Dots or No Dots

by Simon Haines

It can be a controversial question in folk circles. Should we play music from notation – the dots – or should we remain true to the tradition and learn everything by ear – in keeping with the so-called “oral tradition”?

If you went into a pub session, you be rightly horrified to see accordion players, fiddlers and flautists playing from sheet music. There are those who say sheet music cannot capture the essence of folk music especially dance music. I’ve been to dance events where dancers have been unable to dance “properly” if a tune is played by musicians playing from the dots; it may be too slow, too fast or not quite the best rhythm.

Another angle on the subject is illustrated by this conversation I once had with a fiddle player at a session. It went like this

Fiddler     Do you know Harvest Home?
Me          Yes, of course.
Fiddler    It’s in D
Me          I play it in G.
Fiddler    No, it’s definitely in D – look it says so here. (pointing to sheet music)

So playing from sheet music can lead to people to think that tunes, are in specific keys and that the melody is absolutely fixed. You only have to listen a range of musicians playing their versions of a particular tune to know that this is just not the case. And of course, the truth is that any tune can be played in any key that is within the scope of the instrument - and some instruments are more limited than others!

On the other hand, I also know plenty of great musicians who learn a basic melody from sheet music and then re-interpret the tune in their own style when they play it, adding their own ornamentation, changing notes they don’t like or that don’t work so well on their instrument. As a melodeon player, I have always avoided a particular note in the C part of Horses Brawl, because I don’t have that note on my instrument; even if I did, I would not play it because I don’t like what it does to the sound of the tune. Others will object and insist that if I don’t play that note, I’m not playing the tune correctly.

A situation where sheet music is commonly used and can be very useful is in music workshops where the leader plans to teach specific tunes. Many participants will expect the sheet music to be distributed in advance of the workshop so that they can learn the melody beforehand and then focus on style or ornamentation during the workshop itself. Leaders may also provide simple recordings of their tunes for those who prefer to play by ear. So all participants are catered for

Personally, I don’t read or write music, but I can learn quite quickly by ear. However, I have composed lots of tunes and from time to time people ask me if I can send them the dots. I know someone who can do this for me and I ask them. If it’s a two-row melodeon tune, which it usually is, I ask my scribe to add the chords. This works well for everyone concerned.

This can be a controversial area, but I would plead for tolerance and understanding on both sides of the argument. In fact, when all is said and done, there doesn’t need to be an argument at all.

HALESWORTH DAY OF DANCE 2023

 I was very tempted to head up this report with the title WET, WET, WET! because that pretty much sums up the atrocious conditions lots of Morris dancers and performers encountered at Halesworth on what was for most people the first dance-out of the year.  Zoé-Anne Wadey - who heads up the organisation behind the Day - puts its incredible success down to just that fact!  The event happens before the start of most Morris calendars which means lots of teams are available, but the downside is that you never know what the weather is going to be.  I have been there in snow in the past (the 2018 Beast from the East – ed.), last year it was warm sunshine, but this year it was wet, windy, and very chilly too.

Halesworth Day of Dance has several unique features which are probably becoming close to traditions now.  Many people in the town give it an enthusiastic welcome and it enjoys the support of Halesworth Town Council and several other local organisations (including AWD Goldsmith and Jewellers who have contributed generously to the event).   After a welcome from the town Mayor, there are mass dances in the market square (probably the wettest and windiest place in the town this year) with the dances and tunes publicised beforehand. This is followed by a procession which ends in each team dancing through an arch made by all the other people present, which is great fun.

 

After this, teams and performers disappear off to one of five venues scattered around the town. There is a lively lunchtime music session laid on by the Harbour Lights Ceilidh Band in the White Swan and a Big Strum led by Rumstrum and the Ukes of Southwold. The Day of Dance also welcomed the Suffolk Steampunk community which added a bit of street theatre to the day (https://eastangliabylines.co.uk/steampunk-in-east-anglia/).

Zoe says she started off contacting Morris sides that were listed on the Mardles website and then extended the invitations to teams listed for other big local events such as the Lobster Potty Festival and Mark Jones Day of Dance.  There cannot be many festivals going on that can boast so many participating teams and make them so welcome too.  Undeterred by the prospect of cool wet weather, around thirty teams turned up and danced despite the conditions; in Zoe's book that makes it her favourite year so far!  Most teams were smiling as they danced and it was amusing to see so many people wandering around wearing plastic ponchos from under which strange musical sounds were emerging.  It was a struggle keeping instruments dry, but still they played on!

