Butterworth Dances 1.m4v

[@roberthiggins9842]

Lovely to see George Butterworth enjoying himself in happier times before that awful war. I especially love the moment he collides with Cecil Sharp and his reaction afterwards. Many thanks for sharing this.

[@deborahwallis436]

I love these recordings so much. So wonderful to see Butterworth in his element, dancing...and bumping into Cecil Sharp. It also reminds me of Country Dancing lessons at school, which I don't think they do any longer, what a shame.

[@Euphoftoday]

This is so magical but tinged with sadness too. I'm emotional watching George Butterworth knowing what happened to him. He had so much more to give to this world, so very sad. Seeing Cecil Sharp dancing too, such innocence in a world long gone.

[@dh1267]

Thanks for sharing this, it is exactly how I feel. I am glad others appreciate his immense talent the way that I do.

[@Euphoftoday]

@@dh1267 I am now a folk dance caller, calling around the Hertfordshire clubs. One day I will call at Cecil Sharp house once I get more experience.

[@pookoos]

This is wonderful! I've always been a fan of Butterworth's and was aware of his dance transcriptions and Morris Dancing, but had not seen him in action until now!

[@windstorm1000]

Mr. Butterworth certainly was athletic--so nice to have a visual presentation of him doing Morris dancing.

[@channelfogg6629]

This is wonderful. I came across it by chance. Incredibly funny and incredbly moving at the same time. A real picture from a lost time.

[@pauls7056]

Thank you for posting and keeping history alive.

[@TheMikester307]

My gosh! Film of Butterworth himself!

[@filmmaker4888]

Visitors may be interested in a new documentary about George Butterworth, called ALL MY LIFE'S BURIED HERE (a line from an Oscar Wilde poem that Butterworth set to music in 1911). The film includes the story behind the silent Kinora footage of Butterworth and others dancing in 1912 (with an account of the Kinoras' discovery and restoration by Michael Heaney in the DVD Extras). In the film we follow George Butterworth all the way from childhood, via his friendship and folk song collecting with Ralph Vaughan Williams, clarifying many of the myths that have sprung up about his life and music over the last century. We trace Butterworth's steps right on to the Somme in 1916 with access to a treasure trove of archival material including his letters home from the front line. The film is available on DVD and BluRay from www.georgebutterworth.co.uk/

[@GrannySea]

Mike (and others!) I am sorry you feel so strongly about the music added to these silent films particularly as "pabmusic" already explained that the music did not correspond to the dances, and as he says, you only have to turn the volume down for the original effect! For me the delightful music stirs fond memories of country dancing in the school playground in the 1950s. Thank you, "pabmusic" for your effort in producing this.

[@drogonaut]

Having heard about this on Radio Four, I thought I'd have a look, what amazing archive footage! Thank you

[@swallin19]

I simply had no idea that film existed of George Butterworth, so sadly killed on the Somme in WW1, and only known in a handful of compositions and songs, with The Banks of Green Willow one of the great English music delights.

[@slayerpianoman]

The fantasia finished by K Russman is even better, I think that was his best ever, even just the 93 bars Butterworth wrote. What could of been...

[@MrOrenStone]

I like the mistake at 3:55 - Butterworth and Sharp accidentally dancing together, then laughing and grinning into the camera.

[@pabmusic1]

Thank you for these comments, GrannySea and Paul S. August 5th 2016 will be the centenary of Butterworth's death, so it's appropriate there's some interest in this right now.

[@alger3041]

I must say, that even though the film and the accompanying music as we are receiving it in this video have no direct relationship, whoever put these two elements together did a marvelous job of it so that the feeling we get is that of total compatibility. Thank you very much for posting this!

[@feline1104]

The images are original the music was added on to a silent film! None the less, a great insight into a bygone age!

[@PhilPreen]

"whoever put these two elements together did a marvelous job of it so that the feeling we get is that of total compatibility" Are you serious? I assume you are not a dancer? The music bears absolutely no relation to the dances whatsoever, neither in style nor timing. I couldn't watch the video without turning the sound off completely.

