Kerr's Collection of Merry Melodies

[cmateer]

Hi,

As a fan of fiddle tunes volumes (Ryan's Mammoth and Phillips Collections), I would like to see if anyone has worked with Kerr's Collection of Merry Melodies?

I have just learned a tune from one of the volumes (#4) and I am considering trying to track down the books. But before I do, if anybody could offer any experience, insight, feedback on these, I would really appreciate it.

Also, any tips on tracking down copies would be welcomed as well.

Cheers!

[Dave Hanson]

I have all 4 books, I bought them in1971 just before the UK changed over to decimal currency, they were priced at 6 shillings or 30 new pence each.

I believe they are still available, they had them at The Music Room in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire the last time I was there, they have a good mail order service too. Mind they are considerably more expensive now.

Dave H

[cmateer]

Thanks for the tip Dave! The Music Room had 3 of the 4... I have bookmarked their site and will be sure to keep up with their stock. Now my hunt for volume 2 begins!

[John Garcia]

Do you have a link for the book?

[kmmando]

They are a great source of trad music from Scotland and beyond, highly recommended by me anyway.

[John Kelly]

J S Kerr was a Glasgow publisher. The Kerr's Collection was the "bible" of Scottish tunes for dancing for many years and is a prized possession of those of us lucky enough to have a copy of any of the volumes. I have a copy of "Kerr's Collection of Reels & Strathspeys, Highland Schottisches, Country Dances, Jigs, Hornpipes, Flirtations Etc - Arranged for the Violin"! Ever heard of a flirtation before?
Book 1 of "Kerr's Collection of Merry Melodies for the Violin" contains 447 tunes, Book 2 has 445, Book 3 has 446 and Book 4 has 444, so plenty to be getting on with! They were published, probably in the 1870s/1880s; no dates on the books as far as I know. The company published loads of books and tunes and arrangements.
There's information about them on the net if you search for JS Kerr, music publisher.
I have noted a possible address for you to check out for copies:
http://www.sheetmusicwarehouse.co.uk...rr%2C+Glasgow.
Thought I had already posted this reply earlier, but it seems not to have come up, so here it is again!

[Dagger Gordon]

Kerr's Vol 1 has lots and lots of core repertoire Scottish tunes, as well as sections on Irish jigs, reels etc.

The other three are less essential. Volume 1 is the one to get. Strongly recommended.

[John Garcia]

John, thanks for the link, but it isn't working... could you check it again?? Thanks

[JeffD]

I have them and I love them. I even found a hard cover of one of the volumes.

They are a great source of tunes to resurrect. It is also fun to see how a particular tune I have played for years in jams and sessions and dances, has changed from how it was published in Kerr's.

When it is snow, sleet, and freezing rain outside, there is not much better than putting up a pot of coffee or tea, and putting a tune book out on the music stand and going after it. I have gone through many long stretches where Kerr's was most often been what I put out.

[Jim Garber]

BTW cmateer: a friendly suggestion -- there is truly no reason to post the same new thread in three different places. We can find you in any of them. It makes it easier for you, too, to find answers to your questions in one place.

[dustyamps]

I just bought a pair of 1885 edition hardcover books, Vol. 1 and 2 on ebay that I look forward to receiving.

[cmateer]

So happy to see everyone commenting on this thread. I thought I purchased #1, #3, and #4 yesterday online but I just received an email notifying me that they no longer had them in stock. Ugh! After some savvy web-searching, I managed to track down #1, #2, and #4. Still looking for #3....

Oh, and if anybody reading is interested: In my web travels, I discovered that onlinesheetmusic.com is offering a 397-song collection for $14.99. This looks like a mixed-bag rather than a specific volume, but 397 tunes is nothing to sneeze at, right?! Check it out here.

[Dave Hanson]

When I inherited a mandolin from my late Uncle Donald Jackson I also got a book with it, Kerr's Violin Instructor and Irish Folksong Album, the book I regret to say disappeared years ago and I've never come across one since.

Dave H

[John Kelly]

John, thanks for the link, but it isn't working... could you check it again?? Thanks

Here it is again, so hope this one works. It is a UK-based company.
http://www.sheetmusicwarehouse.co.uk
i have amanded it to the home page and you can then search for the Kerr's books on this page. Hope this helps.

[Dave Hanson]

Done a search John, no results.

Dave H

[John Kelly]

Done a search John, no results.

Dave H

They had one when I first visited the site the other day, Dave, but it seems to be gone now - maybe as a resut of this thread?
Or am I suffering from New-Year-induced delusions? Happy New Year anyway!

[Bill Clements]

Found it here at the Boosey and Hawkes website, UK.