Music

Category Editor Paul Burgess

Music is an integral part of singing and dancing and often an accompaniment to other activities like processions and ceremonials.

Singers and Dancers are just as much musicians as people who play instruments.

Folk tunes are very often divorced from their original setting and played for another purpose or just for the joy of it. Thus a song tune can become a dance tune or a concert piece.

Sometimes a good tune inspires the addition of words to make it a song.

All of these things happen.

Here we can pool information about where tunes came from, when, what they were used for, possibly who published them, how they travelled and where they are to be found now.

Tunes

Such a small word - such a big subject! Let's start with a Tune Index

Before putting tunes into the system please read the Policy for tune pages

Another major source of tunes and a place to contribute them is The Traditional Tune Archive [1] - The Semantic Index of North American, British and Irish traditional instrumental music with annotation, formerly known as The Fiddler's Companion.

Traditional Players

The definition of a musician's nationality can be loosely applied. Some players were born in one country and lived in that country all their lives playing whatever music came their way in a style that could be described as belonging to that country. Other players were born in England but their parents were Irish or Welsh, etc.

Other players were born elsewhere but learned and played in the midst of the culture into which they were born.

Yet others were born in a country and played music from another tradition or style in a venue of their country.

It doesn't really matter that much. This section is just to narrow the search.

Australian Traditional Players

The major part of the work in documenting Australia's traditional players was done by the late John Meredith in association with a number of other researchers.

Here is a list of the known performers.

See also the National Library of Australia pictures catalogue for John Meredith's collection of pictures of traditional players. (Search on John Meredith and Creator).

Instruments

• Fiddle

• Viola

• Cello

• Double Bass

• Bagpipes

• Pibgorn (Hornpipe)

• Melodeon

• Pipe & Tabor

• Piano Accordion

• Button Accordion

• Concertina

• Harmonica

• Flute

• Piano

• Jaw Harp

• Harp

• Triple Harp

Resources

Recordings

• Argo Records

• Firebird Records

• Musical Traditions Records

• Leader Records

Books

Books published since about 1900 containing mainly tunes from the English repertoire

• 1000 English Country Dance Tunes; Raven,Mike; Stafford; Michael Raven Pub; 1999; Revised 2nd ed, of 1984 original, extracts from other late 20thC publications

• A Northern Lass; Knowles,Jamie; Cleckheaton; Pub.Dave Mallinson; 1995; Music of Cheshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire and the Lake District of the last four centuries 44pp

• After The Chord; Preston,Julie; Sheffield; Beehive Music; 1991; Traditional and Contemporary Tune from the British Isles, arranged in sets for English Country Dancing 34pp

• Airs for Pairs, 4th Ed.; Seattle,Matt; Peebles; Dragonfly Music; 2003; 19 tunes arranged as duets. First published 1991,1997, 1999

• Alawon John Thomas; Meurig,Cass; Aberystwyth; Tne National Library of Wales; 2004; A Fiddler's Tune Book from 18th Century Wales. 438 tunes

• Anglo-Concertina Music of William Kimber,The; Worral,Dan M.; London; EFDSS; 2005; Biography of famous Morris musician, and 28 tunes

• Band Swing; Mac,Pete; Cleckheaton; Dave Mallinson Pub.; 1998; Tunes Arranged for the Band by the Author 48pp

• Bear Bones; Perkins,Andy; n/d; 89 tunes played at the traditional music session at The Bear in Faversham, broad selection

• Bear Bones 2; Slater,Paul; n/d; 93 tunes. British, American and European

• Bear Bones 3; Slater,Paul; n/d; 85 tunes. British, American and European

• Before the Night Was Out; Howson,Katie Ed.; Stowmarket; EATMT; 2007; 64 polkas, hornpipes etc Transcribed from Traditional Players in Norfolk and Suffolk

• Benjamin's Book; Thompson,Colin & Tim Laycock; Shoreham-by-Sea; ISBN 978-0-9571059-0-4 Pub by the Authors 2011; The Complete Country Dance MS of B.Rose, Farmer, alehouse keeper and musician of Belchalwell Dorset, 1820. Includes an MP3 CD of all 133 tunes.

