I live in Durham,England; I play whistle and a two-and-a-half-row DG Saltarelle melodeon. No Celtic background that I'm aware of; got into going to folk clubs and sessions around 1972, when I was twenty. Main repertoire ITM and Northumbrian, but not learning much these days: If I try out the half-row notes on the box, I'll be having a go at Gilbert and Sullivan tunes, not trying to knock out reels in D or G minor.
(I have always liked Sir Arthur Sullivan's music in the Gilbert and Sullivan light operas, and felt there was a touch of the feeling of ITM about some of it. Sullivan, half-Irish, was inspired to write what became known as his "Irish Symphony" on a trip to Northern Ireland at 21 in the early 1860s; but this piece, a pleasant Classical one modelled on Schubert and Mendelssohn, owes nothing to ITM that I can detect. He also wrote music for an opera called "The Emerald Isle", which I have so far not heard.)
Discovering this website I was amazed to see so many references to East Durham - till I realised it's a mecca for ITM enthusiasts in the USA. Here, East Durham is the area of County Durham between the A1 Motorway and the North Sea, a fairly obscure corner of England to people who don't happen to live there. This is because there is no reason to go there.
I have submitted so far the following personal compositions to the Tunes database, and include the odd - mainly unsubmitted - personal composition in abc notation below them.
Air: Finchale
G Major, submitted on December 29th 2006
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6564
Jig/Slide?: The Blackcock
G Major, submitted on November 22nd 2006
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6403
Slip Jig: The Long Rocks
G Major, submitted on November 8th 2006
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6340
Hornpipe: The Browney Banks
D Major, submitted on November 2nd 2006
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6311
Reel: Bollihope Burn
D Major, submitted on November 14th 2006
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6369
Waltz: Planxty Nick Taverner
G Major, submitted on March 16 2007
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6952
Jig: Dan's Castle
D Major, submitted on April 9th 2007
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/7055
Hornpipe: The Crossgate Hornpipe
D Major, submitted on July 1st 2007
http://www.thesessionorg/members/display/7430
Hornpipe: The Bishopley Hornpipe
G Major, submitted on February 7th 2008
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/8234
- If interested, check in Comments beneath the tunes for any notes trying to rectify submission mistakes!
The following are personal compositions in abc notation:
(As I write, two are now in the Tunes database and more may follow.)
THE SHINCLIFFE REEL
X:1
T:The Shincliffe Reel
L:1/8
R:4/4 (Reel)
K:D
de||:fedB AFAB|defg a2 fa|g2 eg f2 df|edcB A2 FA|BAGA
BcdB|cBAB cdec|dcde fefg|addc d2 de:||
||:fgab agfe|dAFA d2ef|gaba gfed|cBcd e2 de|fgag fedB|AFAd
f2 ef|gaba gfed|1 cABc d2 de:||2 cABc d4 ||
Shincliffe is a pretty village a mile or two upriver from Durham City (UK). It is Durham's equivalent to Godstow near Oxford, or Grantchester near Cambridge.
DURHAM MARKET
This tune is set out below in three keys:
X: 1
T: Durham Market
L: 1/8
R: 2/4
K: D Major
||:FA BA|D>E FF|E F/E/ DE|FD DE|FA BA|D>E FF|EF GA|
|BA A2:||
||Bd AF|Bd d2|F A/F/ E D/E/|FE F/G/ A|Bd AF|Bd d>A|B/A/G/F/ E/F/G/A/|Bc BA|Bd AF|Bd d2|F A/F/ E D/E/|FE F/G/ A|Bd AF|Bd d>A|B/A/G/F/ E/F/G/A/|Bc d2||
X: 1
T: Durham Market
L: 1/8
R: 2/4
K: G Major
||:Bd ed|G>A BB|A B/A/ GA|BG GA|Bd ed|G>A BB|AB cd|ed d2:||
||eg dB|eg g2|B d/B/ A G/A/|BA B/c/ d|eg dB|eg g>d|e/d/c/B/ A/B/c/d/|ef ed|eg dB|eg g2|B d/B/ A G/A/|BA B/c/ d|eg dB|eg g>d|e/d/c/B/ A/B/c/d/|ef g2||
X: 1
T: Durham Market
L: 1/8
R: 2/4
K: A Major
||:ce fe|A>B cc|B c/B/ AB|cA AB|ce fe|A>B cc|Bc de|fe e2:||
||fa ec|fa a2|c e/c/ B A/B/|cB c/d/ e|fa ec|fa a>e|f/e/d/c/ B/c/d/e/|fg fe|fa ec|fa a2|c e/c/ B A/B/|cB c/d/ e|fa eB|fa a>e|f/e/d/c/ B/c/d/e/|fg a2||
This tune could work in any of the three mainstream keys used above; personally, I think A brings it out best. I can see it working well played quite fast as a Kerry-style polka, but it might also work as a 2/4 in the somewhat more measured NE England tradition. It is all in one major octave, so could go on primitive bagpipes having this range!
