Lester's Tune-a-Day

Well that's the year up then. The project has been, in equal proportions, FUN, Educational, and a PITA. The first 200 odd tunes were easy and in my commonly played repertoire, the next 100 in my "I know it to play along" or "I know it, but don't know its name" section and the last 60 odd I have had to learn and that has been a struggle. The more observant amongst you may have noticed of late that instead of my happy cheerful smile to camera I have taken to staring down to the right, well that's where my music was. Why did I keep going? Well I kept meeting people at sessions, festivals, etc who I'd never seen before who would sidle up and say "Your Lester aren't you?" and "Thank you so much for the blog". A prime example being a chat I had with a passing whistle player in a coffee shop in Whitby, he said "I know you from somewhere" and it turned out he had been learning John of Paris and found my video on YouTube. Th...

Don't try this at home kids!   A melodeon wrecking tune by Jan-Anders Andersson. X:52 T:Bicycle Pump Polka C:Jan-Anders Andersson M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G d2 BG D2 G2|z8|c2 AF D2 F2|z8| d2 BG D2 G2|z8|c2 AF D2 F2|z8:|| d2 BG DGBd|c2 AA A2 A2|c2 AF E2 F2|G2 B2 d4| d2 BG DGBd|c2 AA A2 A2|c2 AF E2 F2|G2 G2 G4:||

A tune I learned at a workshop in Whitby from its composer Matt Quinn. He taught a selection of interesting chords, I have played it on a one row :-) X:4  T:A Left Turn at Albuquerque  C:Matt Quinn  L:1/8  M:4/4  K:G  g2 gf d2 BB|cd e2 d2 BB|cd e2 d2 BB|c2 A2 A4|  g2 gf d2 BB|cd e2 d2 BB|cd e2 d2 Ac|B2 A2 G4:|  A2 AB c2 d2|g2 a2 g3 d|e2 d2 c2 Bc|d2 B2 A4|  g2 gf d2 BB|cd e2 d2 BB|cd e2 d2 Ac|B2 A2 G4:|

A tune for the dance of the same name from the first edition of Playford's English Dancing Master (1651). X:105  T:Cuckolds all a Row  M:6/8  L:1/8  K:G  a2a a2g|f2g a2d|e2e fef|g6|  a2a a2g|f2g a2d|e2e fef|g3-g2B:||  cdc BAB|A2A fef|g2d ed2|B3 GAB|  cdc BAB|A2A fef|g2d ed2|B3 G3:||

A tune I got, along with everybody else, from a New Victory Band LP. X:380 T:One More Dance and Then M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G Bc|d3 e d2 B2|g4 B2 c2|d3 e d2 B2|c2 A4 Bc| d3 e d2 B2|g2 f2 e2 d2|e2 d2 c2 B2|B4 A2:| AB|c2 A2 f2 A2|a2 c2 B2 A2|B2 G2 d2 B2|g2 B2 A2 G2| a3 g f2 e2|d3 c B2 A2|G3 c B2 A2|G6:|

A cracking tune by Pete Lockwood of the Cock and Bull Band. X:305 T:Lunch at the Pub C:Pete Lockwood M:4/4 K:D DEFG A2 d2 | =c2 BA GA B2 | A2 F2 DE F2 | G2 E2 E2 FE | DEFG A2 d2 | =c2 BA GA B2 | A2 F2 DE F2 | G2 E2 D2 FE :|| D2 d4 d2 | =c2 c2 B2 G2 | D2 d4 d2 | =c2 c2 B4 | D2 d4 d2 | =c2 BA GA B2 | A2 F2 DE F2 | G2 E2 D4 :||

A Scottish hornpipe. X:347 T:Nae Luck Aboot the Hoose M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G d|g>e d>B c>d e>f|g>e d>B A3 d| g>e d>B c>d e>g|d>c B>A G3:| A|B2 B>G c2 c>A|B2 B>G A3 d| B>B B>G c>d e>g|d>c B>A G3:|

