Books

An Australian Fiddler’s Repertory Volume One

A personal compilation of music collected by Alan Musgrove

Collected from a number of audio and manuscript artifacts held privately and in the Oral History/Folklore collection of the National Library of Australia.

The first part of the Book contains Individual Tunes grouped by Style and length. The Second part contains Dances which include some of the tunes previously listed.

Music for the Melbourne Colonial Dancers Band Book 5

A collection of Dances with their tunes as used by the Melbourne Colonial Dancers.

The Melbourne Colonial Dancers would like to acknowledge their appreciation of those  who have shared their music and have put together this collection for them to use. Particular thanks for compiling the books to: Richard Ayling, Maureen Beggs, David De Santi, Peter Ellis, Harry Gardner, Denise Hibbs, Jim Moir, Alan Musgrove, Greg O’Leary, Kevin Parsell.

Music for the Melbourne Colonial Dance Band Book 6


A collection of Dances with their tunes as used by the Melbourne Colonial Dancers.

The Melbourne Colonial Dancers would like to acknowledge those who have shared their music research and assisted them with compiling music over the years.  Particularly:  Alan Musgrove, David Johnson, Denise Hibbs, Greg O’Leary,
Harry Gardner, Julia Arnold, Peter Ellis, Ray Mulligan, Richard Ayling and Robert Stephens.

Where possible acknowledgments for sources of individual dances and tunes are given throughout the book, apologies for any that have been missed.

Music for the Melbourne Colonial Dance Band Book 7


The next installment of Great Tunes is now here.

The Melbourne Colonial Dancers would like to acknowledge those who have shared their music research and assisted them with compiling music over the years.  Particularly:

Alan Musgrove, David Johnson, Denise Hibbs, Greg O’Leary, Harry Gardner (dec), Heather Clarke, Jean McConnachie, Peter Ellis (dec), Ray Mulligan, Richard Ayling, Robert Stephens, Roland Clarke, Rob Willis

We have endeavoured to include many Australian collected tunes in our playing.

We have given acknowledgment for sources of individual dances and tunes where possible, and apologise for any that have been missed.

Joy Durst Memorial Australian Song Collection

 

First published in 1970, this fine collection of Australian songs was dedicated to the memory of one of the founders of the original Billabong Band, Joy Durst.

More information about Joy Durst and this publication can be found at:

http://www.vfmc.org.au/JoyDurstFiles.php

The Music of Harry Schaefer

This is the story of a musician, Harry Schaefer, who for close on, half a century was a central figure in the musical life of Forbes, a town of 10,000 or so in the Central-West of New South Wales.

Rob Willis, who collects folkore and oral histories for the National Library of Australia lives in Forbes and was given a unique treasure trove of music manuscript books put together by Harry Schaefer.

Rob Willis and Graham McDonald published this material over

20 years ago and it has long been out of print.

The Waltz, The Polka and all kinds of Dance Music

Published in March 2007 after a lifetime of collecting information; dance tunes and the production of his earlier books and CDs.

Sub-titled ‘Colonial and Old Time Social Dance Tunes in Australia’, the volume contains lots of information relating to Peter Ellis and his collecting of Dance music.  The credits make very interesting reading.

It is packed with a history Social Dance Music and information detailing Tempos, Dance Time and Set Dance Arrangements.   With additional information relating to the history of the The Old Time Dance Band and Session playing.

 

Supported with beautiful Photographs and memorabilia.  A outstanding book reproduced here digitally

The Waltz, The Polka and all kinds of Dance Music Vol. 2 DRAFT COPY

Please be aware, this is still a Draft Copy. Inclusive of Spelling; Notes and Chord mistakes.

Peter Ellis published his book of dance tunes
‘The Waltz, The Polka and all kinds of Dance Music’ in March 2007 after a lifetime of collecting information; dance tunes and the production of his earlier books and CDs.

Peter gave us a handwritten draft of a second volume that he wished to dedicate to
Shirley Andrews.  Since he very sadly passed away in 2015 we wish to assist him by engraving the tunes of this second volume to computer and producing it for use by musicians and the dance community.

The Waltz, The Polka and all kinds of Dance Music Vol. 3 DRAFT COPY

Please be aware, this is still a Draft Copy. Inclusive of Spelling; Notes and Chord mistakes.

Every effort is being made to follow Peter’s wishes as  expressed in the rough copy of Volume 3 which was left to us.  However, some of the notes are ambiguous and open to interpretation, therefore it is possible some the tunes may change and additions and deletions may be made.

We are still working to bring you more Dance music collected by Peter Ellis This is Volume 3.

Dedicated to the memory of Peter Ellis