Lester's Tune-a-Day

A morris dance tune from Bledington. X:540 T:William and Nancy - Bledington M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G D|G2 G GBd|e2 e dBG|A2 d BAG|E2 F G2:|| d|e2 d B2 d|gfe d2 d|e2 d B2 d|gfe d2 c| B2 B Bcd|e2 e dBG|A2 d BAG|E2 F G2:|| z2 d3|e3 d3|B2c d3|g2f e3|d3 d3|e3 d3| B2 d|gfe d2 c|B2 B Bcd|e2 e dBG| A2 d BAG|E2 F G2:||

The 'dance off' tune from the Bledington morris tradition. X:1 T:Hey Diddle Diss M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G g>fg a>gf | g>fe d>ef | g>fg e>dc | B2 A G3 :| A>Bc B>AG | A>Bc d>ef | g>fg a>gf | g3   g3 ||

A morris dance tune from Field Town. X:348 T:Old Woman Tossed Up - Field Town M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G D|G2 G GBd|efg dBG|AGA BAB|E2 F G2:|| B|d2 d Bcd|efg dBG|dcd Bcd|efg d3|d2 c Bcd|  efg dBG|AGA BAB|E2 F G2||  [M:4/4] D|G2 G2|GB d2|ef g2|dB G2| [M:6/8] AGA BAB|E2 F G2||

A morris dance tune from Field Town. X:507 T:Trunkles - Field Town M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G d3 c B2 d2|c2 B2 A2 G2|d3 c B2 e2|dcBA G4| d3 c B2 d2|c2 B2 A2 G2|d3 c B2 e2|dcBA G2|| Bc|d2 d2 d2 ef|gfge d2 g2|efed cdef|d4 d2||  gf|e2 c2 cdef|d2 B2 BcdB|c2 A2 ABcA|B2 G2 G2 AB| cBAG FGAB|G4 G2||  gf|e4 c4|c2 d2|e2 f2|d4 B4|B2 c2|d2 B2| c4 A4|A2 B2|c2 A2|B4 G4|G4 A2 B2|cBAG FGAB|G4 G2|

A morris dance tune from Bampton. X:432 T:Shepherds Hey M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G BcdB c2c2|BcdB A2A2|BcdB c2Bc|d2D2 G4| BcdB c2c2|BcdB A2A2|BcdB c2Bc|d2D2 G4|| B2G2 c3A|B2G2 A4|BcdB c2Bc|d2D2 G4| B2G2 c3A|B2G2 A4|BcdB c2Bc|d2D2 G3||

The tune for the American Shaker song Simple Gifts. X:63 T:Lord of the Dance M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G D2|G2 GG BABc|d2 dd B2 BB|A2 A2 A2 AB|cBAG F2 DD| G2 GG BABc|d2 dd B2 BB|A2 A2 B2 BA|G2 G2 G4|| d4 B3 A|BcBA G4|B2 Bc d2 cB|A2 A2 A2 D2| G2 G2 G3 A|BABc d2 cB|A2 A2 B2 BA|G2 G2 G4||

The tune for a 'coming on' dance from Bledington. X:416 T:Saturday Night - Bledington M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G A|BAB/2c/2 d2 D|EAG FED|BAB/2c/2 d2 D |1 DEF G2:|2 DEF G3|| AFD D2 D|EFG FED|BAG Bcd |1 DGF G3:|2 DGF G2||

As it is St Georges Day here is English Country Gardens collected by Cecil Sharp and arranged for piano in 1918 by Percy Grainger. X:241  T:English Country Gardens  M:4/4  L:1/8  K:G  g2 gf e2 e2|dedc B2 Bc|d2 G2 A2 c2|B3 A G4:||  gfge fe d2|gfge fe d2|gfgf e2 a2|f2 e2 d2 Bc|  g2 gf e2 e2|dedc B2 Bc|d2 G2 A2 c2|B3 A G4:||  G2 c2 c2 e2|dedc B2 Bc|d2 G2 A2 c2|B3 A G4:||

