The Music of the Morris
The music for the Morris, a varied collection of
types and styles of English folk dance, evolved and developed
over hundreds of years before the collectors of the English Folk Revival
wrote some of it down in the early years of the last century. Although
they saved much of this music from vanishing amongst the preoccupations
of the twentieth century, they treated it sometimes as a virtually sacred
connection with England's ancient roots, causing its development amongst
dancers and musicians to almost cease. Since the rediscovery of folk in
the 1960s, a new approach became apparent, whereby the tradition of these
tunes was respected, but not so far as to prevent their use being again
adapted to the needs of the dancers.
Music Recordings
After the Brawl was Over
Who said that folk music was dead?
Go here for Aldbury's new music release.
There are three other music recordings from the Aldbury stable (or is that barn?)- Lester Bailey's Grand Union Morris Tunes, a 2-disc collection of Morris tunes, Chris Sissons's Both Sides of the Shoreline, a collection of folk songs featuring many of the side's musicians, and Après Morris, a heady sample of Aldbury Morris's after-dance entertainment.
© AMM & Graham Skeggs
13 May 2004
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