[@alger3041]

Phil Preen What you would like to have would be, quite understandably, impossible to achieve - you often see silent films to which music has been later added. Here, admittedly, one has to have music specially made to order to match this. As that would be impractical, you have the next best thing, and the accompanying music is reasonably appropriate, so that I am not disturbed by it, but I'm really sorry that you seem to be. For your information, I have seen choreographic settings completely at odds and in conflict with the accompanying music, which can be upsetting as well, but I didn't turn away from it. How would you like to watch the Last Spring by Grieg, exquisitely beautiful, set to a fencing scene? I cannot know what the choreographer was thinking, but I'm certain worse than this has occurred. Or how about an exquisitely beautiful piece of music with photographic imagery that doesn't quite suit the music, at least as we experience it? But then these things are totally subjective - one person's impressions are no better or worse than the next one's, assuming a degree of experience in these matters. What I was referring to in my original comment was the illusion of compatibility, which was the endeavor. We both know that this cannot be totaled, not having the music that was actually used. And once again, I feel that the attempt to achieve this illusion of compatibility was done by using suitably appropriate music for the purpose. I feel that what was done was the best possible given the circumstances. I'm very sorry that if despite that you are still not satisfied.

[@alger3041]

Phil Preen By the way, the poster has even acknowledged the lack of the music for the original occasion, and that the music that appears here bears no direct (external) relationship, from which one should assume that it is simply there to enhance the mood. Better than having a presentation that is totally silent, out of which one would get nothing.

[@PhilPreen]

***** +alger3041 Hello -) You are right the video description does indeed state that the music is unrelated to the dances, and quite rightly so, as anyone thinking that these dances might be performed to those tunes would get a very bizarre impression of what morris and folk dancing is like. To state that there is no record of what music was used, does suggest a lack of knowledge of the subject on the part of the poster (this is an observation not a complaint, such knowledge is not a requirement for posting on KZbin). For most of the dances, the dance name is actually the name of the tune, so with a little research, more appropriate music could easily have been found. Having said that, there are many variations on some of these tunes, and finding a version that would fit precisely what is being danced would be technically very difficult. It is probably better that this wasn't attempted. I don't have a problem with any of this though. It was just your comment extolling with such enthusiasm how well the music and the images fitted together that gave me such a start of amazement, as I had the complete opposite reaction. I can see how, if you're not familiar with the dances in question that the music may 'enhance the mood', but I still find your 'total compatibility' comment incomprehensible, sorry :-) I personally found it far better as a silent film (as originally intended) and this was easily achieved for me by turning the volume down. No offence was intended :-) I'm glad you enjoyed the video, and I hope you will take the trouble to seek out other videos of morris dancing so that you can get a better feel for what sort of music should be used to accompany it. I am not familiar with Grieg's work, so your analogy is a little lost on me I'm afraid (I shall go and seek it out). If you're not a folk dancer yourself, you may not be aware just how closely integrated the music and dances in this genre, especially in morris dances, and most especially indeed in the solo jigs presented here.

[@paulbutterworthbillericay]

We all need a care free hobby

[@simonknights7526]

It is fascinating to see these films and the work that Michael Heaney did in restoring them is so appreciated. I also have a problem with the music though (sorry pabmusic1). My problem is this: I was a dancer back in the late 1970's and into the 1980's and' although I haven't danced for years, the tunes and the rhythms and the timings are as much a part of my aural memory as is the voice of my parents - so when I watch this with the sound turned off then I hear the music in my head, and it comes alive. When I hear it with the backing music turned up all I get is a total disconnect - my eyes are giving me one rhythm and my ears are giving me another. And it jars like hell. But I can see that too a non-dancer the music adds a layer of atmosphere and, perhaps, helps to set it in its place. Either way, it's a thrill to see. And so poignant with the hundredth anniversary of the death of Butterworth in three days time. Oh - and the mistake where Butterworth and Sharpe collide - made them smile...and me too.

