Lester's Tune-a-Day

A morris dance tune from the city of Lichfield. X:427 T:Sheriff's Ride - Litchfield M:4/4 L:1/8 K:Em BA|G2 E2 E2 FG|AG F2 E2 B2|e2 e2 e2 fe|d2 B2 B3 B| d2 d2 ed dc|dc BA A2 E2|G2 A2 dc BA|B2 E2 E4|| e2 e2 e2 fe|d2 B2 B3 B|e2 e2 e2 fe|d2 B2 B3 B| d2 d2 ed dc|dcBA A2 E2|G2 A2 dc BA|BE E2 E2||

This tune was reputedly composed by James Allen - piper, gypsy, rogue and hero who was hanged for sheep steeling around the turn of the 18th century. X:406 T:Salmon Tails Up the Water M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G G2E2D2E2|G4G3A|B2d2A2BA|G2E2D4| G2E2D2E2|G4G3A|B2d2A2BA|(G4G4):| B2d2d4|c2e2e4|d2B2A2BA|G2E2D4| B2d2d4|c2e2e3f|g2f2e2d2|e2f2g4| B2d2d4|c2e2e4|d2B2A2BA|G2E2D4| G2E2D2E2|G4G3A|B2d2A2BA|(G4G4)|]

A morris dance tune from the village of Bledington celebrating a local hill fort. X:206 T:Idbury Hill M:4/4 L:1/8 K:EDor B2 Bc d2 B2|AGFE D2 EF|G2 B2 BAGF|E4 E4| B2 Bc d2 B2|AGFE D2 EF|G2 B2 BAGF|E4 E4|| B2 Bc d2 B2|edcB A2 A2|B2 Bc d2 B2|e3 d B4| B2 Bc d2 B2|AGFE D2 EF|G2 B2 BAGF|E4 E4:|| B4 B2 c2|d4 B4|e2 d2 c2 B2|A4 A4| B2 Bc d2 B2|e3 d B4|B2 Bc d2 B2|AGFE D2 EF| G2 B2 BAGF|E4 E4:||

A morris dance tune from the village of Kirtlington. X:309 T:Mrs Casey - Kirtlington M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G ba|g2 e efe|d2 B d2 d|efd efg|c'3 b2 a| g2 e efe|d2 B d3|efg a2 f|g3 g2|| g|g2 a b2 c'|d'2 e' d'3|g2 a b2 c'|d'3 d'3| e'2 c' d'2 b|c'2 b a2 g|g2 f e2 d|c'3 b2 a| g2 e efe|d2 B d2 d|efd efg|c'3 b2 a| g2 e efe|d2 Bd3|efg a2 f|g3 g2||

A tune from the George Spencer Manuscript, Leeds,1831. X:456 T:Steamboat Hornpipe M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G (3def|g2 b>g d2 g>d|B>cd>B G2A>B|c2 e>c A2 c>A|F>GA>B c>de>f| g2 b>g d2 g>d|B>cd>B G2 A>B|c>ed>c B>AG>F|A2 G2 G2:| B>c|d>Bd>B g2 g2|e>ce>c a4|f2f2 g2g2|a>gf>e d2(3def| g2 b>g d2 g>d|B>cd>B G2 A>B|c>ed>c B>AG>F|A2 G2 G2:|

Tune by Chris Woods X:313 T:Mrs Saggs - Hohner C:Chris Woods N:Lester's Version N: Rhythm and pitch simplified by Anahata M:2/4 L:1/8 Q:1/8=200 K:G DGA |B4 | A2 GF|  G4- | G2 Bd |e/f/g dg| cg dg | g2 fe| fdef | g2 d2 | cB AG | D2 C2 |B,2 D2 | EC EG | BA GF | G4- |G :| |:zAB| c4- |  cB  AG |DFAd |fdef|g2 d2 |cBAG| B2 AG| A3 B| c4 | B2 AG |FAdf| a2 gf|g2 dd | cBAG | G4- | G :||

This tune was written by James Hook, an English composer and was published circa 1790. X:254 T:Lass of Richmond Hill M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G "A" D2|D2 G2 G2 G2|AGFG A2 c2|B2 G2 E2 A2|G4 F2 D2| D2 G2 G2 G2|AGFG A2 G2|FE D2 E2 ^C2|D4 -D2|| G2|FE D2 D2 G2|FE D2 D2 G2|FE D2 c2 B2|B4 A2 G2| FE D2 D2 G2|FE D2 d3 c|B2 G2 A2 F2|G4 G2|| D2|D2 G2 G2 B2|B6 G2|F2 A2 A2 c2|c6 A2|B2 A2 G2 F2| G2 E2 D2 c2|B2 GB A2 FA|G4 G2||

