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Discussions => Tunes => Topic started by: george garside on September 10, 2015, 09:07:36 PM

Title: tune sets for ceilidh's
Post by: george garside on September 10, 2015, 09:07:36 PM
On 29  Aug in the long and  driftin everywhere  thread about Whitby week  I  somehow got round to going on about simple(rather than arty farty) tunes for ceilids and as an example mentioned Jimmy Shands choice for a Virginia reel recording as being  coming round the mountain let him go let him tarry,  Maggie and yankee doodle dandy .  Mike Hurst then chimed in to say that he was nicking them!

So perhaps a thread and choice of sets for various dances ( your own or anybody elses)  would be interesting and may even be useful for those new to playing ceilidh music

To start the ball rolling I prefer to play tunes that are well known to the dancers so they can sing along and feel  somehow at one with the band - or something like that.

A couple of simple  sets I have used many times are

  circassian circle  Waltzing Matilda and Click go the shears (polkerified!)

Waltz -Daisy Daisy, oh dear what can the matter be, She's a lassie from Lancashire. 

Gay Gordons  , cock of the north , 100 pipers, lilly the pink

Blaydon races - Blaydon races, Madammoiselle from armentiers ,Life on the ocean wave.

not only do the dancers   like them but those sitting out can and do join in and sing

george

Title: Re: sets of tunes for ceilidh
Post by: Chris Ryall on September 10, 2015, 11:01:53 PM
well done in "keeping rhythm" - several bands I've danced to don't see that as part of leading a dance
 :o

But - to be contrarian, and to state one of the things to be the bane of English ceilidhs why switch eternally to other tunes at all? Just pick a good danceable melody and … do something with it. You are musicians FFS!

slightly off topic, but the other thing that utterly kills celidhs is the everlasting walk through. 20 minutes of "all go back to your places and we'll try again", to inform  about 10 minutes of actual dance.

I once (no twice) have had an entirely "fun", all in dance forcibly stopped at 11.45 on New Years eve so that we could all walk through (x3) Bonny White Sergeant, the group's traditional dance to do at midnight. What lunacy?

Sorry George, life is too short …
Title: Re: sets of tunes for ceilidh
Post by: Graham Spencer on September 11, 2015, 04:45:10 AM
I'm with Chris - I find one interestingly explored tune, or maybe two to give a key-change lift if it goes on a while, per dance far more satisfactory than the old twice-through-and-on-to-the-next approach.

Graham
Title: Re: sets of tunes for ceilidh
Post by: Sage Herb on September 11, 2015, 07:24:04 AM
Yes, I'm with Graham - normally two tunes per dance, paying most attention to a consistent rhythmic 'feel' between the pair. A key change (either between or within the tunes) is definitely a bonus, but secondary.
Cheers
Steve
Title: Re: sets of tunes for ceilidh
Post by: Theo on September 11, 2015, 08:48:45 AM
One tune, two, three or more in a set. It all adds variety.  I have one set with five tunes that always goes down a storm!  It uses one tune like a chorus with other tunes as the "verses" so if you give the tunes numbers then it goes 121314151213 etc.  it's only downside is that it can confuse musicians who dep with us!  Oh and all the tunes are in D:-)
Title: Re: sets of tunes for ceilidh
Post by: Chris Ryall on September 11, 2015, 08:54:01 AM
At an EFDSS dance at Cartmel, we had a "pre-fun" meeting with She Of The Piano Accordion, complete with books of sheet music. The recipe was "number 7 twice, then #20 twice, #22 twice, #17 twice then back to #7 three times"

I'd like to say that it felt like "death to folk dancing" … but actually, apart from the reprise at the end it was more like a normal Bromyard (picked at random) session set. "Doing anything" with the music wasn't gonna happen, but I have to say that she kept strict tempo, danceable speed and they were all polkas, whatever.

