Onwards and Upwards!
…or rather, postponed to Saturday 2nd September 2023. With around 75% of our chosen venues being state owned or with strong connections to the monarchy, the decision to not run this long awaited event was completely taken out of our hands. But not to be deterred, this event is rescheduled to run next September. We are extremely grateful to the messages of support and encouragement that we have received over these last couple of weeks.
Vaughan Williams’ Folk – Project Launch
Saturday 15th October 2022 12pm-2pm
One event which formed part of our Traditional Music Day was the launch of our Vaughan Williams’ Folk Project and this is something that can’t hold on until next year though you will be able to see the final showcase then!
Thanks to our quick thinking project co-ordinator Nicky Stockman, this has now been rescheduled to Saturday 15th October from 12pm-2pm at the Redwoods Suite, Red Gables, Ipswich Road, Stowmarket IP14 1BE. This event will be introduced by Nicky Stockman, with Essex researcher Sue Cubbin educating us about the county that first saw Ralph Vaughan Williams collecting and notating English Folk Songs. Illustrating Sue’s talk will be Potiphar’s Apprentices. There will be opportunities to talk to the team about the Youth Mentorship programme, Schools’ resources and volunteering opportunities.
Youth Mentorship Scheme open for applicants
As part of the Vaughan Williams’ Folk Project EATMT and FolkEast Youth Moot are excited to work with 8 young musicians (16-25 years) to create a musical showcase using folk music and song collected across East Anglia by Ralph Vaughan Williams. 8 musicians will be enrolled on a mentorship programme with Finn Collinson & Emma Beach culminating in a musical showcase at FolkEast and at East Anglian Traditional Music Day 2023.
Applications are open now until October 31st 2022. Find out more on our website, email info@eatmt.org.uk or vaughanwilliamsfolk@yahoo.com or ring 07495 054669.
Vaughan Williams Folk – Research Conference
Saturday 26th November 2022 10am-4pm
Another strand of the Vaughan Williams Folk Project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, is a Research Conference and we are now taking bookings for this free of charge conference. Come along and find out about the East Anglian folk song collections of Ralph Vaughan Williams, both published and unpublished. Come along to listen or get involved with helping us to make the manuscripts more publicly available.
There will be talks from researchers from all 4 of the East Anglian Counties (Sue Cubbin, Katie Howson, Jill Bennett, Liz James & Caroline Davison) followed by Q&A sessions and discussion with Steve Roud and other experts in the folk song collecting field.
Please book free tickets via Eventbrite using this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…/vaughan-williams-in-east… or ring EATMT 07495 054669. SPACES ARE LIMITED!
To whet your appetites please have a listen to a project talk by Alan Helsdon & Chris Holderness at FolkEast earlier this year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR_unkfU0_Q&t=1663s
Hot off the press…
You can spend the autumn immersed in everything Vaughan Williams with the latest publications in time for this conference!
Caroline Davison’s eagerly awaited book The Captain’s Apprentice is now available to buy and features on the BBC’s Book of the Week commencing Monday 26th September at 9.45am Monday to Friday and then will be available on BBC Sounds and Jill Bennett and Elizabeth James’ eagerly awaited book A Norfolk Rhapsody is published on October 10th 2022.
Stepdance Day goes to Cambridgeshire
Pictured from Left to Right: Eammon Andrews, winner of the Steve Monk Tankard, Michael Czarnobaj a close runner up, Fiona Davies with the Percy West Plate (awarded by our Patron Gloria Buckley for services to Stepdancing), Angela Peacock, runner up and best newcomer Sue Gwynne
Our final year funded by The Instep Research Team saw Stepdance Day step into Cambridgeshire with Chippenham being our chosen destination in mid July. We were delighted to see lots of new faces but sad to not see a number of our traditional stepdancers who we rely on to share this unique East Anglian tradition. You can read the report HERE.
Next year, Essex and back to the county where Stepdance Day was born – Sunday 16th July (date TBC).
New session set up
As a result of the Stepdance Day moving into Cambridgeshire, a new session has been set up to encourage more in the county. We hope this grows into a regular session. For more details do contact EATMT and we will pass on the details of the organisers of this event.
