The Derbyshire Book of Village Carols
Edited by Ian Russell
The new edition was prompted by two factors. The first edition published in 2012 was sold out and there was a need to enhance the original edition by making it easier to use.
Here’s how it has been achieved
- Two new village traditions have been added – Monyash and Street Lane.
- 23 carols have been re-set to facilitate page turns and save pages.
- The new edition includes 89 carols from 12 villages.
- The overall size of the volume has been reduced by 14 pages.
The carols presented in this collection are part of an active traditional repertoire that has been recorded over the past fifty years in pubs, chapels, churches, homes, and in the open air, in villages in Derbyshire. With its roots in eighteenth-century English vernacular musical life, it is a heritage that largely predates the predominant Victorian conception.
“This is much more than a musical resource; it is a glimpse into the cultural history of my home, through the songs that bring people together in the dark winter months. Ian Russell demonstrates his commitment not just to the music of Derbyshire, but to the place and its people, the communities past and present. This book is a wonderful labour of love and a blessing.” Bella Hardy, folk musician, singer and songwriter, Edale, Derbyshire
“This volume is at once a labour of love and a very significant contribution to research. Over forty years of active participation allow Professor Russell to interweave historical sources and present-day practice, gathering the most remarkable examples into a diverse and inspiring collection.” Jonathan P. J. Stock, Professor of Music, University College Cork
“A vibrant living tradition of harmony singing is here lovingly captured, thoroughly researched and clearly presented. There is a wealth of information about the pieces themselves to complement the music. A book for scholar and singer alike, chiming well with the general resurgence in interest in the folk music genre and carolling in particular.” Paul Wilson MA, Music Director Wren Music
This collection makes available in full score meticulous musical transcriptions of carols that have previously been unavailable; some of it nurtured in singer’s memories, others treasured in private family manuscripts. The performance of these carols, both by members of the communities from which they are drawn and by those keenly interested to share these remarkable traditions, will demonstrate the freshness and vigour of this genre.
Through the collection, singers and instrumentalists are provided with the key to access this world of musical celebration. Moreover, the parts have been transposed to fall within the range of normal voices. It should be stressed that performance is equally successful sung a cappella or with keyboard or instrumental accompaniment, with opportunities for groups, ensembles and solo performance. The two main singing parts of treble and bass, often with fuguing passages, characterise the music. The style of performance is generally full-voiced, with an air of competition between the parts. Thus the impression is of polyphony rather than sweet harmony – dramatic and uninhibited.
The instrumental reductions should be played equally vigorously, rhythmically, and in fairly strict tempo, and for string players, with attacking use of the bow and minimal use of vibrato. They sound just as striking on other instruments appropriate to the ‘church gallery band’ sound – clarinets, oboes, flutes, bassoons, and free reed instruments, as well as brass.
The volume comes with a scholarly introduction that describes the history and social context of the carolling and its repertoire, the manuscript sources, and editorial method, and offers guidance to performance. The detailed notes to the carols reference the origins and development of this repertoire in all its versions and variations, which has on the one hand a highly localised provenance but on the other, demonstrates local, regional, national and international transmission. These village carols are not examples of cultural antiquities, but are a vibrant living tradition and the volume provides readers, enthusiasts, singers, instrumentalists and scholars with a portal through which its treasures can be found and explored.