Tune for a Scottish song by Robbie Burns. X:346 T:My Love She's But A Lassie Yet M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G GF|G2G,2B,2D2|G2G,2G,2GF|G2G,2B,2D2|A2A,2A,2GF| G2G,2B,2D2|E2c2B2A2|GFED E2F2|G2G,2G,2:| Bc|d2B2c2A2|B2G2G2Bc|d2B2c2d2|e2A2A2Bc| d2B2c2A2|B2G2A2F2|GFED E2F2|G2G,2G,2:|

A morris dance tune from Bampton. X:35  T:Banbury Bill  M:4/4  L:1/8  K:G  G2 A2 B2 G2|c2 d2 e4|A2 B2 c2 dc|B2 c2 d4|  d2 G2 B2 d2|g2 a2 b4|c'2 a2 e2 f2|g4 g4:|  g3 a b2 g2|f2 g2 a4|e2 f2 g2 ag|f2 e2 d4|  g2 G2 G4|Bc d2 d4|ef g2 fg a2|g4 g4:|

Melodeon player Herbert Mallett, who lived for much of his life in the north Norfolk village of Aldborough, was in many respects the archetypal traditional musician; a village performer who played for his community. X:201 T:Herbert Mallet M:6/8 K:G d2 D d2 e|d2 B G2 D|E2 G A2 G|F2 E D3| d2 D d2 e|d2 B G2 D|EFG A2 F|G3 G3:|| B2 A GFE|D2 B, D2 D|G2 D G2 B|A3 A3| B2 A GFE|D2 B, D2 D|EFG A2 F|G3 G3:||

I first heard this on a Brass Monkey CD. X:129  T:Dr Fausters Tumblers  M:4/4  L:1/8  K:G  D2|G2 D2 G2 A2|B2 G2 B2 c2|d4 c2 B2|AGAB A2 D2|  G2 D2 G2 A2|B2 G2 B2 c2|d4 c2 B2|A6:||  d2|d2 cd B2 d2|d2 cd B2 d2|g2 f2 e2 a2|f2 ef d2 d2|  d2 cd B2 B2|B2 AB G2 G2|B2 G2 A2 F2|G6:||

The earliest printed version of this song tune appeared in York about 1775. X:1 T:Lincolnshire Poacher M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G D|G2 GG-F E|D2- C B,2 D|G2 G A2 F|G3- G z D| G2 A B2 c|d2- B G2 A|B2 BB-A G|A3- A z D| G2 A B2 c|d2- B G2 A|B2 BB-A G|A3 B2 A| G2 G GFE|D2 C B,2 D/2D/2|G2 G A2 F|G3- G z||

A morris dance tune from Wheatley. X:1 T:Bobbing-a-Joe - Wheatley M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G BcB d2e|dcB AFD|BcB d2e|d3 AG2:| Bde A3|Bde A3|BcB d2e|d3 AG2:|

A morris dance tune from Lichfield. X:324 T:Milley's Bequest - Lichfield M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G G2 GA B2 G2|E2 cc c4|D2 DE F2 c2|B4 A4| G2 GA B2 G2|E2 cc c4|D2 DE F2 GA|A4 G4|| d2 dd c2 c2|BcdB A4|d2 dd c2 cc|B4 A4| G2 GA B2 G2|E2 cc c4|D2 DE F2 GA|A4 G4||

A morris dance tune from Adderbury. X:11 T:Flowing Bowl - Adderbury M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G BA|G2 D2 B,2 D2|G2 G2 G2 G2|A2 A2 A2 A2|B4 G2:| z2|B3 B B2 d2|d2 c2 c4|A3 A A2 c2|c2 B2 B4| B3 B B2 d2|d2 c2 e3 d|B2 G2 A2 F2|G4 G2||

