Phoenix Folk Virtual Ensemble

Phoenix Folk Virtual Ensemble is a project which aims to provide an opportunity for our online community of musicians to create ensemble performances, using new arrangements of traditional tunes. It has been running every month since October 2020.

The project is open to players of any folk instrument. There are a mix of parts available (tune, harmony, bassline, chords, simple harmony/tune skeleton) so players of all levels of ability are welcome to take part. Individual performances don’t have to be perfect, the main aim is to have fun and play music together!

You don’t need any special equipment to take part – just something to record yourself on eg. a laptop, tablet or smartphone.

We’re friendly and easy to get in contact with, and will help with any questions throughout the month.

How it works

The project runs in blocks, each lasting one month, during which time participants can download a resource pack containing sheet music, audio and video for two tunes (or sets of tunes). A Zoom rehearsal takes place a week before the recording deadline. This is optional, and we make the rehearsal recording available for those who are unable to attend. After the rehearsal, participants send us video (or audio) of themselves playing along to the guide tracks included in the download. We mix the audio into an arrangement and create a video collage. Everyone taking part will receive a copy of the videos to keep, and we also share these online as a ‘performance’.

The cost for taking part is £7.50 per block (per person), but you can pay more if you wish to make a voluntary contribution to our costs. There’s no obligation, and you are very welcome to pay the basic fee. The price includes all learning materials, one zoom rehearsal and being included in the ensemble videos for both tunes/sets of tunes.

Digital albums of virtual ensemble performances now available – click on the images below

Block 50: November 2024

This month (November 2024) we’re playing some tunes which we have recently added to our online session tune book: a contemporary Scottish march and two traditional jigs. Thanks to Mhairi Mackinnon for giving us permission to play her tune.

  • Morven’s March (Mhairi Mackinnon)
  • Peter’s Peerie Boat (Tom Anderson), Anne Fraser MacKenzie (Bobby MacLeod)
If you’d like to take part, click here to download the resource pack and pay your fee. The download contains all of the material you need to take part, including details of the Zoom rehearsal. You can contact us at any time if you have any questions or need advice about making your recording.
 
Key dates for the November 2024 ensemble are as follows:
 
  • Zoom rehearsal: Sunday 24th November, 6.00 pm UK time (if you can’t attend, you can view the recording instead)
  • Recordings: Please send these in by 10pm (UK time) on Friday 29th November (or 12 noon on Saturday 30th November, by arrangement)
  • Video release: We’ll aim to release the ensemble videos by the end of November/start of December

Block 1: October 2020

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Coilsfield House (Gow, arr Condie & Dodgson)

Bear Dance/Theme Vannetaise (Trad, arr Condie & Dodgson)

Block 2: November 2020

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

51st Highland Division’s Farewell to Sicily (Robertson, arr Condie & Dodgson)

Arran Boat Song/Oyster Wife’s Rant (Trad, arr Condie & Dodgson)

Block 3: December 2020

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Halsway Carol (Nigel Eaton, arr Condie & Dodgson)

The Christmas Set (Trad, arr Condie & Dodgson)

Block 4: January 2021

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Ae Fond Kiss/Ye Banks and Braes (Trad)

Lea Rig/Buttered Peas (Stumpie)

Block 5: February 2021

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Rothbury Hills (Jack Armstrong)

Morpeth Lasses/Cuckold Come out of the Amery (trad)

Block 6: March 2021

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Inisheer/The South Wind

All Through the Night/Pant Corlan Yr Wyn/Ymgrychdon Y Waunlwyd

Block 7: April 2021

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Bagpipers

English Country Garden/Portsmouth

Block 8: May 2021

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Orange in Bloom/Out on the Ocean (The Fanta Set)

Egan’s Polka/John Ryan’s Polka

Block 9: June 2021

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Hancock Waltz/Wuppertal Waltz (Gillian Tolfrey)

Bonaparte’s Retreat

Block 10: July 2021

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Alloa House

Ward’s Brae/Lamshaw’s Fancy

Block 11: August 2021

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Trumpet Hornpipe (Captain Pugwash!)

