The Border City Collection: Felix Burns (book)

It cannot be often that a musician from completely outwith our close-knit musical community generates sufficient enthusiasm amongst us for the best of his work to be collected and re-published. Felix Burns, bandmaster, pianist and organist proves to be such a man. My thanks go to the small group who put this tribute together, namely Tom Cowing, Ian Cruickshanks and Ian Holmes, together with Keith Dickson who devoted considerable time to the arrangements, Janette Scott (of Lanark A&F Club) who designed the cover and organised the printing and Leo Burns, youngest son of Felix, who at 97 years of age and a resident of Coventry provided his memories of his father and gave the project his blessing. Most of the details in Tom Cowing’s history on the life and times of Felix Burns, together with copies of family photographs, were obtained from two of Felix’s grandchildren Myra De’lay and Jim Wilinson, both of Ulverston, in 1980. My thanks to them together with Myra’s husband Jerry.  

We have arranged these tunes as they were commonly played by the great Scottish Dance Bands of the past. All this has entailed are a few key changes and some other minor modifications to the original printed versions of almost a century ago. In making this music readily accessible our hope is that once again the present and future generations of players and listeners will appreciate the wonderful dance music that is Felix’s enduring legacy to us all.    
Charlie Todd
Thankerton
August  2003

The book contains thirty compositions and it was certainly a real eye opener for me to play them all through, as there are some great tunes.  Printing history notes on the man was an excellent idea and I found it a “right riveting read”, as he led quite a colourful life, not to mention lots of hardships as well.  The photos were also a nice touch, as is the article included from Leo Burns, youngest son of Felix.

TWO STEPS
01. Sporty Boys                          
02. The Household Brigade
03. The Dancing Dustman
04. Anything Doing?                    

05. The Kitchener                        
06. Kitchener’s Boys                   
07. The Bantams
08. The Long Valley

ONE STEPS
09. Black Maria
10. Dot and Carry One                        
11. Uncle Joshua                 
12. Shufflin’ Samuel                        
13. The Flappers    
14. My Little Coster Gal          

BARN DANCES  & POLKAS