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William Vickers manuscript (AD 1770) , later published as The Great Northern Tune Book
What makes the Vickers collection so distinct is its specific geography. While it contains the standard "English" tunes of the day, it is heavily weighted toward the local traditions of Northumbria and the Scottish Borders.
: It bridges the gap between earlier formal publications and the later folk revival, containing versions of tunes that would eventually appear in the Northumbrian Minstrelsy . 3. Modern Publications & Access William Vickers manuscript (AD 1770) , later published
Unlocking the Great Northern Tunebook: The Legacy of the William Vickers Collection (AD 1770)
No one knows for sure if he was a professional dancing master, a music teacher, or simply a dedicated local fiddler. The Journey to Today Because the original material
The book remains a primary source for players of the Northumbrian smallpipes and fiddle, preserving versions of tunes that might otherwise have been forgotten. The Journey to Today
Because the original material is in the public domain, the tunes are often available for free via community-led folk wikis and digital libraries. Traditional Tune Archive
Vickers fills a gap. We have Playford (mid-1600s) and we have the great Victorian collectors like Frank Kidson and Sabine Baring-Gould (late 1800s). Vickers sits squarely in the middle. He shows us how tunes evolved over a century of transmission.
Because Vickers’ handwriting can be difficult to decipher, several enthusiasts and scholars have created modern typeset versions (often in ABC notation or PDF format) which are freely circulated within the folk music community. These are superior for musicians who wish to play the tunes rather than study the penmanship.
For decades, accessing this material required a pilgrimage to a specialist library or the purchase of an expensive academic transcription. Today, thanks to the digital humanities movement,
| Aspect | Details | | :--- | :--- | | | The William Vickers' manuscript | | Date | Compiled c. 1770 - 1772 | | Number of Tunes | Approximately 580 survive | | Tune Types | Jigs, reels, rants, hornpipes (common and triple-time) | | Geographic Focus | North-East England, with Scottish, Irish, and European influences | | Original Manuscript | Held by Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne | | Modern Edition Title | The Great Northern Tune Book (Ed. Matt Seattle, 2008) | | Where to Buy Modern Edition | EFDSS, Northumbrian Pipers' Society, Red Cow Music, AbeBooks | | Approximate Price (Modern Edition) | £22.00 - £22.50 | | Is the Modern PDF Free? | No, the 2008 edition is a copyrighted publication. | | Free Access Options | FARNE Archive, Traditional Tune Archive, thesession.org, interlibrary loan |