re-enactment society - I don't know whether they are Cavaliers (Royalists), or Roundheads (Parliamentarians), or both. They are not necessarily madder than anyone else - it was just the first name that came into my head.
Your comment made me laugh as well!
# Posted on October 27th 2008 by nicholas
Re: How many Morris
Morris Dancing is a bit like the Mummers of SE Ireland. They also march in two lines, carry sticks and dress up, but as historical figures from Irish History. Following a bit of dancing usually to a jig and quite a bit of clacking of sticks, each figure steps forward in turn and relates his or her part in Irish History. The story is usually told in rhyme.
# Posted on October 27th 2008 by Free Reed
Re: How many Morris
Hey David - just checked out your video link...
Er, what's this indeed!
... only in America - and a 4.5 star rating, too!
... but what exactly is this new custom? Mapper or Rorris? Or (given the venue) maybe it's a ritual that precedes a three-a-side basketball game - equivalent to "Abide With Me" at Wembley, England.
Bacca Pipes Jig? Reckon that we'd better enforce the "no smoking" ban.
Sorry, "Charm City Rappers" I wasn't at all charmed by your performance. Your best bet would be to switch to sharp swords, then maybe your custom would quickly die out!
# Posted on October 27th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: How many Morris
Mein Gott, I received an e-mail from someone who was with the Earls of Essex and remembers my casting of the filthy lucre into the Thames.
I went to the US of A for the first time this year and when I arrived at Capitol Hill there was a Morris display on. All the teams were from the US of A.
# Posted on October 27th 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: How many Morris
The odd thing is that finding that clip today was unrelated to this discussion. It was the tune I was searching for as a relative of this: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6271.
Mind you I can think of dance sides around here that say there aim is to entertain without getting stuck into any one tradition. But they do have to show there (unblacked) faces when there are traditionalists around.
# Posted on October 27th 2008 by David50
Re: How many Morris
I didn't realize you could have Morris teams of just two dancers (??):
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eKfH-EQ46AI&feature=related
# Posted on October 27th 2008 by kuec
Re: How many Morris
Bacca Pipes ("Tobacco Pipes") is a solo "jig" in the English Morris Tradition, but if a side has more than one man with funny coloured (ie neither white nor grey) hair, it frequently brags of this by getting them all (ie both) to do this extremely energetic dance at the same time.
Don't ask me why the dance is called a "jig" when it's not in 6/8, unless it's a much older use of the term.
Chris.
# Posted on October 27th 2008 by Ebor_fiddler
Re: How many Morris
"Bacca Pipes" is an example of morris dance jig, i.e., performed not as a team but solo, duo, trio or sometimes more, depending on whim.
One of the more innovative/creative teams in the UK I've seen (albeit only on video, thus far) is The Outside Capering Crew. Because of their small numbers, they focus on doing jigs rather dances for teams. This is one of their versions of "Bacca Pipes":
http://tinyurl.com/5bd5xb
And here they are doing a couple of more "conventional" morris jigs, in a pair of pairs:
http://tinyurl.com/696ca2
[Giving credit where it's due, these videos are housed by Tony Barrand at his wonderful site of morris and other traditional dance, at www.bu.edu/dbin/dance/]
And I dare any fiddlers out there to try this at home:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImZNB_TNAhM
# Posted on October 27th 2008 by sts
Re: How many Morris
Ebor_fiddler, a lot of old English tunes called "jigs" aren't in 6/8 time because, as you suspected, an old usage of "jig" was for a dance involving jumping or leaping (think of "jigging up and down"), and they would more likely be in 2/4 or 4/4.
# Posted on October 28th 2008 by Trevor Jennings
Re: How many Morris
In fact, a couple of years ago I posted a tune called "The Coleford Jigge", which is an old English hornpipe. I deliberately mis-spelled "jig" so as to get it into the tune's title, because tune types ("reel", "jig", etc) aren't allowed in tune titles on the tunes database.
# Posted on October 28th 2008 by Trevor Jennings
Re: How many Morris
Hi sts - "solo, duo, trio or sometimes more" -does that extend to six then, using rapper swords, as in the video link that david_h posted?
# Posted on October 28th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: How many Morris
Further to lazyhound's post, some more examples:
Zeak Waltz (Cornish tune) is a hornpipe
Foula Reel (Shetland tune) is a jig
Cumberland Reel (NW England tune) is a jig
And "jig" of course derives from the French "gigue", meaning "dance".
Doesn't really explain how Zeak Waltz came to be so-named, though - anyone got any thoughts on that one?
Most bands refer to their bookings as "gigs" (also derived from "gigue") even though there may not actually be any dancing ...
# Posted on October 28th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: How many Morris
I feel a bit bad about posting the link to that clip. Its a dance where you step around something crossed on the floor, they have rapper swords, so thats what they use. They are having fun. Like all those people on youtube playing Drowsy Maggie...
# Posted on October 28th 2008 by David50
Re: How many Morris
No need to feel bad about posting that link, david_h - it was hilarious - albeit cringeworthy!
Can't see anything like that happening in England though - not with other Morris sides looking on, anyway! If it did, I imagine that they would be laughing at them, rather than laughing with them ...
# Posted on October 28th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: How many Morris
Lead Musician (melodeon) and member of Victory Morris (Hampshire, UK) since 1981.
I actually got into ITM and folk music from there!
# Posted on October 28th 2008 by RKHambridge
Re: How many Morris
Mix-
It's not unheard of for six -- and even more -- dancers to get up and do "solo" jigs together (albeit with some occasional interaction). I was at a kids' morris ale when a whole bunch of them got up to do "The Fool's Jig":
http://www.angelfire.com/folk/thegingerale/gingerale2003/massedjig.jpg
If you have the right dancers for it -- those who are not only talented and experienced, but with a sense of fun and show -- the multi-performer "solo jig" can be quite entertaining. Ideally, there's a spirit of friendly competition among the dancers doing the jig, an "Oh yeah? Watch this" kind of oneupmanship. Sometimes it's subtle; sometimes -- again, depending on the dancers -- it's hilariously arch.
But, in the end, everyone gets beer (well, not in the end...ah, you know what I mean.)
# Posted on October 28th 2008 by sts
Re: How many Morris
"Not unheard of" in the USA, I can believe. Things are different in England ...
# Posted on October 29th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian