The Worm

Cornish folk music is the traditional music of Cornwall, a Celtic region of the far southwest of Britain. It blends the shared British dance‑tune repertory with distinctly Cornish melodies, processional "furry" dances, mining and maritime songs, and pieces in the revived Cornish language (Kernewek). The style is built around strong, singable melodies, driving dance rhythms, and modal inflections (Dorian and Mixolydian are common). Typical instruments include fiddle, melodeon/accordion, concertina, guitar or bouzouki, and frame drum (the crowdy-crawn). In modern dance settings (Nos Lowen and Troyl), bands may play extended tune-sets for social dances that echo both English ceilidh and Breton fest-noz energy. Themes often reflect Cornwall’s tin-mining heritage, seafaring life, seasonal customs (such as May Day), and local legends.