Woodside Morris Men's Black Book

The Woodside Morris Men (WMM) were formed in 1957 and their repertoire of dances was originally taken from a variety of Oxfordshire Morris traditions. In addition to these traditions, since 1983 the WMM have developed and subsequently been performing some of their own dances, which are gradually being formed into a tradition of their own and which are described below.

The Music

When originally formed the music was by recorder. A variety of instruments were to follow including violin, concertina and melodeon. The current line up, since 2001, is melodeon with accordion and violin.

Characteristics of the tradition

A living tradition.

The Dances

Currently numbering nine, of which six are stick dances and three handkerchief

The Style

A brisk, lively tradition with flexibility of limbs, mainly at hips and shoulders. Arms loose with plenty of movement at wrist. The style is characterised by its unusual rounds and the changing of the axis of the set through 90 degrees during the chorus. Dances finish with a shout on 3rd beat of last bar.

The Figures

Usually CF are foot-up, half-gyp, whole-gyp, and whole rounds. The dance finishing with DF. OY is usually danced the last bar with 2-PC. FU is up-and-down, with a slight forward movement, turning outwards with 2 bars of 4-PC to face down and 3/4 turn outwards with 4-PC to face across to finish. HG is done rt-shoulder passing in 1st half and lt-shoulder passing in the second half; 2 bars of 4-step fwd and 2 bars of 4-PC bwd to place, meeting side by side after 1st bar of PC. WG is done rt-shoulder, passing to opposite place to face partner at end of 2 bars of 4-step. Return to own place, passing with back to partner with 2 bars of 4-PC, forming single line (Od, Eu) at 3end of 1st bar. Repeat with lt shoulder, forming the single line with OU, Ed. WhR is done by ends crossing rt-shoulder with partner for 1/4 rotation with 1 bar of 4-step, while middles dance 1/4 rotation cl (axis of set is now rotated 1/4 round). All do 1 bar of 2-PC in new place. Repeat for next 1/4 rotation and until back to won place.

The Steps

Include 4-step, PC, open side-steps, HC. Start on rt foot. HH and all CF are 2 bars of 4-step and 2 bars of 4-PC:

Except WhR which is 1 bar 4-step and 1 bar of 2-PC for each 1/4 rotation:

Side-steps (open) and HC occur in hkf dances only:

The Arm-movements

In the hkf dances, during OY arms are du on last bar with 2-PC. Hands are thrown UP with handkerchiefs on beat 4 preceding each bar of 4-step. Arms are du (twice) with the 2 bars of 4-PC. At end of figure after last 'UP', on beat 1 of bar 1 of DF all handkerchiefs except first cnr are flicked UP. Active cnrs at end of DR, after last 'UP' with 4-PC, handkerchiefs are flicked UP on first beat of next bar.

Stick Dances

Sticks, held over rt shoulder when not in use for striking. Long sticks are held below middle in rt hand when striking, and held by middle in rt hand and by butting lt when stick-tapping. During OY sticks are brought up to rt shoulder during 1st bar of last 2 bars; 2-PC during last bar, striking with the 3rd beat. Strike with partner on 3rd beat of bars 4 and 8 of figure. Stick-striking in WhR is B and Tp (bk hand/fore hand) done with the 2-PC. Finish with a closely bunched all in, with tips of sticks together over middle of set.

Sequence - in the 6-man hkf and stick dances the sequence is generally the same: OY;FU;DF;HG;DF;WG;DF;WhR;DF