San Diego: "America's Finest City"
Located in the south-western most corner of the California, San Diego is considered the birthplace of the state. Portuguese explorer Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo landed San Diego' s Point Loma area in 1542, claiming the area for Spain.
Spanish rule in California ended in 1821, and subsequently Mexico and America fought over rights to the land for many years. In 1850 California became the 31st state in the U.S., the same year San Diego was declared a city.
Named "America' s Finest City" due to its hospitality, beauty and ideal climate, San Diego is located on the border with Mexico. The residents are so active outdoors that Sports Illustrated magazine once called it "Sportstown, U.S.A." San Diego's 70 miles of beaches are a haven for swimmers, surfers, divers, boaters and sunbathers. Another favourite outside activity is golf. With 100 course’s (about 50 of them public), San Diego is a golfer' s paradise, with courses in the mountains, dessert by the bay or ocean. Several courses are even lit for night playing. Professional sports teams include baseball, football, hockey and soccer.
Many San Diego residents came here first as tourists who were enchanted by San Diego's sunny beaches, nearby mountains and deserts, plus the cultural delights of any big city. The world famous San Diego Zoo, Sea World, Wild Animal Park, museums, concerts and other attractions bring visitors from around the world.
The zoo is home to some 4,000 animals, including the world's largest collection of parrots. Animals are displayed in natural settings, and there is a petting zoo for children. By contrast, the Wild Animal Park is a wildlife preserve spanning over 2,000 acres and featuring more than 3.000 free roaming animals in natural habitats.
In addition to housing the zoo, Balboa Park is home to several museums and attractions, including an aerospace museum, art and history museum, the Old Globe Theatre, science museums and even a Railroad museum. Free concerts are offered frequently. Another popular attraction is Sea World, a 150-acre marine park. In nearby La Jolla, the Stephen Birch Aquarium and museum features 30 aquarium tanks. (including the largest tank on display in California), plus educational exhibits, and activities, and a scenic tide pool area.
America's sixth largest city, San Diego is a major commercial business center with more than 2.6 million residents and a varied economy based in agriculture, manufacturing, more than aerospace, technology, electronics. aircraft and ship-building, scientific research and tourism. The city is one of the largest biotech centers in the U.S.
San Diego' s varied attractions, as well as its business climate, offer many opportunities students to explore the local culture, meet people from around the world, and gain business experience. At San Diego State University, for example, students in the American Language Institute's study tour program learn English both in the classroom and while sightseeing.
For example, if students are planning a trip to the zoo, they first study vocabulary related to animals, play games and sing songs about animals and wildlife. The day after the zoo trip, students describe what they saw and what they liked. They use the lnternet to send "cyber postcards" about endangered species to their fellow classmates. An Internet game also is available to match animals to their paw prints.
Students may learn about sports through video clips, by attending games, or actually playing the sport. They can learn how to call plays, how to cheer and taunt.
Business students can visit local companies or hear guest speakers on a variety of topics. Some have a chance to work for a company in an internship following the academic program. In addition, San Diego offers so many opportunities for recreation and sightseeing that students learning English are motivated to explore the area and gain English practice at the same time. Students often live in residence halls with American students or in a homestay with an American family. Both offer many opportunities to practice English conversation.
Often, a language school can organize a program on a special topic, such as golf sports medicine or nursing. Participants study English in the morning and observe practices in their field in the afternoon.
San Diego's diverse economy offers something for almost everyone. Beyond San Diego, students can explore other areas, such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Palm Springs, Las Vegas, Mexico, even the Grand Canyon.
One hardly needs to leave San Diego, however, to find vast places to explore and people to discover.
Australian Traditional Publications & Recordings
available from the Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club Inc.
Please note all prices quoted are in Australian Dollars, please contact David De Santi for prices for other countries
Introduction to Pioneer Performer Series New releases
Australian Traditional Dance Tunes
- Double CD and CD-Rom
Australian Traditional Dance Tunes -
The Book, over 180 tunes
Australian Dance Tunes
for Fiddle - Jan 2001
Sharing the Harvest
- March 2001
Current
Publications
ORDER
FORM Other Australian Publications From Red
Rooster Press
Other Australian Recordings Back to home page
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Introduction to Pioneer Performer Series
There have been various publications presenting our Australian culture over the past few years from the work of collectors and their recorders. They have presented the tunes, songs, dances, stories and recitations of many of the real bush entertainers in an accessible form.
