Manx music and dance Colin Jerry

the second volume of kiaull yn theay ( music of folk ), commonly known red book

colin jerry s main musical interests when moved island new orleans jazz, , came play trumpet garff city stompers, , tholtan builders. however, once living on island immersed himself in traditional manx music, joining celtic music sessions in peel, emerged band, celtic tradition. common folk groups @ time, celtic tradition focused on irish/scottish folk music repertoire, there no easy access manx music. jerry looked correcting lack of manx repertoire learning manx , carrying out own research.

jerry pulled manx music collected in twentieth century mona douglas , @ end of nineteenth century in a. w. moore s manx ballads , music (1896) , w. h. gill s manx national music (1898). jerry went important manuscript collections of dr john clague, w.h. gill , j. f. gill in manx museum music had never been in print.

because of difficulty jerry had encountered in unearthing these pieces of music, decided publish them make them more accessible others. hand jerry wrote out staves, lyrics , few illustrations isle of man board of education local studies project, photocopied , made booklet entitled kiaull ny manninee in 1977, which, in expanded form, came form kiaull yn theay ( music of folk ), published yn Çheshaght ghailckagh ( manx language society ) in 1978. following year joined second volume, kiaull yn theay 2, published in 1979 in same hand-written style first volume.

the 2 kiaull yn theay books, affectionately known red , yellow books due distinctive covers, used on isle of man today, particularly in of island s schools. has been reckoned these books have, without doubt, formed single significant contribution promotion of manx music since revival.

the taxidermied wren used hunt wren bock yuan fannee

jerry went on write , edit other books on manx music, including of own original lyrics , translations manx. notable amongst other books slongan son juan y clague / garland john clague: new book of old songs, co-edited john kaneen in 1988. jerry led evolution of band celtic tradition, basis in irish , scottish music, bwoaie doal ( blind boy ) played music manx provenance. band today recognised 1 of influential groups in days of manx music revival during 1970s.

jerry central continued revival of manx dancing. following discussion mona douglas in 1975 jerry created all-male six-person group perform mylecharaine s march , dance douglas had collected. jerry named group bock yuan fannee (literally buck of john flayer , expression referring walking or walking stick) , practices took place in kipper yards of peel. mylecharaine s march , performed white boys play @ christmas, including 6 hand longsword dance. group still in existence today , mixed.

jerry highly involved in reorganisation of yn chruinnaght in 1977 , in manx participation in inter-celtic festivals off island. included co-ordinating manx contribution lorient festival many years, , lowender peran festival. took part in gaelic forums celtic league manx branch organised in 1980s , contributed articles in manx (and english), commenting on cultural scene, carn (the celtic league quarterly journal).

jerry made instruments, including harp, instrument wife played. responsible introducing uillean pipes manx traditional music.