American Reacts to the Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band - Floral Dance

[@grahamhill2267]

Brass Bands we’re formed by workers from various industries, Collieries, Steel Works, Textile Factories etc, the members of the band were usually workers and families within these industries. In recent times any musician can join bands because of the demise of a lot of the industries where the bands originated. Competitions are held to find the best band and they are taken very seriously by band members. The standard instrumentation for a brass band is as follows: 1 soprano cornet (E♭) 9 cornets (B♭) - Front row: one principal cornet, three solo cornets Back row: one repiano cornet, two 2nd cornets, two 3rd cornets 1 flugelhorn (B♭) 3 tenor horns (E♭) - solo, 1st, 2nd 2 baritone horns (B♭) - 1st, 2nd 2 tenor trombones (B♭) - 1st, 2nd 1 bass trombone (B♭) 2 euphoniums (B♭) 2 E♭ basses 2 BB♭ basses Percussion I hope you find this of interest Joel!

[@allenwilliams1306]

OK, but there were traditionally the “works” bands, as you say, but also the “subscription” bands (such as Brighouse & Rastrick), which had no connection whatsoever with any business. Funds were raised by subscription of the local people, and the band members themselves. The band room would have been a social centre for the community, and usually had a bar and club room in which the subscribers could get pissed cheaply.

[@ianvincent4911]

@@allenwilliams1306 Also the traditional city and town bands. Most market towns in the south have (or had) a band. Having come from a brass band family, I have played for quite a few of them around here.

[@e-conthepparesitt7082]

The band was from the north of England. The tune, 'the floral dance' comes from a tradition in the cornish town of Helston.

[@joangordon3376]

Have a look at the film *Brassed Off* about a colliery brass band. Lots of this sort of music and a bit of UK history of dark times for the mining communities. The film is a lot better than my synopsis! Enjoy 😉

[@guineapigsue7785]

I love that film 😍

[@mariecarman4352]

One of the best films ever it’s about grimethorpe colliery band and that band to this day are still going strong and still play on the ground of the old pit offices

[@iriscollins7583]

@mary carver I watch it at least once a year, that speech at the end of the film has me crying every time. Wonderful acting throughout the film.

[@peterjf7723]

That takes me right back to 1977 when The Floral Dance was in the UK charts and frequently played on the radio. I remember hearing it when I was on the bus to 6th form college. Another song I remember from those days was Wuthering Heights sung by Kate Bush. I think that was in 1978.

[@gazlator]

Agreed! Popularised for a short while on the radio at the time by Britain's most familiar and beloved radio DJ (at that time) Terry Wogan - so much it became a phenomenon. The "traditional" brass band piece of music deliberately bucked the the trend of typical popular radio that featured the latest disco, rock & pop music that was otherwise so common.

[@ollielowe7534]

That was a 1977 film I think, Noel Edmonds looked practically juvenile!!

[@corringhamdepot4434]

You should watch the 1996 movie "Brassed Off" to see how much their brass band means to mining communities. Featuring Ewan McGregor in an early role, before Star wars.

[@iriscollins7583]

My favourite film. Need to watch it every few months, to bring me back earth. Usually Brass bands played cornets, not trumpets, it gave that distinctive sound. Andre Previn made a film about brass bands, admiring the musicianship of the players, which was very Enlightening and interesting.

[@lesjames5191]

@@andrewcole7895 that made me laugh 😂

[@captainpeacock4442]

Fantastic film!.

[@captainpeacock4442]

@@andrewcole7895 Same here,absolutely love that.

[@angelau1194]

Just what I was thinking re: 'Brassed Off" some great music bit sad too.

[@DrDaveW]

The Floral Dance comes from a day of celebration in a town called Helston in the English county of Cornwall. (A few miles away from me.) The main ceremony is that couples dress up in their finest clothes and parade around the town accompanied by a brass band playing this music. It’s called Flora Day, (Meaning “Floral Day”), so this is the Floral Dance.

[@tabitha4135]

Thanks didn’t know that! Cornwall is beautiful 😻

[@DrDaveW]

@Niall Stephen Damn, that completely slipped me by. And I live here as well. I fully support that Cornwall should be seen as separate from England, but I’m torn on full independent government.