The Pioneer Performer Series was iniated in October 1991 by Rob Willis of Forbes and David De Santi of Wollongong and supported by the Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club Inc. from the Illawarra region of NSW. The aim is to present the tunes, songs, poetry and stories of Australia's bush entertainers in publications and recordings.
The subcommittee to arrange this is known as CARRAWOBBITY PRESS. The task in capturing this information is invaluable in the preservation of Australia's tradition. Support to date has been provided by the Australia National Library, which hold the field recordings, and the Australia Folk Trust.
To date Carrawobbity Press has published ten publications and five recordings featuring performers from Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia. In addition Carrawobbity Press also distributes other related Australian publications and recordings.
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New Releases
Australian Traditional Dance Tunes - Double CD and CD Rom, $35
85 tunes arranged in 23 sets for Australian bush dances. 2 hours of music! Performed by Wongawilli. Produced by Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club Inc. Distributed by Shoestring Productions, Item No. SR34.
CD 1 also includes a CD Rom featuring information about Australian folklore, the Wongawilli Band and Colonial Dancers, articles, photographs, sheet music and dance instructions for 31 dances common at Bush Dances.
more information
Australian Traditional Dance Tunes, Volume 2, $25
51 tunes collected from the National Library of Australia and arranged in 14 sets for Australian bush dances. Performed by Jane Brownlee and David De Santi from the Wongawilli Band. Jane and David were the 2003/2004 National Library of Australia Folk Festival Fellows and carried out research at the Library to locate new 'old' tunes and songs to be performed at the 2004 National Folk Festival.
Australian Traditional Dance Tunes - The Book, $30
194 tunes arranged in sets for Australian bush dances. Accompanies the CDs.
The tunes have collected from old bush musicians and includes waltzes, marurkas, varsovians, polkas, schottisches, jigs, reels, set tunes. There are also a number of original tunes.
There is also information on Australian traditional dance music by dance folklorist Peter Ellis and traditional Australian bush instruments by Bob Bolton.
more information
Australian Dance Tunes for Fiddle, Tune Book & CD $25
A printed collection of 34 traditional Australian folk tunes with an accompanying CD. Tunes are from various traditional musicians and locations. The tunes are set out in sets for various dances including the Schottische, Polka, Waltz, Galopede, Jigs, Varsovienna, Reels and Quickstep. An authentic resource for bush bands. Released January 2001.
More details and sample tunes
SHARING THE HARVEST
Field recordings from the Meredith Collection in the
National Library of Australia, $20
The 99 songs and dance tunes on this double CD were recorded in the field by John Meredith in the 1950s. In 1955 they were released by Carrawobbity Press, publishing arm of Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club Inc. in association with the National Library of Australia as Folk Songs of Australia, Volume 1. Issued March 2001.
More details and order form
Music Makes Me Smile, a tribute to Con Klippel and the music of the Nariel Valley, Victoria - Book, 228 pages, $20
This book recounts the history of old-time music in the Nariel Valley, Victoria - from the 1800s to the popular Nariel Folk Festival. There biographies of the many players, over 150 tunes transcribed with great detail by Harry Gardner and the instructions to a number of dances popular in the area including the Berlin Polka, Barn Dance, Highland Schottische, Manchester Galop, Princess Polka and Quadrilles such as The Alberts, Caledonians, Exions, First Set, Fitzroys and the Lancers.
Mister Joe Songs, Tunes, & Poems of Joe Cashmere
Book $10, 82 pages
Joe Cashmere was a singer, fiddler and poet from Booligal, NSW. He had a vast repertoire and was initially collected and recorded by John Meredith. Alan Musgrove and Greg O'Leary of Melbourne have taken a great interest in Joe and have transcribed his music and collected the information for the publication. Includes 6 songs, 50 tunes, 11 poems and 7 yarns.
The Music of Harry Schaefer 40p, $10 - OUT OF STOCK
The name of Harry Schaefer was often mentioned by musicians around Forbes, NSW. Ten books of handwritten tunes that Harry played on the fiddle and strohviol are now in the National Library. Harry is pictured with the strohviol with the Forbes Ragtime Band, circa 1940. 35 tunes are included in this book.
