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Old Brindle Dog
by Matthew Horsley A tune dedicated to my dog Nikki. She can usually stand being in the same room as the pipes, which I think makes her my most devoted listener! This is as close as I’ve ever gotten to writing a solid, old-school, gimmick-free tune. Composed in 2022. Continue reading
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O’Hickey’s
by Luisa Hickey Written in Year Ten Maths Methods and resulting in a fairly poor exam result, this is one of many born from procrastination at school. This tune slipped my mind for many months before returning in early 2022 along with my love of slip jigs. Composed in 2021. Continue reading
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The New Year Alone
by Peter Holmes This tune was composed when I was listening to the midnight fireworks sitting on my own. Composed in 1994. Continue reading
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Nell Glover’s Polka
by Felix Meagher This tune is part of the Crack String Quartet – a collection of original tunes that I composed in 1985. Continue reading
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Narelle’s Waltz
by Ian Kenneth Stewart I wrote this tune to encourage a former pupil of mine. Composed in 2002. Continue reading
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The New Millennium
by Judy Turner Written for the famous Melbourne Scottish Fiddlers to celebrate a new century, and to move them into the challenging new kew of F major! Composed in 2000. Continue reading
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The Mysterious Chicken
by Oscar West This tune was named after a particular poultry create that would wake me up in the morning. I was living in a block of flats, not anywhere near a farm, and no one really knew where the cry was coming from. It turned out there was an escaped rooster on the loose. Continue reading
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Mt Oberon’s Summit
by Hugh Planigale Composed while on vacation at Wilson’s Promontory in 2022. Continue reading
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Mrs O’Grady of Curradavitt
by Ciaran O’Grady I wrote this tune for my grandmother Helen O’Grady who was just an incredible woman. She was a farmer who had a larger family – 20 children, and my Dad was no. 12. Composed in 2021. Continue reading
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Mr Robertson Takes the Helm
by Judy Turner Written for Matt Robertson on the occasion of his ascending to the role of Director of the might Melbourne Scottish Fiddlers. Composedin 2011. Continue reading
About Melbourne Tune collection
Melbourne Tune Collection records and publishes original folk tunes and songs from around Australia.
I started this project after realising that I barely knew any Australian folk tunes, even though I’ve been playing the fiddle for almost two decades. It wasn’t that Australians weren’t writing tunes, it’s just that there was limited publishing opportunities for them.
I thought maybe if I collect these tunes and put them together, they would have a better chance of getting played. So in early 2019 I set off with my camera and recorder, first around Melbourne, then across Australia.
This site is the result of these travels. Its purpose is to make Australian folk music as accessible as possible and promote the incredible music that’s being written today. I genuinely believe that there’s something special happening in the Melbourne and Australian folk music scenes right now.
I hope you enjoy playing through these tunes as much as I have!
Katherine Oleinikov
Melbourne Tune Collection 