[@tabitha4135]

@@DrDaveW have they got their own flag?

[@georgebarnes8163]

@@tabitha4135 Yes, St Pirans flag but so do all the English counties.

[@davidhoward2487]

They also go in and out of neighbours houses!! Dancing all the way...

[@alans.2735]

Glad you enjoyed, this is an extract from Top of the Pops, a one time television institution over here. Try to watch an entire edition from the 1970s. Good wishes from over here.

[@Diamondmine212]

Brass bands are wonderful,this one is very famous( there are several by the way)Iv seen them in concert several times. To hear the first drum beat as they strike up a brass band march still makes me choke up.

[@daveg9474]

A jazzed up version of the original but it's still catchy! We lived in West Cornwall near the town during my school days and my sister danced the Floral Dance in Helston where it is held. The band actually marches (well did back in the late 1950s) in and out of the houses in Helston. I remember watching the big bass drum going through a house or garden door, he was the only band member playing, beating out the marching rhythm. Our garden had a lot of the scented flower called Lily of the Valley and the villagers would come and pick them to wear on the day. Nice memory! D x

[@margaretdrew2844]

Was born in exeter76 years ago ,so have grown knowing all about the floral dance , a friend of mine although she was devon born and bread she was allowed to join the dance ,normally you have to be born in cornwall to join so she was very lucky .

[@jruz1738]

The Brighouse and Rastrick band are from West Yorkshire.

[@sobelou]

You're one of the lucky ones. Admittedly, you haven't been schooled in music, but music speaks to you. Keep that alive!!

[@philipplace9990]

Can't stop smiling at this! You may wish to try a reaction to Morris Dancing! It'll probably raise more questions than answers but I can assure you the comments will be more than a little informative 😀

[@frm_boro_me_like5205]

Beautiful, didn't expect that!

[@MakerfieldConsort]

I love the fact that you so obviously love this - not a reaction any of us would have expected!

[@sianashley-tait7496]

Your reaction just makes me smile, glad you like this sort of music, not many people of your age do. 🎶🎧😁👍

[@cazyaz523]

Oh this takes me back. My late dad loved this. So do I. Many happy memories for a Yorkshire lass.

[@mervinmannas7671]

Thank you so much for doing this i could not stop smiling the whole way through as i have not heard this for years.

[@roballen5718]

another traditional form of music, performed by men from coal mines, steel works, etc, in Wales, is the male voice choir. they are at their best singing slow, emotional stuff. you should react to the Treorchy male voice choir, singing Myfanwy, or Calon Lan. there's also a video of the biggest male voice choir in the world; choirs from all over Wales, singing together in the Cardiff arm's park rugby ground. very moving.

[@andyblogger1]

A band just a few miles down the road from me, and still going strong.

[@tordoff80]

didnt they play up at the mills at Queensbury

[@pennysargent9557]

A WONDERFUL band

[@andyblogger1]

@@tordoff80, no. That's the Black Dyke Mill Band.

[@OrganMusicYT]

The Floral Dance was written in 1911, and recorded in 1912 for the first time, by Peter Dawson, an Australian baritone.

[@abbafan1972]

I love this tune. Try the Terry Wogan version with words. Also “Eye Level” by the Simon Park Orchestra is a good Classical piece.

[@frankhooper7871]

Terry Wogan's take is quite good, but for me you can't beat Ken Dodd

[@alansmith3781]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZ2rYpScadicgbM

[@BenRawson78]

If you enjoy this and want to see what life was like back in the early 90's in North of England based around the community and a brass band, you need to watch 'Brassed Off'

[@helenagreenwood2305]

Yes I think this band featured in the movie

[@pattomuso]

@@helenagreenwood2305 Grimethorpe Colliery Band was in 'Brassed Off'

[@helenagreenwood2305]

@@pattomuso oh was it ...my memory not great these days so thank you 🌹

[@pattomuso]

@@helenagreenwood2305 Welcome to my world! Take care....

