The Tune Vault

The Tune Vault is a selection of Stewart’s favourite tunes, played freely several times through. Videos will be added to the Tune Vault Playlist, so please do Subscribe to the YouTube Channel to be notified when new tunes are available, click Like on the videos to support the channel, and feel free to add a comment!

Watch the latest Tune Vault video on YouTube

If you would like to play along, see below for the skeleton notation of the tunes, with links to more resources where available.

Most Recent Tunes:

Tune Vault Video linkDate PublishedBasic NotationFurther resources
Ice on the Water (George Reynolds)3rd Dec 2024Ice on the Water
The Locomotive (James Hill)11th Nov 2024The LocomotiveRecorded on
Root2 with Frank McLaughlin, Track 13: Loco Brown Fair
– Track 13 download
– Album download
– Purchase CD

YouTube: first tune of Three Tunes by James Hill – Rothbury Roots; played by myself & Frank McLaughlin, as an instrumental interlude during a Mick West Trio gig, with the great man himself looking on, sitting between us.
Borthwick Riddell’s Hornpipe10th Oct 2024Borthwick Riddell’s Hornpipe
The Bellingham Boat29th Sept 2024The Bellingham BoatRecorded on
Root2 with Frank McLaughlin, Track 11: Bonny Bell Fog
– Track 11 download
– Album download
– Purchase CD
Rusty Gulley (Risty Gulley; Three Sharp Knives)11th Sept 2024Rusty Gulley
Neil Taylor’s Jig (Willy Taylor)4th Sept 2024Neil Taylor’s Jig
Storrer’s Hornpipe28th Aug 2024Storrer’s Hornpipe
Plezka Polka (Stewart Hardy)21st Aug 2024Plezka PolkaPublished in 30 Years Collection (Stewart Hardy)
Planxty Drew (Carolan)14th Aug 2024Planxty Drew

Previous tunes (alphabetical):

Tune Vault Video linkDate PublishedBasic NotationFurther resources
All in a Garden Green2nd June 2023All in a Garden GreenFrom the first edition of Playford’s Dancing Master (1651)
Alloa House
(Alloway House; Carolan’s Cottage)		27th Sept 2023Alloa HouseFrom the Robert Bewick Manuscript, c.1830
Andrew’s March (John Dagg)30th Nov 2023Andrew’s March
April Waltz (Selma Kaplan)21st April 2023April Waltz
Archway House (Frankie Cleeve)31st Dec 2023Archway House
Black Joak (Black Joke)7th July 2024Black Joak
Blaydon Flats (attr. James Hill) – Miss Aubone Surtees’ Favourite (Abraham Mackintosh)18th Oct 2023Blaydon FlatsRecorded by Bottle Bank Band, Track 1: Blaydon Flats
– Track download
– Album download
– Purchase CD
Blenheim Castle18th June 2024Blenheim CastlePublished in Playford’s Dancing Master Vol 2. 1713.
Recorded on
Hawthorn’s Sweeter Shade, Track 7: Young Blenheim
– Track 7 download
– Album download
– Purchase CD
Bob and Joan27th Jan 2023Bob and JoanBob and Joan – Resources
Bonaparte’s Expedition27th July 2024Bonaparte’s Expedition
Boyne, The1st July 2023The BoyneFrom the Henry Atkinson Manuscript (Hartburn, 1694)
Captain White (Captain Wyke’s Dance)4th Oct 2023Captain White
Cheviot Rant, The (W. Miller)9th Feb 2024The Cheviot RantRecorded on
Hawthorn’s
Sweeter Shade, Track 14: Cheviot Rants
– Track download
– Album download
– Purchase CD
Come Let Us Dance and Sing (Belle Catherine)14th Nov 2023Come Let Us Dance and Sing
Cuckoo’s Nest, The (Welsh version)31st Oct 2023The Cuckoo’s NestFrom Blodau’r Grug: One Hundred Popular Welsh Folk Dance Tunes
Dinnington Rant (T. Murray)26th May 2023Dinnington Rant
Dunstanburgh Castle (W. Miller)11th July 2024Dunstanburgh CastleRecorded on
Hawthorn’s
Sweeter Shade, Track 14: Cheviot Rants
– Track 14 download
– Album download
– Purchase CD
Flaxley Green Dance17th May 2024Flaxley Green DanceVideo Tutorial series provided by NEFS 2024 Block 3 Online.
Four Bare Legs Together6th Jan 2024Four Bare Legs Together
From Fairstead to Leighs (Stewart Hardy)14th Aug 2023From Fairstead to Leighs
Gateshead Waltz, The29th March 2023The Gateshead WaltzFrom the Robert Bewick Manuscript, c.1830
Geld Him Lasses, Geld Him (Rusty Gulley)15th Feb 2023Geld Him Lasses, Geld Him (Rusty Gulley)Three Triple Time Hornpipes – Resources
(includes Dusty Miller and Rusty Gulley as well)
Gloucester Hornpipe, The25th Jan 2024The Gloucester HornpipeThe Gloucester Hornpipe – Resources
Grace Hay’s Delight16th Feb 2024Grace Hay’s Delight
Hare’s Maggot, The20th Sept 2023The Hare’s Maggot
Harlequin Air5th April 2023Harlequin Air
Hawk, The (James Hill)22nd March 2023The HawkRecorded on The Lads Like Beer CD by Stewart.
Notation and some background to James Hill is included in The Lads Like Beer book.
Hawk’s Polka (James Hill)4th July 2023Hawk’s PolkaRecorded on The Lads Like Beer CD (Greg Lawson & Nikki Williamson)
Hewlett
(Carolan)		12th Jan 2023HewlettHewlett – Resources

