Music & Book Resources

FOLK MUSIC PUBLICATIONS

An extensive collection of Australian folk music, song, dance and poetry publications from Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club Inc. and other sources featuring Australian traditional tunes, songs, stories and dance instructions were produced under the "Pioneer Performers" series and Carrawobitty Press. All these publications are no longer available from Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club. All publications are at the National Library Canberra: www.catalogue.nla.au.

Australian Traditional Dance Tunes Volume 1 - Book

Over 185 set tunes, jigs, reels, polkas, mazurkas, waltzes, varsovianas, schottisches, hornpipes traditional Australian bush dances. This tune book is part of a larger project by the Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club Inc. in its ongoing aim to present Australian traditional folk dance and music. The tunes are arranged in sets suitable for the suggested dances. These sets can also be used for other similar structured dances in regards to numbers of bars and repetitions. The majority of the tunes used are authentic tunes collected from older dance musicians by folklorists since the early 1950s.

A Swag of Treasures - Australian Traditional Dance Tunes Volume 2 - Book

This is the second comprehensive collection of Australian dance tunes collected from various sources. The book is based upon Jane Brownlee and David De Santi's 2004 National Library Folk Festival Fellowship which allowed them to unearth over 50 new 'old' tunes. This book includes 179 set tunes, polkas, reels, jigs, mazurkas, waltzes, schottisches and varsovianas. Instructions for 20 bush dances have also been included and a large article by Peter Ellis on traditional music forms in Australia. 51 of the tunes have been recorded on a CD by Jane and David called by the same name and a subtitle - A Swag of Treasures.

Australian Dance Tunes for Fiddle - CD & Tune Book, played by Alan Musgrove, Jane Brownlee

A printed collection of 34 traditional Australian folk tunes with an accompanying CD. Tunes are from various traditional musicians and locations. CD music performed by Alan Musgrove and Jane Brownlee on fiddles with guitar, bass and drum accompaniment.

Zumpa – sheet music for 63 Italian folk tunes

A collection of 63 traditional and popular folk songs and tunes from Italy and includes tarantellas, saltarellos and old tunes. It has been compiled by David De Santi whose parents are from Vallo Della Lucania in Campania. David plays piano accordion. The title of the collection is ‘Zumpà’ and it...

Tunes of Bert Jamieson

Features the harmonica playing of Bert Jamieson at age 91. Bert played the fiddle and button accordion in his earlier years in his family of 13 from the Snowy Mountains area in NSW. The publication presents 13 of his tunes. A CD with the tunes is also available.

Tunes of Arthur Bowley

The publications includes 13 tunes from Arthur Bowley, of Marshall Mount New South Wales, learnt from older players of the district and some of his own originals. The year 1953 saw the opening of the hall and the beginning of the Old Time Dance with Arthur Bowley as the leading musician. Arthur...

Songs of the Baulch Brothers

This publication features 9 old music hall songs, many humorous, even racist and sexist from the Baulch Brothers (Arthur, Les and Lloyd) from the Kerang/Lake Charm area of Victoria. The brothers have been performing and making people laugh since 1925!

Songs, Tunes & Stories of Ebb Wren

Ebb Wren lived in Forbes NSW and only passed away in 1994 but his vast repertoire of songs dating back to pre1900 will survive. The publication includes songs, tunes and stories about life on the railway, compiled by Rob & Olya Willis.

Tunes of Ma Seal

Features 19 tunes and 3 dances from the accordion playing of Catherine (Ma) Seal of Kimba, South Australia. Compiled by Harry Gardener and Peter Ellis.

A Queensland Selection – tunes and dance instructions

A publication compiled by Maria Zann and her husband Mark Schuster from Toowoomba, Qld. The 19 dances are a mixture of 19th and 20th century local dances with influences from the European ballroom, sequence dances and German folk dances. The 42 tunes are from button accordion players and include...

A Collector's Songbook – Australian folk songs

A reprint of Alan Scott's collection of 31 traditional songs published by the Bush Music Club in 1970. Alan's original aim to share their songs is as sure as ever with his kind permission to reprint this book.

Mister Joe - Songs, Tunes and Poems of Joe Cashmere

Joe Cashmere was a singer, fiddler and poet from Booligal, NSW. He had a vast repertoire and was initially collected and recorded by John Meredith. Alan Musgrove and Greg O'Leary of Melbourne have taken a great interest in Joe and have transcribed his music and collected the information for the publication. Arranged by David De Santi. Includes 6 songs, 50 tunes, 11 poems and 7 yarns.

Music Makes Me Smile - Tunes Of The Nariel Valley - Tunes, Songs, Dance Instructions

This book recounts the history of old-time music in the Nariel Valley, Victoria - from the 1800s to the popular Nariel Folk Festival. There biographies of the many players, over 150 tunes transcribed with great detail by Harry Gardner and the instructions to a number of dances popular in the area including the Berlin Polka, Barn Dance, Highland Schottische, Manchester Galop, Princess Polka and Quadrilles such as The Alberts, Caledonians, Exions, First Set, Fitzroys and the Lancers.

Take Your Partners (Shirley Andrews)

Australia's first comprehensive study of Australian folk dancing. Compiled by Australia's leading dance folklorist Shirley Andrews. Includes instructions for 70 dances including couples dances to qaudrilles. Published by Hyland House Publishing.

The Wild Colonial Boy (John Meredith)

The story of bushranger Jack Donahue, 1806-1830 compiled by John Meredith. includes 15 music blocks, 10 illustrations and includes the text of Charles Harpur's play, The Tragedy of Jack Donahue, from 1935.

Duke of the Outback (John Meredith)

The songs, stories and poems of Duke Tritton, shearer, singer and musician by John Meredith.

Time Out of Mind, Story of Simon McDonald

The story and songs of Simon McDonald of Creswick, Victoria by Hugh Anderson, includes words and music to his songs.

George Layou, The Man Who Wrote Bush Ballads

The story of George Layou reputedly one of the founders of Australian literature. He was the compiler of the Queenslander's New Colonial Camp Fire Song book (Sydney, 1865) which is included in the book.

Gold Diggers Songbook (Charles Thatcher)

Songs from the Victorian gold fields from Charles Thatcher. Compiled by Hugh Anderson and includes 40 songs & 45 illustrations.

Concertina Magazine (Australian) 25 issues. Produce between 1982 to 1989

Copies of the original 25 issues of the Concertina Magazine produced by Richard Evans and friends during the 1980s. Includes information about all types of concertinas Anglo, English, Duet and also includes tunes.