[@stuartduncan2772]

You cannot appreciate the depth of sound that this type of band produces by listening to recording. The difference between recorded and live brass is astounding.

[@kristena9285]

No trumpets. Traditional brass bands have: 1 Eb soprano cornet, 9 Bb cornets, 1 Bb flugelhorn, 3 Eb tenor horns, 2 Bb baritone horns, 2 Bb euphoniums, 2 Bb tenor trombones, 1 Bb bass trombone, 2 EEb basses, 2 BBb basses and percussion.

[@philipplace9990]

Good morning Joel. Between you and Connor McJibbin I don't know if you're making an old man feel happy or a happy man feel old!!!😂😂😂 local brass bands were a tradition in many Northern towns. There highly prestigious competitions between them and coveted trophies and prizes to be won. Glad to hear they're still going strong!

[@fibromentalhealthstruggles3533]

Ikr ! I thought wogans version was the only one lol, I still bopped along though 😅

[@timglennon6814]

@@fibromentalhealthstruggles3533. I love Terry Wogan’s version

[@timglennon6814]

I’m the same, McJibben makes me feel old to.

[@fibromentalhealthstruggles3533]

@@timglennon6814 mum used to play ot alot, not heard it til I saw this 😂 , teared 😢 up a tad

[@janicetaylor7516]

I love this. In my area there are Whit Walks and Whit Friday band contests generally held fairly close to a pub where bands come from everywhere in coaches. Fantastic day out.

[@byeckfella]

You need to check out Brassed Off - Concierto d’Aranjuez. Brassed off is a movie that deals with a mining community dealing with pit closures in the 1980s.

[@petedenton9434]

Nice to see this today and glad you enjoyed it. A bitter-sweet post for me to see today - only a week ago I learnt that Sandy Blair who taught me about the time this was filmed has just died. Great to see him featured as the first player you see when the band starts.

[@cf3619]

I can just about remember that song from when I was little. I think it had words.

[@allanturner9219]

Rodrigo’s concerto de Aranjuez, featured in the movie Brassed Off, worth a view.

[@pattomuso]

Orange Juice?? ;)

[@susanashcroft2674]

In my town and no doubt other places throughout the UK, we have a bandstand in the local park and prior to the virus each summer on a Sunday a brass band from another town in this region would come and play for the afternoon. People would bring their chairs, a picnic, or take a walk through the park, buy an ice cream from the vendor and sometimes there would be little fairground rides for the children even. It built such a lovely sense of community and this song was always played at some point during the afternoon, each band having their own little twist on it.

[@susansouthgate2774]

I used live at the back of the local 'bandroom'. On Sundays they'd all gather and play traditional and new tunes all evening - lovely

[@shamgirl240]

Hi jps, I love a brass band( I'm a northerner) I particularly love this one ,but I far more enjoyed your reaction to it.bless your heart, your a lovely lad. I love your videos

[@gooseware4937]

First the goosebumps then the foot tapping and bouncing with a smile on the face, it is uplifting, glad you like it, incedentally, have you watched bohemian rhapsody with Queen? if you havent its a must watch,

[@dandesantagta6006]

This reaction had me & my Mum dancing to & Joel I can tell you were blown away by this one & happy at the same time & also my Grandfather had his own jazz band himself I remember back when I was a kid in the 90’s he used to play in & around our local area & beyond he started the jazz band in the 50’s & stopped the jazz band in October of 2006 due to health issues. So my Grandfather would love for you to react to this. Sending love from Somerset, England, UK 🇬🇧.

[@sandradring6265]

You’re going to have to see terry wogan singing along to this 😆 we had great fun skipping and jumping around to this song with a white Handkerchief...(tissue 😁) waving around in our hands! The things we did 🤣🤣

[@trevorstuarttrangmar4710]

A good choice Joel, I can remember listening to a 78rpm recording on a wind up Gramophone of Peter Dawson singing this when I was a young boy at my grandparents house. Sixty seven years layer I can still remember the words to all three verses!