Recorded on
Hawthorn’s
Sweeter Shade
– Track download
– Album download
– Purchase CD
Hidden Place, The (Stewart Hardy)10th Nov 2023The Hidden PlacePublished in 30 Years Collection (Stewart Hardy)
Hunter, The (James Hill)25th March 2024The HunterRecorded on The Lads Like Beer CD by Stewart.
Track 10: The Champion Hornpipe/The Hunter/Tyke Side (Stewart Hardy)
Notation and some background to James Hill is included in The Lads Like Beer book.
If You Will Not Have Me, You May Let Me Go8th Dec 2023If You Will Not Have Me, You May Let Me GoRecorded with Jack Lintel’s Jig on
Hawthorn’s
Sweeter Shade
– Track 6 download
– Album download
– Purchase CD
Italian Rant, An1st May 2023An Italian RantAn Italian Rant – Resources (worksheet includes a harmony line)

Recorded on
Hawthorn’s
Sweeter Shade, Track 2: Italian Maggot
– Track download
– Album download
– Purchase CD
Jacob8th Dec 2022JacobJacob – Resources
John O’Connor (Carolan)1st Feb 2024John O’Connor
King’s Jig, The8th May 2023The King’s Jig
Knockdhu Reel (Ian Hardie)17th May 2023Knockdhu Reel
Köhler’s Hornpipe (Pachelbel’s Frolics; The Savage Hornpipe)14th March 2024Köhler’s Hornpipe
Lad with the Trousers On, The (Old Spand Hornpipe; Waterman’s Dance)24th Oct 2023The Lad with the Trousers OnFrom the William Vickers Manuscript. (Old Spand Hornpipe is from a Thomas Marsden publication, 1705)
Lads Like Beer, The (James Hill)2nd Jan 2024The Lads Like BeerTune is recorded by Bottle Bank Band in a set: Spence’s Tent/The Lads Like Beer/The Quayside
on ‘The Lads Like Beer’ CD.

Here’s a video of the performance at the book launch concert in 2014.
Linky Lanky14th Jan 2024Linky Lanky
London Hornpipe, The11th Oct 2023The London HornpipeFrom the Lawrence Leadley Manuscript, published in The Fiddler of Helperby by James Merryweather and Matt Seattle, Dragonfly Music, 1994
Lord Inchiquin
(Carolan)		12th Jan 2023Lord InchiquinLord Inchiquin –
Resources
MacArthur Road
(Dave Richardson)		8th Feb 2023MacArthur RoadMacArthur Road – Resources
Miss Thompson’s4th Aug 2023Miss Thompson’s
Moon and Seven Stars, The21st Aug 2023The Moon and Seven Stars
Morgan Magan (Carolan)27th Aug 2023Morgan Magan
Morpeth Rant (New)18th April 2023Morpeth Rant (New)
Morven’s March (Mhairi Mackinnon)23rd July 2024Morven’s March
Mr Vanbrugh’s Maggot (Stewart Hardy)12th June 2024Mr Vanbrugh’s MaggotThis tune is from a suite commissioned for the 300th Anniversary of the opening of Morpeth Town Hall – published in 30 Years Collection (Stewart Hardy)
New Year’s Gift
(James Hill)		30th Dec 2022New Year’s GiftNew Year’s Gift –
Resources
Old Morpeth Rant26th June 2024Old Morpeth Rant
Peace and Plenty22nd Dec 2022Peace and PlentyPeace and Plenty –
Resources
Pearl Wedding, The24th July 2023The Pearl Wedding
Planxty Drury [John Drury – First Air] (Carolan)19th Dec 2023Planxty Drury
Purlongs, The20th Jan 2024The PurlongsRecorded on
Hawthorn’s
Sweeter Shade
– Track 18 download
– Album download
– Purchase CD

Video: Duo with Mary Tyers
Mr Vanburgh’s Maggot (S. Hardy)/The Purlongs
Rosewood, The16th March 2023The Rosewood
Sarah Davidson
(Stewart Hardy)		12th Jan 2023Sarah DavidsonSarah Davidson –
Resources

