INDEX
Merryweather's Tunes for English Bagpipes
Dr Merryweather's Song-Booke
Recorder Music Mail £22.50 incl. CD-ROM
(it's more than half-way down the list)
"MUSIC TO DRINK TO James Merryweather, of York Waits fame, has compiled a great collection of (mostly) British songs, part-songs and catches, ranging over time from Tappster! Fille Another Ale (c.1450) to Auld Lang Syne at the end of the 18th century. The focus of the anthology lies between about 1550 and 1750, with favourites such as Greensleeves, The Three Ravens, The Boar’s Head Carol, The Roast Beef of Old England, The Vicar of Bray, and the Old Hundredth (to name but a few). There are less familiar pieces too, the majority of them catches, canons and rounds that would originally have been sung in convivial (that’s to say drunk) male gatherings; fumes of alcohol and tobacco pervade the pages. Merryweather writes ‘Most of the songs were originally composed by men and written for male voices. Therefore, the book inevitably has a male bias. Ladies must not take offence, but take charge of the songs and modify them.’
"A do-it-yourself approach is the key to using the book. ‘Please Make The Songs Work For You!’ Merryweather exhorts, and the arrangements encourage one to do this. Greensleeves, for example, comes not only with tune, bass, chord symbols and intermediate parts that may be sung or played, but also with versions of the original passamezzo antico on which it is based. And if you don’t read music easily, there’s a CD-Rom included, from which you can hear and learn the parts, separately or together.
"Another important practical aspect of the book is that it comes in a ring binder, so that it lies flat wherever you open it, and will not disintegrate with use. So, turn to page 22, Fill ev’ry Glass, and enjoy." Jeremy Barlow, Early Music Today.
__________________
"The eight-page introduction to Dr Merryweather’s Song-Booke: Songs to be Sungen by Town’s Waits and Quires, an extensive manual of 15th- to 19th-century waits songs, includes a potted history of waits (professional town musicians and occasional nightwatchmen). James Merryweather has included information on the origins of the 90-plus part-songs, rounds and choruses, with helpful explanations of ‘ye olde’ spelling and pronunciation.
"Included in the pack is a 21st-century learning device, a CD-ROM with MIDI files of each song, suitable for recreational singers who do not read music. Performing notes give useful advice, including an invitation to ‘oblige the song to work for you’ by changing it where necessary. A very well-constructed resource, highly recommended." Jeremy Fisher, Music Teacher.
MERRYWEATHER'S TUNES for English Bagpipes
This has long been sold out and out-of-print. However, I have it scanned (PDF), so please let me know if you would like me to send you a copy. One day I really must get round to constructing the second edition (printed with joined-up quavers), promised many years ago.
THE FIDDLER OF HELPERBY - The life and music of a Yorkshire Fiddler (Lawrence Leadley)
I'm pretty sure this is no longer available. It seems to have disappeared from Dave Mallinson's catalogue, so I can do the same as with the bagpipe book if you let me know you want a PDF copy.
YORK MUSIC - the history of the York waites 14th-19th century.
My first book, composed in 1987 on a Commodore 64 (EasyScript) with a daisy-wheel printer and literally copied & pasted with photocopier, scissors and glue. Not bad eh? Well, you'll have to have a look.
Long sold out and out-of-print (and the publisher is no more). So, on request, I can send you a PDF scan of the book. Amazon has second-hand copies from time to time and I have a few for sale. Download YORK MUSIC - UPDATE (pdf).
___________________________
"This is a superb little book (175 pages including appendices) packed with information covering nearly 500 years of street musicians, with interesting photographs showing the early instruments and many fun illustrations, including fragments of early songs and music. It covers the instruments, music, lives and clothing of the professional musicians. The six appendices list musicians of York, their instruments, pagentry, Guild ordinances and the names other towns where Waites were employed. James Merryweather has researched this book well, and presented it in a conversational and accessible style. A great find - a good buy." - Stephen Tango