A tune from Bodmin, Cornwall which I assume has a relationship with the annual Bodmin Riding custom was held  on the Sunday and Monday after 7 July. X:53 T:Bodmin Riding M:C| L:1/8 K:G D2| G2 G2 G2 G2 | GFGA GAGA | B2 B2 B2 B2 | BABc BcBc | d2 d2d2 ed | c2c2c2 dc | B2 AG c2 B2 | A6 :|| FG | A2 A2 A2 B2 | AGFE D2 Bc| d2 d2 d2 e2 | dcBA G2 dc | B2 A2 G2 dc | B2 A2 G2 B2  | cBAG F2A2 | G4 G2 :||

The eponymous jig from the iconic Suffolk melodeon player Oscar Woods from Benhall near Saxmundham. X:353 T:Oscar Woods M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G BAG BAG|BcB ded|GAG BAG|A2A A3| BAG BAG|BcB ded|d2 g dBG|ABA G3:| B2 d dcB|c2 e edc|B2 d dBG|c2A A3| B2 d dcB|c2 e edc|d2 g dBG|ABA G3:|

A different version of the common morris tune called the Cuckoo's Nest. This version is from the village of Illmington and was collected by Cecil Sharp. X:100 T:Cuckoo's Nest M:2/2 L:1/8 K:D FGFE D2d2|FGFE D2d2|FGFE DCDE|F2D2 D4:| d2d2 d2ed|c2A2 A3B|=c2c2 c2dc|B2G2 G4| FGFE D2d2|dBAF G2 FG|AGFE DCDE|F2D2 D4:|

The Waltz from the Michael Turner Collection, seem originally to have been Mozart's German Dance no.2 (Trio) KV 536 no.2, 1788. X:297 T:Michael Turner's Waltz M:3/4 L:1/8 K:G GA|B2BDcD|d2d2gf|e2e2ge|d2d2GA| B2BDcD|d2d2cA|G2G2AB|G2z2:| |:AB|c2cdBc|A2A2Bc|d2decd|B2B2gf| e2e2ge|d2d2GA|B2BcAB|G2z2:|

A Headington morris tune. Played on a Hohner Club Model IV in C/F X:50 T:Blue Eyed Stranger M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G D|G2D2D2GF|ED EF G2GA|B2d2cB AG|E2F2 G3D| G2D2D2GF|ED EF G2A2|B2d2cB AG|1E2F2G3:|2 E2F2G4|| GA Bc d2d2|ed cB A2 d2|GA Bc d2d2|B3c d4| GA Bc d2d2|ed cB A2GA|B2d2cB AG|E2F2G4:|

A John Kirkpatrick tune, from his Three in a Row CD (LP) X:138 T:Find the Lady M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G B2 B2 d2 d2|gfef g2 d2|B2 B2 d2 d2|gfeg f3 d| c2 c2 A2 A2|gfeg f2 d2|A2 A2 gfeg|f2 e2 B4| B2 B2 d2 d2|gfef g2 d2|B2 B2 d2 d2|gfed e4| e2 e2 ABce|d2 d2 GABd|c2 B2 ABcd|e2 f2 g4|| B2 d2 G2 d2|Bded B2 G2|B2 d2 gdBd|e2 d2 c3 B| A2 c2 F2 A2|cBcd c2 A2|F2 A2 fffe|d2 A2 B4| B2 d2 G2 d2|Bded B2 G2|gdBd G2 B2|c2 d2 e4| e2 e2 gfge|d2 B2 gdBd|c2 A2 c2 A2|edef g4||

Collected from a Bursledon Village band CD. Composed by Dave Ingledew X:68 T:BVB March C:Dave Ingledew M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G GA|B2 BA G2 D2|E2 E2 D4|B2 AB d2 B2|A6 GA| B2 BA G2 D2|E2 E2 D4|B2 dB A2 BA|G4 G2:| |:AB|c2 cd e2 d2|c2 A2 B4|c2 cd e2 d2|A6 GA| B2 BA G2 D2|E2 E2 D4|B2 dB A2 BA|G4 G2:||

