Dorset Music Unboxed!
The Ridgeway Singers & BandThis event has now finishedLed by Phil Humphries and Tim Laycock, Dorset music group The Ridgeway Singers & Band has collaborated with the Dorset History Centre to bring to life traditional music, folksongs and carols from the collections hidden in its archives in a special ‘Dorset Music Unboxed’ concert.
Amongst the musical manuscripts held by the Dorset History Centre are those of William Knapp, an important Dorset musician of the 18th century who composed of the well-known hymn tune “Wareham” - one of his pieces being performed in this concert was dedicated to the town of Blandford after a huge fire in 1731 destroyed most of the town. Works from the music book of Benjamin Rose will also feature in the programme. Rose was a farmer and alehouse keeper from Belchalwell near Okeford Fitzpaine who wrote down a collection of catchy country dance tunes from his time (1820). Further songs will be taken from the Hammond manuscripts, which contain almost 700 folksongs collected in Dorset by the Hammond brothers between 1905 and 1908, travelling mostly by bicycle!
This collaboration with the Dorset History Centre has already unearthed interesting new discoveries, and the group are excited to share their findings with you in this special concert