Annotated Booklist of MummingCompiled by Ron Shuttleworth |
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Brody, Alan
The English Mummers and Their Plays: Traces of Ancient Mystery The first full-length work of scholarship since Chambers, q.v., although there is a suspicion that many of the ideas were cribbed from Alex Helm. Increases in the number of known plays caused shifts in what was considered significant. Recommended as the newcomer's second book.
Buckley, Anthony D. & Críostóir MacCárthaigh & Séamas Ó Catháin & Séamus MacMathúna (eds) *?
Border-Crossing: Mumming in Cross-Border and Cross-Community Contexts. Proceedings of a Conference held at the Academy of Irish Cultural Heritages, University of Ulster, Derry, 9-13 June 2003. 15 scholarly papers read at the Conference, 3 of which are about traditions in Scandinavia. All serious stuff.
Cass, Eddie F. *
The Lancashire Pace-Egg Play: A Social History The only book dedicated to this aspect of the Play. Excellent. Gazetteer of occurrences of the Play. Two case studies examine the revival of Middleton & Bury.
Cass, Eddie F. & Peter T. Millington (eds) *
Folk Drama Studies Today. Papers given at the International Traditional Drama Conference
19-21 July, 2002, University of Sheffield, England. See book review in Traditional Drama Forum.
Cass, Eddie F. & Stephen Roud / Malcolm Taylor & Doc Rowe (eds) *
Room, Room, Ladies and Gentlemen: An Introduction to the English Mummers' Play. A general and descriptive book written with regard to the needs of teachers. A serious and effective attempt to fill a gap in currently available books. Considered pricey.
Cawte, E. C., Alex Helm & Norman Peacock *
English Ritual Drama: A Geographic Index A most important book which, though ageing, is still the first place to seek information about plays from a specific area. The significance of the Index makes it easy to overlook this book's several discussive chapters, sample texts and most extensive list of references. Sadly the value as a tool is limited by quoting only the earliest (often obscure) source although the material may be reprinted more accessibly. Amendments and additions were published in the magazine Roomer, q.v., numbers 1:5; 2:2 & 5:2.
Chambers, Sir Edmund Kerchever *
The English Folk Play Deep but dated thinking, with five texts. Weak on Wooing Plays. Important, as it dissects the plays, creating the terminology to define the various parts of the action and the different characters. Recommended as the first book for a newcomer to Mumming. Chambers * discussed folk plays in his two-volume work The Mediaeval Stage Clarendon Press, Oxford. (1903) ?pp.. The later book repudiates this, but his earlier work seems more in accord with modern ideas.
Gailey, Alan
Irish Folk Drama Comprehensive; cites associated dramatic customs.
Hayward, Brian
Galoshins: The Scottish Folk Play I, A Socio-Cultural History; II, Commentary on the Performance. Texts. (Includes all known Scottish textual references except any recently acquired by the School of Scottish Studies). There have been suggestions that some of the references are not totally accurate, but this does not invalidate the importance of the book.
Helm, Alex
The English Mummers' Play The ideas seems a bit archaic, but must be viewed as the last (posthumous) work of an indefatigable collector, and prolific writer and lecturer.
Parle, James *
The Mummers of Wexford An amazing and surprisingly enthralling book which, mostly from newspapers and personal interviews, traces the detailed history of every mumming team in Wexford between 1907 and 1999. Many, many photos. Could be of interest to sociologists etc.
Tiddy, Reginald John Elliott / Rupert Thompson (ed)
The Mummers' Play Texts and five discussive chapters based on lectures. The first specialised book, but posthumous so completeness of the ideas is uncertain. |
Corrsin, Stephen D. *(? edition)
Sword Dancing in Europe: A History
Glassie, Henry H. *
All Silver and No Brass The author visited over several years, studying a rural district on the Ulster border. He looked not at the plays but at the players and how they and their community benefited from the performances. This is a more sociological approach, but is still valid and interesting.
Halpert, Herbert & George M. Story (eds) *
Christmas Mumming in Newfoundland. Essays in Anthropology, Folklore and History Early patterns of English traditions have sometimes been preserved in former colonial areas (cf 'Appalachian' ballads) and although "Mumming" here mostly means Christmas visiting in disguise, this excellent book gives insight into the feelings and beliefs of Mummers in an earlier age.
Tillis, Steve *
Rethinking Folk Drama Summarises and points deficiencies in the definitions made by each of many earlier writers, before proposing his own. |
Allsop, Ivor / Anthony G. Barrand (ed) *
Longsword Dances from Traditional and Manuscript Sources Dances mostly. Text of Revesby.
Cawte, E.C.
Ritual Animal Disguise With a 'Geographic Index'. A definitive work which includes the Ram and the Horse in plays.
Frampton, George E. *
Discordant Comicals: The Christmas Hoodeners of East Kent, Tradition and Revival Revisits Percy Maylam’s authoritative work and brings it up to date. (The binding - flimsy card and two staples - does not do it justice.)
