Re: Will Atkinson

["Stephen Shaw" <moorcot@xxxxxxx>]

>From: Roger Trobridge <gopher@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
>Will Atkinson, the finest exponent of traditional harmonica in Engand, died
>peacefully at the age of 95 on Wednesday morning, 30th July, 2003, in the
>presence of his family.
>
>Will was a sheperd and farmworker who lived all of his life near Alnwich,
>in the North East of England. He was featured on some of the " Voice Of The
>People" field recordings issued on the Topic Label. He also appeared at
>folk festivals, particularly in the Border area. He had close contacts with
>the Scottish traditional moothie players. Another bridge to the past has
>gone.
>
>Will started out on the melodeon, moved to a chromatic accordion, and then
>onto the diatonic tremolo mouth organ. Throughout his life he was part of
>the traditional music scene in Northumberland, and he played with local
>'dance' bands, including the "Cheviot Ranters".
>
>He did not read music but he had a very large repertoire of tradtional
>tunes. Fortunately there are a few friends who have learned many of them
>and will keep the tradition alive.
>
>I have added an mp3 of Wilf playing "Will Atkinson's March" by Jimmy
>Lindsay, on the Nationa Harmonica League web site
>http://harmonica.co.uk
>
>Roger Trobridge
>
>Chairman NHL


Will was still playing in public until very recently.  He was much revered 
by everyone connected with the Northumbrian folk music tradition - a 
tradition which, by the way, includes HUGE numbers of diatonic 
harmonica-friendly tunes, quite distinct from Irish and Scottish, for which 
Will was a worthy ambassador.  His playing gives the lie to the idea that 
the tremolo harmonica isn't quite "the thing" for harp players to be 
playing!

Steve Shaw.


Want more than the blues?  Try Irish!
http://mysite.freeserve.com/trad_irish_harmonica





>From: Roger Trobridge <gopher@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
>Will Atkinson, the finest exponent of traditional harmonica in Engand, died
>peacefully at the age of 95 on Wednesday morning, 30th July, 2003, in the
>presence of his family.
>
>Will was a sheperd and farmworker who lived all of his life near Alnwich,
>in the North East of England. He was featured on some of the " Voice Of The
>People" field recordings issued on the Topic Label. He also appeared at
>folk festivals, particularly in the Border area. He had close contacts with
>the Scottish traditional moothie players. Another bridge to the past has
>gone.
>
>Will started out on the melodeon, moved to a chromatic accordion, and then
>onto the diatonic tremolo mouth organ. Throughout his life he was part of
>the traditional music scene in Northumberland, and he played with local
>'dance' bands, including the "Cheviot Ranters".
>
>He did not read music but he had a very large repertoire of tradtional
>tunes. Fortunately there are a few friends who have learned many of them
>and will keep the tradition alive.
>
>I have added an mp3 of Wilf playing "Will Atkinson's March" by Jimmy
>Lindsay, on the Nationa Harmonica League web site
>http://harmonica.co.uk
>
>Roger Trobridge
>
>Chairman NHL
>
>--
>Harp-l is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
>Hosted by ValuePricehosting.com, http://www.valuepricehosting.com

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