Custom and creativity: the chicken and egg of folk performance histories
Channel: The Morris Federation
Date: 2023-05-25

The talk draws on Peter’s editorial and introductory contributions to The Routledge Companion to English Folk Performance published in 2021. He uses examples of morris dancing, mumming and sword dancing to consider four broad points:

Firstly, an acceptance that these forms were creatively devised by people who thought they were a good idea at the time of their making.
Secondly, to consider how such apparently transient, migratory and inconstant forms so quickly achieved customary status.
Thirdly – both for better and worse – to acknowledge the role of Victorian scholarship and Edwardian popular thought in conferring longevity and romance on certain plays and dances but not others.
Fourthly, to seek out any special features of performance – associated with the customary and not often found elsewhere – that enhance our appreciation while gently prodding our designation folk.
This talk was recorded from an online event via Zoom on 5 February 2022.


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Morris Fed website: https://www.morrisfed.org.uk/
Morris Fed workshop videos: https://www.morrisfed.org.uk/resources/videos/
Details of talk: https://www.morrisfed.org.uk/resources/videos/custom-and-creativity-the-chicken-and-egg-of-folk-performance-histories/