Lester's Tune-a-Day

A French tune I got from a Brian Peter's CD. X:257 T:Le Saut du Chien M:4/4 K:D A4 B4 | A2 G2 FE D2 | A4 B4 | A2 d2 cBAG | A4 B4 | A2 G2 FE D2 | G2 E2 AGFE | D2 F2 D4 :|| G2 G2 G2 FG | A2 A2 F2 D2 | G2 G2 G2 FG | A2 d2 A4 | G2 G2 G2 FG | A2 A2 F2 D2 | G2 E2 AGFE | D2 F2 D4 :||

One of the two  polkas from the Auvergne that I know :-) X:2 T:Auvergne Polka 2 M:2/2 L:1/8 K:G D2 EF G2 G2|FGAF G4|ABcA B2 G2|ABcA B2 G2| D2 EF G2 G2|FGAF G4|ABcA B2 d2|dcBA G4:|| d2 B2 GBdB|GBdB c2 A2|c2 A2 FAcA|FAcA B2 G2| d2 B2 GBdB|GBdB c2 A2|c2 A2 FAcA|FDEF G4:||

La Mourisque by Tielman Susato (1510-1570) X:248 T:La Morisque M:4/4 L:1/4 K:G B/2c/2 dde|d3 c|B GGA|F2 D2| B/2c/2 dde|d3c|B GGA|G4:|| BGGA|BGcA|BGGA|F2D2| BGGA|BGcA|BGGA|G4:|

Jenny Lind was a popular singer born in Sweden in 1820. Everyone liked her so much that a number of tunes and songs were written about and for her, including polkas and other tunes. The first reference to the Jenny Lind "Polka" is in a collection of popular tunes for cornet orchestras, published in 1846. X:223 T:Jenny Lind M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G g2 f2 ef e2|d2 B2 Bc B2|c2 A2 AG A2|B2 G2 G4| g2 f2 ef e2|d2 B2 Bc B2|c2 A2 F2 AF|G2 G2 G4|| K:D F2 AF G2 BG|A2 f2 fe f2|G2 e2 ef e2|F2 d2 dc d 2| F2 AF G2 BG|A2 f2 fe f2|g2 e2 c2 ec|d2 d2 d4|

A morris da nce from the village of Bampton in Oxfordshire. X:194 T:Highland Mary - Bampton M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G D2|G2 AG FE D2|G2 AB c2 Bc|d2 de dcBA|GABG D2 D2| G2 AG FE D2|G2 AB c2 Bc|d2 de dcBA|G2 F2 G4|| GABc d2 d2|ed cB c2 Bc|d2 de dcBA|GABG D2 D2| G2 AG FE D2|G2 AB c2 Bc|d2 de dcBA|G2 F2 G4:||

A traditional English tune. X:175 T:Grandfathers Tune M:4/4 L:1/8 K:D F2 A2 B2 c2|dcde f2 a2|g2 f2 e2 d2|c2 B2 AB AG| F2 A2 B2 c2|dcde f2 a2|g2 f2 e2 Bc|d2 f2 d4:|| e2 AA e2 AA|g2 f2 e2 AA|g2 f2 e2 d2|c2 B2 AB AG| F2 A2 B2 c2|dcde f2 a2|g2 f2 e2 Bc|d2 f2 d4:||

A French dance tune X:90 T:Cochin Chine M:2/2 L:1/8 K:G d2 d2 BGBd|BGBd dc A2| d2 d2 BGBd|dcBA G4:|| B2 B2 GE E2|c2 c2 AF F2| d2 d2 BGBd|dcBA G4:||

A traditional 32 bar jig from England. X:360 T:Oyster Girl M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G B2c|ded B2 G|A2 F D3|G2 G BGB|d2 c A3| ded Bdg|f2 e c2 e|ded cBA|1G2 B:|2 G3 G2 d|| Bcd Bcd|e2 c e2 c|ABc ABc|d2 B d2 B| ded Bdg|f2 e c2 e|ded cBA|1G3 G2 d:|2 G2 B||

