What do we dance?

So as to be heard above the clatter of clogs and clinking of pint pots, North West Morris has developed a robustly rhythmic musical accompaniment, usually provided on the melodeon, accordion or fiddle, assisted by all manner of percussion. The tunes are largely traditional polkas and jigs, many of which seem very familiar, even if the titles have slipped our memory. Whilst the dances themselves celebrate local towns: Hyde, Knutsford, Marple, St Helens, Mobberley, etc, many of the tunes look further afield to more exotic parts:
• Adventure at Margate
• Bonnie Dundee
• John of Paris
• Brighton Camp
• Athole Highlanders

Fidlers Fancy at Bramall Hall, Christmas 2007. Copyright Davey Stubbs.

The strands of music which have come together to accompany Fidlers Fancy are extraordinarily diverse, ranging from La Morisque, a 16th century morris tune, to several very recent compositions by local musicians. Most tunes are then suitably mangled by the oral tradition to create the regular rhythmic pattern needed as
accompaniment to the steps of the dance.

Many of the dances, performed by the team, are the result of their own research.

They are proud to include in their repertoire – the Stockport Carnival Dance (which was handed down to Fidlers Fancy by Mary Brown, the niece of the founder, Charles Burgess Fidler) together with Whalley (which was found by piecing together BBC archive film).

Fidlers Fancy, Bramall Hall. Copyright Davey Stubbs.

Together with various other dances that have been researched locally. The team also perform dances that have been choreographed by team members, in keeping with both the traditional styles of the North West area and the unique style of the team itself, therefore, setting a base for the future - maybe some of the current dancers will be interviewed in years to come!!!

A word too in praise of musicians who can absorb the ambience of a country pub on a summer’s evening without having to leap around. Any instrumentalists both male and female who might wish to squeeze, bang or fiddle whilst sampling such delights are of course very welcome to join us.