Friendly Shropshire Folk - In this book, I have gathered together a selection of my favourite folk session and dance tunes, some of which are traditional, and others which I have written myself in an attempt to keep the folk tradition alive, and relevant to the area in which we live. The tunes are in easy keys for violin, flute, folk whistle, melodeon and accordion, in the hope that players of all abilities may access the fun that can be had from playing together. You will also find a ukulele chord chart using ADF#B tuning which may be useful.
	The tunes are carefully grouped into sets. Their keys often contrast, so that interest is enhanced, and transition between the tunes, seamless, with practice. There is no need to turn pages to complete your set.
	You can read about Shropshire customs and oddities embedded in folklore, enjoy the illustrations, and extend your repertoire of Friendly Shropshire Folk.        	
	For those new to folk dance, and who would like to use the tunes for dancing, I have included a few dance instructions as a starting point. There are many ‘Callers’ in Shropshire who will be happy to instruct the dancers for you.
I really enjoyed compiling this collection, and hope that these tunes will make a positive contribution to your folk dance repertoire for many years to come. 

You will soon be able to buy from:
www.mrpennypublications.com 

Friendly Shropshire Folk (100+ Folk Dance Tunes in sets)

Ukulele Christmas Songbook for Beginners - Backing tracks

This is a repertoire of feature pieces with simple variations and duets.


More Friendly Shropshire Folk (Feature Melodies with Variations) by Mike Penny

These folk style tunes are written to play with chords and 2 solo instruments.

More Friendly Shropshire Folk (Duets)

Just found this recording made back in 2003  in Shropshire 2003 by 'Sax Machine'. I really enjoyed playing in this group and it shows a different side to my musical history.
All our arrangements were made by Clive Burrows who sadly died a year or so later. 
Roy Johnson - Tenor Sax
Clive Burrows - Alto Sax
Mike Penny - Tenor Sax 
John Williams - Baritone Sax

Music For Chameleons

Music For Chameleons By Clive Burrows

We recorded this track as part of a sing along CD project  I arranged for 23rd Shrewsbury Cub Pack in 2004.
It is the well known BINGO with my own extra verses;
ie. 
1. With hairy Knees and covered with fleas
2. He liked to bite and chase and fight
3. He barked and barked till it was dark
4. He liked to scratch and chase the cats
5. He liked to dig and bury his bones
6. One day he ran into the road and got squished by a lorry

I think the moral of the story is to keep yourself and your pets safe by main roads.

Members of the band included
Accordion - me
Drums - Reuben Penny (my son was in the cub pack)
Tuba - The incredibly talented Tom Wood (Now Band Master of British Military Music in Gibralta - I'm very proud of his achievements)
Bass guitar - Clive Rainbow

BINGO Trad.

SUCH FUN WE HAD!
Another of my own pieces for the cub sing along CD.
Some great work - All singing done at one recording session at the cub hut along with 17 other tracks in one 2 hour session!
Me - sax
Clive Rainbow - bass guitar

Cub Pack Rap

Ukulele Tuning Notes - p1

Greedy Crocodiles by Mike Penny - p 2

Strumming Ideas by Mike Penny - p.3

Is It Snowing? Words by Mike Penny -  p5

Riding on my Sledge - Words by Mike Penny - p.6

Father Christmas Filled My Sock - Words by Mike Penny - p.7

Snow Is Falling - Words by Mike Penny p.8

Light Up The Tree - Words by Mike Penny p9

The Christmas Day Blues by Mike Penny p17

It is great to share your music with other musicians. Faith Hellier helped me out with these. Thanks Faith!

English Tea, Scones And Cream - Tune 33 - The Mayor's Chain - Tune 34

This is a recording of Weber's Concerto for Clarinet and orchestra, performed by a most talented, pleasant and hard working pupil of mine, Nick Russell. This was recorded when he was 17 years of age. Tragically he was killed whilst climbing on August 31, 2016, aged 28 years.
A truly inspirational person who touched the lives of all he met. 
For me, a performance I will always treasure.

Nick Russell Playing Weber Clarinet Concerto No.2

Geoff Parker on melodian and vocals in one take!

Should We Curse The Winter?

Geoff Parker sings and plays again for us.

Traditional Tune To Holly And Ivy

Attingham played by Geoff Parker

Banks Of The Dee - Played by Geoff Parker

Orange In Bloom - Played by Geoff Parker

Polppero Bay Played by Geoff Parker

A traditional Shrewsbury dance tune. 

This is still performed by Shrewsbury Lasses. Take a listen to 'Shrewsbury Maids' which I have added to the repertoire with a similar construction and feel.

SET 23 Shrewsbury Lasses (40-bar reel) Trad. Shropshire

I first used this in 1985 during my first teaching post at Reigate, West Sussex.
I was honking along on bari-sax in a band with a great friend Nigel Chippendale at this time. 
He was an amazing folk musician. Unfortunately he died at a very young age. I still think of him often. Did you ever come across him?  He lived over the music shop in Crawley - Hobgoblin.

SET 2a Hands Together (16-bar jig) by Mike Penny

This medley was arranged from pieces from the famous book SHROPSHIRE FOLKLORE by Burne and Jackson 1887. I've adjusted them to fit into 16 bar segments for dancing. I added 'Plough the Fields and Scatter' having heard two local ladies singing a hilarious version of their own.

www.mrpennypublications.com 



SET 1 The Charlotte Burne and Georgina Jackson Dance Medley - Trad. Shropshire

Ippikin's Rock is on Wenlock Edge. Ippikin and his bandit friends were buried alive after a landslide. Their ghosts are still said to haunt the area.
You can see the garden where Charles Darwin spent his youth learning about nature if you visit Shrewsbury.