A morris dance tune from Ducklington. X:244 T:Jockey to the Fair - Ducklington M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G D|G2 A B2 c|d2 g d2 c|BdB GAB|c2 B A2 D| G2 A B2 c|d2 gd2 g|fed Ad^c|d3 d2|| d|g2 g d2 d|cdc B2 d|g2 g d2 d|cdc B2 d| e2 f gfe|d2 cBcd|edc B2 A|GBG E2 F|G2 G GBd| e3 d2 g|edc B2 A|GBG E2 F|G2 g BcA|G3 G2|| D|G3 A3|B3 c3|d3 g3|d3 c3|BdB GFG|AcB A2 D| G3 A3|B3 c3|d3 g3|d3 g3|fed Ad^c|d3 d2||

Originally this was an American gospel hymn. X:558 T:When the Saints Go Marching In M:C L:1/4 K:G z GBc|d4|z GBc|d4|z GBc| d2B2|G2B2|A4|z BBA| G4|B2d2|dc3|z2 Bc| d2B2|G2 A2|G4|z|]

First published in the 1701 edition of Playford’s Dancing Master. X:334 T:Mount Hills M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G G2d2 B2B2|ABAG F2D2|G2d2 B2B2|d2 cB A4| G2d2 B2B2|ABAG F2D2|G2 FE c2 BA|F2F2 G4:| F3 G A2B2|c2B2 A2 GF|G2E2 c2d2|B4 A4| dedc B2B2|G2G2 E2B2|c2 BA GFGA|A4 G4:|

I know nothing about this tune. X:538 T:Varsovienna M:3/4 L:1/8 K:G d2 g2 f2|A3 GAB|c2 e2 d2|B4 BB| B2 A2 B2|c3 Bcd|e2 d2 B2|G3 ABc| d2 g2 f2|A3 GAB|c2 e2 d2|B4 BB| B2 A2 B2|c3 Bcd|e2 d2 F2|G4 DG|| B2 B2 DG|B2 B2 DG|B2 c2 B2|A4 DF| A2 A2 DF|A2 A2 DF|A2 B2 A2|G4 DG| B2 B2 DG|B2 B2 DG|B2 c2 B2|A4 DF| A2 A2 DF|A2 A2 DF|A2 B2 A2|G3 ABc||

I know nothing about this tune. X:484 T:Spirit of the Dance M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G G2 D E2 D|G2 D E2 D|GAB c2 B|ABG FED| G2 D E2 D|G2 D E2 D|GAB cde|cAF G3:| DGB c3|B3 A3|ABc d2 e|c2 d B3| GAB c3|B3 A3|ABc B2 c|B2 A G3:|

First heard by me on a Brass Monkey CD as the 'tune that goes with the Primrose Polka". X:346 T:Tip Top Hornpipe M:4/4 K:G Bc B2 dcdB|c2 e2 ed e2|AG A2 cBcA|Bcde d4| Bc B2 dcdB|c2 e2 ed e2|d2 F2 FcBA|G2 G2 G4:|| [K:D]A2 FG A2 Bc|d2 d2 f4|g2 e2 ed e2|f2 d2 dc d2| A2 FG A2 Bc|d2 d2 f4|g2 e2 egfe|d2 d2 d4:||

An Irish air written by Thomas Walsh on a trip to Inisheer, one of the Aran Islands. X:228 T:Inisheer C:Thomas Walsh M:3/4 L:1/8 K:G D2|B3 A Bd|B4 D2|E3 B AB|D4 D2| B3 A Bd|B4 d2|G3 B A/2G/2F|G4 D2| B3 A Bd|B4 D2|E3B AB|D4 D2| B3 A Bd|B4 d2|G3 B A/2G/2F|G3|| A Bd|e3 f ed|B4 d2|gf ed Bd|e4 Bd| e3 f ed|B4 d2|E3 B A/2G/2F|G3| A Bd|e3 f ed|B4 d2|gf ed Bd|e4 Bd| e3 f ed|B4 d2|E3 B AB|G4||