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Current Publications
Tunes of Bert Jamieson 12p, $5
Features the harmonica playing of Bert Jamieson at age 91. Bert played the fiddle and button accordion in his earlier years in his family of 13 from the Snowy Mountains area in NSW. The publication presents 13 of his tunes. A cassette with the tunes is also available.
A Queensland Selection, Vol.1 , Traditional Couples Dances from the SouthEast 40p, $10
A publication compiled by Maria Zann and her husband Mark Schuster from Toowoomba, Qld. The 19 dances are a mixture of 19th and 20th century local dances with influences from the European ballroom, sequence dances and German folk dances. The 42 tunes are from button accordion players and include waltzes, mazurkas, schottisches, varsovianas and polkas. Picture by Lionel Lindsay.
Songs, Tunes & Stories of Ebb Wren 28p, $5
Ebb Wren lived in Forbes NSW and only passed away in 1994 but his vast repertoire of songs dating back to pre1900 will survive. The publication includes songs, tunes and stories about life on the railway, compiled by Rob & Olya Willis.
Tunes of Arthur Bowley 20p, $5
Arthur Bowley is 82 and still plays the piano accordion for the Old Time Dance at Marshall Mount, NSW. He has been doing so since 1953! The publications includes 13 tunes Arthur learnt from older players of the district and some of his own originals.
A Collector's Song book 44p, $10
A reprint of Alan Scott's collection of 31 traditional songs published by the Bush Music Club in 1970. Alan's original aim to share their songs is as sure as ever with his kind permission to reprint this book.
Songs of the Baulch Brothers 20p, $5
This publication features 9 old music hall songs, many humorous, even racist and sexist from the Baulch Brothers (Arthur, Les and Lloyd) from the Kerang/Lake Charm area of Victoria. The brothers have been performing and making people laugh since 1925!
Tunes of Ma Seal 20p, $5
Features 19 tunes and 3 dances from the accordion playing of Catherine (Ma) Seal of Kimba, South Australia. Compiled by Harry Gardener and Peter Ellis.
Pioneer Performer, No.1 to 4, Periodical, 12p to 20p 4 issues
A5 size, $4 each or $10 for 4.
Each issue contains songs, tunes, poems and dances from the Australia tradition. They were published between 1992 and 1996.
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Current Recordings
Tunes of Bert Jamieson CD, $20
Accompanies the publication. Bert's harmonica playing is joined by Rob and Olya Willis and Wongawilli to create a uniquely Australian bush music sound. The music is arranged to suit old traditional dances including the Lancers Quadrille, Varsoviana, Schottische and Mazurka. Other instruments include concertina, accordion, piano, whistle, violin, banjomandolin and spoons.
Baulch Brothers live at Mystic Park Pub video - OUT OF STOCK
A video recording of the brothers entertaining with music hall songs and stories in an environment they obviously enjoyed. Eight of the twelve items are included in the publication.
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Other Australian Publications
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A number of other publications have been acquired that present Australian folklore.
Take Your Partners 208p, hard cover, $20
Australia's first comprehensive study of Australian folk dancing. Compiled by Australia's leading dance folklorist Shirley Andrews. Includes instructions for 70 dances including couples dances to qaudrilles. Published by Hyland House Publishing.
Down & Outback 88p, $10 LIMITED STOCK
Songs, ballads and dance tunes of the Australian tradition. Features tunes of Stan Treacy of the Southern Highlands. Collected and compiled by Brad Tate (pictured) and includes 37 songs and 35 dance tunes.
Concertina Magazine Set of 25 A5 size booklets, 20 pages each, set $50
Copies of the original 25 issues of the Concertina Magazine produced by Richard Evans and friends during the 1980s. Includes information about all types of concertinas Anglo, English, Duet and also includes tunes.
Folk Songs of Australia, Vol. 1 & 2 OUT OF STOCK
These books have been compiled from field recordings of performers by folklorist and collector John Meredith. Vol.1 contains 240 songs, dances and melodies with commentary on the performers. First published in 1967, 300 pages. Vol. 2 contains almost 300 of John's more recent collection of folk songs, recitations and old dance tunes recorded in the bush. Published in 1987, 326 pages. These books are the ultimate source of Australian musical heritage. Both have photographs of performers.