Lemmy Brazil was a (female) member of a large family of travellers. ("Lemmy" is the shortened form of "Lementina" - "Brazil" is pronounced "Brazzle"). She played melodeon and mouth-organ, but all of the family were musical and were well-known for their singing. There were 15 brothers and sisters in that generation of the Brazil family of which the younger members were recorded.  Their parents were William Brazil, born in Devonshire, and Pricscilla Webb, born in Cornwall.  The family had lived in London for some time, then travelled in southern England and Lemmie was born "outside Southampton in Devonshire", following which they spent some 27 years travelling in Ireland, where most of the younger children were born, before returning to England and settling in Gloucester in 1919. Played on a Hohner 1140 in C the same instrument Lemmie used. Here is the tune in D X:258 T:Lemmie Brazil's No 2 M:4/4 L:1/8 K:D

First heard this on the BBC as the theme music for Farming Today. Played on my bandoneon tuned Erica. X:103 T:Curly-headed Ploughboy M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G d3c|BcdB GABG|E2 E2 D2 G2|FGAB c2 B2|BcdB A2 dc| BcdB GABG|E2 E2 D2 G2|FGAB c2 A2|G2 G2:| K:D z2 d2|c2 c2 cABc|d2 de d4|c2 c2 cABc|d3 e d4| c2 c2 cABc|d2 A2 B2 G2|F2 D2 E2 C2|D4:|

A mazerka written by Chris Woods X:498 T:Ville De Quebec C:Chris Woods M:3/4 K:G GA|B2 G2 E2|D4 GA|BA GA Bc|d4 gf| e3 gfe|d2 B2 d2|ed c2 B2|A4 GA| B2 G2 E2|D4 GA|BA GA Bc|d4 gf| e3 gfe|d2 B2 d2|c2 B2 A2|G4|| GA|B2 G2 e2|d4 GA|BA G2 c2|B4 gf| e3 gfe|d2 B2 d2|ed c2 B2|A4 GA| B2 G2 E2|D4 GA|BA GA Bc|d4 gf| e3 gfe|d2 B2 d2|c2 B2 A2|G4||

This is the non-traditional tune used by Thames Valley Morris Men for the dance Constant Billy from the village of Sherborne. The tune was penned by their late musician John Glaister. It is played here with only two B parts but it meeds 4 for the dance. Played in A Minor on my Erica which I fitted with Cagnoni Italian Reeds, it is tuned dry and has no thirds in the chords. X:93 T:Constant Billy - Sherborne C:John Glaister M:6/8 L:1/8 K:Am |: A2 e cAc | B2 d GAB |c2 A A2 G |A3 A3:|| |: ag^f edc | g^fe dcB | cde g^fe | dcB A3 :||

A lovely tune composed by Brian Peters. X:48 T:The Blossom and the Rain C:Brian Peters M:3/4 L:1/8 K:G E3 F GA|(3BcB A2 B2|g3 f ed|G6| A3 B (3cBA|fA eG dF|e3 f (3gfe|B6| E3 F GA|(3BcB A2 B2|g3 f ed|G6| A3 B (3cBA|F D3 FG|E6-|E6| e3 e e2|g3 f e2|d3 B dB|g6| f3 f f2|(3fgf e2 d2|e3 f (3gfe|B6| e3 e e2|g3 f e2|d3 B dB|b6| a3 g f2|fg- g2 fd|e2 Be Ge|E6||

When Cloe a waltz from the Sussex Tune Book X:511 T:When Cloe M:3/4 L:1/8 K:G GG|G2 D2 BB|B2 G2 Bc|d2 c2 B2|A4 Bc| d2 A2 AB|A2 D2 E2|D6-|D4 GG| G2 D2 BB|B2 G2 Bc|d2 c2 B2|A4 Bc| d2 A2 AB|A2 D2 E2|G3 FGA|G4|| GA|F2 AFAd|A2 G2 F2|E2 c2 B2|A4 Bc| d2 A2 AB|A2 D2 E2|G3 FGA|G4 GA| F2 AFAd|A2 G2 F2|E2 c2 B2|A4 Bc| d2 A2 AB|A2 D2 E2|G3 FGA|G4||

Wheatley Trunkles is a morris dance tune unsurprisingly from Wheatley in Oxfordshire. X:509 T:Wheatley Trunkles M:4/4 L:1/8 Q:1/8=200 K:G B2 dd g2 d2|B2 dd g2 d2|c2 cB A2 G2|Bdec A2 G2| B2 dd g2 d2|B2 dd g2 d2|c2 cB A2 e2|dBdB A2 G2:|| EBEB EB B2|A2 B2 EB B2|A2 G2 EB B2|dBdB A2 G2| E2 B2 EB B2|A2 B2 EB B2|A2 G2 EB B2|dBdB A2 G2:||

