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Description: | Tom Clough has the same title as John Peacock, but he has only 6 strains, as does the more modern and better known version Fenwick O' Bywell (Northumbrian Pipers' Tine Book). There are small differences between these three, but they are broadly similar both in substance and sequence.The tune seems to be derived from the old Scottish tune Johnny Cock Thy Beaver - the structure is displaced by two bars but much of the melodic material is shared. It has become thoroughly Northumbrianised over the last two centuries and more, and as Fenwick O' Bywell it remains a staple of the smallpipe repertoire.The alternative title Fenwick Of Bywell Goes To Newmarket has been written into one of the surviving copies of the book, and the Northumbrian Minstrely relates that this refers 'to a ballad once sung to the tune, celebrating a match at Newmarket between a mare called Duchess, belonging to the then Fenwick of Bywell, and a celebrated Newmarket racehorse. Tradition states that the north country horse won the race (which was run in heats), but with nothing to spare. We have heard the ballad sung by an old jockey about forty years ago, but it is now lost, and we can only recall to memory the first two lines - Fenwick o' Bywell's off to Newmarket He'll be there or we get started.' A little disappointing lyrically, then.The tune is taken from the Clough piping manuscripts. The Clough family are generally recognised as the most important tradition-bearers among Northumbrian smallpipers. For an authoritative account of the family's history and repertoire, readers are directed to the recently published book, The Clough Family of Newsham, Chris Ormston and Julia Say, Northumbrian Pipers' Society, 2000. ; Pipe manuscripts of Henry and Thomas Clough | Rights holder: | rights holder : Clough Family | Temporal: | start=1901;end=1940; | Source: | Folk Archive Resource North East | Identifier: | farne:C0100012 | Go to resource |
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