Pictured is Stan Treacy fiddler from Limerick, NSW.
Possums On The Roof 20p, $5 LIMITED STOCK
Includes 19 tunes from accordionist and fiddler Angus Cameron originally from Scotland and a resident of Tasmania since 1958.
Joy Durst Australian Songbook - $15 LIMITED STOCK
Includes over 50 Australian folk songs, includes chords and music.
Bush Dance - Tune Book $25, Dance Instruction Book $15
Two books produced by the Bush Music Club. There are instructions and music sets for 39 popular bush dances. A great resource for bush bands just starting out.
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From Red Rooster Press (produced by Hugh Anderson)
Wild Colonial Boy 102p, $10
The story of bushranger Jack Donahue, 18061830 compiled by John Meredith. includes 15 music blocks, 10 illustrations and includes the text of Charles Harpur's play The Tragedy of Jack Donahue, from 1935.
Frank the Poet 71p, $10
The life and works of Francis McNamara, colonial poet, by John Meredith and Rex Whalan. Includes 9 plates &4 music blocks.
Duke of the Outback 132p, $10
The songs, stories and poems of Duke Tritton, shearer, singer and musician by John Meredith.
Time Out of Mind 153p, hard cover, $10
The story and songs of Simon McDonald of Creswick, Victoria by Hugh Anderson, includes words and music to his songs.
George Layou, the Man Who Wrote Bush Ballads 58p, hard cover, $10
The story of George Layou reputedly one of the founders of Australian literature. He was the compiler of the Queenslander's New Colonial Camp Fire Song book (Sydney, 1865) which is included in the book.
Gold Diggers Songbook 80p, $10
Songs from the Victorian gold fields from Charles Thatcher. Compiled by Hugh Anderson and includes 40 songs & 45 illustrations.
The Donahoe Ballads 32p, $5 - limited stock
John Meredith presents 16 versions of the ballads based on the colonies' earliest bushrangers and folk heroes John Donahoe.
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Other Australian Recordings
Wongawilli "Live At The Local" CD $20, Cassette $10
Wongawill's latest recording, with the new band lineup. A mixture of new and old items recorded live over two nights at the Jamberoo Hotel.
Australian Selection by Wongawilli, CD $20, cassette $10
Wongawilli's recording with over 70 minutes of traditional, contemporary and original songs and tunes, released in March 1994. Has already received 3 awards at the 1994 Australian Bush Music Awards. CD includes 24 page lyric booklet, cassette a lyric sheet.
After the Tradition by Wongawilli, CD $20, cassette $102
A selection of 13 traditional and contemporary songs and 13 traditional dance tunes. Songs include the Waterwitch, Rum & Raspbery, Southern Cross is Calling Me, Windmill Run, The Wee One, Swaggies Have all Waltzed Away, Ocean Liner, Bottle Run, and Bail Up. The recording has won 10 awards.
How Australia Danced Last Century - Those Popular Quadrilles
Video & Booklet, $25
The mainstream of social dancing, both in the bush and the towns, followed the 19th century fashions from Europe. By the 1850s most Australians were dancing the quadrilles along with couples dances. The quadrilles have undergone considerable alterations and many variations still exist. This video includes 10 of the original quadrilles. The video comes with an instruction booklet with glossary terms.
How Australia Danced Last Century - Some Revived Quadrilles
Video & Booklet, $25
A further collection of 8 quadrilles in the style of the original quadrilles.
Both videos are compiled by Australia's leading dance folklorist Shirley Andrews and Lucy Stockdale.
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| Wongawilli Band | Wongawilli Band Gig Guide | Wongawilli Colonial Dancers | | Wongawilli Band Recordings Order Form |
| Introduction to Australian Bush Music and Dance | | Traditional Folklore Articles | Publications & Recordings for Sale |
| Australian Folk Festival | Illawarra Folk Festival | Illawarra Folk Club | | Wongawilli Colonial Dancers | Links |
email enquiries: desanti@bigpond.com
Last revised: October 13, 2004 by David De Santi