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Tech: Photos of old dance bands

24 Jan 12 - 12:01 PM (#3295479)
Subject: Tech: Photos of old dance bands
From: Les in Chorlton

Just had a nose on the EFDSS/RVW Library website for old photos. Loads of photos taken by Sharp. Mostly individual source singers and some Morris sides.

Does anybody know of any 19C photos of English Country Dance Bands?

L in C#


24 Jan 12 - 12:57 PM (#3295505)
Subject: RE: Tech: Photos of old dance bands
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield

Hi Les
you make an assumption that there were English country dance bands in the 19th century. I'm not saying there weren't, but .... I would have thought most of the evidence is that there would be an individual musician, or couple of musicians ... not a band as such ... But then.. there were village bands (featuring brass etc) who would/could no doubt play a variety of repertoire styles.
Have a look at the Musical traditions site - anything there?
Let's see if the Village Music people have a look at this thread...
Derek
ps, if you do find any photos, I'd be interested in seeing them.


24 Jan 12 - 01:04 PM (#3295507)
Subject: RE: Tech: Photos of old dance bands
From: Les in Chorlton

Thanks Derek

Found this today

Amazing piece of work - perhaps you know it?

Les


24 Jan 12 - 01:48 PM (#3295528)
Subject: RE: Tech: Photos of old dance bands
From: GUEST,Peter Laban

Musical Traditions always has a great, and changing, selection of photos, bands among them at times.


24 Jan 12 - 02:07 PM (#3295537)
Subject: RE: Tech: Photos of old dance bands
From: Les in Chorlton

Thanks Peter that's just what I was looking for

Les


24 Jan 12 - 02:13 PM (#3295544)
Subject: RE: Tech: Photos of old dance bands
From: greg stephens

William Irwin (Langdale/Grasmere fiddler mid 1800s) normqally worked on his own for pub events and dances, but did have a band if required. It consisted of (at least) two fiddles and a cello. The second fiddle would have been Henry Stables (he of the Grand Hornpipe). This was, I would guess, a standardish line-up for northern England and Scotland. And maybe in the south? Hardy described bands, but were they just church bands, not dance bands? Not sure.


24 Jan 12 - 05:30 PM (#3295671)
Subject: RE: Tech: Photos of old dance bands
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield

Les... don't think I've seen the Winder stuff before but it looks great! Will have a longer read tomorrow. Thanks!
Derek


25 Jan 12 - 03:05 AM (#3295874)
Subject: RE: Tech: Photos of old dance bands
From: Sandra in Sydney

Peter Laban, thanks for the link to Musical traditions, there are some fantastic pics there.

for Australian examples, search here Picture Australia


25 Jan 12 - 08:46 AM (#3295967)
Subject: RE: Tech: Photos of old dance bands
From: Les in Chorlton

This is an amazing collection of photgraphs from The Living Tradition website via Peter Laban, above.


Photos from The Living Tradition

113 photographs I think. They are all more or less 'folk music' related although many a not bands as such, some are collections of people possing and some are individuals.

I guess a number of issues arrise:

1. We collect what we can find
2. Photographers of the 19C didn't go looking for country dance bands much - they probably concentrated on bigger public events.
3. People possing for photographs did some strange things.

My main reason for starting this thread was to try to get some idea of what the bands looked like that played some of the tunes that we play in country dance bands today.

Any thoughts

L in C#


25 Jan 12 - 09:00 AM (#3295971)
Subject: RE: Tech: Photos of old dance bands
From: GUEST,Peter Laban

Did you search the British Library Photographic collections?


25 Jan 12 - 09:12 AM (#3295975)
Subject: RE: Tech: Photos of old dance bands
From: Les in Chorlton

Thanks Peter - I may need a little more time

Les


25 Jan 12 - 07:17 PM (#3296305)
Subject: RE: Tech: Photos of old dance bands
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield

Les posted:
This is an amazing collection of photgraphs from The Living Tradition website via Peter Laban, above.

Amazing - yes - but I think you mean Musical Traditions website.....

Derek


26 Jan 12 - 04:11 AM (#3296457)
Subject: RE: Tech: Photos of old dance bands
From: Les in Chorlton

Thanks Derek, slip of the erm ........ brain?

Musical Traditions

Les


31 Jan 12 - 07:34 AM (#3299578)
Subject: RE: Tech: Photos of old dance bands
From: Les in Chorlton

Any other sources?

L in C#