SET 3  Ippikin's Rock - Darwin's Garden - By Mike Penny

SET 39 The Cockfighter - Bear Steps - The Hangman's Cottage (48-bar jig) by Mike Penny

The Gentle Giant refers to Martin Wood, Shrewsbury's Town Crier. 
Standing at 7ft 2" he is the tallest Town Crier in the World!

SET 4  The Salop Salute - The Gentle Giant - (16 BAR REELS) - By Mike Penny

By Mike Penny
One of my favourite compositions - dedicated to my wife - Wendy.

Ten species of fern, and 35 kinds of moss and lichens grow among the stunted, twisted and magical oak trees of Lurkenhope Wood.

Tune and Variation - Lurkenhope Wood  MORE FRIENDLY SHROPSHIRE FOLK

By Mike Penny

Edith Pargeter, using the name 'Ellis Peters,' wrote historical murder mysteries, based in and around Norman Shrewsbury. 

Tune and Variation - Brother Cadfael's Herb Garden - MORE FRIENDLY SHROPSHIRE FOLK

Tune and Variation - Autumn Leaves 'round Ludlow Castle - MORE FRIENDLY SHROPSHIRE FOLK

By Mike Penny

This is an outcrop of rocks on the Stiperstones. They were above the glaciers of the last Ice Age.
Imagine the scene - glacial snow as far as you could see!

Tune and Variation - The Devil's Chair - MORE FRIENDLY SHROPSHIRE FOLK

By Mike Penny
Dedicated to Beth and Victoria.
Shropshire Wildlife Trust has supported efforts to maintain and increase numbers of the Hope Valley Dormice. 

The Hope Valley Doormouse - Tune 45 - MORE FRIENDLY SHROPSHIRE FOLK

Traditional, again with my own variations.

Tune and Variation - Barbara Allen - MORE FRIENDLY SHROPSHIRE FOLK

Tune and Variation - The Barn Owl - MORE FRIENDLY SHROPSHIRE FOLK

Two folk duets played on piano as an experiment.

The Green Man Festival - Tune 1/Moreton Corbet Castle - Tune 2 - by Mike Penny

A lively traditional Irish  Melody - specially arranged for Alister and Ayrron who live in Shropshire , but still retain their Irish accent with pride.

Marie's  Wedding - Tune 8 - MORE FRIENDLY SHROPSHIRE FOLK - Trad. Irish

There are many examples of homes being built into solid rock in Shropshire.

Troglodites - Tune 12 - MORE FRIENDLY SHROPSHIRE FOLK by Mike Penny

The the wild snowdrops in the grounds of the National Trust's Atcham Park, near Shrewsbury.

Snowdrops -  Tune 7 - MORE FRIENDLY SHROPSHIRE FOLK by Mike Penny

Inspired by the sound of Crickets on my way to teach at Clive School.

Clive Crickets -Tune 9 - MORE FRIENDLY SHROPSHIRE FOLK - by Mike Penny

Inspired by a 'lone' fawn after it's Mother had been hit by a car near Atcham, Shrewsbury.
Get the tissues!!

The Orphaned Fawn - Tune 52 - MORE FRIENDLY SHROPSHIRE FOLK by Mike Penny

The Shropshire Wildlife Trust bought Melverly Farm in 1996. It a haven for wildlife, including the hare, and rare native plants.
       
       Bouncing 'round the field in Spring,
       The Mad, March, Melverly Hare!
        In wild flower meadows lucky thing,
        It's the Mad, March, Melverly Hare!

The Mad, March, Melverly Hare - Tune 29 - MORE FRIENDLY SHROPSHIRE FOLK by Mike Penny

Mike Griffiths has been teaching art at the Wakeman School Shrewsbury since the 70's. He has always encouraged his pupils to 'Look Up!' and appreciate the richness of form and shape around them - to observe and create artwork.
I have always been swept away by his enthusiasm, and the creativity of the highest quality, he draws out from all he comes into contact with.
In the picture you can see us putting up ceramic windows around Shrewsbury, created by his pupils at Wakeman over  those years, to create the Look Up! trail around Shrewsbury. If you made a ceramic window whilst at the Wakeman School since the 70's, you may find it now on display! 
Unfortunately, the school is closing in July 2013.  The 'Look up!' trail will be a lasting tribute of the artistic eye that Mike Griffiths and  Wakeman School has given to our town. 

Look Up! Tribute to Art Teacher - Mike Griffiths - Look Up!

Since studying at Dartington college of Arts 1980-1982 and further studies in Newcastle and Bretton Hall, I have been a music teacher and performer. During my first teaching in Crawley, I played in a folk dance band with Nigel Chippendale, a very dear friend, and amazing folk musician, who died in his late twenties. I moved to Shropshire in 1989 and continue to enjoy, and play all sorts of music in varied styles and circumstances. 
I hope you enjoy my first attempts to record some of my ideas.
FRIENDLY SHROPSHIRE FOLK - 100+ Folk dance tunes in Sets - is now available form ebay

I have also just published MORE FRIENDLY SHROPSHIRE FOLK - 60+ Duets & Melodies with Variations. It is also on ebay.

pennymusicman

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