A morris dance tune from Longborough. X:29 T:Belle Isle's March M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G |:D|GDGB AFAc|Bdge d3c |BdBG AcAF|G>ABA G2:| Bc|d>edc B2B2 |c>dcB A2A2|d>edc B2B2|cdec ADEF| GDGB AFAc|Bdge d3c |BdBG AcAF|G>ABA G3 ||

A stick dance from the village of Field Town (now called Leafield) in Oxfordshire. X:11 T:Balance the Straw M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G |:D|G2B BAB|c2A ABc|ded cBA|B2G G2:| |:B/c/ |d2d d2B|c2B B2A|e2d dAB|c2B A2D| G2B BAB|c2A ABc|ded cBA|B2G G2:|

A French (Bourbonnais) Waltz popularised by Frederic Paris but believed to be traditional. X:248 T:La Marianne M:3/4 L:1/8 K:G G2B2G2|d6|c2e2c2|B4A2|G2B2G2|d6|c2e2c2|A6| G2B2G2|d6|c2e2c2|B4A2|G2B2G2|d6|c2e2c2|d6|| c2ecAc|B2dBGB|A2cAFA|G2BGBd| c2ecAc|B2dBGB|A2cAFA|G6:||

Played in remembrance of the attack  by the Gordon Highlanders and the Gurkhas on 20 October 1897 on the Dargai Heights during the Tirah campaign which resulted in the award of four Victoria Crosses . Piper George Findlater and Private Edward Lawson of the Gordons, Henry Singleton Pennell of the Derbyshire Regiment and Samuel Vickery of the The Dorsetshire Regiment were medal recipients. More information X:191 T:Heights of Dargai M:9/8 L:1/8 K:G G>AB d3 B2 d|e>ce d3 B3| g>fe d3 G>Bd|e>dB A3 -A2 d| G>AB d3 B2 d|e>ce d3 B3| g>fe d3 A2 d|B>AB G3 -G2 A|| G>Ad e3 e>ce|g>fe d3 B3| g>fe d3 G>Bd|e>dB A3 -A2 d| G>Ad e3 e>ce|g>fe d3 B3| g>fe d3 A2 d|B>AB G3 -G2||

AKA the LNB Polka. Written by Jean Blanchard X:272 T:La Roulante T:LNB Polka C: Jean Blanchard M:2/2 L:1/8 K:D d2 A2 =c3 B|A2 F2 G2 FG|A2 B2 ABAG|F2 A2 E4| d2 A2 =c3 B|A2 F2 G2 FG|A2 B2 ABAG|F2 E2 D4| d2 A2 =c3 B|A2 F2 G2 FG|A2 B2 ABAG|F2 A2 E4| d2 A2 =c3 B|A2 F2 G2 FG|A2 B2 ABAG|F2 E2 D2 EF|| G2 E2 BGEB|GE B2 B2 AG|F2 D2 AFDA|FD A2 A2 GF| G2 E2 BGEB|GE B2 B2 AG|A2 B2 ABAG|F2 E2 D2 EF| G2 E2 BGEB|GE B2 B2 AG|F2 D2 AFDA|FD A2 A2 GF| G2 E2 BGEB|GE B2 B2 AG|A2 B2 ABAG|F2 E2 D4||

The full name of this tune is - 79th Highland Light Infantries Farewell to the Barren Rocks of Aden. Scottish 2/4 pipe march. X:2 T:The Barren Rocks of Aden M:2/4 L:1/8 K:G G/2A/2|B>cBA|GBDG|FADA| BDGA|B>cBA|GBDG|FADA|G2G:| B/2c/2|d>BGB|ABDA/2B/2|cAFA|GBDB/2c/2| d>BGB|ABDA/2B/2|cAFA|G2G B/2c/2:|| L:1/16 dBGB dBGB|A2B2D2AB|cAFA cAFA|G2B2D2Bc| dBGB dBGB|A2B2D2AB|c2A2F2A2|G4G4:|]