This is a French dance set (http://chrisryall.net/tunes/fast-auvergat-pignol.mp3) recorded in val d' Isère 4 years back. The band is again totally impromptu, it is strict tempo, amd danceable speed for an Auvergne bourée.   Whatever …

(I could have picked a Naragonia, Cyrille Brotto, le Tron, Didier Leloi, Heim, or Duo Absynthe dance set instead. These guys also medley on occasion, but it'll be just the once. "Emphasis" is on doing something with each piece of music)  :|glug
Title: Re: sets of tunes for ceilidh
Post by: george garside on September 11, 2015, 10:05:53 AM
I  often use only 2 tunes if playing 'non singy' tunes  but if there are words to be sung I generally go for 3 or occasionally 4 as most punters only know the chorus and perhaps the first verse!
 
A thought on choosing tunes that fit smoothly together ,with or without a change of key.  If  the A part of one fits   seamlessly with the B part of the next one  (with or without a key change) they will work well together. If there is a lurch between them rather like missing a gear they won't!

My pet hate is when a bands suddenly change from a 4/4 to a 6/8 mid dance perhaps for no other reason than because they can!

george
Title: Re: sets of tunes for ceilidh
Post by: Anahata on September 11, 2015, 10:33:53 AM
I'm sure most of you have seen it before but Medley Mania (http://www.johnkirkpatrick.co.uk/wr_MedleyMania.asp) is worth (re)reading.
We're mostly a two-tune-per-dance band. If it's a set dance and the whole progression is gone through twice, we change when the first couple are back at the top, i.e. halfway through.
"Each tune twice" is common in Scottish dance and old-school EFDSS social dance.

But I thought George wanted to discuss choices of actual tunes, not to have the "one tune vs. many tunes" debate.
Title: Re: sets of tunes for ceilidh
Post by: Chris Ryall on September 11, 2015, 10:46:40 AM
My pet hate is when a bands suddenly change from a 4/4 to a 6/8 mid dance perhaps for no other reason than because they can!

 ::)  :o  >:(

Idiocy. Agree too about those "gear changes" it is deeply ugly to dance to. We haven't really touched on how a good dance tune must "inform the feet".?

Anahata: I'm actually fairly cool on second tunes. But we truly lack a development concept in this island.  (You and Mary a notable and often courageous exception). I guess as a lot of "Country" dancing has become chess with real men, so doing exercises in set theory with the accompanying music might even be appropriate?
Title: Re: sets of tunes for ceilidh
Post by: Theo on September 11, 2015, 10:57:36 AM
Have to disagree about the changes between 4/4 and 6/8.  It's a standard part of northeast and Scottish dance band repertoire.  As a dancer I think it's quit fun occasionally, you just change gear with your feet.
Title: Re: sets of tunes for ceilidh
Post by: george garside on September 11, 2015, 10:58:04 AM
My pet hate is when a bands suddenly change from a 4/4 to a 6/8 mid dance perhaps for no other reason than because they can!

 ::)  :o  >:(

 . We haven't really touched on how a good dance tune must "inform the feet".?

Indeed it must  - but how much of it is down to the choice of tune - v- the way the tune is being played and if the latter how does one best describe how to do it.  Do musicians who are experienced dancers do it intuitively??

george
Title: Re: sets of tunes for ceilidh
Post by: Chris Ryall on September 11, 2015, 11:08:36 AM
Have to disagree about the changes between 4/4 and 6/8.  It's a standard part of northeast and Scottish dance band repertoire.  As a dancer I think it's quit fun occasionally, you just change gear with your feet.

Fair enough. The first band to do it it to me was the High Level Ranters, in the middle of a "brandy"

I nearly fell over, … but I didn't quit ;)
Title: Re: sets of tunes for ceilidh
Post by: TomBom on September 11, 2015, 11:25:56 AM
I have one set with five tunes that always goes down a storm!  It uses one tune like a chorus with other tunes as the "verses" so if you give the tunes numbers then it goes 121314151213 etc.  it's only downside is that it can confuse musicians who dep with us!  Oh and all the tunes are in D:-)
May I ask which tunes you are playing?
Title: Re: sets of tunes for ceilidh
Post by: Anahata on September 11, 2015, 01:03:59 PM
We change rhythm from 4/4 (Scotland the Brave) to 6/8 (Cock o'the North and then Wi'a hundred Pipers) for Gay Gordons, but that's exceptional and apparently traditional. (and "Scottish"...)

