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)