Miss Dillon's Waltz from Joseph Kershaw (19th C fiddler) of Saddleworth Lancashire. Played on my Italian (Cagnoni) reeded Hoher Erica. X:303 T:Miss Dillon's Waltz M:3/4 L:1/8 K:G d>B | G2 G2 d>B | G2 G2 d>B | G2 g2 f2 | e4 e>c | A2 A2 e>c | A2 A2 e2 | dedc BA | G4 :|| F>G | AF D2 d2 | B2 G2 F>G | AF D2 d2 | B4 F>G | AF D2 d2 | B2 G2 d2 | ^c2 A2 c2 | d4 :|| d2 | cd Bd Ad | Bd Gd Bd | cd Bd Ad | G4 d2 | cd Bd Ad | Bd Gd Bd | ce Ac FA | G4 :||

One of the tunes used by the Coconut Dancers of Bacup, Lancashire, in their seasonal forays. X:488 T:Tip Top Polka M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G d2d2de dc|B2B2B2GA|B2B2B2d2|AG AB A2-A2| c2c2cd cB|A2A2A2G2|FG AB cd ef|g2g2g4:| g2e2ed ef|g2d2d4|B2 B2 (3AcA G2|e2d2d2ef| g2e2ed ef|g2d2d3d|cB AB cd ef|g2g2g4:|

An excellent 48 bar jig written by Chris Taylor of Gas Mark V fame. X:511 T:Weasel in the Grass C: Chris Taylor M:6/8 K:G B2 B A2 B|AGG G2 d|efg dBG|BAA A3| B2 B A2 B|AGG G2 d|efg dBG|1 cAF G2 z:|2 cAF G2|| g|fed cBA|BGG G2 g|fed cBA|eAA A2 g| fed cBA|BGG G2 d|efg dBG|cAF G2:|| z|E2 E EDE|G3 G2 G|A2 A AGA|B3 Bcd| edc edc|d2 B G2 B|A2 B c2 B|A2 G FED| E2 E EDE|G3 G2 G|A2 A AGA|B3 Bcd| edc edc|d2 B Ggg|fed cBA|G3 G3||

I can find no information on this tune. I got it from a Brass Monkey CD where they use it for the song the Maid and the Palmer Man. Paul Hardy provided the following interesting info: From a quick bit of Googling, I'd guess it has evolved from "From Night till Morn I take my Glass", which appears in Jane Austen's own music book. See  https://jscholarship.library. jhu.edu/handle/1774.2/26005   and  http://www.rism.org.uk/ manuscripts/122924?peek=17& wheel=mnskrpt_fv . It looks to have been published in about 1810 with an accompaniment by William Shields, and based on a French air. X:155 T:From Night Till Morn M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G B2B2B2AG|AGAB G2AB|cBAG GABc|d2ed B2A2| B2B2B2AG|AGAB G2AB|cBAG GABG|A4G4:|| GABc d2d2|d2e2d4|e2d2g2B2|d2ed B2A2| B2B2B2AG|AGAB G2AB|cBAG GABG|A4G4:

Another tune from Walter Bulwer from the village of Shipdham, Norfolk. X:508 T:Walter Bulwer's No 2 M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G D2G2G2FG|A2E2E4|FG A2 FG Ac|B2G2G2FE| D2G2G2FG|A2E2E4|FG AFD2EF|G4G4|| K:D A2A2B2B2|A2A2F4|G2G2EF GB|A2A2FG AB| A2A2B2B2|A2A2F4|G2G2EF GE|D4D4|