• Billy Pigg: The Border Minstrel; Schofield,Adrian & Julie Say; Newcastle upon Tyne; The Northumbrian Pipers Society; 1997; Biography and compositions by..64pp

• Border Bagpipe Book,The; Seattle,Matt; Blyth; Dragonfly Music;1993; 'a kind of creative reconstruction of border pipe music'

• Ceilidh Collection,The; Jones,Edward Huw; London; Boosey & Hawkes; 1996; Traditional Fiddle Tunes from England, Ireland and Scotland

• Charlton Memorial Tune Book,The; Hall,Alan & W.J.Stafford; Newcastle upon Tyne; The Northumbrian Piper's Soc.; 1956; Reprinted 1974,1979. A collection of 100+ tunes for the northumbrian Small-pipes and the fiddle

• Chippindale's Cheery Tunes; Chippindale,Nigel; Bridlington; Pub by the Author; 1991; A Collection of 51 New Dance Tunes Suitable for Most Folk Instruments

• Clough Family of Newsham,The; Ormston,Chris & Julie Say; Newcastle upon Tyne; The Northumbrian Pipers Society; 2000; History of the Northumbrian Piping family. 160pp

• Coleford Jig,The, Traditional Tunes from Gloucestershire; Mentieth,Charles & Paul Burgess; Cheltenham; Menteith & Burgess; 2004; 250+ tunes from Gloucestershire

• Collection of the Choicest Scots Tunes for the Lowland and Border Pipes; Mooney,Gordon J.;1982; 95 tunes

• Complete Country Dance Tunes from Playford's Dancing Master 1651-ca1728,The; Barlow,Jeremy; London; Faber Music; 1985; Approx 535 dance tunes from the 17th and early 18th centuries

• Coquetdale Garland,The; Dagg,Archie; Newbiggin by the Sea; Rossleigh Music; n/d, late 20thC; Fiddle and small-pipe tunes by..

• Country Dance Tunes, Series; Sharp,Cecil; London; Novello & Co; 1909etc; Mostly from Playford, early ones not. Later series arranged by Arnold Foster

• Country Dances, including all the well-known..; Farnell,G.H.; Leeds; Banks Music House; c1930; 61 British tunes for piano

• Davidson's Musical Miracles, 250 Welsh Airs; Anon.; Ceredigion; Llanerch Pub.; n/d (1980's?); A Facsimile of the Edition of 1859

• Easiest Tune Book of Country Dances; Pike,Eleanor Franklin; London; Edwin Ashdown Ltd; n/d; Simple piano arrangements of 43 folk tunes

• Easy Peasy Tunes; Mallinson,Dave; Cleckheaton; Dave Mallinson Pub.; 2002; English Pub Session Series. 101 tunes

• Echoes of Old Kea; O'Connor,Mike; Wadebridge; Lyngham House; 2001; Extracts from the musical notebook of John Giddy, Gentleman, of Cornwall

• Encyclopedia Blowzabellica; Armitage,Dave et al.; Blyth; Dragonfly Music; 1987; The Blowzabella Tune and Dance Book, English and other.

