Music of Sussex
The historic county of Sussex in southern England has a rich musical heritage that encompasses the genres of folk, classical and rock and popular music amongst others. With the unbroken survival of its indigenous music,[1] Sussex was at the forefront of the English folk music revivals of the 19th and 20th centuries. Many classical composers have found inspiration in Sussex, and the county continues to have a thriving musical scene across the musical genres. In Sussex by the Sea, the county has its own unofficial anthem.[2]
Perhaps the first known musical instrument from Sussex is the so-called 'Sussex horn', a variant of the Bronze Age Irish horn. Dating from around 900BC this instrument was found in the late 18th century at the bottom of a well in Battle.[3][4]
Folk music[edit]
Traditional music[edit]
Of all the counties in England, it is Sussex that appears to have drawn the greatest attention from folk song collectors over a period of some 130 years.[5] This was due to a flourishing tradition of folk dance, mummers plays (known in Sussex as Tipteers' or Tipteerers' plays) and folk song, but also in part because of the rural nature of the county in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and yet its relatively close proximity to London.
Passed on through oral tradition,[6] many of Sussex's traditional songs may not have changed significantly for centuries, with their origins perhaps dating as far back as the time of the South Saxons.[7] Writing in 1752, John Burton commented on the "sharp pitch" and "goatish noise" of the Sussexians, which William Henry Hudson thought still held true when writing nearly 150 years later.[8]
Music for radio, television and cinema[edit]
Inspired by the view across the English Channel from Selsey towards Bognor Regis, "By the Sleepy Lagoon" by Eric Coates has been used by BBC Radio 4 as the opening theme music for Desert Island Discs since 1942.[67] Coates lived on the Manhood Peninsula, initially at Selsey and later at Sidlesham.[67][68] Best known for his theme tunes for Doctor Who,[69] Steptoe and Son,[69] Tales of the Unexpected[69] and The Prisoner,[69] Australian-born composer Ron Grainer moved to Brighton in the 1970s[69] and later died in Cuckfield.[69]
The winner of a BAFTA Award and Oscar nomination for "Walking in the Air",[70] Howard Blake grew up in Sussex[71] and continues to live in the county. The song was used for the 1982 animated film The Snowman of the Sussex-based author Raymond Briggs.[72] Blake also wrote the orchestral works in the film score for the film Flash Gordon.[73]
Jazz[edit]
Nat Gonella was part of the Brighton jazz scene and also a resident of Saltdean.[2] In 2005, jazz pianist and vocalist Liane Carroll won two BBC Jazz Awards,[74] while jazz composer and pianist Zoe Rahman received a Mercury Prize nomination for her 2006 album Melting Pot.[75] Brighton-based singer Claire Martin has won the Best Vocalist award in the British Jazz Awards five times.[2]
Rock and popular music[edit]
1950s[edit]
Singer of traditional pop music, Alma Cogan's career began with singing with a band at tea dances on Worthing Pier[76] while at art college in the town.[77] Cogan would appear in the UK Singles Chart eighteen times in the 1950s, with "Dreamboat" reaching no. 1. Other hits from this period include "I Can't Tell a Waltz from a Tango", "Why Do Fools Fall in Love", "Sugartime" and "The Story of My Life".
1960s[edit]
Songwriter Mitch Murray wrote several number one singles including two 1963 songs for Gerry and the Pacemakers — "How Do You Do It?" (which was initially given to the Beatles) and "I Like It". Another songwriter, Ken Howard co-wrote "Have I the Right?" for The Honeycombs and "The Legend of Xanadu" for Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, both number one singles. Worthing was home in the late 1960s to the Worthing Workshop, a group of artists and musicians who included Leo Sayer,[78] Brian James of The Damned, Billy Idol and Steamhammer, whose guitarist, Martin Quittenton, went on to co-write Rod Stewart's UK number one hits "You Wear It Well"[79] and "Maggie May".[80] Leapy Lee's 1968 single "Little Arrows" reached number two in the UK singles chart.