The fact that "The Great Northern Tunebook" (William Vickers Collection of Dance Tunes, AD 1770) is now available for free is a victory for cultural preservation. This is not a cheap digital copy of a cheap book; this is a priceless musical genome of Georgian England, handed to the global public without cost.
Whether you are a session musician looking for a new set, a historian tracing dance trends, or simply a lover of haunting melodies, go download this collection today.
Do not let William Vickers’ work stay silent for another 250 years. Get your free copy, tune your instrument, and let the great northern dance begin.
Action Summary:
Happy playing, and long live the Northern tradition.
The Great Northern Tunebook , based on the William Vickers manuscript of 1770, is one of the most significant historical resources for traditional music in Northern England. It contains a vast collection of over 500 tunes, offering a unique glimpse into the repertoire of an 18th-century fiddler. Key Overview of the Collection
Original Manuscript: Compiled between 1770 and 1772, the manuscript is a handwritten record of dance tunes probably from the Newcastle upon Tyne area.
Contents: Approximately 580 tunes survive, including jigs, reels, rants, and both common-time and triple-time hornpipes.
Significance: It is noted for its variety and as an early record of regional standards like "Bobby Shaftoe" and "The Keel Row".
Modern Edition: The collection was revitalized and edited by Matt Seattle, first published in three volumes (1986–87) and later as a single volume by the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) and the Northumbrian Pipers' Society in 2008. Accessing the Collection for Free
While the printed book edited by Matt Seattle is a commercial publication, the historical source material and digital versions can be accessed through various free online archives:
Digital Scans of the Original: You can view the original manuscript pages online via the Folk Archive Resource North East (FARNE). You can browse the archive and search for "Vickers, William" to see the digitized manuscript.
ABC Transcriptions: Websites like the Village Music Project and the Traditional Tune Archive often host ABC notation for Vickers' tunes, which can be easily converted into sheet music or MIDI. The fact that "The Great Northern Tunebook" (William
Individual Tune PDF Examples: Some educational resources provide specific transcriptions of popular tunes from the collection, such as Morton's Maggot. Noteworthy Tunes in the Collection
The manuscript is famous for including early versions of tunes that remain staples of the Northumbrian piping and English fiddling traditions today: The Keel Row: A classic Tyneside melody. Bobby Shaftoe: One of the earliest known transcriptions. Lads of Alnwick: A traditional regional favorite.
Jack’s Alive: Part of a large subset of "Jack" tunes within the collection.
The original manuscript is currently held by the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne at the Northumberland County Record Office. The Great Northern Tune book
William Vickers manuscript (AD 1770) , later published as The Great Northern Tune Book
, is a vital historical collection of over 500 dance tunes for fiddle and pipes from North East England. The Northumbrian Pipers’ Society
Below is an overview based on scholarly research and archival records regarding the collection: Historical Significance Compilation
: Compiled by William Vickers between 1770 and 1772, the manuscript contains approximately 580 surviving tunes, including jigs, reels, and hornpipes. Archival Value
: It is one of the largest and most significant examples of a "vernacular instrumental manuscript" from the 18th century. White Rose eTheses Ownership History
: In the mid-19th century, it belonged to the pipemaker John Baty and is currently held by the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne at the Northumberland County Record Office. The Northumbrian Pipers’ Society Academic Perspectives Repertoire and Tradition
: The collection demonstrates a mix of regional Northumbrian tunes and widely circulated national pieces, illustrating the interaction between local oral traditions and published musical works. Social Context : Scholars like Matt Seattle
have analyzed the manuscript to understand the "social history of popular music," highlighting how dance tunes bridged elite and working-class cultures. ResearchGate Musical Practice Action Summary:
: Research suggests the book served as a "skeleton for continued creativity," providing simple, straightforward melodies (often within a two-octave range) intended primarily for social dancing. Access and Publications Modern Editions : Matt Seattle edited the first modern edition, titled
The Great Northern Tune Book: William Vickers' Collection of Dance Tunes
, originally in three volumes (1986–87) and later published as a single volume by the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) The Northumbrian Pipers’ Society Free Online Resources
: While some printed editions are for purchase, various "folk" and "traditional music" archives, such as the Farne Archive
, offer digitized glimpses or partial indices of Northumbrian manuscripts. FARNE Archive from the collection or more in-depth doctoral theses on 18th-century Northumbrian music?
