Otley Brass Band is on a mission, following the shock realisation that the famous “Yorkshire Anthem” – On Ilka Moor Baht ‘at was apparently unknown by the children of the lower Wharfe Valley!
The mission is to re-introduce the song into the hearts and minds of our young people, to teach them the words and the music.
So dedicated to this cause is the band, that funds were secured through a kind donation from the “Friends of Ilkley Music Centre” to commission a Brass Band and Children’s Choral version of this musical icon of Yorkshire.
Former conductor of Wharfe Brass and local brass teacher – Gordon Eddison first expressed his growing concern at this situation to the band in 2010 and throughout 2011 “informal research” was done at concerts and in the schools in which Gordon teaches and the results range from no knowledge at all to in one case a question “Did Muse record it”?
Gordon commented “This cannot go on. We owe it to our Yorkshire Heritage to preserve this song in the minds of our young people and not let it be relegated to words on a novelty tea-towel”……”Singing is vital to our children’s musical and social education, parents and grandparents should immediately put this right, teach them to sing On Ilkla Moor Baht ‘at now”!
The history of Yorkshire/Lancashire rivalry has been put aside temporarily, as David Lancaster a famous LANCASTRIAN brass band composer and arranger has worked his Lancashire cotton socks off to compose a special arrangement of the piece for Otley Band..
On Ilkla Moor Baht’at tells of a lover courting the object of his affections, Mary Jane, on Ilkley Moor without a hat (baht ‘at). The singer chides the lover for his lack of headwear – for in the cold winds of Ilkley Moor this will mean his death from exposure. This will in turn result in his burial, the eating of his corpse by worms, the eating of the worms by ducks and finally the eating of the ducks by the singers.
The song was also the inspiration for the pre-programme ident used by Yorkshire Television from 1968 to 1987.
Our CD is available to purchase at all Otley Brass Concerts or by contacting us through the contact page or via the website ‘CD Baby‘. At a very reasonable £10, you get over an hour of music with some stunning art work and even better playing.
Joining Otley Brass Band on the CD is Wharfe Brass who recorded Royal Parade, Eye of the Tiger and Jurassic Park at their first ever recording session.
Also joining the band is Sally’s Army, a local ladies choir who raise their heavenly voices, accompanied by Otley Brass, with all nine verses of “On Ilkla Moor Baht’at”.
So, without any more delay, contact us to purchase your copy.
Puncinellie
1 Praise 4:53
2 The Worth Valley Railway 3:48
3 Playmates 4:31
4 The Rose 3:25
5 My Favourite Things 2:18
6 Singin’ In The Rain 4:00
7 Royal Parade 4:24
8 Eye Of The Tiger 1:49
9 Jurassic Park 2:40
10 Punchinellie 2:35
11 The Firefly 3:57
12 I Wish I knew How It Would Feel To Be Free 3:50
13 Sousa And Co 4:16
14 Deep Harmony 2:53
15 The Grand Old Duke Of York 3:29
16 On Ilkley Moor 7:37
17 On Ilkla Moor Baht ‘at 4:52
Media Appearances
We greatly appreciate all the media attention in this project and hope that the momentum that we’ve started with will continue…
Greg Mulholland announces the ‘On Ilkla Moor Baht At’ project in the Commons
The BBC Have Run various amounts of coverage on this:
Radio 4 (‘Today’ Program, 18th November 2011)
Radio 5 live (Drivetime Program)
ITV Calendar featured the concert preparation on their local news (18th November 2011)
Most of the Local papers have strongly featured the project.
Additionally, Some of the National Papers have picked up the project and written articles for inclusion.
The Song
The song tells of a lover courting the object of his affections, Mary Jane, on Ilkley Moor without a hat (baht ‘at). The singer chides the lover for his lack of headwear – for in the cold winds of Ilkley Moor this will mean his death from exposure. This will in turn result in his burial, the eating of his corpse by worms, the eating of the worms by ducks and finally the eating of the ducks by the singers.
The song was also the inspiration for the pre-programme ident used by Yorkshire Television from 1968 to 1987.
On Ilka Moor Baht’ ‘At Lyrics
Wheear ‘as ta bin sin ah saw thee,
Ah saw thee,
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at?!
Wheear ‘as ta bin sin ah saw thee?
ah saw thee?
Wheear ‘as ta bin sin ah saw thee?
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at?!
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at?!
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at?!
Tha’s been a cooartin’ Mary Jane,
Mary Jane,
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
Tha’s been a cooartin’ Mary Jane
Mary Jane
Tha’s been a cooartin’ Mary Jane
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
Tha’s wee’r thall catch thi deeath o’cowd
deeath o’cowd,
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
Tha’s wee’r thall catch thi deeath o’cowd
deeath o’cowd
Tha’s wee’r thall catch thi deeath o’cowd
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
Then we shall ha’ to bury thee,
bury thee
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
Then we shall ha’ to bury thee
bury thee
Then we shall ha’ to bury thee
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
Then t’worms ‘ll cum and eat thee oop
eat thee oop
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
Then t’worms ‘ll cum and eat thee oop
eat thee oop
Then t’worms ‘ll cum and eat thee oop
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
Then ducks ‘ll cum and eat oop t’worms
eat oop t’worms
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
Then ducks ‘ll cum and eat oop t’worms
eat oop t’worms
Then ducks ‘ll cum and eat oop t’worms
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
Then we shall go an’ ate oop ducks
ate oop ducks
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
Then we shall go an’ ate oop ducks
ate oop ducks
Then we shall go an’ ate oop ducks
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
Then we shall all ‘ave etten thee
etten thee
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
Then we shall all ‘ave etten thee
etten thee
Then we shall all ‘ave etten thee
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
That’s wheer we get us oahn back
us oahn back
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
That’s wheer we get us oahn back
us oahn back
That’s wheer we get us oahn back
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
On Ilkla Moor baht ‘at
Sponsors
We greatly appreciate the generosity of all who have helped so far, if you wish to help then please contact us through the ‘Contact Us’ page.
Ilkley Pets
Red, Beauty and Hair
Searle’s
Milestone Design
Location
The Courthouse
Courthouse Street
Otley LS21 3AN
Tel
07817 007679
07946 479158
info@otleybrassband.co.uk