Sound Recordings, Cheshire
Details
Type of record: Archive
Title: Sound Recordings, Cheshire
Classmark: LAVC/SRE/A307r
Creator(s): Pattison, Susan
Site Location(s): Subject - Marston, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom( 53.2667, -2.5 ); Subject - Antrobus, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom( 53.3206, -2.52977 )
Date(s): [1975]
Size and medium: 1 x 12.7cm open reel spool; Duration: 51' 49".
Persistent link: https://explore.library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections-explore/414358
Collection group(s): Leeds Archive of Vernacular Culture
Description
Adrian Peters, recorded at home in Marston, talks about his 7-8 year involvement with the Antrobus Soul-Cakers - link with wife's family and parts played [ David Goulburn contributes occasionally]; age of the play; the horse's head; motivation; tradition and the future of the play; minor changes acceptable; time of year, Halloween, mumming and the driving away of evil influences; audience responses; characters; choice of locations; drink; defines soul-cake; reference to old photographs of the soul-caking gang (in a book by Major Boyd); informant's wife relates a supernatural legend concerning a Black Lady; AP talks about why he participates in the play. [Tr. 3]
David Goulburn, recorded at home in Antrobus, describes his first involvement (third generation) with the Antrobus Youth Club gang, c. 1946-1947 (boys' gang) - names people involved in soul-caking; also Antrobus Old Gang (adults) - other gangs in Budworth and Comberbach (ceased); early 1950s, gang members doubled up characters due to small group numbers; dates real revival as 1963 and cites influence of English Folk Dance and Song Society- folk drama included as part of an EFDSS event in New Brighton [?Wirral], and those involved enjoyed the event and stayed in the gang; little change, popular in Folk Clubs, private parties in the past (reference to Majors Boyd and Cameron-Rose); describes Major Boyd and performances in his house; the play's meaning - chants to ward off evil spirits, with soul-cake as largesse on All Souls' Eve; comments on all the play's characters; reference to soul-caking in Alderley Edge; attitude to changes in the text; out of season performances; acting abilities and
audience responses, attitude of publicans; importance of the horse's head - rivalry between Antrobus Youth Club and [? Daresbury] gang; future of the custom; media coverage and publicity; soul-cake (versions of); religious persuasions of gang members. [Tr. 4]
8 of 9.
Provenance
From Adrian Peter's comments, it is clear that he was interviewed after David Goulburn (i.e. the order in which they are recorded on the copy tape LAVC/SRE/A308r). Box lid incorrectly names first informant as David Burn.
Access and usage
Reproduction
Access
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Physical and technical conditions
9.5cm/sec.
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