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southwest england tunes

southwest england tunes

does anyone know of any good ones? i need to learn some for the ceildh band i'm in? preferably ones from the somerset levels.

thanks in advance

sam

# Posted on September 10th 2005 by flamin fiddler

Re: southwest england tunes

Weren't the 'WURSELS' from that area? Oh & Pam Ayres too? Sorry, just trying to set the scene!

I believe there are Ancient Pipes from Cornwall too. Doesn't Julian Goodacre make a set of Cornish Pipes?

Unfortunately, I've never been anywhere near that corner & wouldn't know the Somerset Levels from a spirit level.

An interesting thread I think.
Reminds me of the recent one on the Isle of Man tunes.
Anybody know if we ever did get any Manx tunes posted?

If you get some good tunes ff I hope you will post them?

Fraid I'm not much bl**dy help to you 'f f', but, well, at least I did respond to your plea! - & I will watch this thread with interest - honest!

# Posted on September 10th 2005 by Ptarmigan

Re: southwest england tunes

For starters try
The Cornish Quickstep
Shepton Mallet Hornpipe
Wiltshire 6 Hand Reel
Dorset 4 Hand Reel
Bodmin Riding
Dorsetshire Hornpipe
Wiltshire Tempest
I could go on

ps Ptarmigan.
Wurzels is spelled Wurzels and Pam Ayres is from Berkshire not the South West

# Posted on September 10th 2005 by goldfrog

Re: southwest england tunes

I stand corrected!

# Posted on September 10th 2005 by Ptarmigan

Re: southwest england tunes

Try to get in touch with Glen Titmus. He'll be in the Taunton 'phone book; he's a violin repairer, restorer, and has a great knowledge of South West tunes and dances, amongst many other tunes.

Good luck!

Brianx

# Posted on September 10th 2005 by briantheflute

Re: southwest england tunes

I'm not sure if you're talking about the extreme SW, i.e. Cornwall, or in a more general sense. There are a few good sources of Cornish music out there. Merv Davey has some material out there, and there's book by. . .um. . .John somebody. . .a fiddler. . .damn I can't remember. I'll have to look it up for you later. Also, there's a great album or two by fiddler Graham Elleby (my spelling is off, I'll have to look that up too).

I spent a few hours with a hurdy gurdy player from the south coast of Cornwall and from what he was saying there's two musical traditions in Cornwall - the English influenced tradition and the Breton influenced tradition. Historically there seems to have been a lot of crossing between Cornwall and Brittany.

I'll have to look through my stuff and get back to you though.

Mark

# Posted on September 10th 2005 by lastnitesfun

Re: southwest england tunes

If Gloucestershire is allowed to count I recommend the book "The Coleford Jig" which is advertised at http://www.mustrad.org.uk/reviews/coleford.htm. Lemmie Brazil's Number 2 is our favourite.

# Posted on September 10th 2005 by LowProfile

Re: southwest england tunes

Some of Goldfrog's tunes can be found here:
http://www.londonnasuwt.org.uk/gtmc/table_of_session_tunes.htm
You could also play:
The Boscastle breakdown
The Cokey
Jacob (Enrico)
Gloucester Hornpipe
Ladie's breast knots (Devon version)

Good luck,
John (Westcountryman)

# Posted on September 10th 2005 by rosenun

Re: southwest england tunes

The Radstock "Jig" - it's a reel, actually - from Radstock in Somerset. It's on the Tunes database.

Trevor

# Posted on September 10th 2005 by Trevor Jennings

Re: southwest england tunes

The Hal an Tow
The Furry Dance (Floral Dance?)

# Posted on September 10th 2005 by Ottery

Re: southwest england tunes

Hi again!

Found site if that helps you contact Glen

http://www.glentitmus.co.uk

I should have added that he dances a lot too, and he is knowledgeable about many various traditions.

Brianx

# Posted on September 10th 2005 by briantheflute

Re: southwest england tunes

Mike O'Connor has researched Cornish music and written a fair amount of new material - deatils of materials can be found on his website. He is involved with Fiddles at Fowey and the North Cornwall Traditional Arts Project

# Posted on September 11th 2005 by Tarrantella

Re: southwest england tunes

Right so it was Mike O'Connor and not John somebody that I was thinking of. He's got a great book of music out that you might check out.

Mark

# Posted on September 12th 2005 by lastnitesfun

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