Even for Cumberland Square Eight, where it seems to be de rigeur do do My Love She's but a Lassie Yet (4/4) followed by Atholl Highlanders (6/8) we use a 64 bar tune, which could be Weymouth Quickstep or Silverton Polka but never both for the same dance, one of the few times where we stick to one tune all the way through.

But we truly lack a development concept in this island.  (You and Mary a notable and often courageous exception).
For concert performances yes (though no different from many others), but actually when we are playing for dancing as a two-piece band, Mary's on piano and my scope for impro is limited, as I think somebody should always be playing the tune when there are dancers. With more than one melody player, messing around with harmony parts is definitely part of the mix.
Title: Re: sets of tunes for ceilidh
Post by: Graham Spencer on September 11, 2015, 03:24:11 PM
We change rhythm from 4/4 (Scotland the Brave) to 6/8 (Cock o'the North and then Wi'a hundred Pipers) for Gay Gordons, but that's exceptional and apparently traditional. (and "Scottish"...)


Yes, I've done that with several bands over at least the last 30 years. I can't remember where I stole it from, but I think it might have been the RSCDS in Birmingham.

Graham
Title: Re: sets of tunes for ceilidh
Post by: Theo on September 11, 2015, 04:46:11 PM
I have one set with five tunes that always goes down a storm!  It uses one tune like a chorus with other tunes as the "verses" so if you give the tunes numbers then it goes 121314151213 etc.  it's only downside is that it can confuse musicians who dep with us!  Oh and all the tunes are in D:-)
May I ask which tunes you are playing?

No its secret  :-X  but you can have a load of fun creating a similar set with your choice of tunes. (:)
Title: Re: sets of tunes for ceilidh
Post by: TomBom on September 11, 2015, 08:39:21 PM
No its secret  :-X  but you can have a load of fun creating a similar set with your choice of tunes. (:)
Your are certainly right, making my own sets is most fun.
Title: Re: sets of tunes for ceilidh
Post by: Bryson on October 02, 2015, 08:33:18 PM
Together with my sister I/we started ceilidhs here in Berlin. This was about 3-4 years ago. Nobody in Berlin knows what a ceilidh is. I usually just say come along and see for yourself. They do - typical Berlin :)

We only have one problem now, finding a convenient hall to accommodate all the people who want to take part in "traditional and energetic folk dances".

Our next ceilidh is on October 17 in the Wasserturm, Kreuzberg. The room, comfortable enough for dancing, would take about 40-50 people. We normally get well over three times that number - sehr gemütlich :)

We keep to relatively simple dances and I have, since about 2007, been at Folk Camp Germany. I've basically collected the tunes from that camp. So, if people dance to it at folk camp we try it out in the Berlin Ceilidh Band.

Here is a link to the set for our next ceilidh: tunes and dances:
http://berlinceilidhband.weebly.com/music---band.html

Motto: If they go crazy dancing to a particular tune at Folk Camp Germany we give it a whirl in the Berlin Ceilidh Band.

cheers
bryson
Title: Re: sets of tunes for ceilidh
Post by: MandoC on October 03, 2015, 05:37:32 PM
I play in an American Contra Dance Band, The Swing Dogs, in Fairbanks AK.  Typically we play 3 tune medleys and play each tune 4 times before switching tunes.  If the dance is still going on after we go through the medley, we go back to the first tune and start the progression over again.  This gives variety in the sets and allows for a lot of variation.  I am mostly the tune arranger for the band.  I frequently write out harmonies and often throw in alternate parts to change the texture of the music. In contra music, any tune with 32 bars is fair game, so I borrow tunes from recordings.  Two of my favorite sources are tunes by the world band Kila and Jamie Smith's Mabon. Another composer I enjoy very much is Scottish accordian player Ian Lowthian. Attached is a link to a stage set we played at the Alaska Folk Festival this year.  For a stage set, we condense sets to be much shorter.  (By the way, our fiddler Maggie is only 13 years old). Charlie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5BAchdMcbY
Title: Re: sets of tunes for ceilidh
Post by: smiley on October 04, 2015, 03:30:28 AM
Berlin, ... Alaska, ... New South Wales ... 
I couldn't resist keeping the "global ceilidh" thing going, so I've attached the tune list for a midwinter ceilidh held in country NSW last July. All D/G melodeon-friendly tunes.
Title: Re: sets of tunes for ceilidh
Post by: Theo on October 04, 2015, 08:58:06 AM
Good to see someone else plays "Me Laddie's Ower Bonny For the Coal Trade"
Title: Re: sets of tunes for ceilidh
Post by: george garside on October 04, 2015, 03:15:25 PM
Some sets I have used regularly.

