CornwallCornwall is a county of England in the United Kingdom, forming the tip of the south-western peninsula of Great Britain. It is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Taken with the...
has been historically
CeltCelts is a modern term used to describe any of the European peoples who spoke, or speak, a Celtic language...
ic, though Celtic-derived traditions had been
moribundMoribund may refer to:* Declining, weak, or stagnant, "They had been rendered moribund by guilt and indecision."* Something literally or figuratively near death; on the verge of extinction...
for some time before being revived during a late 20th century
roots revivalA roots revival is a trend which includes young performers popularizing the traditional musical styles of their ancestors. Often, roots revivals include an addition of newly-composed songs with socially and politically aware lyrics, as well as a general modernization of the folk sound...
.
History
In medieval Cornwall there are records of performances of ‘Miracle Plays’ in the
Cornish languageThe Cornish language is one of the Brythonic group of Celtic languages. The language continued to function as a community language in parts of Cornwall until the late 18th century, and a process to revive the language was started in the early 20th century, continuing to this day.The revival of...
, with considerable musical involvement. Also (as frequently mentioned in the Launceston borough accounts) minstrels were hired to play for saints day celebrations. The
richest familiesGreat Cornish families: a history of the people and their homes is a book by Crispin Gill, published in 1995. The authorCrispin Gill, at the time of the book's publication lived in Plymouth and was Assistant Editor of the Western Morning News...
(including Arundell, Bodrugan, Bottreaux, Grenville, and Edgcumbe) retained their own minstrels, and many others employed minstrels on a casual basis. There were vigorous traditions of morris dancing, mumming, guising, and social dance.
Then followed a long period of contention which included the
Cornish Rebellion of 1497The Cornish Rebellion of 1497 was a popular uprising by the people of Cornwall in the far south west of Britain. Its primary cause was the raising of war taxes by King Henry VII on the impoverished Cornish for a campaign against Scotland, motivated by brief border skirmishes that were inspired by...
, the 1549
Prayer Book RebellionThe Prayer Book Rebellion, Prayer Book Revolt, Prayer Book Rising, Western Rising or Western Rebellion was a popular revolt in Cornwall and Devon, in 1549. In 1549 the Book of Common Prayer, presenting the theology of the English Reformation, was introduced...
, the Persecution of Recusants, the Poor Laws, and the
English Civil WarThe English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists. The first and second civil wars pitted the supporters of King Charles I against the supporters of the Long Parliament, while the third war saw fighting between supporters of...
and Commonwealth (1642-1660). The consequences of these events disadvantaged many gentry who had previously employed their own minstrels or patronised itinerant performers. Over the same period in art music the use of modes was largely supplanted by use of major and minor keys. Altogether it was an extended cultural revolution, and it is unlikely that there were not musical casualties.
18th and 19th centuries
However, a number of manuscripts of dance music from the period 1750 to 1850 have now been found which tell of renewed patronage, employment of dancing masters, and a repertoire that spanned class barriers. Seasonal and community festivals, mumming and
guisingGuise dancing is a folk practice celebrated between Christmas Day and Twelfth Night in Cornwall, UK...
all flourished.
In the 19th century, the nonconformist and temperance movements were strong: these frowned on dancing and music, encouraged the demise of many customs, but fostered the choral and brass band traditions. Some traditional tunes were used for hymns and carols. Church Feast Days and Sunday School treats were widespread - a whole village processing behind a band of musicians leading them to a picnic site, where ‘Tea Treat Buns’ (made with smuggled saffron!) were distributed. This left us a legacy of cheerful marches and polkas. Records exist of dancing in farmhouse kitchens, and in fish cellars Cornish ceilidhs called troyls were common, they are analogous to the fest-noz of the
BretonsBrittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Brittany was previously a kingdom and then as a duchy it was a fief of the Kingdom of France. It was at one time called Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
. Some community events survived, such as at
PadstowPadstow is a small town, civil parish and cargo port on the north coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The UK Census 2001 reported a parish population of 3,162.-Geography:...
and at
HelstonHelston is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, at the northern end of the Lizard Peninsula. It is the most southerly town in the UK, being around 1½ miles south of Penzance. In 2001 the town celebrated the 800th anniversary of the granting of its Charter, making it the...
