Thursday 28 July 2011

I’m back home and re-adjusting after three action-packed days in Lewes, most of which were spent with Shirley Collins and Katy Cooper in Shirley’s back garden working on a catalogue of Dolly Collins’s scores, and taking about 850 photos of assorted manuscripts. Katy was rostrum photographer while I frantically typed info into a spreadsheet and Shirley fed us information, entertainment, wonderful hospitality and fine sustenance.

Somehow we managed to fit in a great deal of excellent food, some drinking of Harvey’s beer and prosecco, a swim in the amazing spring water of Pells Pool, and a lot of generally enjoying one another’s company on some warm Sussex summer days.  Besides over 100 songs and other pieces, we documented the material for two different versions of Anthems in Eden, and Dolly’s arrangement of the whole of The Beggar’s Opera.  I’m pretty sure the British Library doesn’t let you sing the songs to one another as you sift through its archives.  Thanks to Jane and Mike at our great B&B up the road too.

research team with ruler

When we arrived back last night, Katy noticed that Glasgow airport provides a special rack for you to park your carnyx.

is it a baggage trolley, or a carnyx on a skateboard?