significance of local music 295
21 Pathways in urban living 297
22 Music, society, humanity 327
Appendix A note on methods and presentation 342
Illustrations
1 Borough of Milton Keynes and surrounding area 20
2 The new city of Milton Keynes (designated area) at the time of the research 21
3 New and old in Milton Keynes 23
(a) The village of Stony Stratford
(b) New city housing estate (Fishermead)
4 The changing age structure in Milton Keynes 24
5 Socio-economic profile of Milton Keynes in 1979 25
6 Milton Keynes facts and figures (1983) 26
8 North Bucks Youth Orchestra 34
9 Christmas concert by the Sherwood Sinfonia 36
10 The Wolverton Town and British Rail Band 54
12 (a) and (b) ‘Folk on the Green’ 63
13 Publicity for local folk events 64
14 The Milton Keynes Amateur Operatic Society’s Babes in the Wood 74
17 Country and western musical events 95
18 The interaction of European and Afro-American musical influences 106
19 Some local bands: a few of the hundred or more rock and pop bands of Milton Keynes
20 Mike Skeet of the Whitetower studio records the Stratford Singers 157
21 ‘The Miracle of Spring’ 163
22 Singing a new song: composition and performance 164
23 Running order for a local gig: Basically Brian 177
24 Dragon Dance to celebrate the Chinese New Year 186
25 The Milton Keynes Pipe and Drum Band 187
26 A young performer at the annual Bletchley and District Middle Schools concert 199
27 (a) and (b) Performances at the annual Leon School music week 199
28 Organising a school carol service 201
29 The Sherwood Choir perform Brahms’ German Requiem 245
30 Pub and music shop advertisements 276
31 An annual celebration of music and dance 321
Preface to the 2007 edition
People are always complaining that things aren’t the same as in some golden age in the past – which for some is now the period twenty years ago when I first carried out this study of the amateur musicians in the English city of Milton Keynes. It is true that the local choir I sing in has dwindled drastically since its earlier heyday. It’s now down to a small core of mostly rather ageing members, and we sometimes worry about its continuance. On the other hand it has just appointed a new conductor – and an excellent one too. So, as it has done continuously