Mucking of Geordies   Byre  2xA,2xB
Athol highlanders  2xA, 2XB,2'XC,2xD

cock of the north
Hundred pipers
Bonny Dundee

Egans Polka
Ryans Polka

La Russe (D) Cadam Wood (G)

Barn Dance set--loch Lomond, Geordie  hinny, Maggie

Single tune 3 speed set  --Swedish Masquerade.


Duke of perth (G), My love she's but a lassie yet (D) White Cockade (G)


Oh Susanah,(G) red river valley (G) swanee river (D)

Scotland the brave D  Thistle of Scotland A, No awa  tae bide awa G  (for circasian circle as last dance)

Waltz set - Road and miles to Dundee, home on the Range, Endearing young charms  Irish eyes are smiling (handy if last waltz required)

george
Title: Re: sets of tunes for ceilidh
Post by: smiley on October 04, 2015, 09:25:32 PM
Good to see someone else plays "Me Laddie's Ower Bonny For the Coal Trade"

Brian Peters played it when he was out here and Jackie & Greg Wilson picked it up. They began using it for a dance called the Hamburger Special. Playing the one tune for the whole dance allows the band to really get into the swing of it.
Title: tune sets for ceilidh's
Post by: george garside on April 07, 2018, 10:15:48 PM
I think it may be interesting  to start a thread listing tune sets that  members use when playing for "English(ish) ceilidh's.  Apologies if this has been done else elsewhere on the forum that I havn't spotted.

Just start the ball rolling here are a few of my regular tune sets:

Barn Dance set- Loch Lomond, Keep your feet still Geordie hinny - Maggie

Waltz set    - The road and the miles to Dundee, home on the range, Believe me if all those endearing young charms

Polka set  - Egans Polka, John Ryans Polka

Gay Gordons set -cock of the north , 100 pipers

St Bernard waltz set - daisy daisy (daisy bell), Oh dear want can the matter be, She's a lassie from Lancashire

Virginia Reel,  coming round the mountain,  let him go let him tarry, waltzing matilda, click go the shears

jig set  (for various dances including the Blaydon races) Blaydon races, madamoiselle from Armentiers, muckin of geordies Byre.

These tunes can of course by used for dances other than the examples shown .I also always use as many 'sing along' tunes as possible to increase the enjoyment and participation of both the dancers and those 'sitting out'

(Theo not sure if this is in the right place  or if it should be in 'tunes' so feel free to move if necessary)

george

Title: Re: tune sets for ceilidh's
Post by: Graham Spencer on April 08, 2018, 05:59:27 AM
You did say "for English(ish)", didn't you, George?     :D

Graham
Title: Re: tune sets for ceilidh's
Post by: george garside on April 08, 2018, 11:27:12 AM
indeed!  I am thinking in terms of tunes  frequently used for  ceilidhs in England rather  , instead of or as well as tunes of 'English' origin.??

george ;)
Title: Re: tune sets for ceilidh's
Post by: smiley on April 08, 2018, 11:34:43 AM
George also discussed this topic in 2015: http://forum.melodeon.net/index.php/topic,17503.msg215020.html (http://forum.melodeon.net/index.php/topic,17503.msg215020.html)
Title: Re: tune sets for ceilidh's
Post by: Theo on April 08, 2018, 11:41:45 AM
[[ADMIN]]