[@marksmithinspirationalspea3836]

I have been very lucky to have been part of a Gilbert and Sullivan society where in live and every Christmas we joined forces with the Brighouse & Rastrick band for a concert. Us doing some stuff, they doing their stuff and doing some things together was a real treat and an honour.

[@alansmithee8831]

Hello Joel. Welcome to Yorkshire. This band is from the traditional woollen mill area I am from. As someone else already has, I wanted to recommend you watch the film "Brassed Off" about a similar band from the traditional coal mining area I now live in. I had previously recommended this on SoGal comments, where I believe I had seen you comment also at some point.

[@AndrewHalliwell]

If you liked that, you might like the film "Brassed off" . When a factory closes, what happens to their brass band?

[@tordoff80]

good film

[@judewarner1536]

Brassed off was a brilliant film with a punning title. To be ''brassed off'' means to be annoyed, saddened and disappointed. Many industries in the North of England supported workers' bands, which often reached professional standards. The film itself is set in the Margaret Thatcher era and concerns the fate of the Brass Band when the local PIT (a colliery NOT a factory) is closed. While Thatcher started the battle to undermine (pun intended) the Miners' Union in 1984, most of the damage was done under her successor John Major. From a major industry of hundreds of thousands of very well paid jobs the UK coal industry now has about 2,500 employees. Whole Northern England communities were effectively bankrupted by pit closures, while management & politicians basked in the Metropolitan Bubble (London) buoyed by foreign coal imports. Many stirring brass band pieces are played in the film by one of the best actual colliery bands that was affected by pit closures, Grimethorpe Colliery Band. Lovers of classical music and marching bands will LOVE this music & the movie. Two lessons to be learned: 1) What happens to an industry when you destroy its Unions? 2) what happens to communities when you export their jobs abroad to increase the corporate bottom line?

[@tordoff80]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaSqmXxmpL50b6s

[@helenagreenwood2305]

Loved Brassed Off

[@innfield8836]

Loved your natural and unforced reaction to this brilliant piece of English music. Glad you liked it.

[@greenspringy1]

Love your channel , very pleasing that you enjoy some of our traditions, x

[@nathantootill7762]

The proper tune as mentioned in a previous message from someone comes from Helston. On 8th May each year there is a parade in the town and a lady called Kate moss came and visited the place and wrote the tune on her home train journey. I play in the Helston band and play the tune for 18 mils approximately on the 8th May. Check out Helston town band flora day :)

[@saturdaysun5724]

There are words to the Floral Dance. It tells a little story about a boy wanting to dance with his special girl and he’s sad because she hasn’t tuned up, but suddenly she comes running down the lane towards him.and they join everyone dancing in the street. I’m sure there must be a recording of the Floral Dance with lyrics somewhere on line. Thanks so much for this video.

[@flamelily2086]

The song is about a man who is a stranger in a little village where they were having some sort of festival and everyone was dancing but he had no partner. Then suddenly out of the group dancers a young woman comes to dance with him and pull him into the dancing crowd. The best version of this song was sung by Peter Dawson.

[@ghtsw11]

Very catchy after all of the time since it was last heard. I always had a sneaking regard for Brass bands.

[@camerachica73]

Have a look at some of the Cornish customs - the melody from this is played in Helston for Flora Day when the town dresses in dresses, hats and the men top hats and tails and dance through the streets (and sometimes through houses/shops) and look at Padstow Obby Oss (May day).

[@GayJayU26]

Most northern towns have their Brass Bands and more often play some classical and some patriotic tunes. Once a year where I live their are contests and all the competing bands get on coaches and travel to the many different places competing. Granddaughter is already playing the trumpet for her school. The oldest band was formed in 1809 in Stalybridge, Cheshire where I live.

[@antiqueinsider]

Your reaction is just like the whole UK when it came out. It was just too cute for the hipsters to be nasty about! And it went to the top!

[@gavinmurray5405]

A dear work colleague passed away over two years ago and they played another tune from the same band. He came from near Brighouse as well.

[@andyb-com]

Good monring. One of those quirky songs from my childhood :-) The bands name is pronounced like "Brig House" and "Rass Trick", two towns of Yorkshire (they are next to each other).

