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Author Topic: Origin of the "Uttoxeter Swing"  (Read 2112 times)

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Tone Dumb Greg

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Origin of the "Uttoxeter Swing"
« on: May 20, 2017, 12:11:09 PM »

I am curious about the origins of the "Uttoxeter Swng". The tune and dance are generally credited to a long defunct side, Bessels Leigh.  The tune, presumably is the traditional tune for the dance. It was, apparently rediscovered by a certain Dr Anthony Barrand.  US morris dancer and author of "Six Fools and a Dancer". These days, the tune is fairly widely used, for various Border Morris dances. Can anyone shed any light on the reality of any of this? Some dots below.

X:1
T:Uttoxeter Swing
M:2/2
L:1/8
K:Em
P:A
"Em"E2 EF G2 GB|"D"A2 AG FE D2|"Em"E2 EF G2 GB|"D"AG FG A4|
"Em"E2 EF G2 GB|"D"A2 AG FE D2|"Em"EB2E "Cmaj7"B2 AG|"D"F2 FG "Em"E4:|
P:B
|:"G"B2 BA BA G2|"D"zA AG AG F2|"Em"G2 GF GF E2|"D"FF2G A4|
"G"B2 BA BA G2|"D"zA AG AG F2|"Em"EB2E "Cmaj7"B2 AG|"D"F2 FG "Em"E4:|
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Greg Smith
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smiley

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Re: Origin of the "Uttoxeter Swing"
« Reply #1 on: May 23, 2019, 05:10:45 AM »

2 years later ...

I'm interested in hearing the "original collected" version of Uttoxeter Swing (if it was ever recorded).
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Helena Handcart

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Re: Origin of the "Uttoxeter Swing"
« Reply #2 on: May 23, 2019, 07:23:58 AM »

Nope, I tried to find out some years ago - the tune came to me via the Border morris and I introduced in into the repertoire of the steady-speed session I run.  I added it to the tunebook simply because we have a smattering of borderists among our regulars and it is thus a really good tune for them to become familiar with.

I tried again a few months ago and the only new information I could find was a reference from my friend Lester referencing my failure to find anything out about the tune.  I've heard Cotswold teams using it (Fool's Gambit?) but all I really know is that is popular in these here parts (South London/Surrey) among border teams having escaped from the Wild Hunt's repertoire  - they don't know from whence they got it either. I checked.

There is very little about this tune out there on t'interweb at all - not even 'The Session' claiming it is a traditional Irish polka or somesuch >:E (:)

I know this is an old thread but now revived by Smiley perhaps someone out there can shed some light this time around?
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Tone Dumb Greg

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Re: Origin of the "Uttoxeter Swing"
« Reply #3 on: May 23, 2019, 09:16:18 AM »

... I've heard Cotswold teams using it (Fool's Gambit?) but all I really know is that is popular in these here parts (South London/Surrey) among border teams having escaped from the Wild Hunt's repertoire  - they don't know from whence they got it either. I checked.

The Bessels Leigh connection led nowhere. I got in touch with the US side that revived the old border dance [Berkley Morris] and Randell Cayford replied
"We started doing the dance in 2010. I found a recording I got off the internet dated December 2009. It’s the same recording that is on Hunters Moon’s myspace page. So I’m pretty sure they were my source for the tune. How I ended up on that page, I have no idea. Have you contacted them and gotten any response?"

The recently demised Hunter's Moon related Uttoxeter Swing to something called Poppleford-I don't know if that's a tune or a dance-and no one in their side remembered where it came from.
It's a good tune to dance to, though  ;D
« Last Edit: May 23, 2019, 09:19:13 AM by Tone Dumb Greg »
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Greg Smith
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Helena Handcart

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Re: Origin of the "Uttoxeter Swing"
« Reply #4 on: May 23, 2019, 09:43:45 AM »

The recently demised Hunter's Moon related Uttoxeter Swing to something called Poppleford-I don't know if that's a tune or a dance-and no one in their side remembered where it came from.
It's a good tune to dance to, though  ;D

Aha - a connection at least. The musician I got the tune from came from was connected with Hunter's Moon as well as Wild Hunt - from there the tune escaped to Box Hill Bedlam and thence to Black Swan Border and quite possibly down to the Isle of Wight.  I don't know of a 'Poppleford' dance but there was a 'Poppleton' dance I recall* - a different thing or a mis-remembering of the name who knows?

* I haven't danced border these last five years or so so being a happy hanky flapper/sword wrangler I am a bit out of the borderist loop.



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Tone Dumb Greg

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Re: Origin of the "Uttoxeter Swing"
« Reply #5 on: May 23, 2019, 11:04:50 AM »


... I don't know of a 'Poppleford' dance but there was a 'Poppleton' dance I recall* - a different thing or a mis-remembering of the name who knows?

My bad. I mis-remembered the name. I have no first hand knowledge of it.
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Greg Smith
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ACCORDION, n. An instrument in harmony with the sentiments of an assassin. Ambrose Bierce

John MacKenzie (Cugiok)

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Re: Origin of the "Uttoxeter Swing"
« Reply #6 on: May 23, 2019, 11:45:54 AM »

If you put Poppleton Morris into search, you come up with three links, one of which is Sallyport, dancing Poppleton, to the tune of Keel Row.
Probably no help, but..............

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGIV1RC_VPk

SJ

This also mentions Poppleton as a sort of afterthought, right at the end, but the page itself is interesting, and well laid out.

https://phoenixmorrisdancers.com/page/
« Last Edit: May 23, 2019, 11:51:11 AM by John MacKenzie (Cugiok) »
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Helena Handcart

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Re: Origin of the "Uttoxeter Swing"
« Reply #7 on: May 23, 2019, 12:46:30 PM »

If you put Poppleton Morris into search....

Try Poppleton (or Peopleton) Stick Dance, that's how I remember it*. Can't look myself just now. 

No guarantee it's the same dance or indeed that there's any connection.
 
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Andy Next Tune

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Re: Origin of the "Uttoxeter Swing"
« Reply #8 on: May 23, 2019, 01:00:10 PM »

Here's the dance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcTtNxNRJ7k

.....but it doesn't help with the origin of that tune :(
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