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Keith Summers interviewed the
Seaman family of Darsham, east Suffolk and his findings were published in an
article in ‘Traditional Music’ No.4 – Mid 1976 and in a double issue
supplement to that magazine - No.8 & 9 – Late 1977 /Early 1978 under the
title ‘Sing, Say or Pay!'.
The Seaman brothers, particularly Ernie (1898-1963) and Charlie were known for their
melodeon playing but during the interviews it was apparent that they also
had a dulcimer which was played by Charlie and younger brother Bertie.
Below are transcripts of
Keith’s interviews:
‘Those Seamans - Ernie and Charlie and the rest of them - they could play
anything you wanted. Old Charlie would play accordeon then set it down and
pick up a tin whistle, then his dulcimer - anything.’ (Tom Goddard)
‘My father Charlie Seaman had four brothers and three sisters and all of
them except one sister could play an instrument. Dad played accordeon and
dulcimer, Ernie played accordeon, Stanley played a wooden flute, Jack played
concertina and accordeon but he died young, and Bertie played dulcimer and a
bit on the violin. Yet it's funny, I don't know where they picked it up
from.’ (Fred Seaman)
‘Dad and Uncle Stan married two sisters and lived at Sibton Green a while
before moving to Darsham. I remember when we were kids Dad'd come back from
the pub and get his dulcimer out and play - we used to have to sit as quiet
as mice. Then mother would take us up to bed and take the oil lamp out and
leave him playing in the dark, and he’d put a silk cloth over the strings to
muffle the sound. He’d play for hours in the dark - 'Queen Mary's Waltz', 'Jack
the Lad'. He could play with two or four cane sticks at once - three strings
on each post.’ (George Seaman)
‘At one time Dad and Ernie would be out most nights playing - Darsham Fox,
Stradbroke Arms (Darsham), Sibton White Horse, Yoxford, Peasenhall,
Halesworth, Badingham Bowling Green - that's another where he'd stay for a
week - "Cooper's Dip" (Railway Hotel, Saxmundham) - and they'd get a little
band together sometimes, especially in the Fox. George Bailey, from Sibton,
would play the banjo, Tom Thurston, from Darsham, played mouthorgan and
Charlie Philpott, a boot repairer from Yoxford, played dulcimer. They all
used to go by bike - club up before they went. (Fred Seaman)
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