There are so many of these tunes, you might want to use the search box…
1980
Written for the band Maxwell’s Demon when we needed an extra 48-bar jig.
1980
Dates from when Mary was learning to play the concertina, and repeatedly played it wrong!!
1981
Written for the band Maxwell’s Demon when we needed an extra 48-bar jig.
1984
Most of my early compositions were for particular people. Mary got 2.
July 1989
In the words of Steve Harrison, “extracted from Nick’s brain in 1989 to prevent further damage”.
June 1991
In fact Mary got 3 tunes.
October 1991
Written for Gordon to play along with on his latest instrument, a “West African Coffee Table”
October 1991
This tune was designed as a wind-up, when Adrian was learning “The Alston Flower Show” – it starts the same, and then veers off.
October 1991
Not a very exciting tune – designed with a whistle player in mind.
November 1991
For Malcolm when he was playing trombone in the Celebrated Nook Band.
August 1992
The first of a series of holiday tunes, written in a cottage garden in Cornwall.
August 1992
Written after a trip round the village on summer holidays.
August 1992
The name of one of the appartments to let on a holiday in Cornwall.
August 1992
Again, the name of one of the appartments to let on a holiday in Cornwall.
August 1992
On holiday in Cornwall, this was our favourite beach.
1993
Just a melodeon tune, written for dancing.
1993
Official Brawl went through a “French” phase early on in their life, and wanted a 64-bar version of this well-known French tune.
1993
Written for Clive Hetherington, White Rose Morris Men.
May 1993
Written for Vic and Sheila Gammon, when they were looking for a house in Huddersfield. They viewed a house which had a stream at the bottom of the garden (good point) but also a stream in the cellar (dodgy point).
June 1993
For Annie Dearman, who, like this tune, always seems to be busy doing something.
1993
Written for White Rose Morris Men when they learned Skirmish from Kemp’s Men.
April 1994
The Rock is the pub in Brockholes, near Huddersfield, where we ran a monthly session for a while – playing “Rock Music”.
May 1994
After a row with Tom, during which a teapot got smashed.
27th May 1994
Written on the way to Romania with White Rose Morris Men.
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June 1994
Written for Drew McKinley.
July 1994
Written for Bill Barrett on the occasion of his 80th birthday. He responded by getting up and dancing a jig.
October 31st 1984
A great tune from Cecil Sharp – expanded a bit for use by Official Brwal.
November 1994
The reason for this name is lost in the mists of time!!
November 1994
My first ever attempt at writing a waltz.
June 24th 1995
Written for and performed at Adrian and Margaret’s wedding.
December 12th 1996
This tune is the start of the “Musical Diary” tunes. In the Unix programming language square brackets indicate a range of possible values…
January 6th 1997
In the pub after a Slaithwaite Phil rehearsal, we played a game of guessing the colour of jelly beans by tasting them
January 7th 1997
After a discussion with Vic Gammon and Deborah, about jobs and the future.
January 7th 1997
Written at home while watching (with Tom) Harry Enfield.
January 7th 1997
After a Slaithwaite Phil rehearsal Deborah insisted on me having 50p “in case the car broke down”.
January 8th 1997
A sad tune – we play this very slowly.
January 8th 1997
Refers to Mary coming back.
January 10th 1997
This tune refers to a teatime at work.
January 12th 1997
Returning from Whittelsey, where the Straw Bear is burned.
January 14th 1997
Refers to myself – wanting too much.
January 14th 1997
Isaac was a percussion player we met at Whittelsey, and did a particularly good session with. (“This is NOT a djembe tune”)
January 14th 1997
No way will I speak into this mobile phone in the pub…
January 15th 1997
Written while Mary was playing Dvorak in the next room – and some of it leaked into the tune.
January 21st 1997
For the 8.03 Huddersfield-Leeds train – the best train at the time for anyone who could get up in time!!
January 21st 1997
Refers to a standalone comnputer.
January 28th 1997
Feeling depressed, I went for a walk in St George’s Fields, which is a cemetary at Leeds University.
January 28th 1997
After recovering from feeling depressed!
