Some of my compositions have featured on recordings by Magpie Lane and Geckoes. Some get aired fairly regularly at dances. And some languish in a ring-binder on the shelf.

To be fair there are some in that ring-binder where the neglect is probably justified, but there others I really ought to remember to play more often. And then there are the tunes I’d really like to play, but they’re too difficult!

This hornpipe isn’t quite in that category, but I have to say, if I played it more regularly, I think I’d be able to make a better job of it. I came across it a few days ago while flicking through the ring-binder, and noticed that it was inscribed “For Noah Henry Louis Russell 14/10/99”.

Aha! I thought. That’s eighteen years ago: I can record this one in time for Noah’s birthday. Forgetting for a while that the tune was actually written more than a week after he had been born, and the auspicious birthday had already passed.

So – with many apologies for forgetting your eighteenth birthday, Noah – here’s a sincere, if belated, Happy Birthday from me, and all the Turners.

An ‘ornpipe for Noah

Played on G/D anglo-concertina

X:4
T:An ‘ornpipe for Noah
M:4/4
L:1/8
C: © Andy Turner 14/10/99
R:Dotted Hornpipe
N:For Noah Henry Louis Russell
K:D
D2 F>A d>A F>d| c>d (3 edc d2 d2|c>d (3 edc d>A F>A| G2 F2 E>G F>E|D2 F>A d>A
F>d| c>d (3edc d2 d2|e>fg>e a>gf>d |1 e>dc>B A>GF>E:|2 e>dc>B A2 A2|
|:A>B c>A d>e f>d|c>d (3 edc d2 d2|e>f g>e a>f d>f |e>d c>B A2 A2|A>B c>A d>e f>d| e>f g>e a2 d2| b>ag>e a>gf>d|1 e>A B>c d2d2:|2 e>d B>c A>GE>F|]