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Archives for July 2020

Elsie J. Oxenham and A14_The Abbey Girls Again

July 26, 2020 By allisonmthompson Leave a Comment

a 14 2Several weeks ago I wrote in general about the horrors of the Collins abridgments—here with A14_The Abbey Girls Again, we come face to face with them! The abridged version removes not only many of the folk-dance sequences, but a great deal of character development. The original version is much more coherent, if wordier. In this episode, folk dancing appears as having spiritual, moral, physical, and psychologically redemptive powers. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Abbey Girls, Uncategorized Tagged With: Abbey Girls, Bacca Pipes Jig, Elsie J. Oxenham, English folk dance, Kentrucky set running, Morris Dance

New Dances set to Tunes by Turlough O’Carolan

July 25, 2020 By allisonmthompson Leave a Comment

carolanWe interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to announce that 15 years ago (!) I compiled and edited a book of modern English country dances set to tunes by the blind Irish Harper, Turlough O’Carolan. Since then, the repertoire has expanded. One of my lockdown projects has been to publish the new ones online, and so I am happy to announce that 19 new English country dances (and one strathspey—I love the idea of having a modern Scottish dance set to a tune by an 18th century Irish composer on an ECD-oriented site!) are now available on my website:  check out the page titled “Carolan” Both dance instructions and sheet music are available. [Read more…]

Filed Under: O'Carolan, Uncategorized Tagged With: Carolan, harps, Irish harp, Turlough O'Carolan

Elsie J. Oxenham and A13_The New Abbey Girls

July 18, 2020 By allisonmthompson Leave a Comment

new ag
new abbey girls

Published in 1923 and set, Abbey Time, in March through April of 1921, A13_The New Abbey Girls introduces two younger key characters: Rosamund Kane and Madalena (Maidlin) di Ravarati. These girls will support important plot arcs now that Joan Shirley has moved off-stage after her marriage. The New Abbey Girls is a strong episode and one that shows the often-difficult Joy Shirley at her best. In a very mild style, apparent only upon re-reading and thus knowledge of the future, it also starts off her romance. This installment again showcases Cecil Sharp’s folk-dance teachers, particularly “Madam/Duchess” (Helen Kennedy North) and the Pixie (Daisy Caroline Daking). There are many treats for folk-dancers below! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Abbey Girls, Uncategorized Tagged With: Abbey Girls, Cecil Sharp, Chelsea Reach, Elsie J. Oxenham, English folk dance, Helen Kennedy North, May Queen, Morris Dance, rapper sword dance, Spring Garden, Stanley Kennedy North

Elsie J. Oxenham: A12_Jen of the Abbey School

July 12, 2020 By allisonmthompson Leave a Comment

jen of as 1Published in 1927, A12_Jen of the Abbey School takes place immediately before and after A11_The Abbey Girls Go Back to School. Ideally you should read the first half of A11, then the first half of A12, then the second half of A11, wrapping it up with the second half of A12. Jen of the Abbey School takes place from June to December 1920, in Abbey Time. It is an important book for folk dancers as it paints a clear picture of the “folk spirit” as well as incorporating a thrilling folk dance competition. It is also an important book in the Abbey Girl world as it introduces [Read more…]

Filed Under: Abbey Girls, Uncategorized Tagged With: Abbey Girls, Cecil Sharp, Elsie J. Oxenham, folk dance revival

Reading and Buying the Abbey Girls Books

July 4, 2020 By allisonmthompson 2 Comments

new ag
new abbey girls

After last week’s long post, let’s catch our breath for a moment! I want to remind ourselves of what we are doing and also, if you are ready to race out and buy books by Elsie J. Oxenham, to provide A Dramatic Warning. First, while hopefully the old lags remember, new readers should know that I am blogging about EJO’s Abbey Girls books in reading order, not in publication order. We’ve gotten over the tricksy group of the Retrospective Titles, so, after next week’s post on A12_Jen of the Abbey School, RO will pretty much equal PO. Now for the Warning—there is an Abomination in EJO’s publishing world: the Children’s’ Press abridgments. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Abbey Girls, Uncategorized Tagged With: Abbey Girls, Elsie J. Oxenham

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