Topics merged
Title: Re: sets of tunes for ceilidh
Post by: Ellisteph on April 08, 2018, 12:15:52 PM
Good to see someone else plays "Me Laddie's Ower Bonny For the Coal Trade"
I'm a bit of a sucker for weird tune title so this took my fancy. However, can't find it on Folktune finder, not on the session, nothing obvious on You Tube - where can can I hear this and  /or see the dots please?
Title: Re: tune sets for ceilidh's
Post by: Theo on April 08, 2018, 12:58:51 PM
It's in the Vickers Collection published as The Great Northern Tune Book (http://www.dragonflymusic.co.uk/greatnorth.html) tune number 154.   If you like weird tune titles it is a book you will enjoy with gems such as "Bustle her in a Blanket", "Mopping Nelly" "Admiral Rodney's Delight" "Cock up thy Beaver"  which I found by opening the book at random and flicking through a few pages.   It is crammed full of such delights.  The last title I've quoted is about hats by the way.
Title: Re: tune sets for ceilidh's
Post by: Julian S on April 08, 2018, 01:33:22 PM
Aaargh ! I've got enough tunes to work on as it is, what with MatW approaching fast...
I'm fond of 3/2 hornpipes at the moment, but haven't tried matching any with dances yet - comments and recommendations ?

J
Title: Re: tune sets for ceilidh's
Post by: Ellisteph on April 08, 2018, 04:55:25 PM
It's in the Vickers Collection published as The Great Northern Tune Book (http://www.dragonflymusic.co.uk/greatnorth.html) tune number 154.   If you like weird tune titles it is a book you will enjoy with gems such as "Bustle her in a Blanket", "Mopping Nelly" "Admiral Rodney's Delight" "Cock up thy Beaver"  which I found by opening the book at random and flicking through a few pages.   It is crammed full of such delights.  The last title I've quoted is about hats by the way.
Thanks Theo. I shall get hold of a copy; another book to add to the pile!
Title: Re: tune sets for ceilidh's
Post by: smiley on April 09, 2018, 03:03:32 AM
The dots for 'My Lad's Over Bonny for the Coal Trade' are at http://tunearch.org/wiki/My_Lad%27s_Over_Bonny_for_the_Coal_Trade (http://tunearch.org/wiki/My_Lad%27s_Over_Bonny_for_the_Coal_Trade)
Title: Re: tune sets for ceilidh's
Post by: Stiamh on April 09, 2018, 12:24:30 PM
All this talk of the coal trade reminds me of a Ken Dodd joke that I read recently in his obituary:

"Sex is what posh people have their coal delivered in."

(Yes, it took me a few seconds to get it, too.  ;)  )

In an attempt to save my post from being deleted for irrelevance, and leaving aside the slight incongruity of the expression "English ceilidh", you could get around the dilemma of whether to use an apostrophe for the plural by using the proper plural (céilithe in Irish and, so Wikipedia tells us, cèildhean in Scots Gaelic). Personally I am grateful for the Irish spelling reform so that I can write "ceilis" (or "céilís").

Still slightly off-topic but in reply to earlier off-topic answers, playing at Irish ceilis, contradances and québécois veillées I am guilty of all the failings that provoke the ire of some: sets of three, four or five tunes, changing from a jig or a slip-jig to a reel (I reckon that anyone who feels that dancers don't appreciate the lift can't be pulling it off well), and doubtless other sins too (playing an extra B music or two or cutting a tune short in order to begin the next iteration of a dance with a new tune would probably count). Tunes do get played 3, 4 or 5 times each, though, and sometimes more. Especially for québécois sets, some of which can go on for ages.
Title: Re: tune sets for ceilidh's
Post by: MatlockBather on April 09, 2018, 01:39:11 PM
Here is the current sets that we (can) play.

Mumpers Community Ceilidh Band Set List
Jigs
32 Bar

House and Garden (Ty a Garrd) / The Dory Boat
Louisberg Square (Uncles Jig) / The Oyster Girl
Capt Lanoes / Severn Stars
The Spirit of the Dance (Sheffield Jig)
The Manchester Galop
48 Bar
When Daylight Shines / The Dingle Regatta
Reels
Farewell To Whisky / The Road to Boston
Polkas
Astleys Ride / As the tide was flowing
Buttered Peas / The Marmalade Polka
Uncle Bernard’s Polka / Salmon Tails up the Water
Teribus / Huntsmans Chorus
Not for Joe / Jenny Lind
Three Around Three / Highland Mary
Travellers Joy / Steeple Claydon (Old Molly Oxford)
The Wednesday Night Polka
Winster Gallop
Waltzes
The Man In The Moon / The South Wind
The Greenwood Tree / The Orkney Rope Waltz
Hornpipes
Fells's Hornpipe (Mountain Schottische) / The Dannish Waltz
Keel Row / Ka Fuz A Lum