Durham Market is both a place (a Victorian covered market) and a weekly event (stalls in the Market Place on Saturdays). It is perhaps best enjoyed when there's a visitation of food stalls from foreign parts, selling exotic if sometimes pricey takeaways. But annoyance at this gives way to pity as one contemplates huddled Mediterraneans behind the counters freezing and turning blue with the cold and damp, true martyrs to the European project.
THE TOWER OF THE WINDS
X: 1
T: The Tower Of The Winds
L: 1/8
R: 4/4 (Reel)
K: D
||:FABA GAdA|FABA GEGA|FABA GAde|1 dBAF GEGA:||2 dBAF GE (3efg||
||fd (3efg fdBA|GBdf ec (efg|fd (3gfe fdAF| GAdF GEEg|fd (efg fdBA|GBdf ec(3efg|fdec dBAF|GAdF GEE2||
It might work as a Strathspey. My grasp of the dotting of this form is shaky, but it might go as follows:
||:F>A B>A G>A d>A|F>A B>A G<E G>A|F>A B>A G>A d>e|1 d>B A>F G<E G>A||2 d>B A>F G<E e>g||
||f>d (3efg f>d B>A|G>B d>f e>c (3efg|f>d (3gfe f>d A>F|G>A d>F G<E E>g|f>d (3efg f>d B>A | G>B d>f e>c (3efg|f>d e>c d>B A>F|G>A d>F G<E E2 ||
I wrote this while living in Athens in 1979: the Tower Of The Winds is a modestly-sized building which has survived from the ancient world, situated in the Plaka - the old quarter of narrow streets, restaurants and night-spots at the foot of the Acropolis. The TOTW originally carried sundials and contained a 24-hour water-clock for the populace to consult; eight winds are sculpted as personages on the eight sides, each on the side facing the direction it could be expected to come from.
DURHAM CASTLE
X: 1
T: Durham Castle
L: 1/8
R: 3/4
K: G
||:g/f/e/d/ B/A/G/A BG|g/f/e/d/ eb a2|g/f/e/d/ B/A/G/A/ B/d/c/e|1 d/B/A/G/ A/B/c/d/ ed:||2 d/B/A/G/ A/B/c/d/ e d/B/||
||:dg g/f/g/a/ gd|ea a/g/a/b/ a4 |g g/b/ a b/a/ g/f/e/d/|e/d/c/B/ A/B/c/d/ e d/B/:||
||:dG e/d/c/B/ dG|A g e/d/c/B/ cA|B d/g/ b/a/g/f/ g/G/B/d/|e/d/c/B/ A/B/c/d/ e d/B/:||
||:G B/c/ d/e/d/B d/e/d/B/|A c/d/ e/f/e/c e/f/e/c/|B d/e/ f/g/f/d f/g/a/f/|g G/B/ d/e/d/B/ cA:||
||Ee e d/c/ dG|E A/B/ c/d/B/c/ A G/F/|Ee e d/c/ d G/F/| E/F/G/B/ A G/F/ G G/F/|Ee e d/c/ dG| E A/B/ c/d/B/c/ A B/c/|dG e d/c/ d/B/A/G/| E/F/G/B/ A G/F/ G4||
This one's subject to revision. It's rhythm is the same as the Northumbrian tune Lads Of Alnwick, normally notated in 3/4, which I have followed.
Durham Castle, along with the Cathedral, dominates the city. The Bishops who once lived there dominated for real, ruling the Mediaeval County; the students who live there now just dominate a couple of pubs. Sic transit gloria mundi, eh?!
THE BISHOPLEY HORNPIPE
(I first called it Tom Robson's Line, but have decided to change its name.)
X: 1
T: The Bishopley Hornpipe
L: 1/8
R: 4/4
K: G Major
D ||: G>D G>B A>E A>c | B>G B>d c2 B>c | d>B G>e c>A F>d | B>G E>c A2 D>E | F>E F>G A>D F>G | A>G A>B c2 (3fge | d>B G>E D>G B>d |1 c>A F>A G3 D :||2 c>A F>A G3 d ||
|| (3efg f>e d>B A>G | D>F A>c B2 (3Bcd | e>E c>e d>G B>d | c>d B>c A2 (3ABc | d>^c d>e =c>B c>d | B>d b>a g2 (3GBd | e>g f>e d>B G>F | D>F A>F G2 (3Bcd | e>g f>e d>B A>G| D>F A>c B2 (3Bcd | e>E c>e d>G B>d | c>d B>c A2 (3ABc | d>^c D>e =c>B c>d | B>d b>a g2 (3GBd | e>g f>e d>B G>F | D>F A>F G3 ||
I do not know a single place called Bishopley, but the name is part of the title of several houses (e.g. High Bishopley) and other locations in a nook of Weardale in County Durham, England. It is an interesting and attractive bit of country where Victorian quarry sites have long since rejoined the natural world: in places, the old spoil heaps and other features have a quite remarkable beauty. But then I'm biassed - I've been for walks there nearly all my life.
