BILLY BRAGG: Origins Of Morris Dancing

[@daweshorizon]

As we know it today, Morris dancing is basically a Victorian/Edwardian invention; the idea of which was reviving a Medieval idyll of 'Olde Englande', which became fashionable with the artistic and literary figures of the time. Cecil Sharp, amongst many others, went round the country looking for songs and traditions of old, fearing that they might somehow get lost in the mists of time. Morris dancing probably existed in much earlier times as a local tradition in many places in England on high days and holidays, probably during the Middle Ages, but records are scant. The word 'Morris' may be connected to 'Moorish', that is, from North Africa and that style of dance is alleged to have been brought to England after the crusades. Not too unbelievable I reckon. (While I'm on this, check out the history of bagpipes). But the whole point of dancing is to have fun and get drunk and maybe attract the attention of an eligible partner. Dancing was, and still is, a way of demonstrating your eligibility and potential sexual prowess; sadly John Travolta didn't do much for me in that field, had to wait for punk rock for that. Hey ho. Big up to my favourite Morris side, Moulton Morris! (Northamptonshire), can't wait to see you guys perform in 2022!. Love and peace.

[@Wotsitorlabart]

Morris dancing's origins in England are as a mid 15th century royal and princely court entertainment - Henry VIII enjoyed the dancing at his May Revels. Only from the 1560's does the dance move away from the court and and into the wider country.

[@Wotsitorlabart]

And it more than likely originated in the Low Countries with French influence.

[@ericmintz8305]

Shakespeare mentions it in Henry V

[@daweshorizon]

Hi Bill I think you need to re-read my post. My first sentence was "As we know it today". And 'as we know it today', Morris dancing was unquestionably a Victorian/Edwardian invention. The Morris Ring wasn't formed until 1934, four years after the birth of my Dad! Also. I do acknowledge that the origins of Morris probably do go back much further, but we have virtually no records, sheet music or written down dances which connect what we now appreciate as 'Morris', to those earlier days. The history of the poor and oppressed 'ordinary' people were not recorded well at the time. The history of the rich and powerful was, of course. So I reckon it's fine to make things up and create new 'traditions'. Hell, there's got to be a first time for everything! I think the point is to bring people together and have some fun. That's the key. Love and peace. @@TheRightHonourableMattyMcHoon

[@florinandreinae]

Look for Călușari dance of Romania, not related to Catholicism in any way, much older, perhaps pagan or Roman origins. I am Romanian, the Călușari dance is a southern Romania tradition, and that part was under strong Roman influence.

[@irinahelm6671]

Florin Nae This is obvious. Most probably, that initially it was a dance of Thracians, who were Geths, in the Roman period and it was an imitation of Roman legionnaires military training, which Geths danced with swords, not with sticks. Later this dance has been borrowed by Goths and they have brought it to Spain. But the initial version of this dance became a folk dance of Romanians the descendants of Geths and Romans.

[@turnipsociety706]

@@irinahelm6671 Where did the Geths get it from?

[@irinahelm6671]

@@turnipsociety706 The territory where Geths (Getae) lived has been a part of the Roman province Mesia Inferior for two or three centuries. So, Geths reproduced in a dance a military training of Roman legionnaires, who stayed there to guard the borders of Roman empire. That's why it was a dance for men with swords.

[@majabugarski386]

@@irinahelm6671 with sticks

[@irinahelm6671]

@@majabugarski386 Only since 18th century it started to be with sticks.

[@andrewwigglesworth3030]

Why would anyone take seriously the whimsical musings of a pop singer about Morris Dancing? His "pet theory" takes no account of dates, the structure and form of Morris. These are just the whitterings of an ignoramus. Were Country Dancers, Mummers and Sword Dancers all secret Roman Catholics too? Of course the Morris contains features and an older history possibly linked to dances from other countries. How could it not? Dances, music songs and fashions moved back and forth across Europe in the Middle Ages. But, it's interesting to note that the figures, music and structure of the Morris ("Cotswold" Morris that is being talked about here) have their closest connexions with Country Dances. The heys, gyps (gypsies), back to backs, casts, crossovers, hands across, the music, the structure of the dance etc. All these are closely related to Country Dance, and it is no surprise that the two (Country Dance and Morris Dance) developed over the same period of time. For me, no whimsical origins. No pagan activities; paganism had long died out by the late 15th century when Morris Dancing was first mentioned in England. This was a form of processional dancing, performed on high days and holidays (such as Whit week), also paid for as a spectacle in civic processions; these payments form most of the earliest records of Morris Dancers. It developed in form and structure alongside Country Dancing from which it evidently took much inspiration. The Morris became popular in working class and peasant communities for much the same reason that we do it now. We like dancing, we like dancing with others, we like the music, and we like the whole social side of the Morris. Dancers and musicians would have liked the fact that they were paid and tipped. No pagan fertility rites, no secret Catholics, no silly unsubstantiated "pet theories."

