Winster morris dancers at the time of Sharp's visit in 1908. Sharp's photographs were taken by T. Lennox Gilmour, leader writer and photographer on the Morning PostWINSTER MORRIS DANCE/MARCH. AKA - "Derbyshire Morris Dance," "Winster Processional." English, Morris Dance Tune (2/2 time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Doyle): AABB (Bacon). The tune was used for a processional dance in the village of Winster, Derbyshire, England, and was collected by folklorist Cecil Sharp with four other dances and tunes when he visited in 1908 (see also "Winster Gallop," "Blue Eyed Stranger (3) (The)," "Morris (The)," and "Derbyshire Morris Reel"). It has since become the standard processional tune for many morris teams in the United States. This ditty is sometimes sung before the dance[1]:
This is it and that is it And this is morris dancing, The piper fell and he broke his neck And he said it was a chance Sir. ... [sometimes "a-chancing" or "trouncing"].
I do not know and I do not care What fun we had in Brada A piece of bread and an old cow’s head And a pudding in the larder.
A savory loaf and an oaken pie That we had in Brada A bit for me and a bit for thee And a bit for the Morris dancers.
The following words were published in a pamphlet (1978 or ’79) by the Winster Morris Dancers:
You don’t know and I don’t know What fun we had at Brampton, A roasted pig and a cuddle duck And a pudding in a lantern!
The first mention of the morris at Winster is in 1863, however, it was considered to have been well-established at the time. Morris dance teams have continued to perform at Winster to the present day, with hiatuses during the World Wars.
Additional notes
Printed sources : - Bacon (The Morris Ring), 1974; p. 318. Doyle (Plain Brown Tune Book), 1997; p. 31 (appears as “A Morris Tune”). Robbins Music Corp. (The Robbins collection of 200 jigs, reels and country dances), New York, 1933; No. 51, p. 17 (as "Derbyshire Morris Dance").
Recorded sources : - EMI/Harvest 7243 8 29861 2 6, Ashley Hutchings et al - "Son of Morris On" (1976/1994).Leader/Trailer LER-2 085, Muckram Rakes - "Map of Derbyshire" (1973).
See also listing at : Hear the tune played on melodeon by Lester Bailey at youtube.com [1]
See the Winster Morris Dancers site [2]
