Rapper Bibliography
General information
Phil Heaton, Rapper: The Miner's Sword Dance of North-East England London: EFDSS, 2012.
The newly published guide to the rapper dance, its history and the traditional teams, with coverage of the revival in the UK and USA, as
well as chapters on music and notations of a number of excellent contemporary rapper dances.
Cecil Sharp, The Sword Dances of Northern England, London: Novello, 1911-1913.
After years of being out of print, this is now available (parts I and II only) via www.amazon.co.uk (UK) and
www.amazon.com (USA).
George Wallace, Fit to Jump Ower the Moon, edited by Ednie Wilson. Gateshead: Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council, 1986.
Bill Cassie and Norman Peacock, The Sword Dances of North-East England, London: Vaughan Williams Memorial Library of the EFDSS, 1976.
E C Cawte, A History of the Rapper Dance, Folk Music Journal 1981;4(2):79-116.
Stephen Corrsin, Sword Dancing in Europe: A History, London: Folklore Society, 1997.
Roy Dommett, Roy Dommett's Morris Notes, Volume 4, Sword Dances, 2nd ed., edited by Anthony Barrand. CDSS, 1986.
Rhett Krause, Review of Rapper and Longsword Locks, Country Dance and Song, 1990;20:34-39.
Journals
The NUT is the journal of the rapper sword dance. It has news about rapper, accounts of rapper events, team news and articles on all aspects of rapper. A selection of articles are also published later on its Internet edition, called The NUT on the Net. For further information, or subscriptions, contact the editor Ron Day at ronaldday@btinternet.com
Rattle Up, My Boys is a journal mainly covering the related Longsword tradition, but also includes rapper and other linked sword dances, including European dances, in its scope. It does not have an Internet edition at the present time. Contact Andrew Kennedy for subscriptions, Kennedy.A@runshaw.ac.uk
Information about traditions
Amble
Bill Cassie, Rapper Knots from Amble and Bedlington, Folk Music Journal, 1966;1(2):92-101
Beadnell
Cecil Sharp, The Sword Dances of Northern England, volume II, London: Novello, 1912
Bedlington
Bill Cassie, Rapper Knots from Amble and Bedlington, Folk Music Journal, 1966;1(2):92-101
Brian Hayden, The Bedlington Sword Dance, English Dance and Song, 1979;XLI(1):5-7
Earsdon
Cecil Sharp, The Sword Dances of Northern England, volume I, London: Novello, 1911
Ethel Angel, Some notes on the Earsdon Sword Dance, JEFDSS 1934;1(3):152-155
Bill Cassie, Earsdon Royal, English Dance and Song 1965;25(6):181
Bill Cassie, The Royal Earsdon Sword Dancers, English Dance and Song 1973;35(3,4):92-93,144-145
Leonard Halls, As Vikings Danced, Coal 1957;10(10):5-6
Robert Robins, From Mr Osborn's Album: Historic Photographs of the Earsdon Team, English Dance and Song 1953;17(4):118-120
High Spen
Bill Cassie, Rapper Knots from High Spen, Folk Music Journal, 1965;1(1):6-24
Bill Cassie, The High Spen Rapper Dance, English Dance and Song, 1954;18(3):98-100
Murton (Lowerson)
E C Cawte and C J F Soper, The Rapper Dance as Taught by the Lowerson Family at Murton, Ibstock: Guizer, 1967
E C Cawte, Collectors Corner: The Murton Sword Dance, English Dance and Song, 1957:21(4):139-140
V I Orde, Sword Dance at Murton, Co Durham, EFDS News 1928;17:93-95
E C Cawte and Norman Peacock, Traditional Sword Dancers, Christmas 1955: Visits to Winlaton, Ripon and Murton, English Dance and Song, 1956;20(4):128-129
Newbiggin
Brian Hayden, Sword Dancing at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, English Dance and Song 1962;25(4):111-113
Marjorie Sinclair and Elsie Whiteman, The Newbiggin Rapper Sword-Dance, London, EFDS 1927.
North Walbottle and Westerhope
Cecil Sharp, The Sword Dances of Northern England volume III, London: Novello, 1913
Les Williamson, Westerhope Traditional Prize Sword Dancers, Folk Music Journal 1973;2(4):297-304
Swalwell
Cecil Sharp, The Sword Dances of Northern England volume I, London: Novello, 1911
Winlaton
Cecil Sharp, The Sword Dances of Northern England, volume III, London: Novello, 1913
E C Cawte, Rapper at Winlaton in 1955, English Dance and Song 1957;21(4):139-140
E C Cawte and Norman Peacock, Traditional Sword Dancers, Christmas 1955: Visits to Winlaton, Ripon and Murton, English Dance and Song, 1956;20(4):128-129