[@pabmusic1]

+Simon Knights Thank you. I am not a dancer, but I should be sad if the only way in which we were 'allowed' to view this were in silence.

[@thetoynbeeconvector]

Magical.

[@michaelheaney]

I restored these films over 30 years ago. No one has asked me about publishing them here. The music is wrong, you only have to read the captions to see what the music *should* be. This is so thoughtless

[@pabmusic1]

+michaelheaney I am sorry if I've done something wrong. The films were already published on KZbin without sound; all I did was to add some vintage recordings. More trouble than it was worth, actually, as some people have taken offence that the music was wrong (even though I'd made that clear in the notes). I was rather more interested in the ability to see Butterworth and Sharp. The site from which I got the film is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mIKonIuDeNqmq6s I am more than happy to delete my version if you wish, so that it will no longer appear here; or I can add an acknowledgement to you in the notes, but I can obviously do nothing about the versions that others have posted. But anyone who doesn't want the music has only to use the volume control.

[@Hamshaw100]

Mr Heaney Rest content Sir! You and pabmusic1 have, together, made a most important contribution to both film and musical history. and, by God, can those girls dance!

[@irateofwatford]

What happened to the Fish-Slapping dance?

[@phiAndpi]

Cannot look at this and not think of Monty Python, Pith-helmets and Fish!

[@ChrisBreemer]

Same here :D

[@irateofwatford]

Absolutely!

[@henrygingercat]

Agreed, but it's also hilarious without benefit of MP

[@pookoos]

Question: I've been looking for that recording of Sellinger's Round forever. Can you tell me who did it?

[@pabmusic1]

Hi. All the music is from a 2-CD set of vintage recordings called Listen to the Band, which is published by the EFDSS and available from Cecil Sharp House. Here it is: uk.patronbase.com/_EFDSS/Store/Item?id=81

[@martinhodge4532]

Any information on who played the music?

[@pabmusic1]

Yes. The Ribbon Dance is noted as "Folk Dance Orchestrs, c. Arnold Foster" (HMV 1933). The Triumph is by "The English Orchestra" (Columbia 1927). The Queen's Jig is by "Folk Dance Orchestra, c. Imogen Holst" (HMV 1934) and Sellinger's Round and Hunt the Squirrell are both by "Folk Dance Band, c Ronnie Munro" (HMV 1938). Note Gustav Holst's daughter in there.

[@pookoos]

Does anyone have any idea where the dancers were when they filmed this?

[@GrannySea]

I think it is reckoned to be Thaxted.

[@tubemagpie]

I have very mixed feelings about all this...... The music has been covered in previous comments. Suffice it to say that I appreciate the efforts but found it a little disconcerting, as a dancer. What springs to mind is a question of authenticity. Undoubtedly good dancers of their kind and certainly showing the requisit vigour and not lacking in speed but are these interpretaions? Should we take these as examples of the manner in which the performers from whom the dances were recorded danced? I personally think not...... the style is almost too "balletic" (?).... it reminds me of the difference between the Soviet troupes that one saw in the 60s and the emigre troupe of Ukreanians one saw at Sidmouth in '69..... both great dance experiences but the sidmouth group (from Manchester?) were more rooted in the ground rather than "airborn"..... Does anyone know where I can see the longsword films from the pre 1920 era BTW?

[@rayworman6267]

They can actually dance! As a retired Morris dancer, [ Chingford Morris, Albion Morris, Kesteven Morris]I am appalled at the standard of dance I keep coming across. Most of it is shameful; no wonder it's dying out!

[@pabmusic1]

George Butterworth was actually employed by the EFDSS for a time as part of its demonstration team.

[@stuartgish]

The musical accompaniment is quite inappropriate and it's out of rhythm. Try looking at the footwork.

[@YorkyOne]

Oh, for goodness sake! Read the video description.

[@JJBushfan]

Now we know that the Melbourne shuffle is just a rip-off.