Rule, Britannia is a British patriotic song, originating from the poem of the same name by James Thomson and set to music by Thomas Arne in 1740. It is strongly associated with the Royal Navy and is a staple of the Last Night of the Proms. X:1 T:Rule Britannia C:Thomas Arne K:G M:C L:1/8 D2|G4 G4|GABc d2 G2|A6 Bc|B6 D2| GAGA BcBc|d2 A2 B2 A2|G2 AB A2 G2|F6 D2| F2 D2 A2 F2|d2 ^cB A2 G2|F4 E3 D|D8| G4 G3 D|E2 E4 G2|c2 B2 A2 G2|F8|d4 c4| BABc d2 c2|B4 A3 G|G8|B6 B2| c2 c4 B2|c2 B2 A2 G2|F8|d4 c4| BABc d2 c2|B4 A3 G|G6|

A Life on the Ocean Wave is a poem-turned-song by Epes Sargent published in 1838 and set to music by Henry Russell. I am amazed to find it is it was written in America albeit that Henry Russell was from Sheerness in Kent. It is the regimental march of Her Majesty's Royal Marines. X:3 T:A Life on the Ocean Wave M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G |:D | GGG G2 A | B3 -BGA| BBB c2 B | A3 -A2 F |  D2 E F2 G | c3 -c2d |e2 d |cBA G2 :|| D | E2 F G2 A | B3 -B2 D | E2 F G2 A | B3 -B2 B |  BBB B2 B | BBB B2 B | BBB BAB | c3 -c2 D |  GGG G2 A | B3 -BGA| BBB c2 B | A3 -A2 F | D2 E F2 G | c3 -c2d |e2 d |cBA G2 ||

Standard Irish session tune. Useful in ceilidhs as it is 48 bar jig. X:118 T:Dingles Regatta M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G d^cd e2d|BAB d2B|A2A AGA|B2A G2B| d^cd e2d|BAB d2B|A2A AGA|B2A G3:|| d2d def|g2g gfg|a2a aga|b2a gfe| d2d def|g2g gfg|a2g f2e|def g3:|| gbg dgd|BdB G2G|AGA DEF|G2B def| gbg dgd|BdB G2G|AGA DEF|G3 G3:

The Arran Boat is an old traditional Scottish tune. It is also known as Queen Mary's Escape from Lochleven Castle. X:19 T:Arran Boat M:6/8 L:1/8 K:Em E>FE B>^cd|A<FD A<FD|E>FE B>^cd|A<FD E3| E>FE B>^cd|A<FD A<FD|E>FE B>^cd|A<FD E3|| e>fe g>fe|d<BG A<FD|e>fe g>fe|d<Bd e3| e>fe g>fe|d>BG A>FD|E>FE B>^cd|A>FD E3||

Portsmouth appeared in the 11th edition of John Playford's The Dancing Master in 1701. Made famous to the masses by Mike Oldfield. X:369 T:Portsmouth M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G D2|G2GA BAGF|E4 e4|d2 B2 cBAG|A6 D2| G2GA BAGF|E4 e4|d2 B2 cBAB|G6 :|| d2|g3 a bagf|g2 d2 B2 d2|g2 B2 cBAG|A6 D2| G2GA BAGF|E4 e4|d2 B2 cBAB|G6:||

This beautiful and popular air was originally called Dr Mackay's Farewell to Creagorry by its composer Iain McLachlan. When David Silver of Inverness, was asked to write a song for a BBC Thriller called "The Dark Island", filmed in Benbecula, he used McLachlan‘s air and set words to it, inspired by the island of Benbecula. X:112 T:Dark Island M:3/4 L:1/8 K:Em E|A3 E A2|G3 A G2|E3 D E2|D4 GA| B3 A G2|B d3 D2|B3 d B2|A4 DE| A3 E A2|G3 A G2|E3 D E2|D4 GA| GB3 DdB|A3 DBA|G6|G4| Bc|d3 D D2|B3 A G2|E C3 E2|D4 GA| B3 A G2|B d3 D2|B3 d B2|A4 DE| A3 E A2|G3 A G2|E3 D E2|D4 GA| B3 DdB|A3 DBA|G6|G4||

