Hurdy-gurdy maestro Nigel Eaton’s haunting evocation of this ancient European wader, a frequenter of marshes and estuaries. A 3/8 bourée, he wonders…? Sounds good to me.
Nigel Eaton (hurdy-gurdy)
Played on a hurdy-gurdy made by his father, Chris Eaton.
(‘Curlew’, YouTube video 4:12. Posted by Nigel, 2 Mar 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcg6D_fQMUQ)
Nigel Eaton: Soundcloud YouTube
Nigel Eaton, cabinetmaker: website
Chris Eaton, maker of hurdy-gurdies: website
Filed under English folk/modern, English folk/traditional
A tune from Playford’s The Dancing Master, 1686 (also known as A Trip to Kilburn – originally the name of the dance that belongs to the tune).
The Round has a good piece on the Playford tunes and dances – ‘melodies that set a-tapping the toes of Charles II, Henry Purcell and Samuel Pepys,’ says Mary Anne Ballard of the Baltimore Consort.
So, here’s Black and Grey played by quartet Boldwood, followed by a slower version on mandolin that’s perfect for catching the tune by ear.
Boldwood
Becky Price (accordion), Daniel Wolverson (viola), Matthew Coatsworth (fiddle), Kate Moran (fiddle)
A video made during rehearsal in January 2016.
(‘Boldwood – Black and Grey’ YouTube video, 4.31. Posted by Boldwood, 2 Feb 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k90Hj9RHIQ)
Folk and Classical Mandolin
Sadly no name or contact details for this accomplished mandolinist, whose YouTube video notes quote interesting dates and information for the tune from The Fiddler’s Companion.
(‘Black and Grey or A Trip To Kilburn (Playford, 1686), on mandolin’ YouTube video, 0.58. Posted by Folk and Classical Mandolin, 27 Nov 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1dHP5cJQvc)
Boldwood: for CDs, gigs and other news, see their website Facebook
Also available from their website is the brilliant The Boldwood Dancing Master, a book of over 70 English country dance tunes from 1679 to 1838.
Folk and Classical Mandolin: YouTube channel
Filed under English folk/traditional
Folk Music Retreat with Laurel Swift
April 8th – 10th 2016
Thurlby, Lincolnshire
Just a few places left on this amazingly good workshop with fiddler/composer/dancer Laurel Swift. Fabulous teaching, playing and walking (and food!) in an unspoilt Lincolnshire village – the kind of weekend where you play your socks off and go home feeling as though you’ve had a week’s holiday.
Don’t forget your walking shoes as well as your instrument/s!
Full details and booking on Laurel’s website
Filed under English folk/modern, English folk/traditional
Originating in the Irish reel known as John Stenson’s No.2*, this lovely tune has made the transition to a new identity in America’s Old Time tradition, where it’s mostly played as a mountain dulcimer tune.
Here are two takes by fiddler Rachel Eddy and friends: video from a yard concert (played first, followed around 5:10 by a stonking rendition of Dance All Night with a Bottle in your Hand); and a rousing audio recording from Rachel’s Stockholm Old Time session.
Rachel Eddy (fiddle), Kristian Herner (banjo), Bill Fahy (guitar)
(‘John Stinsons Number Two – Rachel Eddy, Kristian Herner, and Bill Fahy’ YouTube video, 8.45. Posted by Bill Fahy, 8 Jul 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAvyBV9FFCY)
Rachel Eddy (fiddle), and the players of the Happy Wednesday Oldtime Jam, Stockholm, Sweden
(https://soundcloud.com/bengt-von-andreae/stinsons-number-two?in=user180058408/sets/old-time-fiddle)
*The original tune was composed by accordion player John Stenson, of Co. Sligo, Ireland. There’s basic tune audio on The Session here, along with information (scroll down) on its popularity from acclaimed Irish fiddler Kevin Burke’s album If The Cap Fits.
Rachel Eddy: website Facebook YouTube
Kristian Herner: website Facebook
Bill Fahy: website blog Facebook
Filed under American old-time, American traditional, Uncategorized
Sometimes you meet a tune you know is just never going to let go. Acclaimed hurdy-gurdy player Nigel Eaton plays his tune ‘Lyvet’.
A wonderful tune to play against a drone string to catch those gurdy tones.