We are a 'big' band of about 20 so we need to have the timings very crisp to keep things danceable and avoid everything sounding muddy so we tend to avoid doing things on the fly and will only stick to the sets as practiced.
Title: Re: tune sets for ceilidh's
Post by: Corinto on April 09, 2018, 02:48:50 PM
The Tuneworks Tunebook
see here = https://www.tuneworks.co.uk/

Contents
Beginners’ session tunes

1. Speed the Plough / Morpeth Rant / Winster Gallop: reels.
2. Rattling Bog / The Sloe
3. The Blackthorn Stick / The Rakes of Kildare: jigs.
4. Harvest Home / Off to California: hornpipes.
Improvers’ session tunes
Reels

5. Willafjord / Spootiskerry
6. The Maid Behind the Bar / The Flowers of Edinburgh / Staten Island
7. Over the Moor to Maggie / Miss McLeod’s
8. The Merry Blacksmith / The Banshee / St Kilda Wedding
9. St Anne’s / The Sally Gardens
10. The Scholar / The Teetotaller’s
11. My Love is But a Lassie Yet / Durham Rangers / Three Around Three
12. Cooley’s / Swinging on the Gate
13. The Bear Dance / Horse’s Bransle
14. The Silver Spire / Jer the Rigger
Jigs
15. The Irish Washerwoman / Smash the Windows
16. The Blarney Pilgrim / Saddle the Pony
17. Donnybrook Fair / Banish Misfortune
18. Father O’Flynn / My Darling Asleep / Morrison’s
19. Tobin’s Favourite / The Tenpenny Bit / The Lark in the Morning
20. The Kesh / The Connaughtman’s Rambles
21. Out on the Ocean / The Frost is All Over
22. Scarce O’Tatties / Tripping Upstairs / Haste to the Wedding
Slip Jigs
23. The Foxhunter’s / The Drops of Brandy / The Kid on the Mountain
Hornpipes
24. The Boys of Bluehill / Liverpool Hornpipe
25. The Rights of Man / The Home Ruler
Polkas
26. The Ballydesmond No. 1 / Ballydesmond No. 2 / Dennis Murphy’s / The Scartaglen
Waltzes
27. Si Bheag, Si Mhor / Fanny Power

Title: Re: tune sets for ceilidh's
Post by: Ellisteph on April 09, 2018, 03:01:01 PM
The dots for 'My Lad's Over Bonny for the Coal Trade' are at http://tunearch.org/wiki/My_Lad%27s_Over_Bonny_for_the_Coal_Trade (http://tunearch.org/wiki/My_Lad%27s_Over_Bonny_for_the_Coal_Trade)
Wow thanks Smiley! Something to work on while I wait for my copy of Vickers to arrive.
Title: Re: tune sets for ceilidh's
Post by: xgx on April 09, 2018, 03:11:34 PM
All this talk of the coal trade reminds me of a Ken Dodd joke that I read recently in his obituary:

In Germany it's what comes after fünf  ....
Title: Re: sets of tunes for ceilidh
Post by: Anahata on April 09, 2018, 05:18:28 PM
Good to see someone else plays "Me Laddie's Ower Bonny For the Coal Trade"

Didn't know it as such, but it's more or less 2/3 of The Royals Quickstep from William Clarke (https://maryhumphreys.co.uk/William_Clarke.php).
Title: Re: tune sets for ceilidh's
Post by: Graham Spencer on April 09, 2018, 07:38:59 PM
The Tuneworks Tunebook
see here = https://www.tuneworks.co.uk/


Bearing in mind that that list is very Celtic-leaning and therefore on the relative fringes of my playing experience, I am intrigued by some of  the choices; for instance, I would never consider "Morpeth Rant" a "beginner's" tune, nor "Harvest Home" - the pedal notes in the B music can be a problem even for relatively experienced players. Conversely, some of the "improvers'" tunes seem to me easier than some of the beginners' category - "My Love Is But A Lassie", for instance, or "Saddle The Pony".