COLDMARTIN
X:1
T:Coldmartin
M:6/8
L:1/8
R:Jig
K:D Major
||:dBF d2 B| F3 F2 F| BFF AFF| BFF A3 | dBF d2 B| F3 FGA| G2 B BGB|1 B2 A A3 :||2 B2 A A2 c|
||d3 fdd| gdd fdd| d2 f fdf| ecA A2 c| d3 fdd | gdd f2d| e2 B BdB| A3 A2 c| d3 fdd| gdd fdd| d2 f fdf | e2 d efg| aAA gAA| fAA e2c| dcB AFA| B2 A A3||
||:AcA cAc|G2 c A2 c| d2 A AFA| BAF A3| AcA cAc| G2 c A2 c| d2 f g2 f | f2 e e3 :||
|| fAd f2A | g2 A f 2 A | d2 f fdf | ecA A2 e | fAd f2 A | g2 A f2 A | B2 e e2 d| cAA A2 e| fAd f2 A| g2 A f2A| dcd fdf |gdg b3 | afd bgd | a2 f fga | gfe dcB | A3 A3 ||
This is a jig I worked out on the DG melodeon back in 1981 - the notes seemed to line up with various row-crossing sequences I was trying out at that time. On the occasions I've actually tried to play it, I've taken it at a slowish lollop, for a jig anyway.
Coldmartin is a hill outside Wooler in north Northumberland; one of my sisters lived on top of it at the time. It was certainly cold: it was opposite The Cheviot, and full in the teeth of all the wind and precipitation that mountain could generate.
THE SWINHOPE HORNPIPE
X:1
T:M:4/4
L:1/8
R:Hornpipe
K:D Major
||: a>b a>f e>a f>e | d>B A>F B2 (3ABc | d>B A>F A>B d>e | f>d a>f e2 (3efg | a>b a>f e>a f>e | d>B A>F B2 (3ABc | d>B A>F E>A F>E |1 F2 D2 D4 :||2 F2 D2 D2 F>A |
||: B>G D>G B>d c>B | A>F D>E F3 A | B>G D>G B>d c>B | A>F d>F E2 (3FGA | B>G D>G B>d c>B | A>F D>E F2 (3ABc | d>B A>F E>A F>E |1 F2 D2 D2 (3FGA :|| 2 F2 D2 D4 |
Swinhope is a side-valley of Weardale, in the North Pennines in the west of County Durham (UK). It is the one most like a mountain valley, in that it has high steep slopes towards its head and hosts a ski-run. The tune has a long up-and-down range of notes as a result of my attempts to describe this in some initial noodlings!
Tunes in nicholas's tunebook: 6
| The Carlisle Reel | polka | June 7th 2008 |
| The Westmorland | waltz | June 4th 2008 |
| Keswick Bonny Lasses | hornpipe | May 31st 2008 |
| A Trip To Galloway | waltz | May 25th 2008 |
| A Trip To The Lakes | jig | May 22nd 2008 |
| Cuilidh | Julie Fowlis | March 22nd 2008 |
| Renegade | Sharon Shannon, Mike McGoldrick, Dezi Donnelly, Jim Murray | September 27th 2007 |
| Instrumental | Kathryn Tickell Band | June 25th 2007 |
| Mouthorgan | Will Atkinson | April 15th 2007 |
| Out Of The Flames | Matt Seattle | March 6th 2007 |
| Let's help the Hogwartians! | April 26th 2008 |
| Tom Sullivan, Irish button-box player | March 5th 2008 |
| BBC2 tonight, 8.05 - 9.05 -"Galway To Baltimore" in "Coast" series. | July 28th 2007 |
| Sunday 8th July - 8-9 p.m. on BBC 2 - "Coast", featuring W. Ireland. | July 8th 2007 |
| Orkney: What's the music like there? | May 28th 2007 |
| Discussions | Re: Interesting article. | July 5th 2008 |
| Discussions | Re: Interesting article. | July 5th 2008 |
| Discussions | Re: Interesting article. | July 4th 2008 |
| Discussions | Re: Does ITM include "Ancient" Music? | July 4th 2008 |
| Discussions | Re: Does ITM include "Ancient" Music? | July 4th 2008 |
| Name | Type | Key |
|---|---|---|
| Downton Bridge | jig | Gmajor |
| The Fisherman's Island | reel | Dmajor |
| Nyth Y Gog | hornpipe | Eminor |
| Paddy O'Rafferty | jig | Dmajor |
| Tom Billy's | jig | Adorian |
| The Wind That Shakes The Barley | reel | Dmajor |