, where to this day, on May 8, the townspeople dance the '
Furry DanceThe Furry Dance, also known as The Flora , takes place in Helston, Cornwall, and is one of the oldest British customs still practised today...
' through the streets, in and out of shops - and even through people's houses. Thousands converge on Helston to witness the spectacle. The
Sans Day CarolThe "Sans Day Carol" or "St. Day Carol" is one of the many Cornish Christmas carols written in the 19th century. This carol and melody were first transcribed from the singing of a villager in St Day in the parish of Gwennap, Cornwall. The lyrics are similar to those of "The Holly and the Ivy".The...
or "St Day Carol" is one of the many Cornish Christmas carols written in the 19th century. This carol and its melody were first transcribed from the singing of a villager in
St DaySt Day is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, UK, situated between the village of Chacewater and the larger town of Redruth.St Day is also located very near to the former mining area of Poldice and the associated hamlets of Todpool, Creegbrawse and Crofthandy...
in the parish of
GwennapGwennap is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom.In the 18th and early 19th centuries Gwennap parish was the richest copper mining district in Cornwall, and was called the "richest square mile in the Old World". It is the location of the Great County Adit, and...
: the lyrics are similar to those of "
The Holly and the Ivy"The Holly and the Ivy" is a traditional Christmas carol, which is among the most lightly Christianized carols of the Yuletide. "Holly and ivy have been the mainstay of Christmas decoration for church use since at least the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, when they are mentioned regularly in...
".
Vocal music
Folk songs include
Sweet NightingaleSweet Nightingale, also known as "Down in those valleys below" is a Cornish folk song which probably dates from the Seventeenth Century, and is said to be a translation from the ancient Cornish tongue.-Lyrics:Sweet Nightingale...
,
Little EyesLittle eyes or Little Lize is a folksong popular in Cornwall but may have originated in America. It was first recorded in the 1950s by an American harmony group called the Delta Rhythm Boys but was later taken up a Cornish group from Camborne called the Joy Boys. It became a local hit after a few...
, and
LamornaLamorna is a traditional folk song associated with Cornwall, and dealing with the courtship of a man and a woman , who turned out to be his wife. There seems to be some evidence that a similar song exists titled Pomona which originates from Manchester in the north of England...
. Few traditional Cornish lyrics survived the decline of the language. In some cases lyrics of common English songs became attached to older Cornish tunes. Some folk tunes have Cornish lyrics written since the language revival of the 1920s. Sport has also been an outlet for many Cornish folk songs, and
Trelawny"The Song of the Western Men" was written by Robert Stephen Hawker, and is also known by the title of "Trelawny".Hawker wrote the song in 1824, telling of events that took place in 1688. When the song first appeared many thought it to be a contemporary record of events, although in fact the song...
, the unofficial Cornish
national anthemA national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
, is often sung by Cornish rugby fans, along with other favourites such as
Camborne HillCamborne Hill is a Cornish song that celebrates Richard Trevithick's historic steam engine ride up Camborne Hill, to Beacon on Christmas Eve in 1801.A commemorative plaque is inlaid in a wall...
and
The White RoseThe White Rose is a traditional Cornish folk song, the chorus of which appeared in the film Ladies in Lavender . The song remains popular and has been recorded by many of the Cornish male voice choirs and is often performed at funerals...
. The Cornish anthem that has been used by
Gorseth KernowGorseth Kernow is a non-political Cornish organisation, which exists to maintain the national Celtic spirit of Cornwall in the United Kingdom.-History:...
for the last 75 plus years is "
Bro Goth Agan TasowBro Goth agan Tasow is one of the anthems of Cornwall. It is sung to the same tune as the Welsh national anthem, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau...
" ("The Land of My Fathers", or, literally, "Old Country of our Fathers") with a similar tune to the Welsh national anthem ("
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau"Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" , usually translated as "Land of My Fathers", is, by tradition, the national anthem of Wales. The words were written by Evan James and the tune composed by his son, James James, both residents of Pontypridd, Glamorgan, in January 1856...
