more about
Lakeland fiddler
and composer
William Irwin?
Click here for excerpts from academic research
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| Where the music comes from: archives
brought to life |
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| Old Friends Band got together following some research into the traditional music of 18th and 19th century rural Cumbria. Fiddlers and dancemasters, going back to William Wordsworth's childhood, left handwritten tune books, some of which have been saved in archives scattered about Britain. Among these fine musicians are William Irwin of Elterwater, James Lishman of Troutbeck and Henry Stables of Chapel Stile. The band gathered many of these tunes together to form a collection of extremely danceable Lakeland tunes sets. Combined with music written by members, plus traditional tunes from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and northern England, the band has a repertoire well worth hearing, even if you don't like dancing. | ||||||
| Country dances of the English Lakeland | ||||||
| Lakeland stepdancer Deborah Kermode researched steps and dances from Cumbria to put to the local tunes. She and the band also found numerous connections between the old musicians and the dancemasters of Lakeland. Among the old country dances are some with local names: Cumberland Canter, a whole array of Westmorland Cottagers, Rusland Gallop and Westmorland Square. One of the most popular, first danced in 1817, was the Lancers Quadrille. It was still being danced in Ulverston in the 1950s. | ||||||
| Want to know more about Lakeland fiddler and composer William Irwin? Click here for excerpts from academic research |
Recordings and books from Old Friends Band |
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| Our first recording The Doubtful Shepherd (made 1995, and reckoned now to be a classic) is unfortunately sold out. However our new CD Bonny Westmorland: Fell Tunes, is now out. It's made up of Lakeland tunes from the early 1800s to the present day and recorded at Cartmel Fell village hall. Included are some notes on William Irwin and other Lakeland composers/players highlighted in the CD. We also have a home-produced book of local traditional tunes from archives around the country, put together by band leader Mike and sold on behalf of local folk festival organisers Furness Tradition. Caller Deb still has copies of a history of Lakeland Stepdancing Half Cut in Clogs. If you would like any opf these publications please click the Contact link above | ||||||
| To book Old
Friends Band and dance caller
Deborah
Kermode for ceilidhs or weddings click Contact icon link above |
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