Wassail collected by James E. Thomas and Tom Miners 1924
The expression “Wassail” in English / “Wassel” in Cornish is derived from the Old Norse toast “Ves heill” with the meaning “be in good health. We do not know when it was adopted into Cornish, but it could have arrived as early as the ninth century with the Danish Vikings.
Jim Wearne's researches into folk music and family history led him to an interest in things Cornish, and Cornish music in particular. He has since written many songs on Cornish themes, and performs these songs and traditional Cornish material at festivals throughout the USA, and in Cornwall.
Richard Trethewey and Camborne Town Band perform Mike O'Connors "Geevor Lads"
Although Brenda's love of Cornwall shone through every programme, audiences could also expect to be regaled with an eclectic range of songs incorporating bawdy humour, sensitive love songs, powerful spirituals, ballsy blues and punchy rock numbers.
Brenda Wootton worked tirelessly with Cornish schools, creating activities for them around the songs she’d chosen to teach them about their homeland