THE DONCASTER WAITES

PERFORMERS OF RENAISSANCE MUSIC

 

 

 

 

 

The Doncaster Waites are an early music group based in the town of Doncaster. They take their name from the bands of musicians who used to be employed by local corporations as town musicians, “The Waites”. Below you will find some more information about the group, their music and instruments and a little of the historical background.

 

 

            The present band are all local musicians with an interest in early music, and have regular jobs in a variety of professions. They have been together now for a considerable number of years!  The music they play is generally centered around the first half of the 17th century, the time when the first detailed accounts of the original Doncaster Waites appear in the archives. Their costume is also based on these accounts and the three men accurately represent how the original Waites would have looked at that time. Women of course would never have been Waites, but we like to think that the Waites would have been joined by their friends and family in private music making in the houses and inns of Doncaster.

 

 

 

 

 

PERFORMANCES

 

 

                

             

The band performs on a variety of reproduction period instruments. The shawm is used to give the original sound of the waites, a loud double reed instrument ideal for outdoors or large rooms. The pipe and tabor (drum) is a popular combination and is used for dance music in particular. Recorders and flutes produce a more familiar, quieter sound and are ideal for small rooms and consort playing. The noise of the crumhorn often seems to be associated with Henry VIII, and its curved shape never fails to provoke curiosity. Other colourful sounds are produced by the hurdy gurdy, tambourin de Bearn, rackett, cornamuse and curtal. The group also sings and likes to specialise in the popular part songs and rounds of the period as heard in the streets, homes and ale houses of Renaissance England.

            The music we perform is all taken or adapted from original sources. Normally these cover a wide period up to the mid 17th century, but a more precise programme can be prepared if required.

 

 

 

 

 

PROGRAMMES

 

 

These vary and can be adapted to suit a particular occasion examples of what we have done in the past are below.

 

A. A formal full evening’s performance with musical items interspersed with readings which may include explanations of the various instruments and information about the history of the original Doncaster Waites.

Audience participation can be included in the form of singing or simple dances.

 

B. A shorter version of the above as part of an evening’s entertainment or following a meal where the Doncaster Waites have provided “background” music.

 

C. Music for period fairs or fetes either indoors or outdoors, usually consisting of half hour spots every hour or so depending on circumstances. These can be staged at a particular spot or we can move around the site.

 

D. The Waites can also perform in parades or processions.

 

Obviously we can also perform any combination of the above and we are always happy to discuss particular requirements with organisers of events.

 

The Waites have some requirements of their own! We do not use amplification and therefore to locate us near to those who do can be counter productive.  A base location can be useful where cases and clothes can be left secure.

 For formal events, a large table to put instruments on and a few chairs would be appreciated. A stage is not required and generally a performance area of approximately 14 feet by 10 feet is adequate, though we are prepared to be flexible.

 

 

If you wish to make a booking or would like further information please contact:-

Roger and Andrea Offord. Email: offordr@blueyonder.co.uk

Tel: 01302 788428

Address: 2 Ledbury Gardens,

Cusworth, Doncaster, DN5 8LS

 

 

 

FEES

 

 

The Waites perform mainly for their own pleasure, but like every body else we have expenses to cover and instruments to replace. Our fees are always negotiable dependant on what is required, time, location etc. and we will always do our best to support a worthy cause. A starting guide would be around £200 for a full days performance at a local fair or similar, but do give us a ring if you would like to negotiate.

            Unfortunately, as most of our members work, bookings during the normal working day are not usually feasible, though do get in touch as we may be able to arrange something, or put you in touch with another group.

 

 

 

 

HISTORY OF THE ORIGINAL DONCASTER WAITES

 

The first known record of the Doncaster Waites is from 1457 when the Piper brothers were elected Waites or Pipers. By 1585 their numbers had risen to four and their duties had been established as musical night watchmen and civic entertainers. In 1617 their role was further defined and they were provided with livery coats by the corporation. Uniforms were then provided right up to their demise in 1832.

            Waites’ duties primarily consisted of patrolling the streets at night during the dark winter months, playing their instruments and giving out the cry “8 o’clock (or whatever) and all’s well.” This was coupled with performing for civic entertainments, banquets and balls, playing in procession for the mayor making and public proclamations, as well as attending the mayor to church on Sundays and festivals. They also held a monopoly for entertainment in the town and would play for weddings and other private functions as well as earning money from early morning calls or “hunts up” for those going hunting or in Doncaster’s case, catching the early stage coach. One particular function in which Doncaster seems to have been unique was for the Waites to ascend the church tower on bonfire night and play from there, for which they received the princely sum of

1s 6d!

            Doncaster is unique in that it is one of only three places in the country to possess a Mansion House, the others being in York and London. The Mansion House was used primarily for entertainment, and Doncaster’s contains no fewer than three minstrels’ galleries, all of which must have been familiar to the Waites.

 

            The Waites existed until 1832, when a series of unhappy deaths in their numbers gave the corporation the opportunity to dispense of what had by then become an anachronism, the corporation itself suffering the same fate three years later for the same reason.

            If you would like more historical information about Waites please contact us or visit the Waits website at www.waits.org.uk

 

The Waites play for the Mayor of Doncaster on the Mansion House Steps