Getting the Horn (Abbot's Bromley) UK

Subject: Getting the Horn
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 11:59 AM

Abbot's Bromley - about to set off.

Anyone else coming along?

Subject: RE: Getting the Horn
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 12:13 PM

Well, that sounds like a resounding "no". Never mind - should be fun, and I'll report back. I hope the man with the reindeer is there - I missed him last year. In fact, this is my first Horn Dance in more than 10 years (we used to live just up the road) - really looking forward to it!

Tara, then!

*exits, humming The Isle of Capri*

Subject: RE: Getting the Horn
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 12:33 PM

Someday- I really mean it- I'll be there!
It's a bit of a long day trip from New Hampshire, USA for me this year, though!

Have a great time, Ruth, and tell us all about it!

Subject: RE: Getting the Horn
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 02:37 PM

Wait a bit longer than 14 minutes for a reply Ruth, you might be surprised.

LTS

Subject: RE: Getting the Horn (Abbot's Bromley) UK
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 06:22 PM

Sorry, liz - I had to go!

Anyway - back now. It was a good 'un. There was a perfectly hilarious little kid doing the triangle, who couldn't have been concentrating any harder and who couldn't have been further off the beat if he tried...

Some of you may know that Doug Fowell, who had been part of the horn dance for more than 70 years, died last autumn. This was the first Horn Dance without him. I'm not a friend of the family, but Derek is, having known them for something like 30 years. Derek, in fact, wrote Doug's obituary in The Times, something he was thanked for profusely this evening.

Anyway, the dancers wore black ribbons for Doug, and before the dance his feathered hat was placed in a special case inside the church, where the horns live all year round. And several of his grandchildren were involved in the dance. So that was lovely.

Apert from that, there's not a lot to say. The dancing was much as ever (god, those horns must weigh a ton!) but I've only been during the day before - never in the evening, so it was nice seeing the horns weaving in and out above the crowd in the twilight.

I got some nice pictures - I'll probably make an album on Facebook.

Subject: RE: Getting the Horn (Abbot's Bromley) UK
From: Mr Red
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 06:40 PM

Do they still use the reindeer antlers that were carbon-dated to 1065 +/- 25 years?

FWIW reindeer were extinct in Brittain way before that.

Seen it once, had to - couldn't hold my head high as a Staffordshireman until I did.

Subject: RE: Getting the Horn (Abbot's Bromley) UK
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 06:50 PM

they do indeed, thought the old hobby horse is retired and lives on the church wall. They have a more recent version - decidedly more robust, methinks, and built for a 21st century body, if you know what i mean - the old one looks like it needed someone the size of a small child inside...

Subject: RE: Getting the Horn (Abbot's Bromley) UK
From: GUEST,doc.tom
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 04:29 AM

"reindeer were extinct in Britain way before that." I thought that too - then my old professor pointed out that forest reindeer were still extant in England up to the thirteenth century!

Tom

Subject: RE: Getting the Horn (Abbot's Bromley) UK
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 04:48 AM

And here's some info on the weights (I said they looked heavy!)

No.1 horn weighs 25 1/4 lbs             white
No.3 horn weighs 19 lbs                  white
No.5 horn weighs 16 1/2 lbs             white
No.2 horn weighs 23 1/4 lbs             brown
No.4 horn weighs 20 lbs                  brown
No.6 horn weighs 16 1/4 lbs             brown

Subject: RE: Getting the Horn (Abbot's Bromley) UK
From: Dick The Box
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 05:33 AM

Rolled up in time to see the last dance outside the Crown, then inside for an excellent session. Should have sloped off early as I had work the next day but stayed playing until nearly midnight instead!

Subject: RE: Getting the Horn (Abbot's Bromley) UK
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 06:06 AM

I sloped off shortly after the last dance, I'm afriad. 2 hour drive home and all that...glad to hear it went well, though - I was envious of all those who had clearly arrived ready to play!

Subject: RE: Getting the Horn (Abbot's Bromley) UK
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 06:36 AM

Thanks so much for the report- I am so glad to live in a world where such things are still going on!