The Tunes of John McKinnon

The Tunes of John McKinnon

the simpler the tune, the sweeter the music

A collection of 45 jigs, set tunes, polkas, mazurkas, waltzes and schottisches and 2 songs.

Written and music transcribed by Alan Musgrove and designed and compiled by David De Santi.

John McKinnon is a traditional dance musician from the Ecklin South district of Victoria, between Colac and Warnambool.

When John was about ten or eleven his father bought him a Nightingale German accordion in Melbourne which he quickly learnt to play. At twelve years old, John McKinnon played at his first dance.

John began playing around the districts of Ecklin, Dixie, and Ayrford. There was plenty of opportunity with regular dances, welcome home parties, and kitchen teas which were popular parties to honour an engaged couple and their families.

John was keen to help a new generation of young musicians to take over the dance bands which were in great demand due to the revival of old time and new vogue dancing. He was also anxious to acknowledge his debt to the musicians and dancers who helped him to become one of Australia’s foremost dance band musicians. John McKinnon’s tapes were enormously successful, selling all over Australia.

Australian folk music collectors John Meredith, Alan Musgrove and Edgar Waters have recorded John McKinnon’s traditional accordion music. The tapes are housed in the Oral History Section of the National Library of Australia in Canberra.

This is a rare collection of some fine old tunes - worth preserving and playing.

The book was launched at the 26th Illawarra Folk Festival held in January by Peter Ellis.

The Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club is a non-profit association and has published and promoted the folk music and dance of Australia's European settlers since 1990. The Club has produced 16 collections of tune and song books and recordings.

Billy Boiled Over,

Carry Me Back to Virginny

Carry Me Back to Virginny Waltz

Chris Bossey’s Waltz

Copenhagen Waltz

Doonerie Waltz,

Ehren on the Rhine

Father O’Flynn

Finnegan’s Wake

Froggie and Toad

They Both Went Up the Road

Galway March,

Gentle Maiden,

Goodbye Pat and Mick

Grand Chain for the Lancers

Grand Old Maid Brittania

Harry Axford’s Schottische

If You Ever go to Ireland

I’ll Remember You in my Prayers

Irish Washerwoman,

Jack and Lil Swinging in the Centre

Jenny Lind Polka

John McKinnon’s Mazurka

John McKinnon’s 1st Waltz

John McKinnon’s 2nd Waltz

Let’s Waltz Again

Louden’s Bonnie Woods and Braes

Manchester Hornpipe

Maquis of Huntly,

McKinnon’s Heel and Toe Polka

Monymusk

Mrs McLeods Reel

Old Rustic Bridge,

Phil The Fluter’s Ball

Poor Old Jeff

Prettiest Little Flower of All,

Rakes of Mallow

Ralph Marwood’s Set Tune

Ralph Marwood’s Waltz

Set Tune No. 16

Set Tune No. 18

Song of the Clyde

Tripping It Lightly Barn Dance

Varsovienna

Westlyn Waltz,

Won’t You Buy My Pretty Flowers

Songs

Beneath the Lights of London Town

Stringy-Bark’s Last Run