The prime requirement of any dance band is that the music should be very danceable. Different kinds of dances require different kinds of rhythms, but all must have the effect of helping the dancers to dance. Ceilidh dancing is no exception.
Tumbling Tom play mainly English traditional tunes, with some self penned and continental tunes to add diversity. These tunes have their natural rhythms underpinned by a driving rhythm section.
Tunes from local collections are being explored and include -
- the Browne manuscripts from Troutbeck currently held in the Armitt library in Ambleside.
- the tunes of William Irwin, formerly of Elterwater in Little Langdale, and his pupils such as Hamilton and Stables
- the collection of tunes from Wyresdale outside Lancaster, collectively known as the Winder Collection
- a newly unearthed manuscript refered to as the Rooke Manuscript, from Wigton in north Cumbria.
Examples of our music can be heard below.
Two Polkas, an English one and a French-canadian one - Double Lead Through/La Bastrangue
Two hopsteps, the first from the south of England, and the second from Hamilton - The Keys/Stybarrow Crag
Two jigs, one from Dartmoor, and the second from the Winder collection - Woodland Flowers/Moon and Seven Stars
See also a recently made video clip published on YouTube where the band is playing The Lichfield Tattoo - Click here