The Great Northern Tune book - The Northumbrian Pipers’ Society
The William Vickers manuscript , popularly known as The Great Northern Tune Book
, is a significant 18th-century collection of approximately 580 dance tunes from North East England. Compiled around 1770, it serves as a primary source for traditional Northumbrian pipe and fiddle music. Accessing the Collection
While the original physical manuscript is held by the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne and is not open for public viewing, several digital and modern options exist:
Free Digital Scans: Digital images of the original manuscript can be viewed online via the Folk Archive Resource North East (FARNE). To find it, "search by person" and select "Vickers, William".
Modern Published Edition: Edited by Matt Seattle, the most comprehensive version is published jointly by the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) and the Northumbrian Pipers' Society (NPS). Transcriptions & ABC Notation:
Many individual tunes are available for free in ABC notation on sites like the Traditional Tune Archive and The Session. Happy playing, and long live the Northern tradition
The Village Music Project also provides digital transcriptions of historic manuscripts, including the Vickers collection. Key Features of the Tunebook
Repertoire: It contains a diverse mix of jigs, reels, rants, and hornpipes (both common and triple time).
Cultural Significance: The collection includes early versions of famous tunes such as "The Keel Row", "Bobby Shaftoe", and "Green Sleeves" (titled "The Basket of Oysters" in the manuscript).
History: It belonged to pipemaker John Baty in the 19th century before being donated to the Society of Antiquaries. WTB Wm Vickers Great Northern Tunebook - The Session
The Great Northern Tunebook refers to the music manuscript compiled by William Vickers in 1770. It is a primary source document of significant importance to the history of traditional music in the North of England. The manuscript contains over 600 tunes, ranging from local Northumbrian and Scottish dance music to popular songs of the Georgian era. Unlike many "high art" manuscripts of the period, Vickers’ collection captures the working repertoire of a local musician, providing invaluable insight into the musical tastes of the 18th-century working and middle classes. Today, the manuscript is in the public domain and is widely available for free to researchers and musicians.
To give you a taste of the gold within the Great Northern Tunebook, here are six standout tunes that are impossible to find elsewhere in such raw form:
Subject: Historical Analysis and Availability of the William Vickers MS 1770 Date: October 26, 2023 Prepared For: Researchers, Musicians, and Folk History Enthusiasts
They offer some sample tunes and occasionally the full PDF for free during open-access promotions. Check their digital archive section.
Given the geographical proximity and political climate of the time (post-Union), the collection features a heavy influence of Scottish music. Jigs, reels, and strathspeys are abundant.
What makes the Vickers collection so distinct is its specific geography. While it contains the standard "English" tunes of the day, it is heavily weighted toward the local traditions of Northumbria and the Scottish Borders.
The tunes in the collection can be categorized into several distinct groups:
1. The Northumbrian Staples This is the core value of the manuscript. It contains early versions of tunes that are now considered the standards of the Northumbrian Small Pipes repertoire. Tunes like “The Keel Row” and “Blow the Wind Southerly” have roots that intertwine with this era. Vickers provides us with the 18th-century chord structures and melodic contours of these songs, often differing slightly from the versions we hear today.
2. Scottish Influences Given the proximity of Newcastle to Scotland, the collection is rich with Scottish tunes. In the mid-18th century, Scottish music was undergoing a massive boom in popularity (partly thanks to poets like Burns and composers like McGibbon). Vickers captures the "Old Way" of playing these tunes before they were heavily refined and "improved" by the Edinburgh drawing rooms. You will find Highland reels, strathspeys, and jigs scattered throughout the pages.
3. "Stage" and "Fashionable" Tunes Vickers was not a purist; he was a working musician. As such, the collection includes tunes popular in London theaters and assembly rooms. Dances like “The Prince Frederick’s March” or tunes from contemporary operas appear alongside rural hornpipes. This highlights that the divide between "folk" and "classical" or "popular" music was much thinner in 1770 than it is today.