Archive 2001

Teer Ha Moar Concerts at the Minack

"Celebrating Cornwall's Living Culture" 13th/14th May, 2001

Last May, musicians, dancers and singers from all over Cornwall took part in the BBC Music Live festival, which ran nationwide with "Beat This!"- a drum beat that started in Scotland, traveling all the way to the Minack Theatre, Cornwall via various locations and involving thousands of people participating on drums, tin cans, saucepan lids and anything that you could get a beat on. As the last link in this chain, the Cornish concert was named "Teer ha Moar" ("Land and Sea") and featured an interpretation of the 'Beat This!' rhythm on dancing feet.

This year, hot on the heels of Padstow 'Obby 'Oss and Helston's Flora Dance, Cumpas (Cornish Music Projects) presented another Teer Ha Moar concert to add to the Spring Rites. On Saturday night the performers transported listeners from rocky cliffs across wave and water, as twilight fell, with a line-up featuring harmony singing group Kescana, Cornwall's very own Mediaeval Baebes, piper and harpist Merv Davey, lively procession band Bagas Degol and exciting trio Dalla with Celtic dancers, who performed a repeat of the Beat This! rhythm, a percussive piece of feet drumming at the finale of the concert. With spirits high, the audience also joined the dancers on stage and spiraled a serpent dance to add to the magic of the evening. A rousing " Oggy! " shout to the night sky, to bring the concert to a close, thus ended another "Teer Ha Moar".

On Sunday, the traditional sounds of brass and choral singing was also featured, as the cliffs echoed to the rich harmonies of Mousehole Male Voice Choir and the much acclaimed St Keverne Youth Band. The two concerts were very well received; and despite cold and very windy weather, were measurably well attended. Phil Jackson from the Minack was very delighted with the whole event, saying, "That was fun, let's do it again next year!" - which suggests that "Teer Ha Moar" will become an annual event, perhaps a future tradition?!!!