February 10th 1997
February 5th 1997
February 6th 1997
February 10th 1997
February 17th 1997
Marchh 9th 1997
March 9th 1997
Written on Mother’s Day 1997.
March 22nd 1997
March 25th 1997
In celebration of the fun I’ve had solving crosswords.
March 31st 1997
Written on an Easter trip to London – standing on the Greenwich Meridian.
March 30th 1997
This tune title started from making anagrams of “Happy Easter”.
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April 14th 1997
April 17th 1997
April 17th 1997
May 13th 1997
Written when taking Sarah for an audition at the Northern School of Music.
May 22nd 1997
“Tread lightly as you move through life, don’t cause too much of a wave.”
May 25th 1997
Refers to an upgraded PC…in those days 64MB was a lot!
May 25th 1997
May 25th 1997
Written for Colin and Yvette’s wedding.
May 25th 1997
May 26th 1997
July 12th 1997
July 13th 1997
Written on the overnight boat to Spain.
July 18th 1997
Written on holiday in Spain – having a lazy day.
July 19th 1997
Written for Emily, who was staying in the same house as us.
July 19th 1997
Written for Lois, who was staying in the same house as us.
July 19th 1997
July 22nd 1997
July 23rd 1997
An idyllic beach, visited on holiday in Spain.
July 25th 1997
July 25th 1997
Returning from holiday in Spain, the boat approached slowly enough to write several tunes.
July 25th 1997
Returning from holiday in Spain, the boat approached slowly enough to write several tunes.
July 25th 1997
Returning from holiday in Spain, the boat approached slowly enough to write several tunes.
July 25th 1997
Returning from holiday in Spain, the boat approached slowly enough to write several tunes.
August 8th 1997
Written for Baz Parkes at Sidmouth.
August 9th 1997
August 9th 1997
For Lisa McDermott, one of the best melodeon players I’ve met.
August 22nd 1997
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August 22nd 1997
September 17th 1997
September 18th 1997
September 27th 1997
September 30th 1997
October 9th 1997
October 9th 1997
October 10th 1997
October 11th 1997
October 19th 1997
October 19th 1997
October 20th 1997
October 20th 1997
November 16th 1997
November 21st 1997
November 21st 1997
November 25th 1997
December 3rd 1997
December 9th 1997
December 11th 1997
December 24th 1997
December 24th 1997
December 25th 1997
December 30th 1997
January 18th 1998
February 21st 1998
February 28th 1998
March 1st 1998
March 2nd 1998
March 8th 1998
March 8th 1998
March 21st 1998
Ned was the only one NOT at the Riverhead, Marsden.
March 22nd 1998
An interuption at work – to have tea!
March 25th 1998
Nick’s new morris tune variant.
March 26th 1998
April 6th 1998
Tea with Art and Deborah was dominated by Art’s sweet tooth.
April 6th 1998
April 13th 1998
Millions of rotting oranges were dumped by the roadside on holiday in Corsica.
March 26th 1998
April 19th 1998
Made up during a brilliant weekend at the King’s Arms, Low Row.
May 17th 1998
July 4th 1998
Refers to an incident on a coach with White Rose Morris.
July 4th 1998
Drew was playing his guitar on a bus, and moved the capo every time the key changed. This tune was intended to cause him problems.
July 31st 1998
August 3rd 1998
Written walking back from the sea front to the Radway in Sidmouth.
August 5th 1998
August 5th 1998
Poppy is a melodeon player – we first met her in the Radway session
August 11th 1998
August 16th 1998
August 16th 1998
Oliver is Guy and Emma’s child – a baby at the time.
August 16th 1998
August 25th 1998
September 18th 1998
September 19th 1998
October 2nd 1998
Written for Christina’s birthday – some of the words are included.
October 15th 1998
October 15th 1998
October 25th 1998
November 25th 1998
November 27th 1998
February 1st 1999
February 28th 1999
March 13th 1999
MArch 16th 1999
March 17th 1999
I was shocked at how directly a particular smell can remind you of the past.
March 20th 1999
April 18th 1999
May 3rd 1999
May 3rd 1999
May 11th 1999
Written for Joe Chatterton, violin player, died 11th May 1999.
