Copper Family
Encyclopedia
The Copper Family are a family of singers of traditional, unaccompanied English folk song
. Originally from Rottingdean
, near Brighton
, Sussex
, England
, the nucleus of the family now live in the neighbouring village of Peacehaven
.
(d.1904), one of the founders of the Folk Song Society (later the English Folk Dance and Song Society
). In his notes accompanying their archive CD Come Write Me Down, Vic Gammon notes that both the collecting of songs and their unaccompanied singing were less common than is often imagined at this time and that Lee, a singer herself, knew she had found something special when she encountered the Coppers.
James 'Brasser' Copper (1845-1924) and his brother Thomas (c.1847-c.1936) were made honorary members of the society, and 'Brasser' was prevailed upon to write down the songs that he knew. 'Brasser' had two sons, John (c.1879-1952) and Jim (1882-1954). In 1936, Jim wrote a further volume of songs. Jim had two children - Joyce (1910-?) and Bob (1915-2004).
In 1950, Jim and Bob were invited to sing on an episode of the BBC Radio
programme Country Magazine and, over the next few years, the BBC would record them further, even producing a feature The Life Of James Copper, broadcast in September 1951.
John's son was Walter Ronald, known as Ron (c.1913-1979). Together, Jim, John, Ron and Bob sang at the Royal Albert Hall
and wider public attention followed the broadcast of a six-part television series Song Hunter, presented by Alan Lomax
and featuring Jim, Bob and Ron. Bob wrote several books about the family and its songs, beginning with the widely acclaimed A Song For Every Season in 1971. The accompanying 4LP set (now a collector's item) found Bob and Ron singing alongside Bob’s daughter Jill and son John, bringing a further generation into the family tradition. The death of Ron was followed by the introduction of Jill’s husband Jon into the core line-up, and some of Bob's grandchildren began to appear with the group. The six grandchildren (Jill's children Mark, Andy and Sean Barratt, and John's children Ben, Lucy and Tom Copper) now also appear independently as The Young Coppers, singing the same family repertoire.
Various recordings of the family's singing have been made since the 1950s and some are still available, notably the aforementioned Come Write Me Down, which comes with two booklets full of biographical detail. Bob Copper died in 2004, a few days after receiving an MBE
. The present generations of the family continue to sing unaccompanied traditional songs and, in 2004 (repeated in 2006), BBC Four
broadcast an hour-long programme about the family, filmed during the last months of Bob's life. They are involved in The Imagined Village
project.
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
. Originally from Rottingdean
Rottingdean
Rottingdean is a coastal village next to the town of Brighton and technically within the city of Brighton and Hove, in East Sussex, on the south coast of England...
, near Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the nucleus of the family now live in the neighbouring village of Peacehaven
Peacehaven
Peacehaven is a town and civil parish in the Lewes district of East Sussex, England. It is located above the chalk cliffs of the South Downs approximately six miles east of Brighton city centre, on the A259 road...
.
History
The Copper Family have a tradition of the unaccompanied singing of traditional local songs that has been passed down through several generations. In 1898, they came to the attention of Kate LeeKate Lee
Kate Lee, born Catharine Anna Spooner, was a singer and folksong collector.She was born in Rufford, Nottinghamshire, the daughter of Lucius and Margaret Spooner; her cousins included William Archibald Spooner, who gave his name to the "spoonerism".She entered the Royal Academy of Music in January...
(d.1904), one of the founders of the Folk Song Society (later the English Folk Dance and Song Society
English Folk Dance and Song Society
The English Folk Dance and Song Society was formed in 1932 when two organisations merged: the Folk-Song Society and the English Folk Dance Society. The EFDSS, a member-based organisation, was incorporated as a Company limited by guarantee in 1935 and became a Registered Charity The English Folk...
). In his notes accompanying their archive CD Come Write Me Down, Vic Gammon notes that both the collecting of songs and their unaccompanied singing were less common than is often imagined at this time and that Lee, a singer herself, knew she had found something special when she encountered the Coppers.
James 'Brasser' Copper (1845-1924) and his brother Thomas (c.1847-c.1936) were made honorary members of the society, and 'Brasser' was prevailed upon to write down the songs that he knew. 'Brasser' had two sons, John (c.1879-1952) and Jim (1882-1954). In 1936, Jim wrote a further volume of songs. Jim had two children - Joyce (1910-?) and Bob (1915-2004).
In 1950, Jim and Bob were invited to sing on an episode of the BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
programme Country Magazine and, over the next few years, the BBC would record them further, even producing a feature The Life Of James Copper, broadcast in September 1951.
John's son was Walter Ronald, known as Ron (c.1913-1979). Together, Jim, John, Ron and Bob sang at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
and wider public attention followed the broadcast of a six-part television series Song Hunter, presented by Alan Lomax
Alan Lomax
Alan Lomax was an American folklorist and ethnomusicologist. He was one of the great field collectors of folk music of the 20th century, recording thousands of songs in the United States, Great Britain, Ireland, the Caribbean, Italy, and Spain.In his later career, Lomax advanced his theories of...
and featuring Jim, Bob and Ron. Bob wrote several books about the family and its songs, beginning with the widely acclaimed A Song For Every Season in 1971. The accompanying 4LP set (now a collector's item) found Bob and Ron singing alongside Bob’s daughter Jill and son John, bringing a further generation into the family tradition. The death of Ron was followed by the introduction of Jill’s husband Jon into the core line-up, and some of Bob's grandchildren began to appear with the group. The six grandchildren (Jill's children Mark, Andy and Sean Barratt, and John's children Ben, Lucy and Tom Copper) now also appear independently as The Young Coppers, singing the same family repertoire.
Various recordings of the family's singing have been made since the 1950s and some are still available, notably the aforementioned Come Write Me Down, which comes with two booklets full of biographical detail. Bob Copper died in 2004, a few days after receiving an MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
. The present generations of the family continue to sing unaccompanied traditional songs and, in 2004 (repeated in 2006), BBC Four
BBC Four
BBC Four is a British television network operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation and available to digital television viewers on Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable....
broadcast an hour-long programme about the family, filmed during the last months of Bob's life. They are involved in The Imagined Village
The Imagined Village
The Imagined Village is a folk musical project founded by Simon Emmerson of the Afro Celt Sound System. It is intended to produce modern folk music that represents modern multiculturalism in the United Kingdom and as such, features musicians from a wide variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds...
project.
Discography
- Traditional Songs From Rottingdean (English Folk Dance & Song Society LP, 1963)
- A Song For Every Season (Leader 4LP box set, 1971)
- A Song For Every Season (Leader LP, selections from the box set, 1971)
- The Banks of Claudy (Folktrax LP, 1975)
- Twankydillo (Folktrax cassette, 1975)
- Sweet Rose In June (Topic LP, 1977)
- Come All You Bold Britons (Folktrax cassette, 1983)
- Adam and Eve (Folktrax cassette, 1983)
- Coppersongs: A Living Tradition (English Folk Dance & Song Society LP, 1987)
- Coppersongs 2 (CD, 1995)
- Coppersongs 3: The Legacy Continues (CD, 1998?)
- Come Write Me Down (Topic CD, 2001)
Further reading
- "Bob Copper - for the Sheer Joy of Singing" [radio interview transcript]. 2008. In Talking to Kinky and Karlheinz - 170 musicians get vocal on The Music Show ed. Anni Heino, 171-185. Sydney: ABC Books. ISBN 9780733320088.