The collection was revitalized and edited by Matt Seattle , first published in three volumes (1986–87) and later as a single volume by the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) and the Northumbrian Pipers' Society in 2008. Accessing the Collection for Free
However, in the last decade, major archives have shifted to open-access models. The manuscript is now in the public domain (copyright expires 70 years after the author's death; Vickers died in the early 19th century). Consequently, high-resolution scans and free, typeset PDFs of have begun circulating legally. The collection was revitalized and edited by Matt
These tunes were likely used for social dancing, a popular form of entertainment during the 18th century. Vickers' collection provides valuable insights into the musical tastes and preferences of the time. The Great Northern Tune book
Note: Many other 18th-century manuscripts remain under copyright due to modern transcriptions. The Vickers PDF is unusual in being a recent scholarly edition offered free. likely in Newcastle upon Tyne
The original manuscript is currently held by the at the Northumberland County Record Office. The Great Northern Tune book
, formally known as the William Vickers Collection of Dance Tunes AD 1770 , is one of the most significant English fiddle manuscripts in existence . Compiled between 1770 and 1772, likely in Newcastle upon Tyne, this vast collection provides a rare window into the repertoire of an 18th-century musician.