Tune for is a traditional English folk song, originating in Northumberland. X:344  T:Dance To Your Daddy  M:3/4  L:1/8  K:G  g2 ge dB|Aa ag fd|g2 ge dB|dg gf g2|  g2 ge dB|Aa ag fd|g2 ge dB|dg gf g2||  b2 ba bd'|a2 ag fa|b2 ba bd'|dg gf g2|  b2 ba bd'|a2 ag fa|b2 ba bd'|dg gf g2||

A Northumbrian waltz composed by Archie Dagg (1899 -1991), a shepherd and fiddler. X:134 T:Elsey's Waltz C: Archie Dagg L:1/8 K:G dc|B3A B2|G2B2d2|e2c2g2|d4c'2| b3a g2|g2f2g2|g2d2b2|a4dc| B3A B2|G2B2d2|e2c2g2|d4c'2| b3a g2|d2e2f2|g6|g4|| d2|b3c' ba|g2a2b2|c'2e2c'2|b4d2| b3c' ba|g2f2g2|g2d2b2|a4dc| B3A B2|G2B2d2|e2c2g2|d4c'2| b3a g2|d2e2f2|g6|g4||

I know nothing about this tune. X:155 T:Fox and Geese M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G G2d dcB|A2B c3|BAG GAB|A2G FED| G2d dcB|A2B c3|BAG c2B|AGF G3:| F2G AFD|F2G ABc|d2B d2B|dBG dBG| F2G AFD|F2G ABc|dBG c2B|AGF G3:|

A 19th century song tune - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Rosin_the_Beau X:428 T:Rosin the Beau M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G G2 G BGB|d2 d efg|dBG GAG|E3 E2 D| G2 G BGB|d2 d efg|dBG ABA|1 G3- G2 D:|2 G4 Bc|| d2 d dBd|e2 f gfe|dBG GAG|E3- E2 D| G2 G BGB|d2 d efg|dBG ABA|G4 Bc:||

A jig used for several Yorkshire Longsword dances. X:368  T:Old Wife Of Coverdale  M:9/8  L:1/8  K:Emin  EFE G2B BAG|FEF D2F FED|  EFE G2B BAG|FEF DEF E3:|  edc BAG F3|d3 F3 d3|  edc BAG F2F|DEF E3 E3:|

A tune by the Shetland fiddler Tom Anderson. X:420 T:Robertsons C:Tom Anderson M:4/4 K:G GA|B2AB d2BA|GAGE D2GA|B2AB dBGB|A6 GA| B2AB d2BA|GAGE D2GA|BABd AGAd|G6:| Bc|d2Bd g2fg|edBd d2Bc|d2Bd g2fg|e6 de| g2G2 G2BA|GAGE D2GA|BABd AGAd|G6:|

A tune from Playford's Complete Dancing Master 1651. X:432 T:Rufty Tufty M:2/2 L:1/8 K:G d4 d2 e2|f4 e2 f2|g2 g2 f3 e|d8| d4 d2 e2|f4 e2 f2|g2 g2 f3 e|d6|| ef|g2 f2 e2 d2|d2 c2 B3 c|d2 d2 c2 B2|A4 G2 ef| g2 f2 e2 d2|d2 c2 B3 c|d2 d2 c2 B2|A4 G4|| B3 c d2 d2|e2 c2 d4|B3 c d2 d2| e2 c2 d2 Bc|d2 d2 c2 B2|A4 G4:||

I know nothing about this tune. X:234 T:Jack's Alive M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G D|G2 G GAB|A2 A ABc|d2 B c2 A|B2 G AFD| G2 G GAB|A2 A ABc|dBG cAF|G3-G2:|| d|g2 g gag|f2 f fgf|e2 d efg|a2 g fed| g2 g gag|f2 f fgf|efg fga|g3-g2 d| g2 g gag|f2 f fgf|e2 d efg|a2 g fe d| g2 d Bcd|e2 c ABc|dcB AGF|G3-G2||