It is thought that the host side, Oxblood Molly came into being around 2005 and the Halesworth day out began in 2015 in celebration of their first ten years. Oxblood was the brainchild of Howard Matthews, (now living in Spain). He wrote a set of dances for his Spanish side, Allsorts which he passed on to Oxblood when Allsorts disbanded.  Every year a different badge is produced to reflect the theme of the year.  Last year a pair of 'bunny ears' were put on top of the traditional Ox head design in honour of Bernice (Bunny) Nash who was a founder member of the team and who had sadly died.  Belchamp Morris took it upon themselves to have badges made for the event helping to raise over £1400 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

The weather cleared up a bit in the late morning but it started to pour again early afternoon at which point, sadly, some people gave up and headed for home, however, up at the White Swan, dancing had moved indoors including solo broom dancing and step dancing.

I was impressed by the cheerful way that all the teams carried on with the dancing and especially the Belly Dancers who stripped off their coats and did their routine as if there was no problem with the weather at all. The day was topped off by a lively and well attended ceilidh in the town's Rifle Hall which was run by the aforementioned Harbour Lights Ceilidh Band.

Marvellous!

Jill Parson

All photos were taken by Sasastro (and mighty fine they are too - for more see her Flickr pages at https://www.flickr.com/photos/sasastro/favorites)

Thorington Theatre

Introducing Thorington Theatre

The new 350-seat outdoor live music and theatre venue on the Suffolk Coast. Built in the husk of a WWII bomb crater that has been reclaimed by nature, the theatre is surrounded by woodland, birdsong and the gentle rustling of trees.

 

For those that haven’t been yet, Thorington Theatre are quickly establishing themselves as one of the best live music venues in the region. Not only is the calibre of performer improving year on year, but the theatre also serves as a woodland getaway. It’s a hidden gem in an area of outstanding natural beauty, where you can leave the hustle and bustle of the everyday behind and soak in the great outdoors with a drink in hand. Last season (Summer 2022) groups like, The Spooky Men’s Chorale, Alabama 3, James Righton, John Etheridge and more blew audiences away with shows that blurred the line between audience and performers. The layout of the stage space puts performers within touching distance.

Read more: Thorington Theatre

Boo Hewerdine at The Canopy Theatre

BOO HEWERDINE – Canopy Theatre Beccles Saturday 6^th April at 7.30 p.m.

For over 30 years Boo Hewerdine has been considered one of the UK's finest singer-songwriters. As lead singer of seminal band, The Bible through to his subsequent solo work and long-time collaboration with the incredible Eddi Reader he has become something of a national treasure.

He is in demand as a writer, producer and performer. Over a hundred of his songs have been covered by the likes of KD Lang, Kris Drever, Chris Difford, Heidi Talbot and Hannah Rarity. His 2019 album ‘Before’ was recorded with supreme Danish multi- instrumentalist Gustaf Ljunggren. It garnered multiple five star reviews.

Since then he has released a lockdown EP, Singularities and a new album on Reveal Records in 2022 entitled “Understudy”.  On this tour he will be singing songs from this latest album and his extraordinary back catalogue. A naturally gifted raconteur his gigs are always a total joy.

For more information visit https://boohewerdine.com/

Tickets are £14 from www.ticketsource.co.uk/martello-promotions

Lockdown: Don't let it bring you down

• Cambridgeshire

Strumming and Dreaming - from Les Ray

On the Crosby Stills Nash & Young album 4 Way Street, when introducing his song, Neil Young says: “Here is a new song, it's guaranteed to bring you right down; it's called ‘Don't Let It Bring You Down’”.

In contrast, this issue’s Strumming and Dreaming is genuinely designed not to bring you down, after all, there are plenty of other things that are doing that right now. That’s the aim, and the means is by telling you about a couple of very positive initiatives intended to bring you live music during the lockdown. Hopefully it will succeed.

Of course, the Mardles website includes lots of other pointers to where to find great music online coming from our region, but I thought I’d focus on a couple of initiatives that are close to my heart... and my home. 

Read more: Lockdown: Don't let it bring you down

Milkmaid Molly

• Morris

INCLUSIVE MORRIS

Milkmaid Molly’s whole ethos is to support vulnerable and disadvantaged people to enrich their lives through the joy of music and movement.

Read more: Milkmaid Molly