A source for English and French folk music

Over the past couple of years, I have collected many tunes, mostly English and French, from a number of wonderful players. This website is a constantly evolving 21st century manuscript in the spirit of the great tune books of the past. If you happen to know the composer of a specific tune, please let me know, so that they can be credited. In the event of anyone being unhappy about their own music being shared in this way, I will, of course, remove relevant items. I hope you enjoy playing them!

Matt

Hurly Burly Whirly Early in the Evening Band

Oxford – Tuesday – 6pm – steps of the Bodleian – see you there!

Latest additions

22.10.09

Another tune from the Fallibroome collection, called Barn Elms added to 3/2 hornpipes

Boldwood at Towersey

We had a great time at Towersey this weekend – thanks to all who came along to ceilidhs, concerts and workshops.

If you went to the fiddle workshop, we played Bagpipers, Childegrove and a 3/8 Bourree (I need to check the title with Daniel).

The 18th century tunes workshop included Nancy Dawson’s Fancy, Burlington Quay, The Miller of Perth and The Shepherd and the Shepherdess.

Hamish Currie filmed the band playing Nancy Dawson’s Fancy and Burlington Quay in the concert tent – click here if you want to watch it on Youtube. There’s also a clip of The Shepherd and the Shepherdess filmed by Michael at the same concert.

Boldwood at Broadstairs

Thanks to all who came to the workshops and ceilidhs at Broadstairs recently. For those who wanted the dots for the tunes taught in the 18th century workshop, they were:

Bagpipers and Nancy Dawson’s Fancy

The Miller of Perth and Barham Down

The Lovely Nymph

We are playing at Towersey Festival at the end of the month, and at Bath Folk Club on 11th September. Hopefully see you there!

Gilles Chabenat

A selection of tunes by hurdy-gurdy maestro Gilles Chabenat. These are all from the album ‘Musique Pour Vielle a Roue – Bleu Nuit’:

Le Magicien, Organdi, En Route, Le Beau Voyage, Bergerie, Le Cheminon, Chasse Pain, La Mante, Baudimic, Adele, Le Bel Oiseau, Florinda, Zam Zam (this is a killer tune – I have transcribed the first two sections so far – if anyone is particularly keen to have the rest, let me know…)

Branles

A Branle (or bransle, pronounced brawl) is a 16th century French dance style. Thoinot Arbeau’s Orchesographie is worth tracking down if you want to learn more: 

Branle de Charlotte from Arbeau (the tune)

Here is a quicktime video link to Branle de Charlotte being performed as part of a project at the Library of Congress demonstrating different dance styles throughout the ages.

Quarter branles found in 1551 Susato manuscript

Champagne Branle learnt from Andy Letcher (part of a set with Jo Freya’s De Montford, as played by the Whirly Band on May morning in Oxford – see Bourrees)

Horse’s Branle from Arbeau’s Orchesographie. In the final section, many people play an F natural, rather than an F sharp. There does not seem to be a definitive answer . Please let me know if you have any evidence to support either.

Scottish Bransle from Arbeau’s Orchesographie. B music is repeated four times in total in some versions.

Polkas

La Monte a Peine written by Frederic Paris

Polka de Gustave Ythier from Trio Violon album

Polka de Meilhac from Trio Violon album

Panic Polka written by Andy Cutting

Jon’s Polka written by Jon Swayne

Tunbridge Beauties and Galloway Girth are from the Sussex Tune Book and were recorded by Boldwood

The Shepherd and the Shepherdess from an unpublished manuscript in the Vaughan Williams Library

Nancy Dawson’s Fancy from Thompson’s Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, 1765

Burlington Quay learnt from Dave Shepherd via Becky Price

Bagpipers is a tune played by Boldwood – not sure where Becky found this one

Playford tunes

Although there are plenty of websites giving you access to Playford’s Dancing Master, and an excellent edition of the Complete Country Dance Tunes, here are a few that I have played with others in the past couple of years.

Maiden Lane

The Indian Queen

Jamaica

Argiers

All in a Garden Green

Mundesse

Nonesuch

Parson’s Farewell

Paul’s Wharf

Staines Morris

Hunsdon House

Nobody’s Jig

Hare’s Maggot (this is the English Acoustic Collective arrangement as found on their album ‘Ghosts’)

And here’s Hare’s Maggot in a version nearer to the original found in Playford

Mr Isaac’s Maggot

Mount Hills (the Playford 1701 edition has this in D; this arrangement by Andy Letcher is in C)

The Glory of the West

Michaelmas Eve

Wallom Green

Childegrove

Slip Jigs

Drink the Worts and Spill the Beer from William Gunn’s Caledonian Respository, Glasgow 1848

Sir Roger de Coverley

The Peacock Followed the Hen from the William Vickers manuscript of 1770

Mad Moll from Playford 1698 edition (originally in A minor)

Somerset from Michael Raven’s 1000 English Country Dance Tunes

Fill the Tankard from the Browne collection (Lake District 1800)

Four Bare Legs Together from the William Vickers manuscript of 1770

Miscellaneous

Tunes that don’t seem to fit any of the other categories and the odd song:

Swedish Tune learnt from Christine Cooper

Quebecoise March learnt from Chris Wood

Three Around Three  learnt from Lisa Banks – a Barn Dance 

A Cretian melody for a song (with words by Sydney Carter) entitled Glass of Water. It was taught by Chris Wood on the English Acoustic Collective Summer School in 2008.

Glass of Water 

Sun is high in the summer sky
I must drink or I will die
Can I have a glass of water
Can I have a glass of water
All I want is a glass of water
All I want is a glass of water 

With my eyes I drink you up
Like the water from a cup
Drink you like a glass of water
You are cooler than the water
All I want is a glass of water
All I want is a glass of water

When the moon is in the sky
All alone in the bed am I
Dreaming of a glass of water
Dreaming of a glass of water
All I want is a glass of water
All I want is a glass of water

Untitled tune learnt from Daniel Wolverson

Lyra written by Andy Letcher

Danse dans la ville de Litany learnt at the Chester Arms (no idea if the spelling is correct)

Pascharelle written by Ed Pritchard

Konvulsionslaten written by Anders Norudde

L’Enfant de Dieu from Encyclopedia Blowzabellica

A couple of tunes written by Rob Harbron: Like a Christmas Tree grew out of a meeting with a snuffling dog wearing a flashing collar on a darkened towpath, and Down to the Beach (I am very grateful to Rob for helping me out with the bar lines for the latter!)

Nancy Dawson’s Fancy from Thompson’s Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances volume 2 (London, 1765)

Nancy leads into Burlington Quay learnt from Becky Price

Just as the Tide was Flowing is a song that has been popular since at least the 19th century. It is very similar to the Morris tune Blue Eyed Stranger.

Jack’s Maggot learnt from Richard Heacock, is probably in Playford somewhere

Hyde Park learnt from Richard Heacock

Laride learnt from Richard Heacock, who in turn learnt it from a session in Falmouth – it goes with this Laride