[@allenwilliams1306]

Actually, it's more like “Briggus & RastRick”. I should know, I used to live there.

[@helenagreenwood2305]

@@allenwilliams1306 I'm from Halifax 😃

[@allenwilliams1306]

@@helenagreenwood2305 With a name like Greenwood, you could hardly be from anywhere else (except Sowerby Bridge). I taught in Halifax for 10 years.

[@susangamble6038]

@@allenwilliams1306 unless you're posher and call it 'Brighouse' ... 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Brighouse girl, born and bred.

[@saturdaysun5724]

Flora Day takes place in Helston Cornwall every year . Lots of couples dress up and dance round the town. Hasn’t happened for the last 2 years because of COVID, but there are videos. ‘ Kernow Viddy ‘ Helston Flora Day 2017. is a good one.

[@seedhillbruisermusic7939]

this was such an unexpected hit in the UK that shortly after, a popular radio DJ called Terry Wogan, did his own version of this song with lyrics over the brass band and that was also a hit.

[@MrNoodleboy101]

They're a really good band, my old choir Huddersfield Choral Society used to perform with them frequently

[@wasp6594]

These musicians are very professional, considering they are ordinary working class people and amateurs. The Welsh have their choirs, the Scots their pipe bands and we English havebrass and silver bands as part of our culture. Which, in my opinion, shiuld be given the same respect and prominence as Welsh choirs and Scottish pipe bands.

[@byjingo2990]

Remind me which country the No1 brass brand is from? ;)

[@ianvincent4911]

@@byjingo2990 Cheshire - Fodens.

[@byjingo2990]

@@ianvincent4911 They are current national champs, but not no1 in the rankings

[@elenaking6615]

My dad is from Brighouse so grew up hearing this bands music.

[@skemp2520]

Wow this brings back memories. I remember this being on Top of the Pops.

[@He1sbelles]

I am old enough to remember when this was in the charts,. This show is 'Top of the Pops', which was normally pop & rock music, everyone watched it RELIGIOUSLY once a week, as there wasn't a lot of stuff on TV for 'the youth' - I actually remember watching this episode. It was 1977 and I was nine :) This was a quirky chart hit - it was Christmas, when weird things can become popular. The colliery bands are fantastically talented though. Even if you don't like the music you have to admire the playing!

[@jamespasifull]

The guy who introduces this piece is David 'Kid' Jensen I met him (& Toyah Wilcox) once, when I appeared on a TV show, on UK TV in the 90's!! 😃

[@veronicawilliams7427]

The Floral Dance is a country dance done at a certain time of the years in a Village in the County of Cornwall. but that band is well known in the Uk they come from a Yorkshire Village and are very well known throughout the United Kingdom.

[@knockshinnoch1950]

In the 19th century Brass Bands were formed up and down the UK by workers from coal mining communities, textile mill workers and other large industries. Many were established by the industrialists as a healthy pastime for their workers and a way to keep them away from terrible vices such as "the demon drink". The band members would practice several times a week in the local hall and would perform at local village and town events. The band members wore elaborate uniforms. The shinning brass instruments and colourful uniforms provided some glamour in contrast to the grim and dangerous working conditions. The Brass Bands would compete in regular local and national competitions. This was a serious business! The bands were a source of pride for the local community and generations of the same working class families would follow the tradition of joining the band. Brass Bands continue to this day although not so many in number as a result of deindustrialization. They were once the heart of the cultural life of the community. A Brass Band features as part of the narrative of the 1990s Movies "The Full Monty" and "Brassed Off" which stars a young Ewan McGregor. The Floral Dance is a piece of music written at the beginning of the 20th Century. The Brighouse and Rastrick Band recorded it in the 1970s. In 1977 the popular DJ Terry Wogan began playing the record on his ratings busting BBC Radio2 National Radio show which was broadcast weekdays. This stirred interest, the track was released on 45 and reached No2 on the UK National Singles Chart in December 1977. Wogan recorded a vocal version which is truly awful and that too charted in the UK top 20.