Maybe the tunes are selected with an eye on semitone boxes, and perhaps the beginners' tunes are easier on that style of instrument than on a 4th-apart box, or maybe it's just that my ears (and fingers!) are more accustomed to English tunes. 

Please note I am not criticising the list, simply wondering about what defines a "beginner's" tune.

Graham
Title: Re: tune sets for ceilidh's
Post by: george garside on April 09, 2018, 08:13:55 PM
 To me the tuneworks list, worthy as it is, is not DG melodeon friendly. As leader of tuneworks DG melodeon workshops at Shrewsbury Folk Festival last year  and  asked to  run them again this year I have discussed the matter of Dg friendliness with Izzy  the tuneworks bossman   and have provided him with a lengthy  list of DG friendly session tunes.

see Shrewsbury festival page for full list of instrument workshops   which are well attended  with Dg people being in a minority .  The  tuneworks list as mentioned Graham is downloadable  as a complete tunebook  aand is worth having - but only if you can read the dots!  Most of my workshop attendees last year were not readers . 

I was prepared for this  and had produced 'by ear' learning material and will do so again this year using DG friendly tunes of course.  Hopefully some of my tune suggestions will be added to the tuneworks list.

george
Title: Re: tune sets for ceilidh's
Post by: Stiamh on April 09, 2018, 09:44:29 PM
To me the tuneworks list, worthy as it is, is not DG melodeon friendly.

I just skimmed through the book and every tune has either one or two sharps in the key signature, bar two (which have three, but one of those tunes has no g#s, so it might as well be notated with two sharps).

Granted, they are mostly from an Irish rather than an English repertoire, but why would they not be playable on a D/G box?
Title: Re: tune sets for ceilidh's
Post by: Graham Spencer on April 10, 2018, 06:32:01 AM
I can't speak for George, but my comment on the tunes wasn't to the effect that they're not playable on a DG (or any other 4th-apart box), but that tunes which might be easy on one system might be more difficult on another.

Graham
Title: Re: tune sets for ceilidh's
Post by: george garside on April 10, 2018, 09:04:31 AM
most if not all are playable on a DG  and I suppose in that sense are DG friendly, indeed I play quite a few of them regularly and some eg Dave Mallinson play an extensive list of Irish Trad tunes on DG.

What I was trying to say but made a john halls of was  something on the lines of that many of them do not fall in the regular  'list' of session tunes played in England on DG boxes  - possibly because there are a lot of by ear players and maybe a lot like me who can read the music for any tune I already know but am up against a brick wall trying to start an unknown tune from the dotes, exept on the rare occasion that I recognise the tune aafter playing the first few notes  - but then I suppose its one I already know!

george ;)
Title: Re: tune sets for ceilidh's
Post by: Mcgrooger on April 10, 2018, 03:06:05 PM
We (Tumbling Tom) started in the early 80s. I guess that it was around that time that there was a revival of interest in English dances and tunes which still makes the  persistence of the use of the word 'ceilidh' odd when applied to a social dance in England. Influenced by the likes of Old Swan Band, New Victory Band and then by 'fusion' bands such as Edward II and Tiger Moth we decided to use English tunes wherever possible in our sets (and become 'plugged'). As time's gone on,  we've tried to look for tunes with some local connection where that's been possible. (We're based in S.Cumbria)
Some sets I like from our current repertoire are:
Polkas - Jack Robinson+Wm. Irwin's Lancashire H'pipe; or Kit White's Square 8+Sward'le Lasses
Rants - Whitehaven Volunteers+The Tannerman
Reels - Seneca 2 Step
Step Hops - Miss Richards+Sadlers Wells h.p. or a version of The Cliff h.p.
Schottisches - Foul Weather Call+The Swiss Boy.
32 bar jigs - Hero of Salamanca+Moll in the Wood
48 bar jigs - Needels&Twine+Morgan Rattler

There are 60+ sets in our list (100+tunes) for Hugh Taylor (of this parish), to remember. Don't know how he does it!





Title: Re: tune sets for ceilidh's
Post by: Hugh Taylor on April 15, 2018, 03:48:15 PM
There are 60+ sets in our list (100+tunes) for Hugh Taylor (of this parish), to remember. Don't know how he does it!

Well sometimes he doesn't!
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