May Elliott Hobbs, Died December 1956Author(s): D. N. K.Source: Journal of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, Vol. 8, No. 1 (1956), p. 58Published by: English Folk Dance + Song SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4521532 .

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as the agents of social therapy, as the threshold of religion and ritual. Neither professionalism nor pedantic traditionalism were allowed to hamper a creative readaptation of the treasure of European folk art and musical heritage to modem human needs. In 1937 when the Musikehim's independence was sorely threatened by the Nazi State Douglas Kennedy and Marjorie Heffer joined Rolf Gardiner in a visit to demonstrate English support.

After the war, with the Musikheim lost behind the Iron Curtain, Geo, as he was known to his friends, valiantly renewed his activity amid the wreckage of Western Germany. Ann Caulfield, Douglas Heffer and other friends of the Springhead Ring gave him repeated assistance at courses in Baden and Hessen. But his health, undermined since Siberian days, was now a grievous trial to him. Only his spirit kept him miraculously alive. And to the end he worked through his courses of the Musische Gesellschaft, perfecting his method of Musische Bildung, and substantiating it with a series of books and manuals which included collections of English folk songs and rounds with his own settings and translations, invented elements of dance, dance-canons and singing games, as well as a new edition of Alte Kontratanze, the German translation of the best Playford dances popularized since 1928. He died at Friedrichshafen on September 26th, his pioneer work of proving the unity of music, speech and movement in Europe, demonstrated and largely fulfilled.

H. R. G.

as the agents of social therapy, as the threshold of religion and ritual. Neither professionalism nor pedantic traditionalism were allowed to hamper a creative readaptation of the treasure of European folk art and musical heritage to modem human needs. In 1937 when the Musikehim's independence was sorely threatened by the Nazi State Douglas Kennedy and Marjorie Heffer joined Rolf Gardiner in a visit to demonstrate English support.

After the war, with the Musikheim lost behind the Iron Curtain, Geo, as he was known to his friends, valiantly renewed his activity amid the wreckage of Western Germany. Ann Caulfield, Douglas Heffer and other friends of the Springhead Ring gave him repeated assistance at courses in Baden and Hessen. But his health, undermined since Siberian days, was now a grievous trial to him. Only his spirit kept him miraculously alive. And to the end he worked through his courses of the Musische Gesellschaft, perfecting his method of Musische Bildung, and substantiating it with a series of books and manuals which included collections of English folk songs and rounds with his own settings and translations, invented elements of dance, dance-canons and singing games, as well as a new edition of Alte Kontratanze, the German translation of the best Playford dances popularized since 1928. He died at Friedrichshafen on September 26th, his pioneer work of proving the unity of music, speech and movement in Europe, demonstrated and largely fulfilled.

H. R. G.

MAY ELLIOTT HOBBS DIED DECEMBER 1956

Many members of the Society will learn with great regret of the death of May Elliot Hobbs on Christmas Day, 1956. A founder member of the English Folk Dance Society she was an active pioneer from its beginning, and continued to work on its behalf until the outbreak of the second world war.

I remember very vividly the first outdoor demonstration which she organized in the village of Kelmscott, the home of William Morris. At this performance both the widow and the daughter of William Morris were present, the ground being surrounded by the horse-drawn vehicles whicb had brought the large audience from the surrounding villages. Some of the spectators had come from very far afield. The brothers Franklin, two octogenarian survivors of the Field Town Morris were present and came over after the performance to comment-favourably on the whole-on the efforts of the Society's first Morris side.

This Kelmscott display was in the early summer of 1912, and for the next twenty years May Hobbs lectured and taught in all parts of the country. In 1928 she toured the United States and spent the winter in Boston, working on behalf of the Society's branch in that great American city. When the Society's touring team arrived in the United States the following year, she joined it and accompanied the team across Canada.

To her husband, who for so many years shiared her interest in folk music, although his farm kept him from sharing in her travels, the Society extends its sympathy in his great loss.

D.N.K.

58

MAY ELLIOTT HOBBS DIED DECEMBER 1956

Many members of the Society will learn with great regret of the death of May Elliot Hobbs on Christmas Day, 1956. A founder member of the English Folk Dance Society she was an active pioneer from its beginning, and continued to work on its behalf until the outbreak of the second world war.

I remember very vividly the first outdoor demonstration which she organized in the village of Kelmscott, the home of William Morris. At this performance both the widow and the daughter of William Morris were present, the ground being surrounded by the horse-drawn vehicles whicb had brought the large audience from the surrounding villages. Some of the spectators had come from very far afield. The brothers Franklin, two octogenarian survivors of the Field Town Morris were present and came over after the performance to comment-favourably on the whole-on the efforts of the Society's first Morris side.

This Kelmscott display was in the early summer of 1912, and for the next twenty years May Hobbs lectured and taught in all parts of the country. In 1928 she toured the United States and spent the winter in Boston, working on behalf of the Society's branch in that great American city. When the Society's touring team arrived in the United States the following year, she joined it and accompanied the team across Canada.

To her husband, who for so many years shiared her interest in folk music, although his farm kept him from sharing in her travels, the Society extends its sympathy in his great loss.

D.N.K.

58

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