During the Renaissance, a tradition developed among composers and court musicians to use the structure of folk dances and melodies in their own compositions and arrangements. James plays the 11 String Arch Guitar . Echoes of the ancient harp, the country dance, the maiden's song, and the bagpipe resound in the works of these composers:

John Dowland (1563-1626); Daniel Batchelar (c.1570-c.1610); Henry Purcell (1659-1695); Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738)