Recorded on Tod’s Assembly
Track downloads
(Part 1 / Part 2)
– Album download

Published in 30 Years Collection (Stewart Hardy)
Sarah J’s Delight (Stewart Hardy)17th Feb 2023Sarah J’s DelightPublished in 30 Years Collection (Stewart Hardy)
Scant of Siller19th March 2024Scant of SillerFrom the William Vickers Manuscript, 1770
Shirley’s Reel (Willy Taylor)11th July 2023Shirley’s Reel
Shoemaker’s Daughter, The (Stewart Hardy)31st July 2023The Shoemaker’s DaughterPublished in 30 Years Collection (Stewart Hardy)
Shuter’s Hornpipe5th Dec 2023Shuter’s HornpipeShuter’s Hornpipe – Resources

Recorded in Track 8 on
Hawthorn’s
Sweeter Shade
– Track download
– Album download
– Purchase CD
Sleepers’ Hill7th Sept 2023Sleepers’ Hill
Snowy Monday
(Willy Taylor)		16th Jan 2023Snowy Monday
Steamboat, The (The Good Natured Man)21st Nov 2023The SteamboatThe Steamboat – Resources
Such a Wife as Willy Had (Childgrove)22nd Feb 2023Such a Wife as Willy Had (Childgrove)
Summer Dance21st June 2023, 15:57 (the Solstice!)Summer DanceSummer Dance Video Tutorial (Free!)
Sweets of May10th May 2023Sweets of May
Swing Bridge Rant, The (Chris Ormston)24th Dec 2023The Swing Bridge Rant
Tichs’ Reel
(Willy Taylor)		2nd Feb 2023Tichs’ ReelTich’s Reel – Resources
This Wife of Mine28th June 2023This Wife of MineFrom the Henry Atkinson Manuscript (Hartburn, 1694)
Trip to Pakistan, The (Niall Kenny)8th Aug 2023The Trip to Pakistan
Tykeside (James Hill)7th May 2024TykesideRecorded on The Lads Like Beer CD by Stewart.
Track 10: The Champion Hornpipe/The Hunter/Tyke Side (Stewart Hardy)
Notation and some background to James Hill is included in The Lads Like Beer book.
Wedding Bells (Stewart Hardy)12th April 2023Wedding BellsPublished in 30 Years Collection (Stewart Hardy)
West Indian, The14th June 2023The West IndianFrom the William Vickers Manuscript
Whinshields Hornpipe (J. L. Dunk)14th March 2023Whinshields Hornpipe
White Fryars Hornpipe17th July 2023White Fryars HornpipeRecorded on Tod’s Assembly (Track 8: White Jock)
White Jack (White Joak, White Jock)1st Sept 2023White Jack
Wren’s Nest, The (Frankie Gavin)6th March 2024The Wren’s NestVideo Tutorial series provided by NEFS 2024 Block 1 Online.
Young Black Cow, The1st March 2023The Young Black Cow
Young Jamy (Young Jemmy)15th July 2023Young JamyRecorded on Hawthorn’s Sweeter Shade (07 Young Blenheim)
From the Henry Atkinson Manuscript (Hartburn, 1694)

“Here’s a chance to enjoy and even learn some of my favourite tunes. Most of these will be from the English tradition, but I will on occasion bring in repertoire from around the UK and Ireland, from the European continent and across the ocean to the New World.

First and foremost, I hope each video will be a pleasant listen of one of my favourite tunes played freely three times through as it occurred to me on the spur of the moment (or twice for longer tunes and airs). 

Just playing the one tune on a solo fiddle should, I hope, make it easier to find and use. Those adept at such things can use the YouTube settings button (⚙︎) and slow down the tune to 0.75 or 0.5 if needed to pick up the tune by ear.

For those who want to learn the tune and need a bit more help, there will be a link to a free PDF of the basic notation, unless there are copyright restrictions. Where there is a Resource package, there will be a link to my Online Shop where you will be able to purchase, for a very small charge, a worksheet for the tune as a PDF with suggestions for bowing and ornamentation, together with supporting audio including a steady play-through.

If you want more, then come and join me online on a Wednesday evening (19.00 GMT) at North East Fiddle School where we work on a programme of building and consolidating technique as well as learning some excellent tunes. Tempos are very steady to bed in the material and prepare you for going off and building up the speed up to your own requirements.

Every couple of months I also run Saturday Zoom workshops aimed at two ability levels, looking in more depth at fiddle tunes and the techniques that underpin them. Check the Events listing for upcoming workshops.

If you prefer to learn face to face, then try one of my JSArts residential weekend courses. These are friendly and fun and a chance to immerse yourself into some intensive music-making with like-minded people in beautiful and inspiring surroundings.”