• English Country Dance Tunes; Mallinson,Dave; Cleckheaton; Dave Mallinson Pub.; 2006; English Pub Session Series. 101 tunes

• English Dance Music Vol 1, 2nd Ed.; Townsend,Dave; Oxford; The Serpent Press; 2001; Revised, first pub. 1993,130 current traditional English dance tunes

• English Dance Music Vol 2, 2nd Ed.; Townsend,Dave; Oxford; The Serpent Press; 2003; Revised, first pub. 1993,132 current traditional English dance tunes

• English Fiddle Tunes; Cooper,Pete; London; Schott & Co.Ltd.; 2006; 99 traditional pieces for the violin

• English Pub Session Tunes; Mallinson,Dave; Cleckheaton; Dave Mallinson Pub.; 2006; English Pub Session Series. 101 tunes

• Everybody Swing, Square Dance Album #1; Kennedy,Peter; London; EFDSS; 1952; Thirteen miscellaneous tunes

• Fallibroome Coll. (Tunes); De Jersey,Everal;17 Pianoforte arrangements for English Country Dances

• Fiddle Music of James Hill,The; NPS; Newcastle upon Tyne; The Northumbrian Pipers Society; 2005; a collection of hornpipes and other tunes, not necessarily by J.Hill

• Fiddlecase Book of 101 Polkas; Perron,Jack & Randy Miller; Harrisville,N.H.; Fiddlecase Books; 1976; Irish,Scottish,English Canadien and American fiddle tunes

• Fiddler of Helperby,The; Merryweather,James & Matt Seattle; Newbiggin-by the-Sea; Dragonfly Music; 1994; The Life and Music of Laurence Leadley, Yorkshire fiddler. Selection of 129 tunes from 19thC family MSS

• Fiddler's Tune-Books,The; Kennedy,Peter; Cleckheaton; Dave Mallinson Pub.; 1994; 200 tunes, first published in two volumes by OUP for the EFDSS in 1951/54

• Five Country Dances (Ashover); EFDS Sheffield; Sheffield; pub by the Authors; 1927; Five dances with their tunes from the Harrison/Wall collection, Ashover 18thC

• Five Popular Country Dances; Foster,Arnold; London; EFDSS; 1920's; Adapted by Violet Orde from collected dances, with tunes

• Folk in Harmony, Vols 1-2; Hobbs,Derek; Newbiggin by the Sea; Rossleigh Music; n/d; Northumbrian Tunes, arranged as duets and some with piano

• Follow The Band; Brothwell,Jack; Evesham; Cotswold Music; 1987; Folk Melodies Arranged in Parts by the Author 41pp

• Great Northern Tune Book,The; Seattle,Matt; London; EFDSS & Northumbrian Pipers Soc.; 2008; The complete 1770 MS of a Northumbrian musician, 600 tunes, first pub. in three vols by Dragonfly Pub. in 1986/7

• Hampshire Dance Tunes; Shatwell,Bob & Paul Sartin; Henfield; Hobgoblin Books; 2006; Country Dance Tunes from the Pyle Family MS, 1822

• Hardcore English; Callaghan,Barry; London; EFDSS; 2007; 300 English tunes from MS, recorded and aural sources

• Hornpipes,Jigs,Marches etc.; Alnwick Piper's Soc.; Alnwick; Alnwick Piper's Soc.pub; 1988; Dance tunes by Willies Taylor and Atkinson etc vol 2

• How to Play Folk Fiddle; Bowen,Geoff ; Ilkley; Yorkshire Dales Workshops; 1993, 2003; An Introduction to English, Scottish,Shetland and Irish Fiddle Playing 60pp

• Ilow Kernow, The Traditional Instrumental Music of Cornwall; O'Connor,Mike; Wadebridge; Lyngham House; 2000; All the Cornish tunes collected up till 2000

• Ironbridge Hornpipe,The; Ashman,Gordon; Blyth; Dragonfly Music; 1991; A Shropshire collection, John Moore's mid 19th century MS. approx 120 tunes

• Jack Armstrong Tunebook,The; Hobbs,Derek; Newbiggin by the Sea; Rossleigh Music; n/d; Northumbrian Pipe Tunes, composed by Jack Armstrong

• Jigs,Reels and Hornpipes; Jones,Edward Huw; London; Boosey & Hawkes; 1992; Traditional Fiddle Tunes from England, Ireland and Scotland

• John & Mary Thurston Music Book,The; Challen,Christopher; Thornbury; Vox Humana Press; 2007; Facsimile of 1736 Cotswolds tunebook

