William Kimber Second Edition released

[Dan Worrall]

All,

 

Thanks to publisher Gary Coover of Rollston Press, and my co-author Jarrett Branch, a much expanded and completely rewritten second edition of The Anglo Concertina Music of William Kimber (originally published in 2005) is now for sale on Amazon, and in the future, at brick and mortar outlets. The layout is similar to that of last year's Chris Droney and the Tradition of the Concertina in North Clare: an extensive biography, a detailed music analysis with tutorial, and then transcriptions of all his recorded tunes - both Morris and social dance. Andy Turner (musician for the Headington Quarry Morris Dancers) has contributed a Foreword. And there are QR codes linking to audios on YouTube of both Kimber's playing and of the transcriptions themselves. More details are available in the attached pdf. 

 

Jarrett and I hope you enjoy it; it is out just in time for both Christmas and for the 125th anniversary of the famous Boxing Day meeting of Cecil Sharp and the Headington Quarry Morris dancers in the snow at Sandfield Cottage! Of particular interest to Forum readers may be the analysis of his playing techniques on the two-row Anglo, and in particular of his unusual chord choices, something which has been a topic on this Forum in past years. 

 

All the best,

Dan Worrall

 

Kimber Book Summary.pdf

Edited November 5, 2024 by Dan Worrall

[Shayfogs]

Congratulations on your new opus. 

Where can I get it?

Regards

Shay

[gcoover]

It currently available from Red Cow Music in the UK, and it is also available on Amazon. 

 

Only paperback so far, Kindle perhaps later.

 

If you have the first spiral-bound book from 2005, this one is completely different and expanded to 339 pages (from the original 85), and includes an extensive history of Headington Quarry, notes and tablature for all of Kimber's recorded works, QR codes, and Dan's excellent analysis of how to "Kimberize" any tune. Without a doubt, the definitive history of one of England's most influential musicians and concertina players.

 

Gary

Edited November 5, 2024 by gcoover

[Torres Strait Anglo]

This is quite frustrating, as Amazon flatly refuses to deliver to my postcode.

There was an era in my life when I dreamed of my problems being as simple as: "Amazon hates me".

I'll work something out, it'll just take longer for the book to turn up.

[Steve Morrison]

"The Anglo Concertina Music of William Kimber" Available now at Red Cow Music

https://redcowmusic.co.uk/product/the-anglo-concertina-music-of-william-kimber/

Edited November 8, 2024 by Steve Morrison

[Dan Worrall]

Maybe send Gary Coover a message via his rollstonpress.com website. You both seem to live on Pacific islands, so maybe he could pop one in the mail? 

[gtotani]

I have got my copy from Amazon.co.jp!

 

Congratulations and many thanks,Dan and Gary!

 

 

Totani

[Dan Worrall]

That's great, gtotani! I hope you enjoy it.

[djangojessie]

William Kimber 2nd Edition and New English Session Tunes and other books will be available in Australia and can be purchased through The Concertina Shop

www.concertinashop.com.au

Please mention this forum so we can make a donation from any sales

Thank you

P.J.

[Alison Scott]

I know this is a very late request, but is there any chance of a Kindle edition of this book? 

[Dan Worrall]

Alison,

 

I’d have no objections to that if Gary Coover, who published it, can make it happen. Over to Gary…

 

Cheers

Dan Worrall

[gcoover]

... and done!

 

Gary

 

 

[Alison Scott]

…and bought! Thank you both! 

[Dan Worrall]

Great! Let us know what you think of it.

 

[Alison Scott]

Currently my blood is boiling at the thought of Kimber living his whole life on the breadline, and still teaching at 87 because he needed the money, while Grainger made a mint off Country Gardens (and to be fair other tunes collected by Sharp from source singers and musicians). 

[Paul Draper]

Was he on the breadline? Throughout his life he seems to have had the leisure to practice his arts. He must have been wealthy enough to buy the land he built his house on and later several others. Country Gardens was not Kimber's, he was a link in the chain passing it on to several hit makers. There is a Wikipedia article tracing it's history to 1728. 

[Dan Worrall]

"On the breadline" was not my term; I think Allison was using it as a manner of speaking. As far as I know, he only ever owned one very modest house, which he built himself, brick by brick. Regarding the lot that the house rested on, he was indeed "wealthy enough" to buy it, though I would say that he "scraped up" enough money for it. It was about 30 by 120 feet The lot was very small, but with enough space behind the small house that he could raise pigs chickens and vegetables to help feed his family - he had eight children, and for a part of that time, he was a widower. Bricklaying was by the job, which means that there were periods of time with no work, especially in midwinter. He was never well off, throughout his life. His friend Cecil Sharp helped him out by sending the odd bit of money or spare clothes from time to time, but appears never to have thought of giving him some of the royalties from County Gardens that Percy Grainger had offered Sharp. Sharp magnaminously declined the offer from Grainger, who had proposed a split of the royalties, which were reasonably large (it was a big transatlantic hit). Neither of them appears to have thought of giving some of that to Kimber. It seems an oddity of the way people thought back then.

 

Of course Kimber himself learned that tune from older sources. It is worth wondering however whether the tune would have survived without Kimber having played it for the Headington morris side, dancing in the snow in 1899, and without the ensuing revival of morris dancing led by Sharp and others. My guess is that the tune would have died or at least remained obscure.

[Marcus]

Just received my copy. Quite the upgrade from the first edition. Looking forward to digging into it.