East Anglian Country Music
Created | Updated Apr 12, 2014
This entry refers to the rather strange local music of East Anglia,
England, UK. From a point of geographical perspective, East Anglia is
sometimes known as the Arse of Britain. If you are familiar with the BSM
(British School of Motoring) driving school advert of Mr Britain sitting down
driving his car, you will know what I mean.
East Anglia comprises 2 and 2 halves counties, namely Suffolk, Norfolk
and half of Cambridgeshire and half of Essex - It is not known exactly why but
there you are.
East Anglian country music was popular up until about the early part of
the 20th Century. It was often fishing or nautical related but not necessarily so.
The music consists of jigs, step dances, hornpipes, waltzes & polkas. It
is generally lively and entertaining and concentrates mainly on the rhythm rather than
musical excellence (as for example Irish folk music). Some examples can be listened to at
http://www.mustrad.org.uk/reviews/ohcp.htm
The instruments used would generally be a melodeon (a small type of accordion),
concertina, dulcimer, mouth organ and possibly a fiddle. A dulcimer has a truncated triangular
shape with 20 -28 bridges with strings in sets of 5s. Usually struck with two hammers
but can be plucked
Years ago in many Public Houses in East Anglia there would have been someone who
could step dance. Each would have their own style of dancing, however it is
not something that could be formally taught. It can be shown but is learnt more
by absorbtion.The musician would be accompanied by a step dancer who would
perform a sort of tap dance in boots upon a step board (or even a tin tray) laid on the
ground. Step dance tunes are very often hornpipes and have an urgent hornpipe rhythm
They were particularly popular in coastal towns and villages on the East coast such as
Cromer, Sheringham and Yarmouth.
Present day performances. The last old boys who used to perform it have sadly shuffled
off this mortal coil during the 1960s and 70s. It can generally only be found today at folk festivals
(e.g. Felixstowe [Suffolk] folk festival in May) or selected East Anglian pubs which hold folk
evenings (e.g. the Butley Oyster [Suffolk]) or possibly by itinerant groups of enthusiasts.
Some of the last original musicians who played up until as late as the 1970s include Billy
Bennington - last of the great Norfolk dulcimer players. Oscar Woods, Walter Read and Font
Whating - Melodeon. Fred Whiting - fiddle. We must not forget the incomparable Seaman
family of Darsham, Norfolk, especially Ernie and Charlie, famed for their mastery of the melodeon
and dulcimer.
Category - generally harmless unless the musicians have had too much
beer and are prone to violence.
England, UK. From a point of geographical perspective, East Anglia is
sometimes known as the Arse of Britain. If you are familiar with the BSM
(British School of Motoring) driving school advert of Mr Britain sitting down
driving his car, you will know what I mean.
East Anglia comprises 2 and 2 halves counties, namely Suffolk, Norfolk
and half of Cambridgeshire and half of Essex - It is not known exactly why but
there you are.
East Anglian country music was popular up until about the early part of
the 20th Century. It was often fishing or nautical related but not necessarily so.
The music consists of jigs, step dances, hornpipes, waltzes & polkas. It
is generally lively and entertaining and concentrates mainly on the rhythm rather than
musical excellence (as for example Irish folk music). Some examples can be listened to at
http://www.mustrad.org.uk/reviews/ohcp.htm
The instruments used would generally be a melodeon (a small type of accordion),
concertina, dulcimer, mouth organ and possibly a fiddle. A dulcimer has a truncated triangular
shape with 20 -28 bridges with strings in sets of 5s. Usually struck with two hammers
but can be plucked
Years ago in many Public Houses in East Anglia there would have been someone who
could step dance. Each would have their own style of dancing, however it is
not something that could be formally taught. It can be shown but is learnt more
by absorbtion.The musician would be accompanied by a step dancer who would
perform a sort of tap dance in boots upon a step board (or even a tin tray) laid on the
ground. Step dance tunes are very often hornpipes and have an urgent hornpipe rhythm
They were particularly popular in coastal towns and villages on the East coast such as
Cromer, Sheringham and Yarmouth.
Present day performances. The last old boys who used to perform it have sadly shuffled
off this mortal coil during the 1960s and 70s. It can generally only be found today at folk festivals
(e.g. Felixstowe [Suffolk] folk festival in May) or selected East Anglian pubs which hold folk
evenings (e.g. the Butley Oyster [Suffolk]) or possibly by itinerant groups of enthusiasts.
Some of the last original musicians who played up until as late as the 1970s include Billy
Bennington - last of the great Norfolk dulcimer players. Oscar Woods, Walter Read and Font
Whating - Melodeon. Fred Whiting - fiddle. We must not forget the incomparable Seaman
family of Darsham, Norfolk, especially Ernie and Charlie, famed for their mastery of the melodeon
and dulcimer.
Category - generally harmless unless the musicians have had too much
beer and are prone to violence.