• John Clare and the Folk Tradition; Deacon,George; London; Francis Boutle Publishers; 2002; 2nd revised edition, book about Clare's singing and fiddling, plus a whole load of tunes from his MSS

• John Kirkpatrick's English Choice; John Kirkpartrick; Cleckheaton; Dave Mallinson Pub.; 2003; 101 English tunes

• John of the Green, The Cheshire Way; Offord,John; London; Green Man Music; 2008; The famous triple-time hornpipes of North West England, etc a much revised edition of John of the Greeny Cheshire Way

• John of the Greey Cheshire Way; Offord,John; London; The Friends of Folk Music; 1985; The famous Double Hornpipes of Lancashire and Cheshire etc

• John Parry Ddall Rhiwabon Pocket Tune-Book; Huw Bowen,Robin; Aberystwyth; Gwasg Teires; 1991; (27) Tunes from the MS of.

• Joseph Kershaw MS,The; Knowles,Jamie; Lancashire; INWAC Pub.; 1993; The Music of an early 19thC Saddleworth Fiddle Player

• Joshua Gibbons MS, Lincolnshire Collections Vol 1; Sumner,Peter D.; Grimsby; Breakfast Pub; 1997; All 186 tunes from the MS of J.Gibbons

• Joshua Jackson, North Yorkshire Cornmiller and Musician; Bowen,Geoff & Robin Shepherd; Ilkley; Yorkshire Dales Workshops; 1998; A selection of Tunes, Songs and Dances from the 1798 MS of. Yorkshire

• Kentish Hops; Simons,A; London; EFDSS; 1961; "Kent has, unfortunately, no surviving dance tradition" so this selection from the 18thC!

• Lads Like Beer,The, The Fiddle Music Of James Hill; Dixon,Graham; Midlothian; Random Pub.; 1987; The definitive collection of James Hill's compositions, with an excellent introduction about music on 1840's Tyneside

• Lenham Camp; Frampton,George; Maidstone; Faversham Soc. Paper #10; 2010; Dance tunes from the MS of Robert Thomas Bottle of Harrietsham Kent, 1761-1849 (stapled pamphlet, 48pp) ISBN 1-900214-62-8

• Llewelyn Alaw Pocket Tune-Book; Huw Bowen,Robin; Aberystwyth; Gwasg Teires; 1990; (32) Tunes from the MS of.

• Mary Richards Darowen Pocket Tune-Book; Huw Bowen,Robin; Aberystwyth; Gwasg Teires; 1991; (32) Tunes from the MS of.

• Master Piper,The, Nine Notes That Shook the World; Seattle,Matt; Newbiggin-by -the Sea; Dragonfly Music; 1995; A Border Bagpipe Repertoire, 1733, from the MS of William Dixon

• Mel Bay Presents English Fiddle; Bartram,Chris; Pacific Mo.; Mel Bay Pub.; 2009; 84 tunes and an essay about English fiddling, from a leading exponent

• More Airs for Pairs, 4th Ed.; Seattle,Matt; Cleckheaton; Dave Mallinson Pub.; 2006; 21 duets on British tunes

• Morpeth Rant,The, A Grand Selection Of Northumbrian and Related Music; Seattle,Matt; Blyth; Dragonfly Music; 1990; Pipe and Fiddle Tunes from Four Centuries

• Morris Dance Tunes; Brock, John ed.; London; EFDSS; 1973; Twenty nine morris dance tunes

• Morris Dance Tunes, Series; Sharp,Cecil; London; Novello & Co; 1912; Arranged for piano by C#

• Mr Joshua Jackson Book, 1798, Vol 2.; Shepherd,Robin & Rosalind; Yorkshire; Robin & Rosalind Shepherd; 2011; The remaining 147 Tunes, Songs and Dances from the 1798 MS of. Yorkshire