July 2nd 1999
While driving through Leeds, we spotted a fireplace that might have been suitable for our front room. But the traffic didn’t allow us to stop.
July 2nd 1999
July 3rd 1999
Describes the head on a pint, during a White Rose morris tour.
July 4th 1999
July 8th 1999
Written for Juliet Bangay, born 4th March 2000.
July 23rd 1999
Written on a plane flying to Romania
July 27th 1999
Ana-Maria was one of the teenage daughters in the family we stayed with in Romania.
August 1999
Septmber 5th 1999
September 16th 1999
Written for the landlord of the Sair Inn, Linthwaite, Huddersfield. Ron refused to light the pub fires until a certain date in the autumn when he deemed it to be cold enough. On this day there would be a small fire-lighting ceremony.
Octber 1st 1999
October 1st 1999
November 1999
October 15th 1999
November 6th 1999
November 6th 1999
November 24th 1999
November 25th 1999
November 25th 1999
Mike Briggs made up this name for Mary.
December 21st 1999
For Anna Clough, graphics expert at Leeds University
January 4th 2000
March 2nd 2000
For Debby Noble, fellow commuter on the train to Leeds, who would always wear a coat with a fur collar.
March 2nd 2000
April 21st 2000
For Lynne Wadsworth.
May 19th 2000
For Anna Clough, when she started one of her unsuitable relationships.
May 9th 2000
October 30th 2000
Please Do Not Put Your Rubbish on the Fires Which are not Burning
A challenge – to set to music this crazy notice spotted in the Sair Inn, Linthwaite.
March 11th 2000
May 31st 2000
Catching the 8.03 train to Leeds again.
May 31st 2000
January 1st 2001
2001
Made up while babysitting – and it worked!
2001
August 2000
August 2000
Written for Mick Brooks
August 2000
I invented this during a “Big Band” workshop. The subject – “Listening and Responding”.
April 20th 2001
Another lullaby for Juliet.
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August 2000
Written when Tom gave up being the landlord of the Radway pub in Sidmouth. Now always the first and last tune I play in the Radway each year.
May 12th 2001
Written during Holmfirth Folk Festival 2001.
July 7th 2002
June 28th 2001
November 19th 2001
Composed for Hansi’s 80th birthday.
March 14th 2002
I woke up one morning with this tune in my head, complete with words. I have no idea why!
April 18th 2002
June 2002
Written at Stean Cottage.
October 20th 2002
September 2002
October 31sr 2002
2002
July 23rd 2003
For Mary, in the Dolomites
July 6th 2003
For Margaret.
July 23rd 2003
July 26th 2003
Written for the staff at the hospital, and performed for them.
October 2003
I invented this whilst watching Gordon and Sue dance a mazurka.
December 28th 2003
September 17th 2003
Mary’s nickname after her ankle incident.
January 10th 2005
February 22nd 2005
2021
2021
2021
August 4th 2021
November 5th 2005
2008
July 6th 2019
August 16th 2020
August 4th 2021
May 1st 2018
2009
February 20th 2006
Written for Will Allen and Martin Clarke, April 2020
Written at the birthday party of Carol Klemperer, 17th February 2018
18th January 2000
2018
April 4th 2021
2021
March 28th 2017
September 1st 2007
September 25th 2006
June 24th 2006
2020
2011
2016
November 16th 2017
November 16th 2017
May 2nd 2005
March 3rd 2005
March 3rd 2005
August 27th 2016
May 2nd 2004
2021
2019
2021
2021
March 24th 2020
January 1st 2018
January 2nd 2018
January 3rd 2018
January 4th 2018
January 5th 2018
January 6th 2018
2020
May 5th 2007
2014
2020
2018
2021
July 10th 2019
January 23rd 2019
2016
February 20th 2008
January 27th 2013
2008
May 1st 2017
September 21st 2019
January 19th 2006
November 1st 2019
May 2021
April 13th 2013
July 5th 2016
May 25th 2021
May 31st 2012
June 1st 2012
2002
September 17th 2011
May 29th 2014
2015
2024
2023
2023
February 14th 2022
2022
July 23rd 2004
April 5th 2022
