It is popular and sensible for budding musicians to elect to play for a morris side as soon as they have mastered the basic techniques of a recently acquired instrument. This ensures the encouragement and assistance necessary during the difficult early days and prevents a waning of interest by providing an outlet for their new-found ability.
Here is a collection of tunes, all suitable for North-West morris; they are all currently in use by various sides. Its purpose is to give musicians, new to the genre, a convenient source of material. Tunes for North-West morris differ from their Cotswold counterparts in that one particular tune is not tied to one particular dance, any tune which suits the dance can be selected which is usually a nice simple country dance tune.
Thus this book's contents provide an excellent selection of simple to moderate tunes for the beginner and also for use in a country dance band, as well as the intended application. Together with the soundtrack to bring the dots to life this package is ideal for the inexperienced musician wanting to progress in traditional music.
The tunes are clearly written in large note music in a simple but accurate form. Chord arrangements are shown, all of which are suitable for both melodeon, piano accordion and guitar.
Contents
Aiken Drum
Balquhidder Lasses
Boatman's Dance
Bobby Shaftoe
Bonnets o' Blue
Brighton Camp
British Grenadiers
Camptown Races
Castleton Garland
Clegg Lane
Clow Bank
Cock of the North
Corn Rigs
D' Ye Ken John Peel?
Davy Davy Knick Knack
Donkey Riding
Flowers of Edinburgh
Garry Owen
Girl with the Blue Dress OnGrandfather's Tune
Happy Farmer
Huntsmens' Chorus
Jenny Lind
John of Paris
Knick Knack Paddy Whack
Lass of Richmond Hill
Moston Rush Cart
Muckin' o' Geordie's Byre
Muses
My Love, My Love
Nancy Dawson
Oh! Susanna
Oldham Rant
Oyster Girl
Prestwich Wakes
Rakes of Mallow
Rattle the Cash
Rattlin' Bog Ribbon Dance
Robbie Hobkirk's PolkaRochdale Coconut Dance
Rose Tree
Rosin the Beau
Rush Cart Lads
Salmon Tails
Scotland the Brave
Shepton Hornpipe
Soldiers' Joy
Three Sea Captains
Tight Little Island
Uncle Bernard's
Walter Bulwer's Polka
Wha Saw the Forty Twa?
Wi' a Hundred Pipers
William Brown
Winster Gallop
Young May Moon
Mally's North West Morris Book - Carolyn Wade
Edited by Carolyn Wade, this book, containing 57 traditional tunes, presents a core repertoire, with chords, for North West morris musicians. It is also particularly suitable for novice musicians and also as a source of easy country dance tunes.