The Great Northern Tunebook : William Vickers Collection Of Dance Tunes Ad1770

The Great Northern Tunebook is a collection of over 500 tunes for fiddle and pipes, compiled by William Vickers in the 1770s. It is one of the largest and most interesting English fiddle manuscripts, containing a variety of tunes from different regions and sources. The manuscript is currently held by the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, and was published in 2008 by the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) and the Northumbrian Pipers' Society (NPS) .

Who was William Vickers?

Little is known about the life of William Vickers, the compiler of the manuscript. He was probably a fiddler from Newcastle upon Tyne, who collected tunes from various sources, such as printed books, oral tradition, and other musicians. He may have been a dancing master, a music teacher, or a professional musician, as he seems to have had access to a wide range of tunes and styles. He wrote his name on the first page of the manuscript, along with the date 1770, but he did not sign any of the tunes or indicate their origins. He also wrote a list of contents at the beginning of the book, but 31 pages have not survived, though their titles are recorded .

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What kind of tunes are in the manuscript?

The manuscript contains a surprising variety of tunes, reflecting the diversity of musical influences and tastes in 18th century England. Under the simple heading "Country Dances" are tunes from different regions, such as Northumberland, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and even France and Italy. There are also tunes from different genres, such as reels, jigs, hornpipes, marches, minuets, waltzes, and airs. Some of the tunes are well-known today, such as The Keel Row, Bobby Shaftoe, The Rakes of Mallow, and The Devil in a Bush. Others are obscure or unique to the manuscript, such as The Rantin' Highlander, The Parson in Boots, and The Dusy Miller .

Why is the manuscript important?

The manuscript is important for several reasons. First, it is a valuable source of information about the musical culture and history of 18th century England, especially in the north-east. It shows how tunes were transmitted, adapted, and mixed across different regions and styles. It also reveals the personal preferences and tastes of an individual fiddler and collector. Second, it is a rich resource of tunes for musicians and dancers today, offering a variety of melodies and rhythms to explore and enjoy. Many of the tunes have been recorded and performed by modern artists, such as Kathryn Tickell, Alistair Anderson, Nancy Kerr, and James Fagan . Third, it is a testament to the creativity and diversity of folk music in general, showing how tunes can evolve and change over time and space.

How can I access the manuscript?

The manuscript can be accessed in several ways. The original manuscript is held by the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne , but it is not available for public viewing. However, a digital copy can be viewed online at their website . The published edition of the manuscript by EFDSS and NPS can be purchased from their websites or from other online retailers . The published edition contains all the tunes from the manuscript in standard notation, along with an introduction by Matt Seattle and notes on each tune by Graham Dixon. It also includes a CD-ROM with MIDI files of all the tunes . Alternatively, some of the tunes can be found on other websites or books that feature traditional music from England or Northumberland .

References

The Great Northern Tune Book - Northumbrian Pipers' Society

William Vickers manuscript - Wikipedia

The Great Northern Tune Book - Red Cow Music

The Great Northern Tunebook: William Vickers' Collection of Dance Tunes ... - Goodreads

Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne

William Vickers' Manuscript - Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne

The Great Northern Tune Book - EFDSS Shop

The Session - A website for Irish traditional music

The Fiddler's Companion - A website for fiddle music

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