Maylam, Percy *
The Hooden Horse, An East Kent Christmas Custom
Sharp, Cecil J. *
Sword Dances of Northern England Has dance notations, also play fragments, calling-on songs and text of Ampleforth. |
Mention should be made, I suppose of:
Alford, Violet *
The Hobby Horse and Other Animal Masks
Alford, Violet
Sword Dance and Drama Postulates that the dance is associated only with mining sites.
Welch, Charles Edgar, junior
Oh Dem Golden Slippers: The Colourful Story of the Philadelphia Mummers' Parade The Mummers' Parade or ‘PMP’ Has become a huge Mardi-Gras-type carnival, but one of its several roots may have been in English-style mumming. This is the authoritative book and is based on Welch’s PhD. |
Sizes A5-ish unless shown otherwise. Not listed are some of the short, privately produced items which would now be very hard to find.
Bartlett, John Oke *
"In Comes I..." (Volume 1) A Collection of Contemporary Mummers Plays 6 composed texts. The price includes the royalties payable for performance.
Boyes, Georgina, Michael J.Preston & Paul Smith *
Chapbooks and Traditional Drama, Part 2: Christmas Rhyme Books Irish and Ulster plays.
Brown, David & Tina *
In Comes I: An English Mummers' Play Aimed at Junior schools. Two pages of background, a topically-modified, collated text and how to make easy "to part" costumes. Score and band parts (Recorders etc.) for the Mummers' March.
Cass, Eddie F. *
The Pace-Egg Plays of the Calder Valley 2 texts: Midgley; Heptonstall. See book review in Traditional Drama Forum.
Cass, Eddie F., Michael J.Preston & Paul Smith *
The English Mumming Play: An Introductory Bibliography See book review in Traditional Drama Forum.
Cawte, E.C.
In Comes I: An Introductory Leaflet to the Mummers' Play List of references available at the VWML.
Corrsin, Stephen D. *
Sword Dancing in Britain: An Annotated Bibliography List of references available at the VWML.
Covey, Winton
Sandy and Holly: A Mummers' Play for Christmas Composed text.
Doel, Geoff & Fran *
Mumming, Howling and Hoodening: Midwinter Rituals in Sussex, Kent and Surrey 3 texts: Compton, Sussex; Dover, Kent; Hindhead, Surrey.
Drake, Jon
The Fool and the Hobby-Horse: Their Role In Ritual Drama of Britain Propounds a pagan Celtic origin.
Evans, Jack
The Daft Days. Traditional Guisers' Plays from Lowland Scotland 10 texts: Peebles; Galloway district, Kirkcudbrights. + Wigtowns.; Westruther + Spottiswoode, Berwicks.; Stirling; unloc, Angus; Bowden + Hawick + Morebattle + Melrose, Roxburghs..
Gailey, Alan
Christmas Rhymers and Mummers in Ireland Fine appraisal, much information, two plates.
Gittins, Martin
"We Beg Your Leave..." an Account of the Middleton Pace-Egg Play and Other Customs of Eastertide Composed text.
Harwood, Henry W. & F.H. Marsden
The Pace Egg. The Midgley Version History and composed text.
Hawkins, Paul *?
The Titchfield Mummers. Spicing Up History History and 5 composed texts.
Helm, Alex
Cheshire Folk Drama Notes, discussion, list of plays, two plates.
Helm, Alex *
The Chapbook Mummers' Plays Detailed consideration, analysis, lists of plays.
Helm, Alex
Eight Mummers' Plays Lucid introductions and notes. Eight colour plates of costumes.
Helm, Alex
The English Folk Play Vol.1 has two parts- 'A General Survey' and 'List of Sources' Vol.2 is
Helm, Alex
Five Mumming Plays for Schools Brief notes and four plates of costumes.
Helm, Alex *
Staffordshire Folk Drama 15 texts: Armitage; Biddulph Moor; Brereton; Cheadle; Dales Green; Great Wyrley; Meir; Norton Canes; Penkridge; Upper Tean; Uttoxeter; Walsall Wood.
Helm, Alex & E.C. Cawte
Six Mummers' Acts Notes, two plates, some sketches of costume.
Lawrence, David *
The Mummers' Play: As Performed in North Curry, Somersetshire
Leach, Robert
Vol.1: The World of the Folk Play / Vol.2: Folk Playtexts Aimed at schools. Fair, but weak on Sword Plays as it ignores the need for a competent dance team. Less than practical on animal figures.
Marshall, Chas & Stuart Rankin *
The Return of the Blue Stots: An Aspect of Traditional Drama in Yorkshire 5 texts: unlocated; Haxby; Helperby; Skelton on Ure; Topcliffe.
Millington, Peter T. *?
An Interim List of Nottinghamshire Folk Plays and Related Customs
Pennick, Nigel *?
