Rhythms of the Loom: Weaving Songs
Discover the rich musical traditions of Britain’s textile workers, from the cotton mills of Lancashire to the crofts of the Outer Hebrides. When weaving was a cottage industry, handweavers sang to the click of the shuttle. Later, as industrialisation reshaped communities and working lives, their songs reflected new realities of hardship, conflict, and change. Using recordings of ballads, laments and protest songs, this talk by Vanessa Houlder describes how music enlivened labour, defined communities, and preserved workers’ stories. It also explores the practical benefits of using music to pace production, illustrated by the Scottish folk songs that synchronised the rhythmic beating of newly woven tweed.
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Discover the rich musical traditions of Britain’s textile workers, from the cotton mills of Lancashire to the crofts of the Outer Hebrides. When weaving was a cottage industry, handweavers sang to the click of the shuttle. Later, as industrialisation reshaped communities and working lives, their songs reflected new realities of hardship, conflict, and change. Using recordings of ballads, laments and protest songs, this talk by Vanessa Houlder describes how music enlivened labour, defined communities, and preserved workers’ stories. It also explores the practical benefits of using music to pace production, illustrated by the Scottish folk songs that synchronised the rhythmic beating of newly woven tweed.
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