Music
Live music is an integral part of English folk dance. Performance dancers rehearse and perform with one or more musicians, and social dances are usually accompanied by a band.
Dance and musical accompaniment are inter-connected. Dancers use both traditional and newly composed tunes that have grown with the dances; musicians and dancers work closely together.
It could be a solo fiddle bending the tune to match the steps and leaps of Cotswold morris, inspiring them to leap ever higher; or a massive marching band with a big bass drum, brass instruments and melodeons driving the dancers through the streets for a procession of North West morris; or diddling (singing sometimes used for step dancing) using the percussion of the dance steps as part of the music.
The instruments played have changed over time and what is considered traditional has also changed as musical traditions and instruments have evolved and come in and out of fashion. For example, pipe and tabor (drum) were originally played for Cotswold morris; later, fiddle, and nowadays the louder melodeon is common.
Simon Care – musician
Moulton Morris
Photo: Bryan Ledgard
