FOREWORD

This basic guide grew out of my own stumbling efforts to cope with playing the pipe & tabor for the Long Man Morris Men - I had started playing the melodeon, but heard the combination played at a Ring Meeting at Cheddar in 1993. I obtained a cheap three-hole pipe in high D, and learned a few simple tunes. It took longer for me to find a satisfactory tabor. Eventually I ended up with a privately made tabor, and hand- made pipes in high d and low G. However, it is possible to get started with a minimum outlay, and I will describe how you can do this. Also, I have added some simple tunes, as it is difficult to know where to begin if you are a total novice. I am writing this from the perspective of playing for the Morris: however, it is just as relevant for country dancing and medieval or renaissance music, and I have included some tunes from those repertoires. As well as playing for the Long Man Morris Men, a Cotswold side, I also play for Old Star Morris, a Border and Longsword team, and a traditional band, Sussex Brew