A morris dance tune for a jig from Field Town. X:236 T:Nutting Girl - Field Town M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G B>A|G2 G>A B>A G>B|d2 c2 A2 F2|G2 B>c d2 g2|d4 d3 B| c>d e>cA2 B>c|B>c d>B G2 A>B|c2 A2 G2 F2|G4 G3|| B>A|G2 g2 g>e f>g|f>e d2 d2 B>c|d2 e>f g>f f>e| f4 f3 e|d2 g2 g3 f|e2 d2 d3 B|A2 B2 c2 d2| e>f g>e d>c B>A|G2 G>A B>A G>B|d2 c2 A2 F2| G2 B>c d2 g2|d4 d3 B|c>d e>c A2 B>c| B>c d>B G2 A>B|c2 A2 G2 F2|G4 G3|| B>A|G4 G3 a|B3 A G3 B|d4 c4|A4 F4|G4 B3 c| d4 g4|d4 d4|d4 B4|c>d e>c A2 B>c| B>c d>B G2 A>B|c2 A2 G2 F2|G4 G3||

The archetypal English folk tune. X:458 T:Speed the Plough M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G GABc dedB|dedB dedB|c2ec B2dB|c2 A2 A4| GABc dedB|dedB dedB|c2ec B2dB|c2 A2 G4:| g2 g2 g4|g2fe dBGB|c2ec B2dB|c2 A2 A4| g2 g2 g4|g2fe dBGB|c2ec B2dB|c2 A2 G4:|

A morris dance tune from Bampton. X:470 T:Step & Fetch Her - Bampton M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G B2 B2 cBcA|G2 e2 egfe|d2 Bd cBcA|G2 B2 G4|| A3 c B2 d2|A3 c B2 d2|A3 c B2 d2|dcBA B2 G2| A2 Ac B2 d2|A2 Ac B2 d2|A2 Ac B2 d2|dcBA G3|| A|B2 Bc d2 cB|A2 AB c2 A2|B2 Bc d2 g2|dcBA G3 A| B2 Bc d2 cB|A2 AB c2 A2|B2 Bc d2 g2|fdef g4||

A tune I got from the Oyster Band's Jacks Alive album. X:87 T:Clog M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G ABA A2 G|F2 G A3|cBc e2 d|B6| ABA A2 G|F2 G A3|cBc e2 d|G3-G2 d| ABA A2 G|F2 G A3|cBc e2 d|B6| ABA A2 G|F2 G A3|cBc e2 d|G3-G2|| d|d2 g gfg|f2 e A3|cBc e2 d|B3-B2 d| d2 g gfg|f2 e A3|cBc e2 d|G3-G2 d| d2 g gfg|f2 e A3|cBc e2 d|B6| ABA A2 G|F2 G A3|cBc e2 d|G6||

A Scottish tune that has always been a struggle for me. X:375  T:Primrose Polka  M:2/4  L:1/8  K:G  d2|Bc^cd edcd|b2 g2 b2 g2|Bc^cd edcd|A6 A2|  ABcd ed^cd|a2 f2 f2 e2|defe dcBA|B6 d2|  Bc^cd edcd|b2 g2 b2 g2|Bc^cd edcd|A6 A2|  ABcd ed^cd|a2 f2 f2 e2|defe dcBA|G6 d2||  B4 Bc^cd|b6 a2|gdBd g4|ff e2 e4| A4 ABcd|f6 e2|defe dcBA|B6 d2| B4 Bc^cd|b6 a2|gdBd g4|ff e2 e4|  c'bab c'2 c'2|baga b2 b2|agfg adef|g2 b2 g2 b2||  bagf g2d2|bagf g2d2|edef g2e2|d6 B2|  cBcd e2 c2|BABc d2 B2|^c2 c2 cABc|d2 e2 f2 b2|  bagf g2 d2|bagf g2 d2|edef g2 e2|d6 B2|  edeg c'2 e2|d^cdg b2 g2|fd^cd e2 f2|g6||