Wiltshire Six Handed Reel played on a C/F Pokerwork. X:522 T:Wiltshire 6 Hand Reel M:2/2 L:1/8 K:F FG|A2 C2 F2 G2|A2 C2 F2 G2|A2 A2 B3 A|A2 G2 G4| G2 C2 E2 F2|G2 C2 E2 F2|G2 G2 A3 G|G2 F2 F2 FG| A2 C2 F2 G2|A2 C2 F2 G2|A2 A2 B3 A|A2 G2 G4| G2 C2 E2 F2|G2 C2 E2 F2|G2 G2 A3 G|G2 F2 F4|| c2 FF F2 F2|E2 D2 D4|B2 EE E2 E2|D2 CD C4| c2 FF F2 F2|E2 D2 D4|D2 F2 E2 G2|F4 F4| c2 FF F2 F2|E2 D2 D4|B2 EE E2 E2|D2 CD C4| c2 FF F2 F2|E2 D2 D4|D2 F2 E2 G2|F4 F2||

William Taylor's Tabletop Hornpipe, written by Dave Shepherd, of Blowzabella. Played on The Penguin of Death Pokerwork. X:519 T:William Taylor's Tabletop Hornpipe C:Dave Shepherd M:4/4 K:Em E2 E2 EFGE | FGFE D2 B,2 | B2 B2 ABAG | FEDE FGAF | E2 E2 EFGE | FGFE D2 B,2 | BAGF EGFD  | E2 E2 E4 :|| BGEG B2 B2 | AFDF A2 A2 | GFED E2 EG | FEDE F2 F2 | BGEG B2 B2 | AFDF A2 A2 | GFED EGFD | E2 E2 E4 :||

The Sustead Schottiche collected from George Craske from Sustead village in Norfolk. Played on my Hohner 1 Row 4 Stop in D X:468 T:Sustead Schottische M:4/4 K:D F>E D>B, A,2 F,2|G,>F, G,>A, B,4|G>F E>D C>A, (3B,CE|E2 A,2 A,4| F>E D>B, A,2 F,2|G,>F, G,>A, B,4|G>F E>D C>A, (3B,CE|E2 D2 D4|| A,2 A,2 D3 C|B,2 B,2 E4|G>F E>D C>A, (3B,CE|E2 A,2 A,4| A,2 A,2 D3 C|B,2 B,2 E4|G>F E>D C>A, (3B,CE|E2 D2 D4||

This tune entered the repertoire of The New Victory Band some time in the 1980s and has a rather unclear provenance. Although there is a coconut dance in nearby Bacup, there is no evidence to suggest that a coconut dance ever existed in Rochdale. If not, where did the tune come from? It is likely that it came from the pen of some northern musician and found its way by stealth into the greater repertoire via NVB. Played on my C/F Pokerwork. X:390 T:Rochdale Coconut Dance M:4/4 L:1/8 K:F F2 AA F2 A2|BAGF EFGB|F2 AA F2 A2|GFED C2 c2| F2 AA F2 A2|BAGF EFGB|AcAF GBGE|F4 F4:|| DEFE D2 A2|DEFE D2 A2|B2 GB A2 FA|GFED C4| DEFE D2 A2|DEFE D2 A2|B2 GB A2 FA|G2 E2 F4:||

Albert's Last Dance a waltz by Andy Cutting, played on a Saltarelle L'Elfique. X:9 T:Albert's Last Dance M:3/4 L:1/8 K:G BA|G2 GA Bc|d2 B2 gf|e2 eg fe|d2 B2 gf| e2 eg fe|d2 B2 d2|c4 B2|A2 F2 D2| G2 GA Bc|d2 B2 gf|e2 eg fe|d2 B2 gf| e2 eg fe|d2 B2 d2|c2B2 A2|G4|| BA|GB dB GB|FA dA FA|EG BG EG|DF AF DF| GB dB GB|FA dA FA|G4 FA|G4 BA| GB dB GB|FA dA FA|EG BG EG|DF AF DF| GB dB GB|FA dA FA|G4 FA|G6|

From a manuscript found in the West Sussex Records Office in Chichester.  A cotillion is a type of social dance that originated in France in the 18th century. X:467 T:Sussex Cotillion M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G G4d4|B2AB G2AB|c2B2A2G2|FGAF D3D| E4F4|GFGA G2c2|B2AG A2GF|G4G4:| dedc B2d2|dedc B2d2|e2d2e2f2|g4d2ef| g2fe d2cB|e2dc B2AB|c2B2A2G2|F2EF D2D2| E4F4|GFGA G2c2|B2AG A2GF|G4G4:|