") and the Breton national anthem. "Bro Goth Agan Tasow" is not heard so often, as it is sung in
CornishThe Cornish language is one of the Brythonic group of Celtic languages. The language continued to function as a community language in parts of Cornwall until the late 18th century, and a process to revive the language was started in the early 20th century, continuing to this day.The revival of...
. Another popular Cornish anthem is "
Hail to the HomelandHail to the Homeland is one of the unofficial anthems of Cornwall. It was composed by the Cornish musician Kenneth Pelmear who composed and arranged many works for church and male voice choirs and brass bands...
".
Dances
Cornish dances include community dances such a 'furry dances', social (set) dances, linear and circle dances originating in karoles and farandoles, and step dances - often competitive. Among the social dances is 'Joan Sanderson’, the cushion dance from the 19th century, but with 17th century origins.
Breton connection
Cornish music is often noted for its similarity to that of
BrittanySince the early 1970s, Brittany has experienced a tremendous revival of its folk music. Along with flourishing traditional forms such as the bombard-binou pair and fest-noz ensembles incorporating other additional instruments, it has also branched out into numerous sub-genres.-Traditional Breton...
; some older songs and carols share the same root as
BretonThe Bretons are an ethnic group located in the region of Brittany in France. They trace much of their heritage to groups of Brythonic speakers who settled the area from south western Great Britain in two waves from the 4th to 6th centuries. The traditional language of Brittany is Breton and is...
tunes. From Cornwall, Brittany was more easily accessible than London. Breton and Cornish were (and are) mutually intelligible. There was much cultural and marital exchange between the two countries and this influenced both music and dance.
Instrumentation
Cornish musicians have used a variety of traditional instruments. Documentary sources and Cornish iconography (as at
AltarnunAltarnun , is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village is on the north-eastern edge of Bodmin Moor. The parish includes the village of Fivelanes and hamlets of Treween and Trewint, and had a population of 976 according to the 2001 census...
church on
Bodmin MoorBodmin Moor is a granite moorland in northeastern Cornwall, UK, in size, dating from the Carboniferous period of geological history.The name "Bodmin Moor" is relatively recent, being an Ordnance Survey invention of 1813...
and St. Mary's,
LauncestonLaunceston is a town, an ancient borough, and a civil parish in the north of Cornwall, United Kingdom...
suggest a late-medieval line-up might include an early
fiddleThe term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, including the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
(
crowd), bombarde (
horn-pipe),
bagpipesBagpipes are a class of musical instrument, aerophones using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. Though the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe and Irish uilleann pipes have the greatest international visibility, bagpipes of several varieties can be found in use...
and
harpA harp is a stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicular to the soundboard. As many other non-percussion instruments, it can also be used as a percussion instrument. All harps have a neck, resonator and strings. Some, known as frame harps, also have a forepillar;...
. The
bodhránThe bodhrán is an Irish frame drum ranging from 25 to 65 cm in diameter, with most drums measuring 35 to 45 cm . The sides of the drum are 9 to 20 cm deep. A goatskin head is tacked to one side...
(
crowdy crawn in
CornishThe Cornish language is one of the Brythonic group of Celtic languages. The language continued to function as a community language in parts of Cornwall until the late 18th century, and a process to revive the language was started in the early 20th century, continuing to this day.The revival of...
) and fiddle (
crowd in Cornish) were popular by the 19th century. In the 1920s there was a serious school of
banjoThe banjo is a stringed instrument developed by enslaved Africans in the United States, adapted from several African instruments.The name banjo is commonly thought to be derived from the Kimbundu term mbanza...
playing in Cornwall. After 1945
accordionThe accordion is a portable box-shaped musical instrument of the hand-held bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox...
s became progressively more popular, before being joined by the instruments of the 1980s folk revival. In recent years
Cornish bagpipesCornish bagpipes are a form of bagpipe once common in Cornwall. Their design is unusual as two long chanters, played independently, form part of the instrument: this allows for interesting harmonies. One chanter plays the upper half of the octave, the other the lower half...
have enjoyed a progressive revival.
Modern scene
Modern Cornish musicians include the former Cornish folk singer
Brenda WoottonBrenda Wootton was a Cornish poetess and folk singer and was seen as an ambassador for Cornish tradition and culture....