A well known Irish song but the tune is actually from an earlier traditional song "The Dawning of the Day" X:382 T:Raglan Road   M:3/4  L:1/4  K:G  G/A/|B2 B|B2 A/B/|d2 d| e2 d/B/| G2 B/A/| G2 G|G3-|G z d|  e2 d|e2 g| B2 A|G2 B/c/| d2 B| g2 B|A3|-A z d|  e2 d|e2 g| B2 A|G2 d| d2 c/B/| g2 B| A3| -A z G/A/|  B2 B|B2 A/B/|d2 d| e2 d/B/| G2 B/A/| G2 G| G3-|G2||

A sword dance tune for 1st figure North Skelton Longsword. X:249 T:Lass O' Dallogill M:6/8 K:G A|BAB D2D|E2E D2D|BAB D2D|E2F G2:| A|B2G A2F|G2G FED|B2G A2A|B2c d3| e2c d2B|c2A B3|BAB D2D|E2F G2||

A morris dance tune from Adderbury with the additional bits as per Aldbury Morris Men. X:372  T:Postman's Knock - Adderbury  M:6/8  L:1/8  K:G  G|GBc d2 B|cde d2 d|gdB BAG|A3 A2 G|  GAB d2 d|cde d2 B|Agf ed^c|d4- d2|  dcB Bgg|gGA B2 B|d2 d gfe|f3 e2 d|  dgg gdB|ABc|e3 e3|e3 e2 d|dgB B2 A|G3 G3||  d2 d d2 d|efg d3|gfe d2 B|B2 A B3|d2 d d2 d|  efg d3|gfe d2g|g3 f3|g3-g2||

A morris dance tune from Field Town probably better known by its nickname of Signposts. X:429 T:Shepherds Hey - Field Town M:2/2 L:1/8 K:Em B>c|d>c B>c d2 (3def|g>a g>f e2 B>c| d>c B>c d2 (3def|g>a g>f e6:|| z d|c (3ccc B>A G>B|d>c (3Bcd c>B (3ABc| B>A G2 A>B c>d|e>f g>f e6:||

A tune from the North East of England. X:221  T:Jimmy Allen  M:4/4  L:1/8  K:G  GA|B2 G2 G2 A2|B4 G2 AB|c2 A2 A2 B2| c2 dc B2 A2|  G2 g2 g2 e2|d4 B3 c|d2 d2 cB A2|G4 G2:||  BA|G2 g2 g2 f2|e2 d2 c2 B2|A2 a2 a3 g|f2 d2 e2 f2|  g3 f g2 e2|d4 B3 c|d2 d2 cB A2|G4 G2:||

A morris dance tune from Field Town, one of my favourite. X:33  T:Banks of the Dee - Field Town  M:6/8  L:1/8  K:G  G|DEF GAB|ced cBA|BGE Ddc|BcA G2:||  G|Bcd d2 g|ede dBG|Bcd efg|GAG FED|  cec BdB|GFG AFD|GFE Ddc|BcA G2:||  [M:4/4] G|Bc d2|d2 g2|ed e2|dB G2|Bc d2|  ef g2|GA G2|FE D2|[M:6/8] cec BdB|GFG AFD| GFE Ddc|BcA G2:||

A 1 Row tune from a Katie Howson workshop. X:37 T:BB's Reel M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G A|B2 DD E2 D2|B2 DD E2 D2|c3 B A3 G|F2 E2 D4| B2 DD E2 D2|B2 DD E2 D2|c3 B A3 G|FD EF G3:| E|D2 DD E2 EE|D2 G2 B4|A2 AG F2 A2|G2 E2 D3 E| D2 DD E2 EE|D2 G2 B4|A2 AG F2 A2|G2 B2 G3:||

I got this from the playing of melodeon player Bob Cann, usually paired with Hot Punch. X:496  T:Uncle's Jig  M:6/8  L:1/8  K:G  B2c|:ded dcB|ded d2d|g2g f2e|d3 dcB| c2e edc| B2d G2B|A2B c2 B|1 A2 G FED:|2 G3G3||  [K:D]  A2d c2e|d2f a2f|e2f gfe|d2f A3| A2d c2e| d2f a2f|e2f gfe|1 d3d3:|2 d3|

