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Early Scottish Ragtime

Early Scottish Ragtime (Fellside FECD276)

Early Scottish Ragtime
Vic Gammon & Friends

Fellside Recordings FECD276 (CD, UK, 29 July 2016)

Many people are familiar with the movement of songs and tunes from Britain to North America, but this project presents American dance tunes that came to Britain as well as some tunes from England and Scotland that in their rhythmic quality seem to precede ragtime music. The unifying theme of this CD is syncopation, the significant characteristic of Ragtime. Ragtime came to public notice in the 1890s in America and, within months, Europe, too, fell under its spell. There were none of today’s mass media methods of communicating music yet it spread like wildfire. As shown by Vic Gammon and his friends with the tunes in this collection, syncopation had existed in traditional tunes since at least the eighteenth century, which begs the question: Were Scots playing ragtime years before Scott Joplin had his first piece published?

Dr Vic Gammon recently retired from being Senior Lecturer in Folk and Traditional Music, but continues to be a guest member of staff at the International Centre for Music Studies at Newcastle University. He is also a singer, plays concertina, melodeon, tenor banjo and mandolin and has recorded extensively. His ‘friends‘ include Sandra Kerr (‘Bagpuss’), noted fiddle player Stewart Hardy, Desi Wilkinson from the Irish band Cran, and BBC Folk Award nominee, Dan Walsh.

Researched, arranged and recorded by Vic Gammon;
Mixed and mastered by Paul Adams;
Artwork by Mary Blood

Musicians

Vic Gammon: tenor banjo, mandolin, Anglo concertina;
Stewart Hardy: fiddle;
Steve Harrison: mouth organ;
Sandra Kerr: English concertina;
Dave Walsh: five-string banjo;
Desi Wilkinson: flute;
Cecilia Winterbottom: bass;
Sam Robson: piano

Tracks

  1. Bob Chadduck’s Jig (3.21)
  2. Old Man’s Dance / Tom Brigg’s Jig (4.33)
  3. Billy the Kid’s Jig / Hole in the Wall (4.26)
  4. Negro Melody / Hey Daddy (3.13)
  5. The Aird Set: Pompey Ran Away / Old Plantation Girls / sam Jones (3.21)
  6. The Marquis of Carmarthen’s Birthday / The Collier’s Daughter (3.12)
  7. The Pig Set: Pig in the Parlour / Allister / Queen’s Palace (4.09)
  8. Oakland Garden (4.45)
  9. Barley Cake / The Bush (3.18)
  10. The Hoop Set: Bob Chadduck’s Jig / Hoop De Dooden Doo / Scituate Reel (5.08)
  11. Jenny’s Whim / Jenny’s Delight (2.44)
  12. Get on the Train (3.42)
  13. Sherburn Castle / I’ll Be Married (2.47)
  14. In the Woodpile / Hell on the Wabash (4.24)
  15. Geordie Favourites Set: Whole Hog or None / On the Road to Brighton / Nelly Gray (3.25)