Title: The Great Northern Tunebook (also known as the William Vickers Manuscript)
Date: Approximately 1770
Compiler: William Vickers (likely a land surveyor or musician from North East England)
Nature: A handwritten manuscript of dance tunes from the 18th century
Modern Edition: The Great Northern Tunebook – published by the Northumbrian Pipers’ Society, edited by Dr. Matt Seattle
Free Access: The PDF edition is legally available for free download under a Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC-ND)
. It allows modern players to study the "inward and outward transmission" of tunes—how music was learned, shared, and altered through both oral and written traditions in the 1700s. White Rose eTheses specific tune types from this collection, such as the unique triple-time hornpipes Report: The Great Northern Tunebook – William Vickers
What makes the Vickers collection so distinct is its specific geography. While it contains the standard "English" tunes of the day, it is heavily weighted toward the local traditions of Northumbria and the Scottish Borders. It allows modern players to study the "inward
Individual Tune PDF Examples: Some educational resources provide specific transcriptions of popular tunes from the collection, such as Morton's Maggot. Noteworthy Tunes in the Collection Report: The Great Northern Tunebook – William Vickers