Lester's Tune-a-Day

A 19th century Cornish carol. X:400 T:Sans Day Carol M:3/4 L:1/8 K:G G>B|d2 d2 d>c|B2 G2 B2|c2 A2 F2|G4 GB| d2 d2 dc|B2 G2 B2|c2 A2 F2|G4 GB|d2 d2 ef| g2 d2 d2|d2 d2 ef|g4 GB| d2 d2 dc|B2 G2 B2|c2 A2 F2|G4 A2| A4 A2|B4 GB|d2 d2 dc|B2 G2 B2|c2 A2 F2|G6|]

A carol from 1849 with a tune by Arthur Sullivan. X:399 T:It Came Upon a Midnight Clear K:G L:1/8 M:C GA|B2 A2 G2 AB|c2 B2 A2 d2|d2 B2 cd e2|d6 Bc| d2 d2 B2 G2|c2 B2 A2 GA|Bc d2 B2 A2|G6||

An American Christmas song written by James Lord Pierpont in 1857. X:272 T:Jingle Bells C:J. Pierpont M:2/4 L:1/8 K:G DB AG|D3 D/D/|DB AG|E4| Ec BA|F4|dd cA|B4| DB AG|D3 D/D/|DB AG|E4| Ec BA|dd dd|ed cA|G2 d2|| |:BB B2|BB B2|Bd G>A|B4| cc c>c|cB B B/B/|1BA AB|A2 d2 :||2 dd cA|G4||

A Christmas Carol from 1719, words by Isaac Watts and the tune based on a piece by Handel. Played on a Wheatstone Aeola Single Action Bass, thus it only plays on the push and has large flap valves to refill the bellows on the pull. The concertina is painted gold as it was originally used by the The Fayre Four Sisters a 1920s/30s music hall concertina band. X:397 T:Joy to the World M:2/4 L:1/8 K:G g2 f>e|d3 c|B2 A2|G3 d|e3 e|f3 f| g4-|g3 g|gf ed|d>c Bg|gf ed|d>c BB| BB BB/c/|d3 c/B/|AA AA/B/|c3 B/A/| G g2 e|d>c Bc|B2 A2|G4||

A French bouree in E minor. X:365 T:Mon Habit n'a qu'un Bouton L:1/8 M:2/4 K:Em E>F GA|BB -B/A/B/^c/|d>^c BA|BB/A/ GF| E>F GA|BB -B/A/B/^c/|d>^c BA|B4:|| c>B AG|F>G Ac|B>A GF|E>F GB| c>B AG|F>G Ac|1BA GA|B4:|2B>A GF|E4|

An Irish polka. X:150 T:Egan's Polka M:2/4 L:1/8 K:D fA/A/ BA|fA/A/ BA|d2 e>f|ed BA| fA/A/ BA|fA/A/ BA|d2 e>f|ed d>e:| fa fe|ed BA|d2 e>f|ed BA| fa fe|ed BA|d2 e>f|ed d>e:|

A nice jig written by the late Jim Harding of Lewes in Sussex. X: 11 T:South Downs Jig C:Jim Harding M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G d|dcA G3|EFG AFE|DEF GAB|cde d2 d| dcA G3|EFG AFE|DEF GAB|cAF G2:|| B|Bcd e2 c|d2 B c2 A|Bcd e2 c|[M:9/8]d2 B c2 B A3| [M:6/8]DGF E3|cBA FED|DEF GAB|cAF G2:|

A tune from Herbert Ernest Smith who was born in Blakeney on 8th September, 1892, into a large family of blacksmiths. X:393 T:Herbert Smiths' Four Hand Reel M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G g2 f2 e2 d2|c2 B2 A2 G2|GABc d2 B2|B2 A2 A2 d2| g2 f2 e2 d2|c2 B2 A2 G2|GABc d2 b2|a2 g2 a2 g2| [M:2/4][L:1/8] g4 :| M:4/4 b2 bb b2 b2|c'bag a4|b2 bb b2 b2|agfe d4| b2 bb b2 b2|c'bag a4|b2 c'b a2 ba|g4 g4:

A nursery rhyme tune that I got from a session in Whitby. X:10 T:Wind the Bobbin Up M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G Bc|d2 de dBGB|d2 de dBGB|c2 Ac B2 GB|AGFG ABce| d2 de dBGB|d2 de dBGB|c2 Ac B2 GB|AGFA G2:|| z2|A2 AF D2 D2|GABc d2 B2|c2 Ac B2 G2|AGFG A4| A2 AF D2 D2|GABc d2 B2|c2 Ac B2 G2|A2 F2 G2:||

AKA Tom Tolly's Hornpipe, Tom Fowler's Hornpipe (with an abbreviated B Music), it appears in the 19th century manuscripts of English musicians Rev. Robert Harrison (Brampton, Cumbria, 1820) and James Winder (Wyresdale, Lancashire, 1835-41). X:391 T:Tom Tulley's Hornpipe M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G Bc|dcBA Ggfg|e4 d4|cdcB ABAG|F4 E4| DEFG A2 B2|c2 de d2 c2|BAGA D2 F2|G4 G2:|| d2|g2 bg e2 ag|f4 d4|g2 bg e2 ag|f4 d2 ef| gddd gddd|gdgd gddd|g3 f edcB|ABAG F3 E| DEFG A2 B2|c2 de d2 c2|BAGA D2F2|G4 G2:||

Probably a Welsh tune originally called Pwt Ar Y Bys (a bit on the finger) but now found in many places. X:390 T:Buttered Peas M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G B2 d2 d2 cB|c2 e2 e4|B2 d2 d2 cB|c2 A2 A4| B2 d2 d2 cB|c2 e2 e4|B2 d2 A2 c2|B2 G2 G4:| B2 d2 d2 ef|gfga g4|B2 d2 d2 cB|c2 A2 A4| B2 d2 d2 ef|gfga g4|B2 d2 A2 c2|B2 G2 G4:|

A tune composed by Felix Burns (1864 – 1920). It is also known as Shit Cart Polka or Mrs Kenny's Barndance (as stolen by the Irish :) ) X:631 T:Woodland Flowers C:Felix Burns M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G DGB A2G|DGB A2G|E2C E2G|c6| d2B c2A|B2G E2F|G2B AGE|D6| DGB A2G|DGB A2G|E2C E2G|c6| d2B c2A|B2G E2F|G2D BdB|G6|| BAG D2D|BAG D2D|cBA E2E|cBA E2E| F2G F2E|D2c B2A|G2A BAG|D6| BAG D2D|BAG D2D|cBA E2E|cBA E2E| F2G F2E|D2c B2A|G2D BdB|G6||

This waltz seems to have got into the English repertory from the early 1950s recording by Robert Forrester (moothie) & Norman Alford (whistle) subsequently issued on the Veteran CD 'Pass the Jug Around'. However, the same tune was later recorded by the Scots moothie player Donald Black on his CD 'Keil Road' under the title 'Waltz Quadrille'. In the sleeve notes for the latter, Black states that the tune was first recorded in Canada in the 1930s by George Wade & His Cornhuskers, a band whose repertory included old-time, Scots and Irish tunes. So FWIW maybe it's originally Scots, maybe originally Canadian. Thanks to Steve Harrison for the above info. X:388 T:Cumberland Waltz M:3/4 L:1/8 K:G dd|G2 B2 dd|G2 B2 dd|G2 B2 d2|b4 c'2| b2 a2 g2|d4 e2|d2 B2 G2|A4dd| G2 B2 dd|G2 B2 dd|G2 B2 d2|b4 c'2|  b2 a2 g2|d4 dd|d2 f2 a2|g4|| d2|b4 g2|a4 g2|ff f2 e2|c4 d2|  ee e2 d2|ee e2 d2|efe2 d2|B2d2 d2| b4 g2|a4 g2|ff f2 e2|c4 d2| ee e2 d2|e...

