The merry month of May is almost upon us and we will surely play the tune of that name during the next Walthamstow Tune Session at the Nag’s Head. It was the beginner’s tune for December, and Ayla has chosen more great tunes for May, as follows:

“Here are the tunes of the month for May  - two session chestnuts that are invariably played together as a set. They were recorded together by the New Victory Band (One More Dance And Then) many years ago and have since become session favourites.

Harper’s Frolic
[from abcnotation]

Bonny Kate
[from abcnotation]

Both tunes can be found being played by Lester (sometimes of this parish) on melodeon
[youtube]

We will revisit Idbury Hill and Step Back next month also, as I got the feeling not everyone (me most definitely included) had quite got to grips with them.

As usual, the sound clips and printed music links aim to give a feeling for how these tunes are currently played in sessions, but they don’t of course represent one ‘correct’ way of playing these tunes.

Many thanks
Ayla”

From Ayla

“Here are the tunes of the month for April – on a Cotswold morris theme.

Idbury Hill
[from abcnotation]
[youtube]
[youtube, Morris dance]

Old Molly Oxford (Step Back)
[from abcnotation]
[youtube]
[youtube, Morris dance]

These tunes are from the Cotswold morris tradition – the source of some of the finest tunes ever. Specifically, Idbury Hill is from the Bledington tradition and Old Molly Oxford from the Field Town tradition (Leafield if you’re looking for this one on a map of northwest Oxfordshire!). Please take a look at the clips of dancers to get an idea of how these are played for dancing.

As usual, the sound clips and printed music links aim to give a feeling for how these tunes are currently played in sessions, but they don’t of course represent one ‘correct’ way of playing these tunes.”

From Ayla:

Here are the tunes for March. Perhaps a bit easier this time

Scan Tester’s No 1

[from Folktunefinder]

Scan Tester’s No 2

[from Folktunefinder]

These are perennial session favourites from the playing of traditional Sussex concertina player Scan Tester. In sessions they are normally played as a set with no 2 first, and no 1 following.

As usual, the printed music links aim to give a feeling for how these tunes are currently played in sessions, but they don’t of course represent one ‘correct’ way of playing these tunes.”

Interestingly in Nick Barber’s book they are the other way around – no 2 above is labelled ‘Scan Tester’s polka no 1′ and no 1  is labelled ‘Scan Tester’s polka no 2′. On the CD of Scan’s source recordings they are all just ‘polkas’ … !

We didn’t find suitable videos in the right key, but Kate’s Kitchen Band have a ceilidh band demo that shows them off as a pair, albeit in the opposite order to the one we are familiar with.

[Kate's Kitchen Band]

From Ayla:

Here are February’s tunes of the month – by special request of Alan the piper – two polka-type tunes.

1st tune March of the Men of Devon AKA Ymdaith Gŵyr Dyfnaint

Actually a Welsh tune – one source I’ve seen claims it is from South Wales as the limestone trade by boat over the Bristol channel used to bring many Devonians to the south coast of Wales.

Music: [from Folktunefinder] or an easier version possibly (with fewer semi-quavers!) [from The Session]

Videos: [Flute] [Melodeon and concertina] (2nd tune 1.38 minutes in)

2nd tune Foul Weather Call

This is a traditional Sussex tune from the 19th century manuscripts of the Welch family from Bosham.

Music: [from Folktunefinder]
Video: Not many out there – [Melodeon]

As usual, the sound clips and printed music links aim to give a feeling for how these tunes are currently played in sessions, but they don’t of course represent one ‘correct’ way of playing these tunes.

From Ayla:

After a bit of discussion at the December session we’ve decided that we won’t specify one tune or the other as the ‘easy’ tune for the beginners’ hour … mainly because one person’s ‘easy’ is another person’s ‘hard’!

So here are the two tunes for the 10 January 2012 session – we are going for a Northumbrian theme:

1st tune – Because He Was A Bonny Lad

Video: [melodeon] (second tune)
Music: [abc] [png]

Traditional Northumbrian tune, allegedly in the repertoire of 18th century Northumbrian piper Jamie Allen – but possibly originally of Scottish origin.

2nd tune – Redesdale Hornpipe

Video: [melodeon]

Music: [abc] [png]

Written by James Hill, a Scottish fiddler who lived in Gateshead and Newcastle.

Both tunes are also very nicely played in this clip on cittern – but to note, they’re played in the key of A, whereas we’ll be playing them in G.

As usual, the sound clips and printed music links aim to give a feeling for how these tunes are currently played in sessions, but they don’t of course represent one ‘correct’ way of playing these tunes.

