Annotation:Amelia's Waltz (1)

This waltz was composed in 1981 by New Hampshire accordionist and composer Bob McQuillen (1923-2014, Peterboro, N.H.) for then three-and-a-half year old Amelia Stiles, daughter of Deana Stiles, a flute player friend who played with Dudley Laufman's Canterbury Country Dance Orchestra. McCutcheon relates that "current legend" has it that Amelia was named because of the fact that her family lived in a house built around a shipping crate for Amelia Earhart's plane. Deana Stiles has been a member of Dudley Laufman's Canterbury Country Orchestra and currently plays with McQuillen in the trio "Old New England." The tune has proved quite popular at New England dances, an instant classic. McQuillen apparently prefers the title to be simply "Amelia."

Print sources: Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes, vol. 2), 2005; p. 74 (appears as "Leah's Waltz", the name of a dance by Fried de Metz Herman composed in 1989 to the tune). Johnson (The Kitchen Musician's Occasional: Waltz, Air and Misc.), vol. 1, 1991; p. 12. Matthiesen (Waltz Book I), 1992; p. 11. McQuillen, Bob's Notebook #5, 1981.

Recorded sources: Alcazar FR 2204, Rodney and Randy Miller - "New England Chestnuts, vol. 2" (1981). BM-91, Buddy MacMaster - "Glencoe Hall." Great Meadow Music CD 2008, Bob McQuillen and Friends - "Old New England" (1996). Great Meadow Music GMM 2018, Frank Ferrel & Joe Derrane - "Fiddledance" (2004). Greenhays GR 710, John McCutcheon - "Fine Times at Our House" (1982. Learned from Rodney and Randy Miller). Smithsonian Folkways SFW CD 40126, Bob McQuillen & Old New England - "Choose Your Partners!: Contra Dance & Square Dance Music of New Hampshire" (1999). Whistlers Music, New England Tradition - "Farewell to the Hollow."