Harmonica and tambourine in England

Subject: Harmonica and tambourine in England
From: Tradsinger
Date: 25 May 08 - 06:08 PM

Could MCers help with this one. I am researching the use of harmonica and tambourine played together in English tradition. I am aware of the recordings of Bill Agate of Sussex and know a bit about the riddle-drum tradition. I am also aware that Martin Brinsford of Brass Monkey plays both together. Does anyone know of any other players, recordings, background, references, etc. Very grateful.

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: Harmonica and tambourine in England
From: The Sandman
Date: 26 May 08 - 09:22 AM

will atkinson from northumberland,played with willie taylor and JoeHutton.
Harold Covill.
SteveShaw has his own website
andhttp://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3FwKEAS6eM

Subject: RE: Harmonica and tambourine in England
From: The Sandman
Date: 26 May 08 - 09:23 AM

sorry ,I misread your post,none of theses play them together.

Subject: RE: Harmonica and tambourine in England
From: Tradsinger
Date: 27 May 08 - 09:10 AM

OK,
Just to clarify, I am exploring issues like:
- How widespread was the tradition (i.e. playing both at the same time)
- Is it a descendant of the pipe and tabor tradition or just a serendipitous similarity?
- what does it tell us about English percussion traditions?
There may be no clear answers to these, but I am trying to assemble all the available evidence. Or has the trail just gone cold? Grateful for any information.

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: Harmonica and tambourine in England
From: The Sandman
Date: 27 May 08 - 12:04 PM

from what little I know,they were not often played together.Rabbidy Baxter used to acompany ScanTester[concertina].Will Atkinson did not accompany himself with a tambourine neither did Harold Covill.
IN Scotland the moothies,that I have met did not accompany themselves with a tambourine.
Buskers and one man bands like Don Partridge,[circa 1960 to 2008]normally accompanied themselves with a bass drum.

Subject: RE: Harmonica and tambourine in England
From: GUEST,Jonny Sunshine
Date: 27 May 08 - 01:08 PM

I vaguely remember reading a reference to gypsies playing mouthorgan and tambourine, I think it was in the sleevenotes to one of Topic's Voice of the People series (possibly Rig-A-Jig-Jig, which has some fine harmonica and tambourine playing on, though not together)

It does seem a fairly obvious thing to do with an instrument that only needs one hand to hold (or none at all, which is why harmonica is the classic instrument for a one-man band). As a harmonica player (amongst other things) I occasionally do it myself, though I don't find one-handed tambourine so easy!

Good luck with the research, I'd be really interested to know what you find out.

Subject: RE: Harmonica and tambourine in England
From: Harmonium Hero
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 03:50 PM

Interesting; I did have a go at this myself back in the late 60's, using a harmonica harness - or 'rack' as people are now unaccountably calling it. This left both hands free for the tambourine. I didn't realise there was any precedent. I shall watch this thread with interest. John Kelly.

Subject: RE: Harmonica and tambourine in England
From: GUEST,JP2
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 04:18 PM

I have vague recollections of Danny Stradling playing harmonica and tambourine together and telling us that it was a Gipsy tradition.
It was probably 30 years ago.