Farwell to Glasgow/Skye Boat Song

Block 12: September 2021

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Cumbernauld House

Whinshields Hornpipe/Whinham’s Reel

Block 13: October 2021

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Newcastle/Because he was a Bonny Lad

Noble Squire Dacre/Peacock’s Tune

Block 14: November 2021

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Wild Hills of Wannie

100 Pipers

Block 15: December 2021

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Christmas Set (O Come O Come Emmanuel, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, In Dulci Jubilo)

Joe Hutton’s March (Archie Dagg)

Block 16: January 2022

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Elsie’s Waltz (Archie Dagg)

Constant Billy, Maid of the Mill

Block 17: February 2022

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Leaving Lismore (Margaret Martin-Hardie)

Dinnington Rant, Durham Rangers

Block 18: March 2022

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Planxty Irwin (O’Carolan)

Jamie Allen, Salmon Tails up the Water (Trad)

Block 19: April 2022

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Bonny at Morn

Mazurka d’Auvergne, Tommy People’s Mazurka

Block 20: May 2022

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Miss Jamieson’s Favourite

Rakes of Mallow, The Rose Tree

Block 21: June 2022

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

My Cape Breton Home (Jerry Holland)

Britches Full of Stitches, The Ballydesmond

Block 22: July 2022

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Mary, Young and Fair

Go to Berwick Johnny, Felton Lonnen

Block 23: August 2022

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Niel Gow’s Lament for the Death of his Second Wife

Red Haired Boy

Block 24: September 2022

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Da Auld Resting Chair (Tom Anderson)

Hexham Races, Lamb Skinnet

Block 25: October 2022

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Mallorca (Duke of Windsor)

Winster Gallop, Bonny Kate

Block 26: November 2022

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Eagle’s Whistle

Cooley’s Reel, Drowsy Maggie

Block 27: December 2022

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Cradle Song

Da Day Dawn,  Christmas Day Ida Moarnin

Block 28: January 2023

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Scots Wha Hae, Ye Jacobites by Name

My Love is Like a Red Red Rose, Ye Banks and Braes

Block 29: February 2023

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Peacock’s March

Rocket Brigade

Block 30: March 2023

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Si Bheag Si Mhor

Sonny’s, Mermaid Mazurka

Block 31: April 2023

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Bethany’s Waltz

Man in the Moon, Primrose Lass

Block 32: May 2023

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Wallington Hall (Billy Pigg)

Memories of Father Angus MacDonnell (Mike MacDougall)

Block 33: June 2023

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Fanny Poer (O’Carolan)

Moon and Seven Stars/The Fiery Clockface

Block 34: July 2023

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

If You Will Not Have Me You May Let Me Go

Lasses of Stirling, Foxhunters

Block 35: August 2023

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Tom’s March (Billy Pigg)

Captain Lanoe’s Quick March, Princess Royal

Block 36: September 2023

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Grace Darling Gold (Dodgson & Condie)

Queen’s Delight (trad), Haggis Hunter’s Jig (Katy Robinson)

Block 37: October 2023

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Da Slockit Light (Tom Anderson)

Halloween Set: The Ghosts of Jamie Allen & Old Tom of Oxford

Block 38: November 2023

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

The Latent Cannon (Marina Dodgson)

Major MacKay, The Opera Hat

Block 39: December 2023

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Norwegian Hymn: I See You Sweet Lamb

Gloucestershire Wassail, Apple Tree Wassail, Here We Come a Wassailing

Block 40: January 2024

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Niel Gow’s Lamentation for James Moray of Abercairney

Rusty Gulley, Reedhouse Rant

Block 41: February 2024

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Maggie’s (Dodgson & Condie)

Can Y Cardi, March of the Men of Devon

Block 42: March 2024

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Michael Brown’s March Up 5th Avenue (Dodgson & Condie)

Londonderry Air

Block 43: April 2024

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Shingly Beach (Tom Anderson)

Walter Bulwer’s Polka No 4, Jenny Lind

Block 44: May 2024

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Rights of Man

Young Jane, Juniper Hill

Block 45: June 2024

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Lost Souls (John Bushby)

Nobody’s Jig, Where Will Our Gudeman Lye

Block 46: July 2024

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Highland Cathedral

Flowers of Edinburgh

Block 47: August 2024

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

If Ever You Were Mine (Maurice Lennon)

Peacock Followed the Hen, Chimney Bird

Block 48: September 2024

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

McKechnie’s Farewell (John Somerville)

Grimstock, Lads of Duns

Block 49: October 2024

If you’d like to buy the sheet music and practice audio/video for these tunes, you can do so here.

Halloween Set: Stumpie’s Ghost, Becuase He Was a Bonny (Bony) Lad

Boolavogue

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