George Green was a melodeon player from Little Downham, Cambridgeshire. Played here on my Penguin of Death Pokerwork X:163 T:George Green's M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G (3DEF|:G>BA>G F2 (3DEF|G>BA>G F2d2| c>BA>G F>DE>F|A>GF>E D2 (3DEF| G>BA>G F2 (3DEF|G>BA>G F2d2| c>BA>G F>DE>F|1 G2 G2 G2 (3DEF:|2 G2G2 G4|| |:B2d2 B2d2|e>dc>B A4|c>BA>G F>DE>F| A>GF>E D2 (3DEF|G>BA>G F2 (3DEF|G>BA>G F2d2| c>BA>G F>DE>F|1 G2G2 G4:|2 G2G2G2||

Albert Farmer was a butcher from Lingfield, Surrey played the concertina and melodeon. As the title of this tune suggests, Farmer's home town of Lingfield had a bonfire tradition, much in the tradition of neighboring Sussex. X:8 T:Albert Farmer's Bonfire Tune M:4/4 L:1/8 K:D de|f3 d A2 F2|G2 GF G4|edcA B2 c2|dffd A2 de| f3 d A2 F2|G2 GF G4|edcA B2 c2|d4 d2:| de|f2 fd f2 f2|gfed e4|gfed cABc|dffd A2 de| f3 d A2 F2|G2 GF G4|edcA B2 c2|d4 d2:|

Two tunes from Dennis Crowther of Clee Hill just outside Ludlow. X:115 T:Dennis Crowther's No 2 M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G B|GBG F2 B|E2 B D2 B|GBG F2 B|E2 B E2 D| cdc A2 B|F2 A E2 A|DFA d3| M:9/8 DEF E2 D B3| M:6/8 GBG F2 B|E2 B D2 B|GBG F2 B|E2 B E2 D|cdc A2 B| F2 A E2 A|DFA d3|DEF G3|| D2 D D3|E2 E E3|DBA GFE|GFD C3| D2 D D3|E2 E E3|DCB, DEF|C2 B, B,3| D2 D D3|E2 E E3|DCB, BAG|dcB E3| AFA cBA|BcB GFG|BGB A2 F|G3-G2|| X:114 T:Dennis Crowther's No 1 M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G B6 c2|d6 e2|d2 g2 f2 e2|d4 B4| A6 B2|c6 d2|f2 e2 d2 c2|B2 g2 f2 e2| B6 c2|d6 e2|d2 g2 f2 e2|d4 B4| A6 B2|c6 d2|f2 e2 c2 A2|G8| b2 d2 b2 d2|b6 Bc|d2 e2 d2 g2|f4 e4| c'2 d2 c'2 d2|c'6 Bc|d2 e2 d2 f2|e4 d4| b2 d2 b2 d2|b6 Bc|d2 e2 d2 g2|f4 e4| e2 f2 g2 fe|d2 g2 b4|b2 a2 e2 f2|g8||

This is Walter Bulwer's No.3 played on my Penguin of Death Pokerwork. Walter Bulwer was born in 1888 in the village of Shipdham where he lived all his life. He is probably best known for the tunes known as Walter Bulwer's No.1 and No.2. X:502 T:Walter Bulwer's No 3 M:4/4 K:G GA|B2 B2 BAGA|B2 DD D2 D2|E2 G2 G2 A2|G6 FE| D2 G2 A2 B2|d2 B4 A2|G2 E2 F2 G2|A6 GA| B2 B2 BAGA|B2 DD D2 D2|E2 G2 G2 A2|G6 FE| D2 B2 c2 B2|A2 E4 A2|G2 D2 B3 A|G4|| d3 c|B2 B2 d3 A|G2 G2 B4|D2 E2 F2 G2|c6 B2| c2 e2 A3 B|c2 e2 A3 G|G2 F2 EF E2|D6 d2| e2 d2 B2 G2|D6 G2|F2 G2 A2 B2|c6 c2| d2 c2 A2 F2|d2 c2 A2 F2|D2 D2 E2 F2|G4 G2||

Beatrice Hill's 3 Handed Reel a Gloucestershire tune, from Bromsberrow Heath melodeon player Beatrice Hill, recorded in 1952. Played on a Hohner 1 Row 4 Stop X:001 T:Beatrice Hills 3 Handed Reel M:4/4 L:1/8 K:Dmaj FG|B2 A2 AFAd|c2 BA B2 ed|cdef gece|edcB A2 FA| B2 A2 AFAd|c2 BA B2 ed|cdef gece|e2 d2 d2| A2|B2 AF DF A2|A2 GF G2 EF|GFED C2 E2|G2 F2 F2 A2| B2 AF DF A2|A2 GF G2 EF|GFED C2 E2|E2 D2 D2||