Traditional folk music, dance and customs - Harrogate, North Yorkshire - Chas Marshall's Website
Music Sessions
What is a session? I can't improve on what Ryburn 3 Step say: "A session is an informal gathering of musicians, usually in a pub, to play, sing, step-dance etc. for the amusement of themselves and any innocent bystanders who can't get out in time! It's not a performance, it's not a class, it's just friends gathering together to share music in the same way that people share conversation, jokes, news, etc."
Tap and Spile Music Sessions, Harrogate
Musicians sessions are held every Tuesday at the Tap and Spile at 8:30 p.m. This Cask Marque pub serves a good variety of real ales and is located in Tower Street just off West Park in Harrogate. The landlord reserves a couple of tables for the musicians. Some players are music readers and some players are ear players. Music can be provided for the readers for some of the "standard" session tunes used. All instruments are welcome - at a typical session you will see (and hear!) northumbrian pipes, fiddle, melodeon, mandolin, guitar, whistle, recorder, bodhran and concertina. Music includes English, Irish, Scottish and even some continental tunes. The Tap and Spile session was originally instigated by Ray Black and though Ray continues to act as a contact the session more or less runs itself now.
How to find the Tap and Spile - Link to Multimap for the Tap and Spile, Tower Street, Harrogate, HG1 1HS
Tap and Spile telephone number : 01423 - 526785
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Tap and Spile Session TunesMany of the earlier tunes which are regularly played can be found in the "Tap and Spile Repertoire" tune book which was put together by Ray Black. The front cover of this tune book is pictured to the right. Ray may still have copies of this tune book available and if you would like one try contacting him. E-Mail Ray Black or phone him on 01423 - 502875. In May 2011, Ray produced a second volume of Tap and Spile Sessions tunes. Ian Stalker kindly created a combined index of the tunes in volumes 1 and 2, so if you are looking for a particular tune or if you would just like to know what tunes are included have a look at Ian's Excel-based index here. However all sessions are, by their nature, dynamic and some tunes become less frequently played and can pass out of use altogether, while new ones are introduced. Music for these newer tunes is often circulated by Ray to current session-goers. There are also one or two corrections to the published tunes. If you have missed out on this process then you can find some of the newer tunes in the archive below. Clicking on the tune title will attempt to open the music in Adobe Reader, if you have this installed. From here you can print and/or save the tune. If you do not have a PDF reader go to the Adobe website where you will be able to download a free copy of Acrobat Reader.
Roy Hardacre and Ray Black |
|