A few tunes now as a result of my visit to the Whitby Folk Week. A schottische by Will Atkinson the border shepherd and mouth-organ player extraordinaire. X:387 T:Willy Atkinson's Schottische M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G D>G|B2 B2 B<d-dB|c>Bc>d e2 f>e|d>gf>e d>cB>A|G>AB>G D2 G>A| B2 B2 B<d-dB|c>Bc>d e2 f>e|d>gf>e d>cB>A|G2 G2 G2:| d>B|c<A F2 F2 e>c|d<B G2 G2 g2|f2 A>B c2 e2|d>BG>A B2 d>B| c<A F2 F2 e>c|d<B G2 G2 g2|f2 A>B c>de>f|g2 g2 g2:| D>G|B2 B2 B2 A>G|F>EF>G A2 A>B|c2 c2 c2 B>A|G>FG>A B>GD>G| B2 B2 B2 A>G|F>EF>G A2 A>B|c2 c2 c2 B>A|G2 G2 G2:|

A morris dance tune from Bampton in Oxfordshire. X:169 T:Flowers of Edinburgh M:2/2 L:1/8 K:G DEFD G2 A2|B2 B2 BdcB|AGFG EFGA|B2 E2 E2 GE| DEFD G2 A2|B2 B2 Bgge|dcBA GFGA|B2 G2 G4:|| g6 ag|f6 af|e2 e2 efge|B2 e2 efge| dBGB d2 d2|e2 e2 efge|dcBA GFGA|B2 G2 G4:||

A tune by Martyn Roper that I got from the playing/ video by John Leslie. X:85 T:Bromsgrove C:Martyn Roper K:Em M:4/4 |:E2 EF G2 E2 | FEFG A2 F2 | E2 EF G2 d2 | B8 | c2 cB A2 c2 | BcBA G2 E2 | F2 FEDE FD | E8 :||  |:B2 Bc d2 B2 | cBcd e2 c2 | B2 Bc d2 B2 | A3 g fedc | B2 Bc d2 B2 | cBcd e2 c2  |1 d2 g2 fgaf | g4 g4 :|2 B2 G2 AGFA | G4 G4 ||

From the early c19th Welch manuscript from Bosham in Sussex. X:384 T:Sussex Waltz M: 3/4 L: 1/8 K: G d2 d2 cA|B3A G2|FG A2 F2|GA B2 c2| d2 d2 cA|B3A G2|FG A2 F2|1 G2 A2 B2:|2 G2 B2 G2|| FG A2 F2|GA B2 G2|AB c2 e2|d2 Bd cA| B3d cA|B3A G2|FG A2 F2|1 G2 B2 G2:|2 G6||

This was written by concertina player Michelle Soinne in honour of a magnificent tea she was given by Northumbrian fiddler Willie Taylor. X:615 T:Willy Taylor's High Tea C:Michelle Soinne M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G GA|B2 Bc BAGA|B2 d2 e4|d2 g2 B2 d2|cBAG A2 GA| B2 Bc BAGA|B2 d2 e4|d2 g2 B2 G2|A4 G2:| gf|e2 dc BAGA|B2 d2 e4|d2 g2 B2 d2|cBAG A2 gf| e2 dc BAGA|B2 d2 e4|d2 g2 B2 G2|A4 G2 gf| e2 dc BAGA|B2 d2 e4|d2 g2 B2 d2|cBAG A2 GA| B2 Bc BAGA|B2 d2 e4|d2 g2 B2 G2|A4 G2|

A tune from Joshua Gibbons of Lincolnshire. X:342 T:Market Rasen Quickstep M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G D2|G2 GA G2 B2|d4 B2 G2|A2 Ac B2 Bd|A2 A4 D2| G2 GA G2 B2|d4 B2 G2|A2 AG A2 B2|G4 G2:| d2|e2 ed e2 g2|d4 B2 G2|A2 Ac B2 Bd|A2 A4 d2| e2 ed e2 g2|d4 B2 G2|A2 AG A2 B2|G4 G2:|

A traditional dance tune from South West France. X:381 T:Branle de Rat K:G M:4/4 L:1/8 B2 B2 B2 AB|c2 B2 A4|A2 A2 A2 GA|G2 A2 B2 G2| B2 B2 B2 AB|c2 B2 A4|d2 d2 d2 cc|B2 A2 G4|| [M:6/8] B2 G B2 G|DEF E2 D|B2 G B2 G|DEF G3:|