[@southendonseaarts]

Brass bands were popular in the North of England especially, Brighouse is in West Yorkshire.and this song tapped into peoples love for this music. The Floral Dance is however Cornish in origin. Check out the film Brassed Off about a similar band on its uppers. Great British comedy. The Terry Wogan version was just him talking the lyrics over a tune not particularly good it was more about his popularlity as a radio and TV presenter.

[@adamgregory5274]

The Conductor is Mr Derek Broadbent. I know him well, a very talented orchestrator, Arranger and conductor and one the most animated out there. He's almost dancing g!

[@johnhare6652]

I played in various Brass Bands around North Derbyshire and beyond as a teenager in the 1970's, some being linked to local works or businesses, others geographically to towns and villages. The school I attended also have a very good brass band with many of the pupils, myself included, going on to have careers in music as a result of playing in the band. Sadly with the closure of many traditional businesses many of the bands have been lost.

[@paulbrook3512]

I'm born and bred in Huddersfield,just down the road from Brighouse and Rastrick,still live here now

[@KernowWarrior]

Growing up in Liskeard, Cornwall every May 1st (May day) Everyone, kids and adults would all dress up in flowers and costumes and dance following the brass band around the town, In pairs holding hands, stepping in time with the music, and at the 1:42 point we would then 2 pairs would combine in to a group of four each with one hand in the middle and we would then spin around, then back to pairs stepping in time, the band would pretty much play this song on a loop until we had danced around the whole town. This song brings back great memories. Found a few clips from m home town, this was 9 years ago, delighted to see its still going on, although its a lot smaller than when I was a kid. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3TMZqefjN2ffcU & kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZ3FmHuFfJKeqpI

[@sophiemudge5529]

Now it’s may the 8th

[@debbieparfitt7192]

Fond memories of having to take part with the school in the dance - usually freezing cold or wet

[@daveofyorkshire301]

This brings back memories of Terry Wogan on BBC Radio... There are words, it's not just an instrumental.

[@bordersw1239]

Friend of mine is playing cornet in this, still gets his royalty cheque every year.

[@catherinewilkins2760]

Still waiting for you to do Land of Hope and Glory from last night of the proms and your surprise at it, once heard never forgotten .

[@paulqueripel3493]

With an encore of the Hornpipe? kzbin.info/www/bejne/fp-wpIJ5e6eIb68

[@helenagreenwood2305]

And at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee where they got soaked on the boat but still carried on 🇬🇧

[@Addsy]

One of my all time favs!! 🤣👍 Bless Sir Terry Wogan (legendary broadcaster)

[@deniseperryman2814]

I loved the Floral Dance I went out and bought the record and I still have it it just makes you want to move Love 💕 from Denise in Yorkshire England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿👏👏👏👏👍🥰👋

[@celliott012]

I know the conductor who is now the conductor of the ISB which is the international staff band of the Salvation Army! Good recording

[@notwocdivad]

At one time EVER Colliery (Coal mine) had it's own Brass Band, there was a long tradition in mining communities of the bands leading out and performing at town and village fairs and fetes

[@donsland1610]

Do check out the Floral Dance which takes place in the town of Helston, Cornwall every May 8th to celebrate Spring. There are four dances, one of which is by school children, and each one lasts over an hour during which time the dancers travel through the town and in and out of some establishments ,such as the Beehive pub, led by the town band playing the famous tune you've just reviewed. The midday dance is the main one and the dancers are dressed very formally for that.

[@helenwood8482]

Summer, not spring. 1st May is the traditional start of summer.

[@davidhubbert9445]

So good to see mere youngsters enjoy this classic.