The Derby Ram: An English Traditional Song & Mummers' Play
Pettitt, Thomas
Ritual and Vaudeville: The Dramaturgy of the English Folk Plays Reprinted in Traditional Drama Studies, q.v., 2. (1988) pp.45-68.
Pettitt, Thomas
New World Traditions in the Study of Early English Custom and Customary Drama Reprinted in Carnival & the Carnivalesque: The Fool, The Reformer, The Wildman and Others in Early Modern Theatre (1999) pp.263-281.
Preston, Michael J., M.Georgina Smith & Paul S. Smith
An Interim Checklist of Chapbooks Containing Traditional Play Texts Essential tool for the study of the chapbooks.
Preston, Michael J., M.Georgina Smith & Paul S. Smith *
Chapbooks and Traditional Drama, Part 1: Alexander and the King of Egypt Chapbooks Scholarly.
Preston, Michael J., M.Georgina Smith & Paul S. Smith *
Morrice Dancers at Revesby: reproduced from the manuscript in the British Library
Preston, Michael J. & Paul S. Smith *
"A petygree of the Plouboys oR modes dancers songs". The Morris Dance at Revesby: A Facsimile of the 1779 Manuscript in the Lincolnshire Archives With introduction and commentary.
Roud, Stephen
Mumming Plays in Oxfordshire: An Interim Checklist Comprehensive list. Map.
Roud, Stephen & Malcolm Bee
Berkshire Mumming Plays: A Geographical Index and Guide to Sources Gives the text of many of the references. Map.
Roud, Stephen & Paul Marsh *
Mumming Plays in Hampshire Geographic listing. Map.
Seymour, Alan J. *
Pace Egging in Bury and Beyond
Shuttleworth, Ron Kenneth
Introducing the Folk Plays of England Very basic answers to the question "What's it all about".By the compiler of this booklist.
Shuttleworth, Ron Kenneth *?
So You Want to Start Mumming- Options Pitfalls and Suggestions Cannot be praised too highly and should be bought by all. Packed with information, dispensed with wit and style, it would be excellent value at twice the price. By the compiler of this booklist.
Smith, Paul & Georgina
Christmas Greetings
Smith, G., P.S. Smith & J.D.A. Widdowson *
Traditional Drama
Smith, Paul S. & John D.A. Widdowson (eds) *
Traditional Drama Studies Academic but important. A cumulative list of contents is available online at www.folkplay.info/Studies.htm.
Spratley, Philip
Mid East Mumming: A Selection of Folk Plays from the East Midlands 3 texts: Claypole, Lincs. (W); Staunton, Lincs. (W); Cropwell Bishop, Notts. (W) plus the "Poor Old 'Oss".
Ulster-American Folk Park *
Mummers' Plays: A Resource Booklet for Schools
Ulster-American Folk Park *
Mummers: A Resource Booklet for Teachers
Rattle up my Boys: A Quarterly Publication For those With An Interest In Sword Dancing * Has published a wealth of detail about Papa Stour and occasionally other traditions with Play associations.
Roomer: The Newsletter of the Traditional Drama Research Group * Important material, much of it contributed by academics. A cumulative list of contents, author, place and subject indexes are available online at www.folkplay.info/Roomer.htm.
Traditional Drama Forum: The Online Newsletter of the Traditional Drama Research Group * Since October 2000, Roomer has been superseded by Traditional Drama Forum. Many of the above have lists of references and further reading. |
Most books can be obtained through the inter-library loan service. This usually works on several levels. Requesting a book may produce the reply that it is "not available", but this often means locally. Persistence will generate increasingly wide enquiries which will usually be successful in the end. Some University libraries allow public access and house books on folklore
National Centre for English Cultural Tradition (NATCECT)
[formerly the Centre for English Cultural Tradition and Language (CECTAL);
itself formed from the Survey of Language and Folklore (SLF)] The Archives of Cultural Tradition have been moved to the Special Collections Department of the University Library.
Folklore Society (FLS) The access details for their important Library are too complex to explain here, so contact them about it.
English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) The Vaughan Williams Memorial Library lends books to Members and charges others a small daily fee for access.
The Morris Ring [a national organisation for male Morris Dancers,
Swordsmen and Mummers] They have an active and expanding Archive. |
For texts from a specific locality, first consult the Geographic Index, Galoshins, etc. Your Local Studies Centre or County Archive may have material. but many older archives store folk plays under the names of their villages, which can be tedious. You could approach the bodies listed above, who might help or tell you of some local specialist. If you do find unpublished texts or information please document them fully for those who come after, ideally sending copies to the EFDSS and the Morris Ring. Put them into your local Archives - where any donation, even printed material, improves your standing with archivists who treat you much better as a contributor.
Items believed to be 'forthcoming' [but don't hold your breath!]
An Interim Checklist of Chapbooks Containing Traditional Play Texts Chapbooks and Traditional Drama, Part 3: The Peace Egg Traditional Drama Research Group, Contact: webmaster@folkplay.info |