We had another action packed weekend at the lovely FolkEast Festival in August. Nestled amongst the talented Instrument makers, we set up the stall on Thursday evening. Sound recordist Jake Lee-Savage joined us for 24 hours and we managed to record an introductory podcast for the Vaughan Williams Folk Project, film the Vaughan Williams’ illustrated talk “Letters from King’s Lynn“, film part of a Youth Moot workshop to promote the Lottery funded project including the Youth Mentorship Scheme as well as run the 2nd FolkEast Stepdance competition. We only managed that with thanks to our very able helpers Eliza, Nez and Mark who dutifully and ably minded the stall for much of the time. You can read the FolkEast report HERE.
New article uploaded – Alfred Huddle, The King’s Lynn Curate
Added in August 2022, we’re delighted to bring you another interesting article form Norfolk musician, research and Trust regular volunteer Alan Helsdon with a tidy link to Ralph Vaughan Williams.
Bishop & Miller are local auctioneers who run 3 Music Memorabilia auctions through the year. They are selling a number of items on behalf of EATMT in their next sale commission free and are inviting supporters of EATMT to get in touch to sell musical items. Any items sold in their musical memorabilia auctions, Bishop & Miller donate back part of their commission to EATMT.
If you are still having house clear outs/downsizing, then do consider this auction house, They are open every Friday in their Stowmarket and Glandford, Norfolk offices for a free walk in valuation between 9am and 3.30pm and they also visit Frinton – Essex, Royston in Herts and Norwich, Norfolk several times a year where they offer valuation days. Don’t forget to mention you are a supporter of the East Anglian Traditional Music Trust! The next Music Memorabilia Auction will be held in November in Stowmarket.
For more details contact Michael Higginson, 01449 673088.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Saturday 10th September – Monday 31st October
Youth Showcase Mentoring Scheme for the Vaughan Williams’ Folk Project – applicants welcome from 16-25 year olds.
Saturday 15th October Vaughan Williams’ Folk Project Launch
12pm-2pm, Redwoods, Red Gables, Ipswich Road, Stowmarket IP14 1BE
With an illustrated talk from Essex based researcher Sue Cubbin and Potiphar’s Apprentices and a chance to find out what we are doing over the next year and how you might get involved if you’re interested. Youth Mentoring Scheme, Schools work, Conference, Showcase concerts, Volunteering opportunities plus more
Saturday 26th November 10am-4pm Vaughan Williams’ Folk Conference –
12pm-2pm, Redwoods, Red Gables, Ipswich Road, Stowmarket IP14 1BE
Free to attend but please book your seat for this event either via Eventbrite via the EATMT website, ring EATMT on 07495 054669 or email vaughanwilliamsfolk@yahoo.com
Saturday 27th May More than Melodeons – Wingfield, Suffolk
More details to follow soon.
Sunday 16th July 2023 (date tbc) Stepdance Day in Essex
More details to follow soon.
Saturday 2nd September 2023 Traditional Music Day
More details to follow soon.
Other events locally:
A new Folk Music session at The Belle Vue pub in Norwich – First Thursday of the month, 8pm run by Chris Holderness and Friends.
Mid Suffolk Folk Dance Club has been set up in Stowupland with the first dance running on Sunday 25th September. If you would like more information, please email Margaret Doy mdoy44@gmail.com.
Stepdancing session at the Cross Keys Inn in Chatteris has been set up for Sunday 25th September 3pm and they hope to have enough interest to continue. For more details contact EAMT who will pass on your details to the organisers.
Big Sunday Sing local singer, musician and dancer Heather Bexon is setting up 3 Sunday afternoon song sessions on October 9th, November 6th and December 4th at the Walnut, Stowmarket from 3pm. For more details contact heather.bexon@btinternet.com.
Trafalgar Day is being celebrated with music and song in the Belle Vue, Norwich on Sunday 23rd October from 7pm.
Folk Orchestra Workshop Day with Jo Freya on Saturday 12th November in Norwich – Mardles and Vintage Squeeze organised event.
Check out www.mardles.org for more local events happening over the autumn months.
Please support your local traditional music events! If you are not able to attend events, do consider supporting the East Anglian Traditional Music Trust by joining the Friends’ Membership Scheme. We are reliant on donations and ticket buyers as well as willing volunteers keen to keep our musical traditions alive.
We hope to see you soon!
Alex and the team