• Musical Heritage of Thomas Hardy,The vol 1; Trim, Roger et al.; Blyth; Dragonfly Music; 1990; Selection of early 19thC dance tunes from the family of the novelist

• National English, Irish, Scotch and Welsh Airs; Anon; London; Boosey & Co; c1900; Arranged for piano

• Never on Sunday; Woods,Rollo; Swanage; West Gallery Music Ass.; 2009; Marches,Dances,Song Tunes and Party Pieces as Played by a 19thC Devon Village Church Band

• New England Fiddler's Repertoire; Miller,Randy & Jack Perron; East Alstead,N.H.; Fiddlecase Books; 1983; A Source Book of Established Contra Dance Music

• Nick Barber's English Choice; Barber,Nick; Cleckheaton; Dave Mallinson Pub.; 2002; 100 session tunes

• Nick Barber's English Selection; Barber,Nick; Cleckheaton; Dave Mallinson Pub.; 2011; 100 English tunes

• Northern Frisk; Knowles,Jamie; Blyth; Dragonfly Music; 1988; A Treasury of 155 Tunes from North West England

• Northumbrian Piper's Second Tunebook; Butler,Richard & Bill Hume; Newcastle upon Tyne; The Northumbrian Pipers Society; 1981; c150 tunes for the N'brian Smallpipes and other Folk Instruments

• Northumbrian Piper's Third Tunebook; Sessoms,Ann; Newcastle upon Tyne; The Northumbrian Pipers Society; 1991; c100 tunes for the N'brian Smallpipes and other Folk Instruments

• Northumbrian Piper's Tunebook 3rd impresssion; Charlton,Foster et al.; Newcastle upon Tyne; The Northumbrian Pipers Society; 1985; ca 90 tunes for the N'brian Smallpipes and other Folk Instruments

• Northumbrian,Tyneside and Other Traditional Fiddle Tunes; Loud,Peter; Tyneside; Peter Loud; 2006; Over 480 tunes from the NE repertoire

• Northumrian Piper's Green Pocket Book; Seattle,Matt; Blyth; Dragonfly Music; 1993; A Collection of (80+) tunes for Northumbriam and other melody instruments

• Northumrian Piper's Yellow Pocket Book; Seattle,Matt; Blyth; Dragonfly Music; 1993; A Collection of (80+) tunes for Northumbriam and other melody instruments

• Old and The New,The; Dunn,Robin; Cleckheaton; Dave Mallinson Pub.; 1997; Dances and dance tunes traditional and novel 32pp

• Old English Country Dance Tunes Bks. 1&2; Kidson,Frank; London; Davidson Bros.; 1916; Six made up children's dances to old tunes

• Opus Pocus; Kirkpatrick,John & Sue Harris; Newbiggin-by -the Sea; Dragonfly Music; 1988; Tunes written by the authors plus some traditional tunes

• Over The Hills and Far Away; Seattle,Matt; Blythe; Dragonfly Music; 2006; Music for Lowland and Border Bagpipes and Other Melody Instruments. 42 tunes, long and short

• Pauline Cato's Northumbrian Choice; Cato,Pauline; Cleckheaton; Dave Mallinson Pub.; 1997; Northumbrian pipe tunes, 48pp

• Peacock's Tunes; Wright,William; Newcastle upon Tyne; The Northumbrian Pipers Society; n/d; Modern edition of Wrights early 19thC collection of John Peacock's tunes

• Peeping Tom Tunebook; Wilson,Ian & Ben Woodward; Cleckheaton; Dave Mallinson Pub.; 1993; Tunes composed by the authors for the English dance band Peeping Tom 44pp

• Pick n'Mix; Robson,Catherine; Newcastle upon Tyne; Pipers in Harmony; 2006; A Selection of Tunes with Harmony for Northumbrian Small Pipes and Other. 48pp

• Piper's Companion,The Vols 1-7; Hobbs,Derek; Newbiggin by the Sea; Rossleigh Music; 1982-99; Northumbrian Tunes, arranged as duets and some trios