[@snowspirit197]

Hi JPS … this music is from the ‘Helston Floral Dance’ if you search this you will find loads of dancing in huge groups as they go in & out of houses with Brass Bands. There is the childrens dance (not sure what time that occurs. Also the Miday Dance & the 7pm Dance. It originates from Pagan times & is in the Town of Helston in Cornwall, the most southern County of England. Cornwall is a Celtic town & has its own language in places. I think you’d enjoy the event which happens every year. (Coronavirus will have caused havoc through the last two years) But I hope it will be able to resume in the future. Really enjoy watching footage with you … you are the image of my nephew & I love you, Ha! xXx

[@annashear7331]

This is my childhood as I am from cornwall and we had to learn to do the floral dance at primary school

[@deanfields5242]

Another great video Joel I hope your feeling better now

[@anthonyheyes7517]

HERE ARE THE WORDS: As I walked home on a summer's night, When stars in heaven were shining bright Far away from the footlights' glare Into the sweet and scented air Of a quaint old Cornish town Borne from afar on the gentle breeze Joining the murmur of summer seas Distant tones of an old world dance Played by a village band perchance, On the calm air came floating down I thought i could hear the curious tone Of cornet, clarinet and big trombone, Fiddle, cello, big bass drum, Bassoon, flute and euphonium, Far away as in a trance I heard the sound of the floral dance. And soon I heard all the bustling and prancing, And then I saw the whole village was dancing, In and out of the houses they came, Old folk, young folk all the same, In that quaint old Cornish town. Every boy took a girl by the waist And hurried her off with tremendous haste, Whether they knew one another I care not, Whether they cared at all I know not, But they kissed as they danced along. And there was the band with the curious tone Of the cornet, clarinet and big trombone, Fiddle, cello, big bass drum, Bassoon, flute and euphonium Each one making the most of his chance, All together in the floral dance. I felt so lonely standing there, That I could only stand and stare, For I had no maid with me, Lonely I should have to be, In that quaint old Cornish town. When suddenly hastening down the lane A figure I knew I saw quite plain With out-stretched hands I rushed along, And carried her into that merry throng, And fiddle and all went dancing down. We danced to the band with the curious tone Of the cornet, clarinet and big trombone, Fiddle, cello, big bass drum, Bassoon, flute and euphonium, Each one making the most of his chance, All together in the floral dance. Dancing her, dancing there, Jigging, jogging, everywhere, Up and down and around the town, Hoorah! For the Cornish floral dance Source: Musixmatch Songwriters: Kate Moss The Floral Dance lyrics © Chappell Music Ltd

[@simonworthington5162]

OMG that brought back good memories , was that in Top Of The Pops.

[@bigdaddigaming]

Someone dropped the ball here they should have asked for the version where Terry Wogan sings on it, if you can call what Terry dose is singing

[@jillhobson6128]

I hated Terry Wogan!

[@bigdaddigaming]

@@jillhobson6128 there's enough people in this chat telling him he should watch that one so I guess if he dose you won't be watching it then

[@jillhobson6128]

@@bigdaddigaming 🤢

[@bigdaddigaming]

@@jillhobson6128 sorry, he was well loved as you know, I'm sorry you wasn't a fan

[@craigmcfly]

I have this on my Spotify playlist! It's one of my favourite up-beat pieces.

[@aebirkbeck2693]

This was first recorded in 1912 by a Peter Dawson so it has been around quite a while. I still have my grandmothers recording in my collection by Peter Dawson from that time so I grew up with it being played.

[@aebirkbeck2693]

@Jesus Christ Superstar Really !!! last time I looked 1912 was over a hundred years ago :>)

[@slytheringingerwitch]

Coming from Newquay, Cornwall, so its great to hear this again. (Oh and if anyone wants to know, I can still dance it). For those who want to know, here are some of the words.. John said to me one day Can you dance the Flora John said to me one day Can you dance the Flora Yes I can with a nice young man Through the streets of Truro Yes I can with a nice young man Through the streets of Truro

[@gleadhill79]

We didn't do the Floral Dance, my sister and I did Morris dancing when we were younger and I then did the Maypole dance at Jr school. So much fun! Tried joining a band in Snr school, but I want as much fun at all!! Fun memories!!!

[@margaretnicol3423]

It shows the sheer variety of music that was in the charts then. Nothing boring and samey in those days. :-)

[@stephenbrough8132]

Yes, it certainly was a free for all. As a teenager at the time, this was a "Mum and Dad" song - There was something for everyone. And when you didn't know what to buy someone for Xmas, you bought them a round piece of plastic - a record - job done. They were simpler times. Eric & Ernie on TV, a K-Tel "Brushomatic" was bound to impress someone, or an ELO album, or socks, - not many kids expected £500 worth of electronic wizardry, each - a Dansette record player was about as exciting as it got, once a decade. Well, that's how I remember it anyway. What music excited you most back then, Margaret? Just curious. For me it was all the glam rock.

