Join us for two exciting events on 11 & 12 October 2024, which we’re holding as part of this year’s Sabine Baring-Gould Centenary celebrations.
All aboard for Bellringing Competition Re-enactment!
On Saturday 12 October, we’re re-enacting an annual contest between two competing teams of church bellringers which was described in a 19th century Devon folk song – and the public are being invited along.
People can join our musicians and members of the Devon Association of Ringers for the re-enactment of the bellringing competitions sung about in the Devon Bellringing Song, which was collected in 1890 by Dartmoor’s famous song and tune collector, Sabine Baring-Gould.
A coach journey on will follow two teams of bellringers from the Association. They’ll ring the bells at the churches mentioned in the song, which tells the story of the bellringing men of Northlew and Broadwoodwidger.
The journey departs from Okehampton at 8.30am and ringing will take place at five churches in West Devon and East Cornwall. There will be an opportunity to have a go at bellringing at one of the church towers and chat to judges to find out how they make their decisions. Lunch will be available at Ashwater Village Hall, and the day finishes in the evening with a traditional Bellringers Supper at Church Hall, Okehampton, where the winning team will be presented with a prize reflecting the words in the song – “the ale and five pound note, too”.
Baring-Gould collected the song from an old Dartmoor farmer, William George Kerswell. Our creative director Marilyn Tucker explained how he ‘discovered’ the song: “He was at the old Saracen’s Head at Two Bridges on Dartmoor one New Year’s Eve, and he heard a man singing it. He wrote that the man had a ‘clear, robust voice’ which imitated the bells with an ‘indescribable charm’.”
The event is part of the Baring-Gould Centenary Programme, marking the 100th year since he died in 1924. And next year is the 100th anniversary of the Devon Association of Ringers.
Marilyn said: “It’s a unique event and I think there will be a lot of interest in it. What makes it even more lovely is that the Devon Association of Ringers do the Devon call change which is local to Devon and Cornwall. And I’m sure their two teams will be trying hard to beat each other and get their hands on the trophy!”
Tickets are £35 plus booking fee for the tour and supper; £25 plus booking fee for the tour; or £15 plus booking fee for the supper. They can be booked on our website here. For more information about the day, contact Marilyn at Wren Music at [email protected] or on 01837 53754.
The Fiddle Tunes of William Andrews
We’re also contributing to the Baring-Gould Centenary on Friday 11 October, with an event in Okehampton. The Fiddle Tunes of William Andrews, as collected by Baring-Gould, takes place at Church Hall in Market Street, starting at 7.30pm.
The event is presented by our very own Paul Wilson, and Devon fiddler Ben van Weede. The evening starts with a short presentation from Paul about William Andrews, the traditional fiddle player from Sheepstor who was visited by Baring-Gould in the 1890s. Ben will play the musical illustrations for the talk, which Paul previously presented at the English Fiddle Symposium in Gateshead. The evening also features a participatory workshop, where players can learn a Dartmoor tune or two to add to their repertoire. All levels of experience are welcome. Bring your own instrument.
Paul and Ben will then combine skills to present a few tunes from the collection, arranged for fiddle, guitar and other instruments, showing how the William Andrews tunes relate to others from the region.
Admission is £15 (£9 reduced price) and tickets can be booked here. The event is sponsored by the Devonshire Association Music and Folklore Section.
Also to mark the Baring-Gould Centenary, we’re hosting a Folk Music session at The Blue Lion in Lewdown on Wednesday 16 October, 7pm to 10.30pm, featuring Marilyn Tucker & Paul Wilson, and Martin & Shan Graebe. Singers and players are welcome
Bellringing Competition Re-enactment
Saturday 12 October, all day
Starts & finishes in Okehampton
The Fiddle Tunes of William Andrews, as collected by Sabine Baring-Gould,
Friday 11 October, Church Hall, Market Street, Okehampton, starting at 7.30pm
Further reading:
www.wrenmusic.co.uk/news/dartmoor-fiddler
www.sbgcentenary.co.uk
devonassoc.org.uk
