We try to have live music at all practice sessions and performances. On occasions when this is not possible we have recordings which can be used, but we firmly believe that live music should be the heart of the Morris.

Playing for Malmesbury Morris

We are always keen to have new musicians join our side. Instruments needs to be acoustic and portable and at a minimum players need to be able to competently play through a traditional tune three times (session format - 2xA then 2xB music 3 times - see below for info about As & Bs). All musicians take their lead and timing from our lead musician.

The music

The music for the dances is split into two (or more) parts called the A and B (and C etc) parts. For a two part tune the B part can normally be thought of as the chorus.

For all our dances we start with the lead musician playing one time through the A part as an introduction and for the dancers to listen to the speed of the music in preparation to dancing. We call this "once to yourselves". Following the "once to yourselves" the full band plays the tune and the dancers start their dance.

In the notation below, where you see for instance A' AB AB AB, the  A'  means play this part (the A part) "once to yourselves" and then all the band play the  A  part once followed by the  B  part once and repeat this 3 times.

Balance the Straw in Key of G - Stick Dance

A' ABB ABB ABB ABB

With this dance on the A part the dancers dance differing patterns and on the B part the dancers do the sticking. On the last pattern to the A music the dancers go clockwise in a circle with their sticks pointing down and into the middle. This music is used for either the traditional Balance the Straw dance, or for the adaptation called "Athelstan" which is our Malmesbury Tradition dance. With the "Athelstan" version the dance ends with an additional A music.

 

Gloucester and Gloucestershire Hornpipes in Key of G - Handkerchief Dance

A' AB AAAB CCCD CCCD      

where A & B parts are Gloucester Hornpipe, and C & D parts are Gloucestershire Hornpipe

This dance involves six dancers. Where the tune A/C part repeats three times this is to allow the three pairs of dancers to each perform a sement of the dance together. Once all three pairs have completed their segment, all dancers dance to the B/D part.

Jenny Lind for "The Handkerchief Dance" in Key of D  - Handkerchief Dance

A' ABB AABBB AABB

Dance involving six dancers. The tricky bit is remembering the extra B part in the second section which is to allow the dancers to change orientation of their lines. The dance ends with the dancers dancing clockwise in a circle and at the start of the last B part they dance off  (the performance area).

Rose Tree in Key of D - Handkerchief Dance

A' ABBB ABBB ABBB A

Dance for six dancers. The B part repeated three times in each section allows three pairs of dancers to each dance a segment. Note the extra A part at the end for the last segment of the dance.

Upton upon Severn Stick Dance in Key of G - Stick Dance

A' ABB ABB ABB ABB ABB ABB

Dance for six dancers. Patterns are danced on the A part and sticking done on the B part. The last A part danced involved dancers going in clockwise circle with sticks pointing down towards the middle of the circle.

Created by Chingford Morris Men in the 1960's and danced to a tune from Canada, this may not be the oldest dance in existence but it's very popular and a large number of sides perform a version as part of their repertoire. The Malmesbury Morris version  is performed with gusto by our dancers with lots of excellent "whooping" at appropriate points!

William Taylor's Tabletop Hornpipe in Key of Gm - Stick Dance

A' AB AB AB AB AB A

Dance for four dancers (or multiples of four). Patterns danced on A part, sticking on B part. Dance ends on an additional A part with the dancers forming a line and dancing towards the musicians.

Winster Gallop for "The Wickham Skirmish" in Key of G - Stick Dance

A' AABB AABB AABB AABB

The Wickham Skirmish is a dance for any even number of dancers and has a bit of a country dance look and feel.

 

Step and Fetch Her in Key of G  - Handkerchief Dance

A' ABC ABC ABC ABC

 

None So Pretty for "The Jig" in Key of G - Jig

A' AB CB CB

A dance performed by one or more of our dancers. The C part is a slowed down version of the A part - when this is done in Morris music it is referred to as a "slow" (surprisingly enough).

Morgan's Orchard - Stick Dance

A' AB AB CD CD AB AB

This is a pleasantly different looking stick dance called Morgan's Orchard. The dance uses two tunes - the first is Lily Bavari a minor variation of Lily Bolero, the second is the English dance tune Oil of Barley.

 

Bonny Green Garters in Key of D and G, or just in the key of G

A' AA AA BC BC    or    B' BB BB BC BC

Bonny Green Garters is a traditional finishing dance for Morris sides. It normally performed as the last dance of our set, often incorporating dancers from other sides and anybody else we can rope in to do it. The music consists of what seem to be two separate tunes, the first having only an A music, the second having an A and B part. For this notation A is the first tune, B & C are the second. The A music is in the key of D and the B & C musc in the key of G. Often we only perform the second tune, hence the alternate arrangement.

As part of the dance, when the music moves first time to the B music, the musicians move into the dance with the dancers dancing around them.

 

The Girl I Left Behind Me (Brighton Camp) - Stick Dance

A' ABB ABB ABB ABB A

This tune is played for our dance called "Malmesbury Maids" which is one of our new Malmesbury Tradition dances.

The Quaker

A' AB AB AB A

Another of our Malmesbury Tradition dances called "The Flying Monk" uses this tune.

El Sombrero Grande

This tune is played for one of our new dances named "Tupenny Tube"

Constant Billy

A' AB AB AB AB A

This tune is used for the Malmesbury Dance called "Corston Capers"

 

Portsmouth

A' AB AB AB AB A

This is used for the Malmesbury Dance called "Daniel's Well"

 

Twin Sisters

This is used for a stick dance named "The Lozenge"