Got this from a rendition by my chum Pikey.It is a Australian tune. It's played on a £14 child's melodeon from Hawkin's Bazaar. X:380 T:Cunamulla Stockmans Jig M:6/8 L:1/8 K:D dcB A2 F|GFE FGA|dcB A2 F|GFE D3:|| E2 E E2 F|GAG F2 D|E2 E E2 F|GFE D3:||

I heard this played at the excellent Saturday Folk Club in Lewes recently and liked it. X:1 T:Heel and Toe Polka M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G B2 B2 AG G2|FGAB d^c =c2|c2 c2 BA A2|GFEF ED D2| B2 B2 AG G2|FGAB d^c =c2|c2 c2 BA A2|GFEF G2 G2|| [K:Em]BEBE BE E2|GE E/F/G/E/ FB, B,2|BEBE BE E2|GGFG/F/ E2 E2| BEBE BE E2|GE E/F/G/E/ FB, B,2|BEBE BE E2|GGFG/F/ E2 E2|| [K:G]D2 GA B2 B>c|dBGA B2 B>d|cc A>c BB G>B|AEFG AFED| D2 GA B2 B>c|dBGA B2 B>d|cc A>c BB G>B|AEFD G2 G2||

A mazurka from the Auvergne. It is played with (hopefully) a mazurka rhythm in the A part and a waltz rhythm in the B part as it is danced in the Auvergne. I have played this previously under a different name and in a different style -  Lumpy Custard . X:325 T:Auvergne Mazurka M:3/4 L:1/8 K:D A2 dc d2|A2 fe f2|gf ed cd|ed cB A2| A2 dc d2|A2 fe f2|gf ed ce|1 e2 d2 z2:|2 e2 d2 fg|| a2 ab ag|f2 d2 ef|g2 ga gf|e4 fg|a2 ab ag|f2 d2 ef| gf ed ce|1 e2 d2 fg:|2 e2 d2 z2||

This tune was collected from Sally Sloane, from Parkes in central NSW by the pioneering folklore collector John Meredith in the 1950s, and her vast repertoire of songs and tunes continues to be one of the most important sources in Australian traditional music.  The tune is also known as the Trip To Cottingham. X:473 T:Sally Sloane's Jig T:Trip to Cottingham M:6/8 L:1/8 K:D A|FAd FAd|GBd GBd|FAd dcd|f2e e2A| FAd FAd|GBd GBd|FAd dcd|e2c d2:| |:e|f3 def|f2 e e2 f|g2 e cde|efe d2 e| f3 def|f2 e e2 f|g2 e cde|efe d2:| |:z|A3 F2 G|A3 F2 G|AFA dAd|fed cBA| G3 E2 F|G3 E2 F|GBA GFE|[1F3 G2:|[2D3 D2|]

An American waltz whose name comes from the Tombigbee river which flows through Mississippi and Alabama.  The box I am playing is a conversion I have made to a D/G melodeon of a Hohner Student 1 Piano Accordion. X:376 T:Tombigbee Waltz M:3/4 L:1/8 K:G BA|G2 B2 B2|B d3 BA|G2 B2 B2|B d3 Bc| B2 A2 A2|A3 B cd|e2 d2 d2|d3c BA| G2B2B2|B d3 BA|G2 B2 B2|B d3 Bc| B2 A2 A2|A3 B cd|e2 d2 F2|G4|| d2|g4 d2|g4 d2|e2 d2 e2|B4 Bc| B2 A2 A2|A3 B cd|e2 d2 d2|d4 d2| g4 d2|g4 d2|e2 d2 e2|B4 Bc| B2 A2 A2|A3 B cd|e2 d2 F2|G4||

This tune was written by John Sheahan of The Dubliners and the name would appear to come from this building. http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/dublin/casinomarino/ X:1 T:Marino Casino C:John Sheahan M:4/4 L:1/8 K:D |:FG|Adcd B2 cd|Ad G2 F2 ED|G2 FE A2 D2|EDCD E2 FG| Adcd B2 cd|Ad G2 F2 ED|G2 FE A2 C2|1D6:|2D8|| |:CDEC A,2 A2|GFEF D2 dc|BcdA Gd F2|E3 D E3 D| CDEC A,2 A2|GFEF D2 dc|BcdA Gd F2|1E3 D D4:|2 E3 D D2||