Christmas Music and a Dance from Days of Yore

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Christmas Music and a Dance from Days of Yore

December 18, 2007 by Vic

The Jane Austen Centre already offers a comprehensive article on Christmas music in the Origins of Regency Era Christmas Carols in their Online Magazine, which I cannot add to in a meaningful way, and which includes a lovelingly told history of ‘Silent Night.’

After reading the article, view a YouTube video of Gloucestershire Morris men dancing a traditional stick dance to the tune of While Shepherds Watched, one of the carols described in the article.

While Bledington, where this dance originated, is situated in the Cotswolds, one is quickly transported to the 18th and 19th centuries when viewing this dance and listening to the music. I believe the musical instrument accompanying this dance is the harmonium (thank you for the tip, Pixzlee). Historically, the pipe and tabor accompanied this dance, while later in the 19th century, the fiddler replaced the pipe and tabor musician.

Pipe and Tabor

Click here for my other Holiday posts

Jack in the Green Morris Men

Bledington: Brief History of the Tradition

Posted in Christmas, jane austen, Regency Christmas Traditions | Tagged Holidays | 4 Comments

4 Responses

on December 19, 2007 at 22:52 Pixzlee

I wonder if you meant harmonium rather than harmonica?
on December 20, 2007 at 00:39 Ms. Place

Thank you for the hint, Pixzlee. I shall look this up! I am auditorially challenged, and I did indeed wonder about the musical accompaniment to the dance.
on February 1, 2008 at 07:20 Hi, my sites:

Great boys6dfc6809a1c8d63f3df7e5c3c8a96041
on December 17, 2008 at 12:13 A Regency Christmas Tree « Jane Austen’s World

[…] Christmas Music and a Dance from the Days of Yore […]

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