Category Archives: music

Most of the pages include music – the score, a midi file to hear the tune, and a pdf which includes the original tune plus additional tunes to compliment the set. Where possible, additional tunes are taken from the same source: for example, Botany Bay which comes from Skillern’s Twenty Four Country Dances for the Year 1788 is presented in the pdf with Six Spanards.
The midi files are mostly computer generated and included purely to give an impression of the melody and tempo, rather than a recording suitable for dancing. In time we hope to produce a CD especially for dancing.

An overview of the music of the 3/8 Waltz

Posted on 31/12/2023 by Heather

Background and history In 1796, the Waltz music began to be used for country dances in the British Isles. Our collection* of music and dance manuscripts have nothing specifically called a waltz before this time before a sudden flurry of … Continue reading →

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Convict Culture Week Resources

Posted on 15/05/2023 by Heather

Programme Updated 3:00pm 18th May 2023 Norfolk Island Convict Tune Book Norfolk Island – Tasmanian Tune Session Norfolk Island Convict Song Book A selection of songs from the convict concert of 25 May 1840. Basic song melodies A select preview … Continue reading →

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April School Holiday Activity

Posted on 27/03/2023 by Heather

Why was dance so important to the Convicts?What kind of dances did they do? And what did they wear? Come find out during the April school holidays. Dress up and dance like the convicts. At the Rocks Discovery Museum.

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Irish convict musicians

Posted on 14/03/2023 by Heather

Blind Loftus opened the proceeding by dancing a hornpipe, then came Irish jigs, reels, and songs, and when the boys got warm they were as wild as goats without a shepherd.  The spree was kept up for three days and … Continue reading →

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Convict Culture Week on Norfolk Island

Posted on 02/07/2022 by Heather

19 May 2023 – 27 May 2023 Celebrating Maconochie’s Frolic For one day in 1840 the convicts on Norfolk Island were encouraged to dance, sing and play.  On 25 May they celebrated the birthday of the young Queen Victoria in … Continue reading →

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Tour dates

Posted on 21/11/2021 by Heather

Dancing in Fetters: the culture of convict dance is a museum exhibition presenting the lost heritage of convict dance and music. It re-traces the origins of this largely unknown aspect of life in the early penal colony based on the … Continue reading →

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Lady Franklin’s Reel

Posted on 05/05/2015 by Heather

  “…the assemblage was brilliant, the punch superlative, and the dancing extremely active, if not elegant.” Jane Franklin1, Government House, Hobart, 1838 Most histories of the Franklins concentrate on Sir John’s explorations and disappearance in the Arctic, supplemented with stories … Continue reading →

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Australian Quadrille Music

Posted on 08/02/2013 by Heather

William Ellard’s Much Admired Australian Quadrille 1835 “The much admired Australian Quadrilles, published in Dublin by our enterprising fellow colonist, Mr. Ellard, of Hunter-street, Sydney. There is a simplicity and beauty in the former which we are sure will attract … Continue reading →

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