• Pipers in Harmony: A Collection of Duets for N'brian Smallpipes; Luff,Myrna & Jane Robson; Newcastle upon Tyne; Pipers in Harmony; 1994; And other melody instruments. 32pp

• Pipers in Harmony:Bk 2, A Further Collection of Duets for N'brian Smallpipes; Luff,Myrna & Martin Luff; Newcastle upon Tyne; Pipers in Harmony; 2003; And other melody instruments. 48pp

• Pipers in Harmony:Bk 3, A Further Collection of Duets for N'brian Smallpipes; Luff,Martin & Myrna Luff; Newcastle upon Tyne; Pipers in Harmony; 2009; And other melody instruments. 48pp

• Piping Hot: Collection of Tunes for the Keyless Chanter; Robson,Jane ed.; Newcastle upon Tyne; Pipers in Harmony; 1998; And other melody instruments. 52pp

• Plain Brown Tune Book,The; Doyle,Tony; Saddleworth; Plain Brown Publishing Co.; 1997; A collection of 132 tunes from the North West of England

• Play In The Band; Moule,Barry; Evesham; Cotswold Music Society; 1995; A core repertoire of nearly 250 Folk Dance Tunes

• Popular English Session Tunes; Mallinson,Dave; Cleckheaton; Dave Mallinson Pub.; 2006; English Pub Session Series. 101 tunes

• Popular Selection of English Dance Airs,A, Bk 1; Fleming-Williams,Nan & Pat Shaw; London; EFDSS; 1966; 17th & 18th Century Country Dance Tunes

• Popular Selection of English Dance Airs,A, Bk 3; Fleming-Williams,Nan & Pat Shaw; London; EFDSS; 1968; Traditional Cotswold Morris Dance Tunes

• Popular Selection of Traditional Dance Airs,A,Bk 2; Fleming-Williams,Nan & Pat Shaw; London; EFDSS; 1967; British Tunes For Country Dances of Today

• Puddletown Reel,The; Bowles,David; Blyth; Dragonfly Music; n/d,late 20thC; 36 original compositions relating to the county of Dorset

• Real Thing,The; Scott,Ian; Newcastle upon Tyne; Pipers in Harmony; n/d; A Selection of Tunes with Harmony for Northumbrian Small Pipes and Other. 52pp

• Ryan's Mammoth Collection; Sky,Patrick; Pacific Mo.; Mel Bay Pub.; 1995; First published mid-19th century, 1050 Reels, Hornpipes and Jigs, etc. almost identical to Cole's 100 Fiddle Tunes, 1940. Many hornpipes and jigs

• Scottish Airs For Pairs; Seattle,Matt; Cleckheaton; Dave Mallinson Pub.; 2006; Duets on Scottish tunes

• Selection of Locally Composed Music,A; Alnwick Piper's Soc.; Alnwick; the Authors; 1981; Dance tunes by Willies Taylor and Atkinson etc vol 1

• Seven Midland Dances; Clarke,Sibyl ed.; London; EFDSS; 1955; Dances collected in Northamptonshire, 7 dances, 6 tunes

• Six English Set Dances; Anon.; London; EFDSS; 1942; Popular dances, with tunes

• Six Morris Dances and Jigs; Foster,Arnold; London; EFDSS; 1920's; Dance descriptions and tunes

• South Riding Tune Book (vol1); Davenport,Paul; Mosborough; The South Riding Folk Network; 1996; Traditional Dance Music from Yorkshire, Durham and West Midlands MS Collections

• South Riding Tune Book (vol2); Davenport,Paul; Mosborough; The South Riding Folk Network; 1997; The Second Collection of Traditional Dance Music from Northern MSS

• Steel Skies; Anderson,Alistair; Whitney; Serpent Press; 1982; A modern musical suite in the style of dance music for traditional instruments