[@andrewfitzgerald2327]

Although very popular in the North the Floral Dance is a Cornish folk tune. Most towns with a mine (coal) had a brass band it was good to keep the lungs healthy most miners had lung disease by the time they retired.

[@helenagreenwood2305]

Have you seen Riverdance performed at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994 - they were supposed to be just an act filling the interlude when the judges were deciding on their votes for the songs - its an Irish Dance troupe it was brilliant I can remember to this day my attention being caught and just staring at the screen - please do a reaction to it 🇬🇧 Another one is Torville and Dean the British Olympic skaters skating to the Bolero another stop you in your tracks moment x

[@angharaddenby3389]

The Floral Dance is a traditional Morris tune from Cornwall. Witten by a woman called Katie Moss in the 1930s. You should check out Morris dancing in general.

[@enzedpcs2]

Check out the movie Brassed Off, I grew up playing a trombone in a brass band going round London parks on a Sunday afternoon.

[@malcolmross8427]

The clip is from Top of The Pops which is basically the top of the charts!

[@alanprice7584]

You should check out the Floral Dance held here in the UK at Helston in Cornwall.

[@simontomlinson6484]

This was almost a parody song. Terry Wogan, the singer, was a radio and TV presenter for many years (one of the most popular). I would love to see you listen to one of Terry's Janet and John stories. This was prime time peak listening breakfast show and is so full of double innuendo. How they got away with it I will never know.

[@allanturner9219]

This band was in the movie Brassed Off, I recommend the clip we’re the female character plays the fugal horn in Rodrigo’s De Alenduce. I may have got the title spelt wrong, but it sounds like orange juice.

[@lyncohn9505]

@@allanturner9219 I dont think they did appear in Brassed Off, they certainly arent on the album released

[@CMenzy]

The late Terry wogan sang it I think it also went high up in the charts

[@darrellpowell6042]

The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II will be marked in 2022. It was announced in 2021 by the Government that 2022 would see an extra bank holiday, from Thursday 2 June to Sunday 5 June. IF your American and want to see this party then get booked to come for this time. Its gonna be a big party.

[@gillianwoodrow3197]

Played in a brass band for years. They have cornets not trumpets. Really good fun, always enjoyed playing the upbeat numbers best

[@debra7347]

Haha brighouse and rastrick just up the road from me I remember this well xxxx

[@uingaeoc3905]

The compere was a Canadian - Kid Jensen - one of the nicest guys on TV at the time. Brass Bands are a working class hobby butare voluntary but brilliantly professional.

[@quickclipsbyjmj]

The Grimethorpe Colliery band features on the sound track for Brassed Off! Very good quality brass band.

[@SuperDancingdevil]

For Miners the local Brass band was a source of pride and they strove to be the best and often competed against Bands from other mines and towns, It was a pass time for many men better than the pub, Not all played in a Band though, Some raced Pigeons others grew prize winning vegetables there were many alternatives to the pub on a miners day off some excelled at what they did and became local legends as did the Bands, These were all pursuits of the Mining towns of North England in counties such as Yorkshire and Lancashire even County Durham wherever there was a northern Mining town you’d find all of these things.

[@christinestromberg4057]

In England the mining and oither communities had their brass bands, to bring some brightness into otherwise hard and dark lives, it is also good community building. In Wales the miners had their male voice choirs for the same reason. There are some in England too but Wales is famous for it. When people had no money for anything more than the basics, they still had their voices to make music. Maybe have a look at a Welsh male voice choir as well. Treorchy is one that comes to mind..

[@jules.8443]

If someone has a Patreon account and can send him links, send him the version of this with Terry Wogan (Rest In Peace Terry), singing to this tune. Look for: Terry Wogan - The Floral Dance (TOTP 1977.)