Traditional Music

Fairly new to the Music Center family of offerings, instruction and opportunities for traditional players have expanded the style of playing and learning including in our fun programs. Take these classes in addition to individual lessons, or just join us for some good, fiddling fun.

Celtic Fiddling for  Adults and Youth
Offered contingent on minimum enrollment, these classes are open to all students who want to learn tunes from the Celtic fiddle tradition and strengthen their ability to learn by ear. It is important for students to have basic playing skills on their instrument. Tunes are learned by ear with sheet music provided if necessary. Please bring a recording device to class. Individual Celtic fiddling lessons are also available. Instructor: Ben Van Vliet.

2011/2012 Rehearsals: Monday 6:00-7:00 PM (Youth); Monday 7:00-8:30 PM (Adult)

English Country Sessions
Monthly second Sunday UVMC English Country Dance Instrumental Music sessions provide a friendly, flexible and spontaneous small ensemble setting for beginning intermediate to experienced players of a variety of traditional instruments. Sessions are interactive in choice of music, with some of the tune list coordinated with local ECD series. Occasional group leaders may be invited. Drop-ins are welcome.

Sources for written music are primaily the P. Barnes, ed. English Country Dance Music, Books 1 & 2; and the P. Matthiesson, ed. Waltz Books I, II, & III.

The next UVMC  Sunday English Country Dance Music Session is:

     Sunday, April 29, 2012   @   7-8:30 PM   
     Leader: Amy Cann, Co-Leader: Carol Compton

     $15-20 Donation for the leader & use of UVMC space suggested.

  2011-12 Playlist to Date

Page       Play Tune List                                  Tempo
I, 103       Queen’s Jig                                      dotted quarter = 110-112
II,  38       Elizabeth                                         quarter=100
I,   42       Freeford Gardens                              half= 104
II,  14       Braes of Dornoch                              half=88
I,  109      Round about Coal Fire                        dotted quarter (3 in each measure)= 106
I,  135(1)  Waterfall Waltz                                  quarter=126
I,    14      Blaydon Races                                   dotted quarter =126
II,  112      Safe Haven                                       quarter=102-104
II,   75      Leather Lake House (2 tunes)              quarter=112-114
I,    54      Hudson Barn (2 tunes)                         quarter=108
I,    94     Oxford Circus (tune is Parson's Farewell)   half=112
I,    58     Jack's Health                                        dotted quarter = 120
I,   102     Punch Bowl, The                                   quarter= 108
II,    90     Planxty Irwin (Pike's Maggot) in G, & Waltz I, 40 in D

Sources: The Barnes Book of English Country Dance Tunes, Volumes One (I) & Two (II)  & The Waltz Book I, II, III, Mathieson.