[@SeymourSunshine]

I was thinking exactly the same. It's really just a word salad ... but without any protein.

[@percyprune7548]

Thanks for the rational response. Alleged academics (or opinioned amateurs) unwilling to admit they do not know so invent the rubbish of Moorish and all the rest of it. (38 years in Morris & Rapper).

[@Wotsitorlabart]

​​@@percyprune7548Bragg's morris origins theory is beyond ludicrous.

[@Bella-fz9fy]

Anyway,there was an older dance,very similar to Morris dancing,called the ‘Routs and Reyes’ dance,that dates back in England to the 12th century,later It was also called the ‘Devils daunce’ in 1568!Has he not heard of Mumming and Guise dancing.He also said if you like folk music you are a fascist!Tell that to people who love the worlds different types of folk music.

[@Wotsitorlabart]

@@Bella-fz9fy Writer Sandra Billington proposed that the morris dance was a renaming of pre-existing medieval dances known as 'routs and reyes'. But as nobody actually knows what those dances were like her argument didn't carry much weight. Phillip Stubbs Puritan reformer and arch enemy of anything that might be fun wrote a description of the Morris dance in 1583 in which he names it the 'Devils dance'. I'm a bit dubious about the Bragg comment - especially given his latter day cosying up to the likes of the Carthy's.

[@bigglesharrumpher4139]

Its obvious to me its a dance created by men who had a simple love of suspender belts and handkerchief waving. I do not judge.

[@cartimandua_]

Its probably older with explanations lost to time. The Abott Bromley Horn dancers had their Reindeer horns carbon dated and they were found to be from 11th Century 😮. Dont forget - rituals in villages and the countryside hamlets was not written about in a way that could be read about today. Many customs of the working or peasant class were unknown to the elites. Such as the 2 fingered salute which had to be explained to Churchill so that he wouldnt offend rank and file soldiers when giving his V for victory sign. You find photos early in the war had him flipping off half the country whilst later on he makes sure its always the back of his hand showing.

[@YorkyOne]

15th century.

[@robertblackburn752]

All wrong... workers at the Morris motor company in Oxford invented these dances to show how the internal combustion engine works. There.... now you know. 😆

[@rosemariemartin3542]

A relation of mine on my Grandmothers side was involved in Morris Dancing in Oxford his name was William (merry ) Kimber ..

[@flickingbollocks5542]

Which other countries have Morris-like dancing?

[@mihaelac2472]

Romania. Check "călușari". Their costumes are white, with bells and colours, they dance with sticks. It was a ritualistic dance, danced only by men. They have a leader and a dumb person (not allowed to talk the whole period they go dancing this dance). Was also danced to heal sick people.

[@Bikan-l4y]

In Basqueland: Makil dantza, Arku dantza and Ezpata dantza

[@michaelstimpson1137]

Croatia Moreska dancers

[@carollizc]

There are also similar dances dine in the north of France.

[@Anon-mk4ms]

Interesting idea.

[@YorkyOne]

But stupid.

[@lopazio]

See Pauliteiros de Miranda, from Portugal. Same dance....

[@anglonrx2754]

Similar dances but the music the dress and the atmosphere are very different only the concept at least for me is the same

[@rendeirodosul760]

is celtic dance from Port-cale ( Portugal )

[@jussaranascimento4445]

Maculelê, Brasil

[@Badgersj]

2.33 love the hobby horse followed by all the fascinated horses

[@WayOfTheMorris1975]

Bonus points for noticing the deliberate tongue within the cheek. 👍

[@Badgersj]

@@WayOfTheMorris1975 Horses are good at that. "WTF???" "I dunno. Bite its bum and see."

[@pete6645]

Adderbury still supports three morris sides.

[@mihailghiga2732]

This is just fantasy. Romania has a similar dance, and is not catholique or had Maures to takes inspiration from. Croatia has one, Slovakia has one (Haiduks) and so one. I think I read somewhere the Romans had something similar too. So maybe common roots, but way older, or just synchronicity.

[@tommunyon2874]

Catherine de Medici is thought to have had something to do with the origins of ballet. It is interesting that another royal named Catherine had a hand in the origins of Morris dancing.

[@YorkyOne]

Except that Catherine of Aragon was born 1485 and the earliest reference to a morris dance is from the Burgundian court of 1427-28.

