Audio samples
Here are four tracks if you want to have a listen to us. Click on the speaker icon to play them. There are two versions of each - a high-quality one (which is an MP3) and a lower quality one (which is in Windows wma format). The music is the same, but the lower quality versions are much smaller files for faster downloading, useful if you don't have broadband. Unfortunately, smaller files also mean a drop in hi-fi quality, so we went for wma as it doesn't lose as much quality as mp3.
Oh - and play them LOUD.
Note: some browsers will ask you what to do with the file when you click on the speaker. If you're using Netscape or Opera tell it to open the file and it should then launch the necessary software to play the track.
Copyright Notice - in downloading or otherwise playing these recordings you agree to the following terms:
- Copyright in the recordings and arrangements remains with Tim and Jan Willets;
- You may copy these recordings for the purposes of private listening only;
- No commercial use, public performance, or distribution by way of sale or otherwise is allowed without the copyright holder's written consent.
- Italian Waltz/Seamo's Polka
Play High Quality. - Play Lower Quality.
- This waltz and polka are from the repertoire of Suffolk musician Oscar Woods (dec'd 1984).
- The Oyster Girl/Haste to the Wedding
- Play High Quality.
- Play Lower Quality.
- Two jigs. "The Oyster Girl" turns up all over England and Ireland, and the U.S. as well. This particular 19th century version comes from Staffordshire. "Haste to the Wedding" was one of the author (and fiddler) Thomas Hardy's favourite tunes.
- The Redowa Polka
- Play High Quality.
- Play Lower Quality.
- We couldn't resist including this one. Our particular take on the Redowa Polka comes from a 19th century Sussex musician's hand-written tune book. Differing somewhat from the original published composition, it's survived the years to become the version most often heard nowadays.
- The Charming Maid/The Shropshire Lass
- Play High Quality.
- Play Lower Quality.
- Two stately 18th century tunes, long among our favourites.