• Sussex Tune Book,A; Loughran,Anne & Vic Gammon; London; EFDSS; 1982; A selection of 120 from various early 19thC Sussex MSS

• Sword Dance Tunes, 1&2; Sharp,Cecil; London; Novello & Co; 1912; Arranged for piano by C#

• Traditional Dance Music of Britain and Ireland, Hornpipes, Breakdowns, Clog and Step Dances; Kennedy,Peter; Cleckheaton; Dave Mallinson Pub.; 1998; 200 tunes randomly selected and unattributed mostly British tunes

• Traditional Dance Music of Britain and Ireland, Jigs, Quicksteps and Humours; Kennedy,Peter; Cleckheaton; Dave Mallinson Pub.; 1997; 200 tunes randomly selected and unattributed mostly British tunes

• Traditional Dance Music of Britain and Ireland, Reels, Rants, Flings and Fancies; Kennedy,Peter; Cleckheaton; Dave Mallinson Pub.; 1997; 200 tunes randomly selected and unattributed mostly British tunes

• Traditional Dance Music of Britain and Ireland, Slip Jigs and Waltzes; Kennedy,Peter; Cleckheaton; Dave Mallinson Pub.; 1999; 200 tunes randomly selected and unattributed mostly British tunes

• Trip to Friezland; Walker,Paul; Lancashire; P.Walker; 2000 circa; A Selection of Traditional Tunes from the North West of England Arranged for Ceilidh Dancing

• Twelve Country Dances; Vaughan Williams; London; EFDSS; 1931; Tunes to 12 dances collected by Maude Karpeles

• Twelve Dances for a Party; Anon; London; EFDSS; c1955?; Tunes from the repertoire of fiddler Mr. Rew of Sidmouth

• Village Band Book,The; Townsend,Dave; Oxford; The Serpent Press; 2003; Tunes from English tradition presented here in historical arrangements

• William Andrews Tunebook,The; ed. Bartram,Chris and Paul Wilson; Okehampton; Wren Trust; 1999; 30 tunes from the playing of a 19thC Dartmoor fiddler

• William Mittell, His Book; Roberts,Dave; Hastings; Timespan Music Pub.; 1993; A selection of 80 tunes from the 1799 MS

• William Winter's Quantock's Tune Book; Woolfe,Geoff; Crowcombe; Halsway Manor Soc.; 2007; All 376 mid 19thC tunes from Winter's MS

Manuscripts

Many musicians over the centuries have written down their repertoire in music books and some of the old ones have survived into the 21st century. The oldest one so far identified was written down by Henry Atkinson of Morpeth Northumberland and is dated on one page - 1694.

Some good work has been done in transcribing these books and making them available as paper published tunebooks or as abc code collections on the internet.

Manuscripts by County

Tune Manuscripts List

Historical Publications

Tunes and dances are bound together and when Walsh and Simpson, et al published the dances the tunes came attached. Mostly, modern musicians raid the tunes and skip over the dances. You should follow the dances to find the tunes.

Online Tunes

• The Village Music Project
  

A study of English social musicians from the 17th Century onwards from their manuscripts. Contains information about fiddle manuscripts, plus many of their contents transcribed into abc format.
http://www.village-music-project.org.uk/

• The Farne Project
  

A selection of texts, pictures and recordings of Northumbrian Traditional Music, including a number of traditional tune resources. There are scans of one of the oldest tune manuscripts in England written down by Henry Atkinson in 1694. There are recordings by a variety of musicians including Willy Taylor, Joe Hutton and Will Atkinson.
The Farne Project

• John Chamber's Tune Finder

This excellent resource trawls the web for tunes in abc format and allows the user to retrieve the results in a variety of ways. You just need to know something about your target tune to narrow the search.

Find tunes

• Chris Walshaw's Search Engine on the ABC Notation Homepage

Type in a title and see the tunes pop up, in notation, midi and ABC format.

ABC homepage