, the Cornish-Breton family band
Anao Atao, the late 1960s band
The OnyxFor the New York based hip-hop band, see Onyx.The Onyx was formed in Wadebridge, Cornwall in 1965. Out of the ashes of Rick & The Hayseeds the band came to be known as The Onyx Set, named after an Onyx ring owned by original band member Mike Black-Borow. After various changes in the line-up they...
and the 1980s band
BuccaBucca is a mythological being in Cornish folklore who, in the 19th century, was believed to be a spirit that inhabited mines and in coastal communities as a hobgoblin of the storm...
. Recently bands Sacred Turf, Skwardya and Krena, have begun performing
electric folkElectric folk is the name given to the form of folk rock pioneered in England from the late 1960s, and most significant in the 1970s, which then was taken up and developed in the surrounding Celtic cultures of Brittany, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Man, to produce Celtic rock and its...
in the
Cornish languageThe Cornish language is one of the Brythonic group of Celtic languages. The language continued to function as a community language in parts of Cornwall until the late 18th century, and a process to revive the language was started in the early 20th century, continuing to this day.The revival of...
.
Kyt Le Nen Davey, a leading multi-talented Cornish musician, established a non for profit collaborative
Kesson, to distributed Cornish music to a world audience. Today, the site has moved with the times, and now provides individual track downloads, alongside traditional CD format.
Pioneering [Techno] artist Richard D.James (aka
Aphex TwinRichard David James , aka Aphex Twin, is an Irish-born English electronic musician described by The Guardian newspaper as "the most inventive and influential figure in contemporary electronic music." He founded the record label Rephlex Records in 1991 with his friend Grant Wilson-Claridge.-Early...
/
The TussThe Tuss is an electronic music group supposedly consisting of Cornish musicians Brian Tregaskin and Karen Tregaskin. There is speculation that these names are aliases for Aphex Twin...
) is a contemporary Cornish musician, regularly
naming tracks in the Cornish languagedrukqs is a 2001 double album by electronic musician Richard D. James, released under his most frequently used pseudonym, Aphex Twin...
. Along with friend and collaborator
Luke VibertLuke Vibert is a British recording artist and producer known for his work in many subgenres of electronic music. He began his musical career as a member of the Hate Brothers, only later branching out into his own compositions...
and business partner Grant Wilson-Claridge, James has crafted a niche of 'Cornish Acid' affectionately identified with his home region. Bands such as
DallaDalla is a dance band in Cornwall known for providing music for Noze looan dances.Members play the clarinet, bouzouki, fiddle, guitar, accordion and percussion. They sing in both Cornish and English ....
and
Sowena are associated with the
noze looanNoze looan is a style of Cornish-Celtic dance, and associated music and events similar to the Breton Fest Noz. Noze Looan is late Cornish for "happy night" ....
movement of Cornish dance and music, which focuses on audience participation whilst negating the need for a caller.
TroylTroyl is a colloquial Cornish word meaning a barn-dance or céilidh, a social evening of dance, music and song.. - Etymology :Edward Lluyd knew the Cornish verb troillia - to twist, twirl, whirl, spin round....
s (generally with a caller) occur across the county with bands including Asteveryn (formerly Cam Kernewek), the Bolingey Troyl band, Hevva (with Cat in the Bag) and Pyba. Skwardya and Krena play rock, punk and garage music in the
Cornish languageThe Cornish language is one of the Brythonic group of Celtic languages. The language continued to function as a community language in parts of Cornwall until the late 18th century, and a process to revive the language was started in the early 20th century, continuing to this day.The revival of...
. The
Cornwall Songwriters organisation has since 2001 produced two folk operas 'The Cry of Tin' and 'Unsung Heroes'. Also Cornwall has a selection of up and coming young bands such as "Heart in One Hand" and "The small print".
3 Daft Monkeys3 Daft Monkeys are a world-influenced acoustic band from Cornwall, UK, consisting of Tim Ashton, Athene Roberts, and Jamie Waterswho combine vocals, fiddle, 12-string guitar, bass guitar and foot drum....