Nigel Eaton (hurdy-gurdy)
In G minor
(https://soundcloud.com/nigeleaton/lyvet)
In F minor – on a hurdy-gurdy made by his father, master hurdy-gurdy maker Chris Eaton
(‘Lyvet’ YouTube video, 1:15. Posted by Nigel Eaton, 27 Feb 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUXJEOVHcb4)
Nigel Eaton: Soundcloud, YouTube, website
Chris Eaton, hurdy-gurdy maker
Filed under English folk/modern, Uncategorized
SUNDAY 6 MARCH 2016, 21:00 GMT
Live from The Convent, near Stroud, Gloucestershire.
Tune in live and watch in real time on Sunday night, or you can watch as many times as you like in the following week.
£7.50 to stream the entire gig into your living room in glorious HD.
Details and booking here.
Leveret are Andy Cutting, Rob Harbron and Sam Sweeney.
This gig is the last in their current tour launching their second album In The Round.
Check out their music on earlier Fiddletails posts Whitefriar’s Hornpipe, Jenny Pluck Pears, Purlongs and The Rising Sun
‘We’re very excited to be playing at this amazing venue and we hope that people will tune in all over the world. Please help us spread the word about it and get in touch to let us know you’re watching it’
Leveret are on Facebook and Twitter (@LeveretBand)
Filed under English folk/traditional, Uncategorized
The melody from a Dutch/Flemish traditional children’s song about a little boy who creates havoc pretending to be a knight.
Sometimes found in English morris dancing, the tune is played here live by wondrously funky dance band Blowzabella, first up in a set in Am, then transposing to Bm to morph into second tune Go Mauve (at 1:45).
(Image: Manet, Boy with a Sword*)
Blowzabella
Andy Cutting (diatonic button accordion), Jo Freya (vocals, saxophone, clarinet), Paul James (bagpipes, saxophones), Gregory Jolivet (hurdy-gurdy), Dave Shepherd (violin), Barn Stradling (bass guitar), Jon Swayne (bagpipes, saxophones)
(From Blowzabella’s 2010 live album Dance.)
See Blowzabella: website Facebook for 2016 upcoming gigs, band news and recordings
*Metropolitan Museum, New York. Image courtesy of Simon Abrahams and EPPH
Folk Retreat with Laurel Swift
8-10 April, Thurlby, Lincolnshire
Just a few places left on this wonderful multi-instrumental folk weekend. Inspiring classes, home-cooked food, informal sessions and country walks in the Fens. And don’t forget your walking shoes/boots!
Details and booking here (book by 14 February for reduced rate!)
For music by Laurel, see her website, 
or use the Fiddletails Search (above right)
On Candlemass Day, a tune to drive winter away – a shining waltz from Leveret‘s newly-released second CD, In The Round. The cover notes tell us the tune was originally published by Daniel Wright in 1715, in An Extraordinary Collection of Pleasant & Merry Humours (etc.).
(See below for where to buy In The Round, and booking details on the UK launch tour)
Leveret
Andy Cutting (diatonic melodeon), Rob Harbron (concertina), Sam Sweeney (fiddle)
(‘Leveret – The Rising Sun’ YouTube video, 3.58. Posted by Leveret, 17 Dec 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P36U2v05nk4)
Leveret introduce ‘In The Round’
The band talk about the making of the CD, their material, and playing together.
(‘Leveret Introduce “In The Round”‘ YouTube video, 4.47. Posted by Leveret, 26 Jan 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhLJ4pZe4IU)
(Recorded live at The Convent)
CD available from Leveret website here
‘IN THE ROUND’ UK LAUNCH TOUR starts 25 February. Details here (scroll down for dates)
Leveret: website Soundcloud Facebook Twitter
Rob Harbron: website
Sam Sweeney: website
Andy Cutting: website
(Social media: see websites for links)
Filed under English folk/traditional, Uncategorized
Folk Music Retreat with Laurel Swift
BOOKING ABOUT TO CLOSE!
Laurel’s retreats always need a pair of walking shoes as well as your instrument/s, but this one needs a torch as well! Fabulous teaching and playing in wonderful locations – can’t recommend too highly.
15-17 January
Tanner’s Hatch, Surrey
Full details and booking on Laurel Swift website
Old Time Music Course with Ed Hicks
A rare opportunity to focus on this delightful music in depth. (Warning: you may just lose your musical heart!)
Wednesdays 7.00pm-8:30pm
13 January to 17 February
14 Bacon St, London E1 6LF
Full details and booking: Trad Academy website
Filed under American old-time, English folk/traditional
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