[@bobikdylan]

Nice story, Mr Bragg but from what I've been able to research it seems that the moorish dance was popular in many European countries because people like to dance, Simple as that. I have a picture of a Morris dancer from Munich in 1480, with the unmistakable leg bells. And I have pictures from England from every century from then on. If there were a religious connection, we'd know about it.

[@darrendin2050]

You have a drawing, not a picture. It absolutely is religiously based, and is very similar to the Jota in Aragón and La Rioja. Celebrating the defeat of Muslim colonisers.

[@darrendin2050]

@bill6678 Actually, "Moresco" doesn't exist in Castellano language. "Morésco" is Italian. You meant "morisco" which is much more apt phonetically as well as semantically because Castellano uses "moros/moriscos" is religiously loaded, wherease "morésco" in Italian only refers to geographical and demographic entities. If you had spoken either of those languages, and had researched those cultures too, you would HAVE known that.

[@darrendin2050]

@@TheRightHonourableMattyMcHoon .

[@darrendin2050]

@bill6678 Well as a polyglot translator who speaks the languages concerned, I can tell you that the spelling is wrong. What I did is not intellectual snobbery; if you loved your culture and heritage, you would have learnt proper "grammar" too. I'm merely following your own uppity take to my first comment, which was written in good faith.

[@bobikdylan]

Running out of popcorn here.

[@johnofford1450]

There is no mention of Morris dancing in England before the 1440's, co-coinciding with the expulsion of English soldiers from Gascony in France, where they copied the dances which are still done by the Basques,kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWrRlKCke7Bqb8U In England the dances were changed, being mixed up with country dancing. 'Morris' is a corruption of 'Morrisco'.

[@YorkyOne]

@@johnofford1450 Not true - morris dancing was a courtly entertainment - earliest reference Burgundy 1420's. Nothing to do with the Basques.

[@SPIDERM0OSE]

Irish Dancing has elements of suppressed rage, with its clenched fists n high kicks, while also paying homage to the natural environment, horses, stags, deer n the like. Highland dancing is similar, it seems to pay homage to the stag in particular but with militaristic overtones. Morris Dancing is outright sword play/practice, thinly veiled by music. Celtic Isles, & its traditional dance culture, seems to be one of a conquered territory. 🤔

[@YorkyOne]

Morris dancing has nothing to do with 'swordplay'.

[@ThePrinceofPlots]

1:12 this is a very dumb revisionist explanation. This is very manipulative. Morris = Moorish as in done in the manner of the moors. The dance was done in blackface as an imitation of the dances that the moors would do. Remember the people were there for centuries. There’s literally statues of Morris dancers. The bell pads on the shoes is the dead give away. Dictionary of the English language from the 1800s defines it [Morice, mo’risk,, ]as a dance after the manner of the moors, often written morris nut more properly morice. 3 Adancer of the morris or moorish dance. Erasmus Grasser in 1480 , mind you a contemporary of the time that the 1st mention of it in English record [1448], made figurines of the leap dances performed by the moors which were later performed all over Europe in major European courts. The revisionism needs to cease.

[@sgatea74]

No link with Catolicim - check Calusarii in Romania. An ancetsral dance, no one knows where it come from, it was "always there" A lot of people believe it has celtic origins

[@darrendin2050]

Nope. It celebrates the reconquista.

[@YorkyOne]

@@darrendin2050 No it doesn't.

[@darrendin2050]

@@YorkyOne Yes, it does.

[@YorkyOne]

@@darrendin2050 Care to supply evidence?

[@darrendin2050]

@@YorkyOne you're the one engaging with me. You go first.

[@davidcullen1956]

morris dancing is a by product of stick fighting

[@YorkyOne]

No it isn't - no sticks in the morris dance before 18th century.

[@born4fun]

Very interesting. I came across this video after watching another that suggested the ancient people of Scotland were blackamoors/ moors. Blackamoors or moors being the name for darker skinned people at that time. In that video they say that Morris dancing was brought over by these Moors so I searched for the origins of the Morris dance and your video came up. Thanks for sharing this.

[@lenavoyles526]

You mean The Beaker people? Moors?

[@born4fun]

@@lenavoyles526 I don't know who the Beaker people are.

[@ruth4376]

The Scottish are possibly the furthest from dark-skinned that you could think of

[@tussk.]

utter garbage.the scots predate the moors by a millenia, at least. i have heard some idiotic theories in my time, but the idea that the picts were black beggars belief. we were here before rome and before history. actually, scrap that. I just saw a video were some halfwit claimed that the hebrides were actually a jewish settlement. hebrides = hebrew. read a fucking book.

[@demondwilliams8542]

​@@ruth4376 Who was Kenneth the Niger?

[@thefishdog]

Its pub dance ,ancient booze gathering dance

[@cahillgreg]

The drive to outlaw Morris dancing is to be commended