Johnny Handle, who you may have heard of as a well-known (and very excellent) folk-singer and dialect researcher in the North East, has sent in this note on the project he is currently engaged on:
The Northumbria Anthology
"This project was set up in September 1999, using a Millennium/Lottery grant. The object is to build an archive of songs and recitations from the North East of England. The information is to be stored in two forms: 1. a website set up through Newcastle University. 2. a series of CDs featuring different kinds of artists, from classically trained performers to solo folksingers. A series of five concerts presenting the material is planned to be held in July/September of this year at the Caedmon Hall, Gateshead, and the Kings Hall, Newcastle University. I was appointed as research officer to do this work, reporting to a committee drawn from the University, Tyne & Wear Museums and Archive services, Folkworks, Gateshead Libraries and Arts department, and Windows Music Shop; Brian Mawson, of this shop, had the original concept. He also donated the initial 10% towards the funding, and is using the Mawson and Wareham recording catalogue to assist in producing some of the material for the CDs. I have identified 20 zones in the Region from Berwick to Darlington and across to Brampton. Using books, manuscripts, broadsheets, and in some cases oral sources, I have assembled between 30 and 40 items for each zone. There is a strong dialect element in the material. Some of the older songs have to be edited, due to the use of obsolete words. The first stage is nearing completion, which will be a pack of 20 zone CDs complete with a booklet of words and introductions. These will have 12-15 tracks to illustrate the type of material typical of the performers/composers in that area. They will be given (free) to all the libraries, colleges and universities in the North East. The website should be running from August. I will pass on the relevant details to those interested via this newsletter once we have more definite dates, together with some examples of the varied and interesting songs and poems."