The Music of Morris Dancing

Morris dancing has been common in English society since the fifteenth century. The music that has been used in this form of dancing has been the same over the years, but the instruments for the folk music used here have changed over the years. In some cases there will be different forms of music for different styles of the dance. Here's how the music of morris dancing works.

The typical instruments that are often used in folk music are going to be used in this form of dancing. A fiddle is a common instrument to use. In some cases drums can be used to accompany the fiddle.

One of the types of drums that can be used in morris dancing music is that of the pipe and tabor. This is a small drum that is a little larger than that of a tambourine and features a pipe that is used to beat the drum with. The pipe is a three hole flute that can also be played.

The concertina and accordion have been used in the music of morris dancing as well. The concertina is similar to the accordion in that the instrument is a free reed instrument. There are also buttons on the sides of the concertina that can be pressed when used to create different sounding notes. The accordion also works well in that it has buttons on one side and bellows on the other side. Different chords can be played at the same time with this instrument.

Another type of accordion, the melodeon, is also used. Diatonic notes are created through this instrument, and the main chords produced here are on the bass side of the instrument.

Depending on the type of style of morris dancing that is involved there are other instruments that can be used. Some common folk music instruments can be used, including full bands in some cases. A drum will be used for the Border and Northwest forms of morris dancing. The most important is these formats is that multiple people can be used in these dances.

The last part of the music used in this form of dancing involves the songs that are used in morris dancing. Traditional morris dancing songs are used in certain forms of the dance, including the Cotsworld style. For styles like Northwest multiple songs can be used in the dance, and songs can even be changed as the dance goes along.

The music of morris dancing is a great form of folk music that makes the dance more authentic to its origins. The instruments that are used as folk music instruments, and free reeds can be used. However, it should be noted that the style of the music and the songs that can be used will differ according to the style of morris dancing that is used.