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We have composed and arranged several tunes for use by contra dance bands, as well as ensembles for a variety of instruments. You can purchase these tunes now via PayPal, and when we receive payment we will email you the files as PDF. We are creating content for this section on an ongoing basis, so please check back often. Thank you for your interest!
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Chasing the Storm (PDF)
Grade: 3
Style: Original jig in D Minor
I composed this jig in August 2011 for my contra dance band, Jalapeno Honey. The title refers to the risky practice of pursuing severe weather conditions, such as hurricanes, for adventure, scientific exploration, or media coverage. At the time I wrote it, Texas was in a severe draught, and we were looking to the Gulf of Mexico for a summer storm that would bring rain. This one-page arrangement includes three parts--melody, descant, and harmony--and can be played as a solo or ensemble on accordions or other instruments. It is bundled in a set of four pages: treble clef for C instruments, alto/treble clefs for viola, bass/tenor clefs for cello, and Bb transposition. Chords are given for guitar or accordion.
Crow's Nest (PDF)
Style: Original jig in D Minor
I composed this jig in August 2011 for my contra dance band, Jalapeno Honey. The title refers to the look-out station on the upper part of a sailing ship's main mast. This one-page arrangement includes three parts--melody, descant, and harmony--and can be played as a solo or ensemble on accordions or other instruments. It is bundled in a set of four pages: treble clef for C instruments, alto/treble clefs for viola, bass/tenor clefs for cello, and Bb transposition. Chords are given for guitar or accordion.
After the Battle of Antrim (PDF)
Grade: 3
Style: Traditional Irish reel in G Minor
The Battle of Aughrim was fought in 1691 near the village of Aughrim in Ireland between Irish Jacobites and the army of William III. William's victory decisively ended Jacobitism in Ireland. This one-page arrangement includes four parts--melody, descant, descant 2, and harmony--and can be played as a solo or ensemble on accordions or other instruments. The second descant in the A part is the sad Irish tune, "Captain O'Kane," also known as "The Wounded Hussar," adapted to 4/4 time. The arrangement is bundled in a set of four pages: treble clef for C instruments, alto/treble clefs for viola, bass/tenor clefs for cello, and Bb transposition. Chords are given for guitar or accordion.
Hull's Victory (PDF)
Grade: 3
Style: Traditional New England hornpipe
The tune title commemorates a naval victory in the War of 1812 in which the U.S.S. Constitution ("Old Ironsides") under the command of Captain Isaac Hull defeated the H.M.S. Guerriere under Captain Richard Dacre on August 19. The tune is used for an old-style traditional contra dance by the same name. The tune is traditionally in F, but because that key is difficult to match with other tunes if a set is desired, I have transposed it to D. It forms a nice set with "Old Grey Cat" in Em and "Staten Island Hornpipe" in D. My source for the notated tune was Burchenal (1918) American Country Dances, Vol. 1, page 30. This one-page arrangement includes three parts--melody, descant, and harmony--and can be played as a solo or ensemble on accordions or other instruments. It is bundled in a set of four pages: treble clef for C instruments, alto/treble clefs for viola, bass/tenor clefs for cello, and Bb transposition. Chords are given for guitar or accordion.
Jacky Tar (PDF)
Grade: 3
Style: Traditional Scottish hornpipe in E Minor
My source for this hornpipe is MacDonald (The Skye Collection), 1887, page 183, where it appears as "Jack A Tar." It forms a fine contra dance set for the petronella dance figure when played between the Scottish reel "Petronella" and the American reel "Green Mountain Petronella." This one-page arrangement includes three parts--melody, descant, and harmony--and can be played as a solo or ensemble on accordions or other instruments. It is bundled in a set of four pages: treble clef for C instruments, alto/treble clefs for viola, bass clef for cello, and Bb transposition. Chords are given for guitar or accordion.
Julia Delaney (PDF)
Grade: 3
Style: Traditional Irish reel in D Minor/Dorian
This reel has been recorded in recent times under the titles "La Sorci�re" and "Le Reel Des Sorci�res." In order to conjure up the image of witches, I quoted snippets from the Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky's "Night on Bald Mountain" in the descant parts. This one-page arrangement includes four parts--melody, descant, descant 2, and harmony--and can be played as a solo or ensemble on accordions or other instruments. It is bundled in a set of four pages: treble clef for C instruments, alto/treble clefs for viola, bass/tenor clefs for cello, and Bb transposition. Chords are given for guitar or accordion.
Lamplighter's Hornpipe (PDF)
Grade: 3
Style: Traditional American hornpipe in G Major
This tune is popular at New England contra dances. This one-page arrangement includes three parts--melody, descant, and harmony--and can be played as a solo or ensemble on accordions or other instruments. It is bundled in a set of four pages: treble clef for C instruments, alto/treble clefs for viola, bass clef for cello, and Bb transposition. Chords are given for guitar or accordion.
Morpeth Rant (PDF)
Grade: 3
Style: 18th century Scottish rant, hornpipe, or reel in D Major
This rant (a type of 4/4 dance) is attributed to William Shields, originally from Northumberland. The tune is in several 19th century Scottish dance music collections. I have paraphrased "Scotland the Brave" in the harmony part, B section, as a bit of whimsy. This one-page arrangement includes three parts--melody, descant, and harmony--and can be played as a solo or ensemble on accordions or other instruments. Fingering for accordion is given in the treble melody line. Chords are given for guitar or accordion. Also included are transcriptions for viola and cello and a transposition for Bb clarinet.
Roxburgh Castle (PDF)
Style: Traditional Scottish reel in G Major
This reel is popular in England and may be a Northern Border tune, rather than Scottish. It is usually noted in A, though some sources give it in G, as I have done. This one-page arrangement includes three parts--melody, descant, and harmony--and can be played as a solo or ensemble on accordions or other instruments. It is bundled in a set of four pages: treble clef for C instruments, alto/treble clefs for viola, bass clef for cello, and Bb transposition. Chords are given for guitar or accordion.
Soldier's Joy (PDF)
Grade: 3
Style: 18th century Scottish/Irish reel or hornpipe in D Major
"Soldier's Joy" is a very popular reel and hornpipe dating from the late 18th century. It is well-known in Scotland, England, Ireland, and the United States. One of its earliest notated versions appears in James Aird's 1778 collection (vol. 1, No. 109). The version I used for this arrangement is very close to that appearing in Howe's (1000 Jigs and Reels), c. 1867, page 75. This one-page arrangement includes three parts, melody, descant, and harmony, and can be played as a solo or ensemble on accordions or other instruments. It is bundled in a set of four pages: treble clef for C instruments, alto/treble clefs for viola, bass/tenor clefs for cello, and Bb transposition. Chords are given for guitar or accordion.
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