Andy Grant taught me these three tunes on concertina. Andy played concertina, button accordion and thousands of 78 rpm records - we visited him in Warwick for a tune and session every time we went home to mum’s via Woodenbong. Andy was friend to many folkies, here he is on Walcha Road’s site https://sites.google.com/site/walcharoad/oldtimemusicians#h.sn1km3h4kzbh and at https://images.app.goo.gl/o2mGjt7v1x5XeSQAA

Trip It Lightly - Always Happy - Woodland Flowers

Norm Boughen played this set of Lancers tunes to me on his giant colourful 6-stopper accordian. The tunes go nicely with the Roadvale Lancers I collected from Des Steffens near Boonah. Norm was a wonderful old friend who played fiddle, accordian and euphonium and knew both Anglo-Australian tunes and songs as well as Lockyer Deutsche tunes and a weird hybrid version of both.

Norm Boughen’s Lancers

Three jig tunes on button accordian learnt from Alf Radunz accompanying the “Sets” or Quadrille dancers such as the Lancers, Alberts and the First Set. We spent many hours sessioning with Alf at his house in Maryborough. While the kids played in the backyard and gorged on the mulberries, Alf would pour a little glass of home made mulberry wine so the music flowed a little easier. Sweet memories.

Radunz Jig Sets1

Three mazurkas I learnt from Andy Grant who also played them on concertina. Andy heard the third tune played at the pub in Russell Street, Toowoomba. The player was Swedish. Andy couldn’t recall where he’d picked up the first two mazurkas.

Russell St Mazurkas (Andy Grant)

Another even set tune from Alf Radunz. Goes well with the next one, number 3 as the second part is suitable for swinging sets such as the star and basket of the Lancers. Although Alf played this one in G or C, I’ve converted it to D so it falls off the fiddle easily. It’s one of the very many set tunes Alf played. 
I do wonder if Alf learnt many tunes from his 19 older brothers and sisters, who were all musicians, playing brass or accordian for dances. Most likely he learnt them from his twin brother Otto, another brilliant accordian player!

Alf Radunz Even Set 2 Fiddle

I’ve converted this button accordian set tune from Alf Radunz to the fiddle in D, although Alf usually played it in either G or C as per his GC and CF accordians. Goes well with the previous one as it has a swingy second part suitable for star and basket of the Lancers.

Alf Radunz Even Sets 3 Fiddle

“What would you do if the billy boiled over? Go down to the river and fill it again!” Another  jig set tune from Alf Radunz the master button accordian player from Maryborough. This one goes with the “Tricky set tune” which is a b*gger to play, even Alf found that!

What Would You Do If The Billy Boiled Over

Well this sure is a tricky one! You’ll only get a snippet of my stumbles here. Alf used to swear all the time he was playing this one! Hope you can do a better job than me because if you master it, it will be a great tune to swing along the Quadrilles, such as the Lancers

Tricky Set Tune (Alf Radunz)

Billy Fechner was from Nerang behind the Gold Coast. For many years he sessioned with Peter Davenport (pictured with me when we used to session over twenty years ago). Peter mastered Billy’s relaxed bluesy style and can do this Lancers tune justice. It’s perfect for the star and basket figure, look out for the second part of “What would you do if the billy boiled over”. I loved it so much that I had to learn it too, apologies to both Peter and to Billy!

Billy Fechner’s Set Tunes

“Fly to Korrawinga” was inspired by Judith Wright’s poem “At Cooloola” and the wonderful landscape and seascape of the Great Sandy Strait. In memoriam - Maree Prior

Fly to Korrawinga

I learnt these two in the 1990s during sessions with Mick McGarry in Toowoomba. Mick was born near Glen Innes, learnt fiddle from his father and Uncle Alf and Auntie Alice Cosgrove. Never did I see shoes on Mick and he’d never learnt to read or write. He’d lived and worked in the bush mainly as an axeman out the back of Nymboida area.

MickMcGarry’s stepdance / The Bullsh!t Over the Calf Pen

“Come Back Pat” is a tune I learnt from Mick McGarry who lived at Glen Innes, and also from Jim Griffin of Bungendore closer to Canberra. I think it’s pretty similar to 1, 2, 3 and a Hop - a tune I learnt from a lady during sessions in Brisbane in 1989.  She described it as a tune used for ‘the real old time barn dance’ - which it fits perfectly if converted into the swingy time.

Come Back Pat / 1, 2, 3 and a Hop

Old and new songs, tunes and stories of the sea and bush. Folklore collected tunes handed on the traditional way from the old bush players on fiddle, concertina and button accordian. I’m a traditional multi-instrumentalist, dance caller and folklore collector, specialising in Australian real old time dances and tunes from Queensland, Balkan and European folk music. Each of the collected tunes I personally learnt from the old musicians.  Original songs about the sea and First Nations people reflect my marine biologist background.Thanks to Kirsten Wortel for additional guitar backing on several original song tracks. Check out my YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@MARIAZann

MariaZ Traditional Musician

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