From Ayla:

Here are the tunes for the 13 December 2011 session, both jigs.

Beginner’s hour tune – Month of May

Found in Dave Townsend’s English country dance collection as Month of May and recorded by the Old Swan Band as Michael Turner’s Jig.

Video: [ceilidh band]
Music: [abc] [png]

Anything goes tune – Seven Stars

A perennial session favourite, this is a traditional jig also known as The Moon and Seven Stars. Found in loads of manuscript sources notably the Yorkshire c. 1798 Joshua Jackson collection and the Hardy family manuscripts.
Video [melodeon] [ceilidh band]
Music: [abc] [png]

As usual, the sound clips and printed music links aim to give a feeling for how these tunes are currently played in sessions, but they don’t of course represent one ‘correct’ way of playing these tunes.

Here’s my usual intro with clips to our guests for November, some of which need no introduction.

Jody Kruskal

We were really lucky to get a spare day in Jody’s tour. A quick look at his music online leads me to beleive we’re in for a treat tomorrow. Jody is an Anglo concertina player and plays traditional American songs and tunes.

Website: http://www.jodykruskal.com/

Chris Foster

It’s a great pleasure to welcome Chris back to the club as he doesn’t tour in the UK that often. His last visit was fabulous. This is not a gig to miss.

Website: http://www.myspace.com/chrisfosterfolk

Brian Peters

Brian Peters is one of my favourite players. Not only is he a very proficient and fluent tunes man but he’s also capable of putting the most poignant and/or raucous songs over. I introduced him a few years ago as a musician’s musician. I think that this may be misinterpreted; you don’t need to know how clever what he’s doing is to enjoy it as the music speaks for itself.

He latest project has been working with the Child Ballads and he’s come up with some interesting new  interpretations of classic material which I’m sure he’ll share with us.

Website: http://www.brian-peters.co.uk/

Dick Gaughan

It’s great to have Dick back at the club, not only as it’s always a good night when he plays but to catch up with the man himself. Come and and join us for a night of political, polemic and passion. The video clip was filmed at one of Dick’s previous visits to the club at our previous venue, The Plough.

Website: http://www.dickgaughan.co.uk/

Claire

Here are some video clips and written music for our first two Tunes of the Month, which we’ll play at the November 8th session.

Beginner’s hour tune – Lemmie Brazil’s No 2
A great tune collected from Lementina (Lemmie) Brazil, Gypsy melodeon player from Gloucestershire. Most printed versions of this are ‘undotted’ but most musicians play it ‘dotted’ – listen to how it’s played in the video clips.
video: [melodeon] [ceilidh band]
music: [abc] [png]

Anything goes tune – Radstock Jig
This isn’t a jig but it was collected near Radstock. It’s a more challenging tune and has the odd note that won’t be on some instruments. It starts cEF:please learn this rather than the other main version, which starts with dF#G.
video: [piano accordion] [concertina]
music: [abc] [png]

We hope the clips and written music links will give a feeling for how these tunes are currently played in sessions, but they don’t of course represent one ‘correct’ way of playing these tunes.

Ayla has kindly volunteered to run Tunes of the Month to encourage both the beginners to pick up new tunes and the more experienced players to polish their repertoire. This is what she has to say

“Some of us regulars at the session thought it would be a nice idea to formally start a ‘Tunes of the month’ thing. Almost every month there are tunes we have a go at but nobody can really play very well. We talk about learning them for next month, but of course we forget all about it as soon as we’ve left the pub.

So … each month I’ll pick a couple of tunes (feel free to suggest candidates) – one for the beginners hour, and one for the ‘anything goes’ part of the evening. Then those that want to can have a go at learning in time for the next session.

We’ll get the names of the tunes put on the blog and on the session pages, and give links to online video clips and/or printed music.

We’d really like it if people had a good go at learning the tune so that they can play it without the printed music – either by ear, or by using the music initially and then trying to play it without. That way we can aim to increase our session repertoire and, for those a little less confident about playing without the dots, gradually start to play more tunes by ear/from memory. But don’t worry if you don’t feel comfortable doing that yet.

We’ll aim to play both tunes at a slow to moderate pace several times through (and maybe later at a faster pace if we’re feeling confident!).”

Russ, Kevin, Sandra and I went to the Whitby festival last week and I took this shot of Russ and Kevin during the singaround in Robin Hood’s Bay. The suggestion for a caption competition was enthusiastically supported so here it is:

Add your contribution as a comment. The winner will be announced as part of our birthday celebrations on 11th September and will receive a free entry voucher.

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with and, be warned, they will be moderated so nothing too rude…