Pressworks - WA78.DTP - Devon Folk

Reviewsdeported to and escaped from Botany Bay, is agreattale, and The Old Pagoda Anchorage (words by CicelyFox-Smith) deserves to be widely heard. Just acoupleof the unpolished gems on this album.Colin Andrews(Available from Cheveney's Barn, Streamcross, Claverham,Somerset).L:aunceston FDC adHAWKAND HARNSER bookSINKERS AND SWIMMERS CDHarnser is aNorfolk dialect term for aHeron, whilst'Sinkers and Swimmers' are Norfolk dumplings whichwon't or will float. This suggests, rightly, that thebook and its associated CD are compilations ofmainlyNorfolk dance tunes, put together by Alan Helsdon, along-time bass player from Norwich who currentlyplays in the Tuesday sessions at the 'Nelson'. (All arewelcome).The book contains sixty tunes which are mostly inpairs so that they can easily be played as short sets,four local versions of what "furriners" just call theNorfolk Long Dance, and acircle dance known as theBuxton 7. There are extensive notes on the tunes,with such well-known names as Walter Bulwer, HarryCox, Percy Brown, the stalwart Norris Winstone("Win") and early collector Joan Roe much in evidence.Recorded source materials and current contactaddresses are among other interesting and usefulfeatures.The music is simply set out, without ornamentation,but with abasic chord accompaniment, mainly in thekeys of G and D, although there are a couple ofexcursions into C and F. (Dave Townsend hasoblingly got some of the latter in G/D in his "EnglishDance Music "volumes). The staves are big and clear,on landscape A5 spiral-bound format, and acetatecovers make it relatively safe to prop the book up on abar table.Many of the tunes can be heard on the CD performed Rumpus advertby various groups of local musicians, with differinginstrumental line-ups and playing styles. Some tunesare duplicated, showing how the basic dots can beinterpreted differently by avariety of musicians, butall are played at a comfortable pace with a nicehomely feel that invites you to join in and learn sometunes, whatever your level of ability.The book costs £10, the CD (at least 75 minutes long)a meagre £5, plus post & packing in each case.Details: email at quanting@care4free.net or Alan'swebsite:www.quanting.care4free.netDuncan Andrew39PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com