The Keel Row is a traditional Tyneside folk song evoking the life and work of the keelmen who worked on the keels, large boats that carried the coal on the Tyne and Wear. It was first published in 1770, but may be considerably older. X:234 T:Keel Row M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G B2 G>B c2 A>c|B2 G>B A>F D2| B2 G>B c2 A>c|B>GA>F G4:| B>cd>g e2 d>c|B2 G>B A>F D2| B>cd>g e2 d>c|B>GA>F G4:

A French tune by Frederic Paris, but now very commonly played in the English session scene. X:78 T:Canal in October M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G B3 B cBAG|B2 B2 cBAG|EFGB A3 G|FGEF D2-D2| B3 B cBAG|B2 B2 cBAG|EFGB A3 G|G2-G2-G2-G2:|| d3 d cBAG|d2 d2 cBAG|EFGB A3 G|FGEF D2-D2| d3 d cBAG|d2 d2 cBAG|EFGB A3 G|G2-G2-G2-G2:||

Another tune about which I have little information. Turns up in the Nort West Morris tradition and is commonly used in the English Ceilidh repertoire. X:228 T:John of Paris M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G B2 B BAB|d2 B BAB|c2 e g2 e|d2 B BAB| c2 A AGA|B2 G G2 B|A2 B A2 B|A2 d d2 c| B2 B BAB|d2 B BAB|c2 e g2 e|d2 B BAB| c2 A AGA|B2 G G2 F|E2 e d2 c|B2 A G3|| d2 c Bcd|e2 f g2 a|b2 a gfe|d2 c Bcd| e2 e ecA|d2 d dBG|c2 A B2 G|FGA D3| B2 B BAB|d2 B BAB|c2 e g2 e|d2 B BAB| c2 A AGA|B2 G G2 F|E2 e d2 c|B2 A G3||

Another tune from Walter Bulwer from the village of Shipdham, Norfolk.  Warning I play it differently to most every one else as I learned it whilst doing my apprenticeship with the Hayloft Ceilidh Band from the playing of the previous box player with the A-music in D and the B-music in G. Most people, including  Walter Bulwer did it the other way round. X:501 T:Walter Bulwer's No 1 M:4/4 L:1/8 K:D FG|AGFA d3c|B2E2E4|GFEG c2B2|A2F2F3G| AGFA d3c|B2E2E2D2|CDEF GABc|d4d2|| K:G Bc|d2Bc d2Bc|dcB2 A4|A2d2cB A2|GFGA BABc| d2Bc d2Bc|dcB2 A4|A2d2cB A2|G4G2|

A beautiful waltz from the concertina playing of Fred Holland. Fred taught the tune to other musicians in the Mudgee district, from whom it was collected in variant forms and published them in Folk Songs of Australia . X:315 T:Mudgee Waltz M:3/4 L:1/8 K:G B3 c d2|G2 A2 B2|c4 e2|A4 d2| f3 e d2|c3 d c2|B4 c2|d6| B3 c d2|G2 A2 B2|c4 e2|A4 d2| f3 e d2|c2 B2 A2|G2 B2 d2|g6|| b3 a g2|B2 d2 g2|f4 e2|A4 d2| f3 e d2|c3 d c2|B4 c2|d6| b3 a g2|B2 d2 g2|f4 e2|A4 d2| f3 e d2|c2 B2 A2|G2 B2 d2|g6||

I can find no more information on this staple of the English tradition other than that that can be divined from its name. So it is a 4 Hand Reel from Dorset. X:120 T:Dorset Four Hand Reel M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G G2 B2 d2 cB|c2 e2 c2 e2|G2 B2 d3 c|B2 A2 A2 BA| G2 B2 d2 cB|c2 e2 c2 e2|G2 B2 d3 c|B2 A2 G4:| g2 g2 gf e2|d2 d2 dc B2|A3 B c2 d2|e2 d2 d4| g2 g2 gf e2|d2 d2 dc B2|A3 B c2 F2|A2 G2 G4:|