Thaxted Morris Weekend 31st May 2014 - The rather eerie horn dance

[@joecaprani5772]

Watching this when I was there many years ago gave me absolute shivers.......spine tingling.

[@niamhoshea2587]

I know I'm late to the party with my comment on this video, but I've seen this performance in person twice over the last few years, the most recent being this year (2022) and though some say it's too slow compared to the original Abbots Bromley dance, the atmosphere on the street watching it is surreal; the whole day is filled with lively dancing but then late night comes, and this performance is hypnotic. It's all about the symbolism and dignity. It is more often than not performed by the elder dancers, and the engagement with the crowd is palpable, it has people physically leaning in to the story. I adore this performance. Also big shout out to the violinist whose name I didn't manage to get, he played beautifully again this year and he is even more fantastic than he was before!

[@Kayumari]

What's the story behind this version. Is it like the Mason's or something? What are the symbols on their hats?

[@niamhoshea2587]

@@Kayumari​​⁠I don’t know for sure that what I’m about to say is 100% true so please take it with a grain of salt! I believe this interpretation is about Queen Victoria and Prince Albert; Albert (the dancer riding the “horse”) had a lifelong passion for hunting hence the deer (dancers with the masks), and the gentleman with the umbrella is portraying Victoria who famously wore black for the rest of her life after Albert died. The dance is portraying a hunt, with the deer out in front and ‘Albert’ leading the chase, and ‘Victoria’ is following behind. I think it’s meant to be about the deep loss that Victoria suffered with Albert’s death. The clothes they wear appear to be the same each year and I would suggest that the symbol has something to do with the Church, as I think they look rather priestly? That’s just my take, but those are the characters involved in this performance! Hope that helped :)

[@YorkyOne]

​​​​​​@@niamhoshea2587 Sorry, but not even 1% true. This dance has absolutely nothing to do with Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, the Church or a stag hunt - it's just a modern (late 20th century) slowed down version by Thaxted Morris of the original Abbotts Bromley Horn Dance. The 18th century tune was supposedly played in Abbotts Bromley but never for the dance. I assume the ludicrous headwear is to give a 'mystical' ambiance to the proceedings - but earlier videos show no such accoutrements. The chap dressed as a woman holding an umbrella is a common part of morris and sword dances - a comic addition.

[@YorkyOne]

​​@@Kayumari Nope. It's just a bit of nonsense.

[@sazzieb1]

Jake Walker

[@southernbiscuits1275]

This is my favorite video of this dance. The players are so into their roles. The violinist is excellent. The mysteriousness surrounding this dance draws me in every time.

[@EclipseAgency]

Gives me chills every time that bell is rung.... Thanks so much for posting.

[@ridwanahmed1729]

I remember this year at the dance 😍😍 by far one of the best years in my 10 years of attending 👌🏼 it’s Thaxted or nothing

[@AGwolf2097]

love that this was always a part of Twelfth Night from The Chorus of Westerly... this song lives rent-free in my brain til the day I die, albeit on an electric clarinet

[@wanderer5581]

Just Jake on the fiddle interspersed with a triangle... haunting and beautiful....

[@oldpigsqueal3578]

I find this a particularly enchanting version. When I saw it, it was daylight - much better in the evening.

[@ruthamyallan1]

Very Wicker Man.

[@faithlesshound5621]

The "three steps and a hop" segments of the dance remind me of the "tripodion" that formed part of the performance of "The Hymn of the Arval Brotherhood" in ancient Rome. By the end of the republic, the Romans seem to have forgotten what the words of the hymn meant. If there was ever a song associated with the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance, it must have been suppressed centuries ago. As a sliver of one of the deer horns has been carbon-dated to 1000 years ago, the original song would not be intelligible today.

[@YorkyOne]

The original ABHD is not 1000 years old. It's a 16th century Tuder hobby-horse dance to collect monies for the local church - with antlers added probably in the 17th century.

[@gillemerson3075]

Read the late lamented A A Gill's essay on witnessing this beautiful, strange spectacle

[@lorimc62lm]

Nice!

[@malcolmgayner2396]

wow! what's the name of this tune? My dad used to play it to me many years ago...

[@EnclaveTrooper1]

Malcolm Gayner Abbots Bromley Horn Dance

[@billblakely3472]

+Malcolm Gayner The tune is "The Wheelwright Robinson" Check out "Abbots Bromley Horn Dance" on Wikipedia, and the 11minute documentary elsewhere on KZbin.

[@jsa-z1722]

Please please somebody tell me the significance of the guy in the horse costume, the manlady with the umbrella, the bell or triangle, the horned dancers? There MUST be a great origin story in there somewhere! 🙏

[@DemonicNik]

I CAN SEE MEEEEEE!!!

[@TjaldurHross]

Hi is it possible to use this actual recording in a contempory music piece... noone is actually getting paid anything for it.

[@EclipseAgency]

Air traffic should be suspended for this!

[@anahatamelodeon]

I'm told it used to be, when one of the Thaxted morris dancers was friendly with someone in the tower!

[@robwinwood3206]

Strange indeed! But take a listen/look to the version by Stick in the Wheel...

[@mariegriffiths]

Great video, are these the Abbott's Bromley group in Thaxted?

[@sazzieb1]

No this is Thaxted Morris performing

[@irampotter]

Yes it is Abbott's Bromley, they perform it as part of the Thaxted Morris weekend, quite magical.

[@sazzieb1]

​@irampotter Its Thaxted Morris performing the Abbots Bromley horn dance.

[@joannechisholm4501]

pre Christian

[@susanritter2520]

Deer crania, with whittled down antlers, and holes for the attachment of leather thongs in order to hold the headdress in place, have been found dating back to 9,000 & 11,000 years, in Yorkshire. This is a Neolithic, perhaps Mesolithic, hunting dance, shrill performed in the 21st century. The antiquity of this tradition is truly astounding.

[@Wotsitorlabart]

@@susanritter2520 Rather wild speculation there, me thinks. The original Abbots Bromley Horn Dance (of which this is just a modern slowed down version) is first recorded only in 1532 with a hobby horse but no antlers. It is noted again in 1686 as a 'hobby horse dance' but this time the dancers are carrying antlers. The antlers have been dated to the 11th century and were imported as there were no reindeer in Britain at that time - so sometime between the 11th and 17th centuries. The locals claim it was first danced in 1226 (when the King granted a fair) - but there is no evidence that the dance took place in the C13.

[@tricianeal8348]

This may be a dance with horns but it is NOT the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance!!

[@Wotsitorlabart]

They all look very earnest but what story are they trying to convey? The true Abbots Bromley Horn Dance is a joyous thing whilst this is some kind of morose pseudo mystical Wicker Man nonsense. And what on earth are they wearing on their heads?

[@roddywishart4613]

It's better than nothing

[@Wotsitorlabart]

@@roddywishart4613 What is?

[@roddywishart4613]

@@Wotsitorlabart pseudo mystical wickerman nonsense. It's better than sitting watching countryfile on a Sunday night

[@Wotsitorlabart]

@@roddywishart4613 It's a toss up. Heads crap. Tails crap.

[@brethrenphil]

Good grief this is such a dull,lacklustre version of the horn dance.The real thing is far better .

[@sbroumley]

can you give us a link to the real deal?

[@sazzieb1]

Part of the charm of this version is seeing it live. The atmosphere, the stillness of the crowd etc. My Husband was the Betsy for many years. It's very moving to watch.