A morris dance tune from Field Town. X:14  T:The Rose - Fieldtown  M:6/8  L:1/8  K:G  D|GDG G2A|BAB cde|dBG cAF|GAG G2 :|  B/c/|ded dBG|AcB AGF|GAB cAF|GAG G2 :|  [M:4/4] D2|:G2 D2 G4|G4 A4|B2A2 B4|c2 d2 e4|  d2 B2 G4|c2 A2 F4|G2 A2 G4|1G4 zDEF:|2G4-G2||

A morris dance tune from Oddington. X:182 T:Highland Mary - Oddington M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G D2|G2 AG F2 D2|G2 AB c2 Bc|d2 Bd c2 BA| G2 FE D2 D2| G2 AG F2 D2|G2 AB c2 Bc|d2 Bd c2 BA|G2 F2 G2:|| B2|d2 d2 d2 cB|c2 c2 c2 Bc|d2 d2  dcBA|G4 F2 D2| G2 AG F2D2|G2 AB c2 Bc|d2 Bd c2 BA|G2 F2 G2:||

Probably better known as Don't Stop the Cavalry, Jona Lewie's Christmas hit. X:396 T:Rub-a-Dub M:4/4 K:G d2d2 dcB2|c2c2 cBA2|B2B2 BAG2|A2F2 D4| d2d2 dcB2|c2c2 cBA2|BAGB A3F|G4 -G4|| AGFE D2D2|AGFE D2EF|G2G2 A2A2|BcBA B4| AGFE D2D2|AG FE D2EF|G2G2 A2F2|G4 -G4||

Ty a Gardd (House and Garden) a traditional Welsh Jig. X:494 T:Ty a Gardd T:House and Garden M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G B2G GFG|B2G GFG|A2A ABc|B3G3| B2G GFG|B2G GFG|A2A ABA|G3G3:|| g2g gfe|d2d dcB|A2A ABc|d3B3| g2g gfe|d2d d2B|A2A ABA|G3G3:||

A simple little stick dance tune from Field Town. X:6 T:Bobby & Joan, Fieldtown M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G D|G2e d2c|ded cBA|GFG ABc|d2B G2:| G|ABA E2E|ABA E2D|GFG ABc|d2B G2:|

A morris dance tune from Bucknell. X:1 T:Queen's Delight M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G d2G dcB | cBc ABc | d2G d2c | BcA G3 :| cBc cBc |ABc def | gfg eag | gfe def | g2g gfe | dec ABc | d2G d2c | BcA G3 ||

A morris dance tune from Bampton. X:6804 T:Furze Field M:6/8 K:G D | G2G FGA | BAG ABc | dBd cAF | G3- G2 D | G2G FGA | BAG ABc | dBd cAF | G3- G2 || B/2c/2 | d2 d ded | cAF DEF | GAB cde | dcB A2 D | G2G FGA | BAG A>Bc | dBd cAF | G3- G2 ||

A stick dance tune from Headington, probably the only morris tune that contains two changes in time signature. X:1 T:Bean Setting M:12/16 L:1/16 K:G G3 G2A B3 B3 | A2B cBA G2A B3 | G3 G2A B3 B3 | A2B cBA G6 :| [M:6/8] B>AG B>AG | B<dd-d2 B | A>BA A2 B | c2 d e>dc | B>AG B<dB |[M:9/8]A>Bc def g3 :|

The tune used for the Upton upon Severn Hankie Dance. X:1 T:Upton Hankie Dance - Bonnets of Blue M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G D|G2G BdB|G3 -G2D|G2G BdB|A3 -A3| B3G2B|c3 e3|ded cBA|G3 -G2:|| F2G A3 | F2 E D3 |A2A ABc|d3 -d2c| B2A G2F|E2F G2A|BcB AGF|E3 D3| G2G BdB|G3 -G2D|G2G BdB|A3 -A3| B3G2B|c3 e3|ded cBA|G3 -G2||