(Tim Ashton, Athene Roberts, and Jamie Waters) combine vocals, fiddle, 12-string guitar, bass guitar and foot drum to play a fusion of Celtic, Balkan, Gypsy, Latino, dance, dub, punk, reggae and traditional folk music. The band have played at venues and festivals all over the UK and Europe, including
Eden ProjectThe Eden Project is a visitor attraction in the United Kingdom, including the world's largest greenhouse. Inside the artificial biomes are plants that are collected from all around the world....
, the 2008 BBC Proms,
GuilfestGuilFest, formerly the Guildford Festival of Folk and Blues is a music festival held in Stoke Park, Guildford, England each July. The festival, like the larger Glastonbury Festival, features a range of genres including rock, folk, blues, and in recent years pop...
,
Glastonbury FestivalThe Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or Glasto, is the largest greenfield music and performing arts festival in the world. The festival is best known for its contemporary music, but also features dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and...
and the Beautiful Days festival, as well as regularly supporting The Levellers.
The Cornwall Folk Festival has been held annually for more than three decades and in 2008 was staged at
WadebridgeWadebridge is a town in North Cornwall, England, UK, located on the Camel Estuary some 5 miles upstream from Padstow. For many years Wadebridge was a traffic-congested town but in 1991 the Wadebridge bypass was opened together with the Egloshayle bypass causing the two settlements to regain much...
. Other festivals are the pan-Celtic Lowender Peran and midsummer festival Golowan. Cornwall won the PanCeltic Song Contest three years in a row between 2003 and 2005.
Brass and silver bands
Lanner and District Silver BandThe Lanner & District Silver Band is a brass band based in Lanner, Cornwall, United Kingdom, and an important part of village life.-History:The original Lanner & District Silver Band was formed in the Cornish village of Lanner in the mid 1890's...
is a Cornish
Brass bandA British-style brass band is a musical ensemble comprising a standardised range of brass and percussion instruments. The modern form of the brass band in the United Kingdom dates back to the 19th century, with a vibrant tradition of competition based around local industry and communities...
based in
LannerLanner is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. For statistical purposes, the village is part of the St Day, Carharrack and Lanner ward, which had a collective population of 5,438 in 2001...
,
CornwallCornwall is a county of England in the United Kingdom, forming the tip of the south-western peninsula of Great Britain. It is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Taken with the...
,
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
, and well-known for its concerts. There are many other brass and silver bands in Cornwall, particularly in the former mining areas: St Dennis is a notable example.
Classical music
TriggshireThe hundred of Trigg was one of ten ancient administrative shires of Cornwall--see "Hundreds of Cornwall". It was in the north of Cornwall, and included Bodmin Moor, Bodmin and the district to the west and north of the Moor....
Wind Orchestra, an amateur orchestra for wind players primarily from
Sir James Smith's SchoolSir James Smith's School is a small humanities college in the town of Camelford, North Cornwall, England, providing education at secondary level. The headteacher is Jon Lawrence, who succeeded Angela Perlmutter in January 2007.-History:...
,
Wadebridge SchoolWadebridge School is a mixed comprehensive school in the town of Wadebridge, Cornwall, England.It has 1200 pupils. The headmaster of Wadebridge School is Miss Tina Yardley...
,
Budehaven SchoolBude is a small seaside resort town in North Cornwall, England, at the mouth of the River Neet. Bude is twinned with Ergué-Gabéric in Brittany, France...
, was set up in 1984. After the success of the wind orchestra, Triggshire String Orchestra was set up, to cater for the string players from these schools.
Cornish music and language radio
Cornish music radio can be found on "Radyo an Gernewegva" and features such artists as
DallaDalla is a dance band in Cornwall known for providing music for Noze looan dances.Members play the clarinet, bouzouki, fiddle, guitar, accordion and percussion. They sing in both Cornish and English ....
, Bagas Degol, Cam Kernewek, Leski, Ahanan, Julie Elwin, Phil Knight, Ryb an Gwella, Sowena, Captain Kernow and the Jack and Jenny Band, Quylkyn Tew, Gwenno, Skwardya and Trev Lawrence.
See also
External links