Tune Req: Princess Royal

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Princess Royal
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 29 Jul 03 - 05:21 PM

Basically when the Morris Dancer levitates it's necessary to slow down till he (or she) comes down to earth again...

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Princess Royal
From: treewind
Date: 29 Jul 03 - 05:08 PM

Just been to Squeezy's site (not for the first time) and didn't find any notation for PR. It is buried in the message board somewhere?

Anahata

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Princess Royal
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 29 Jul 03 - 08:27 AM

Martin Simpson said once that he got the tune from Maurice Ogg who was a Lincolnshire concertina player. Having listened to the clip above (which sounds like the melody is being played on an accordian), it did remind me of the one memorable occasion when I saw the Bampton side dance.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Princess Royal
From: GUEST,squeezy
Date: 29 Jul 03 - 07:45 AM

That slow down thing isn't Martin Simpson's creation, it's called morris slows. So that tells me that he's playing a morris version (haven't heard the recording in question). It's the bit of the dance where the dancers show off how high they can jump/caper etc. If it's in minor key it's probably the Bampton version.

Cheers

squeezy

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Princess Royal
From: Ely
Date: 28 Jul 03 - 11:25 PM

The Martin Simpson one is almost the one I know, only I learned it with even timing, not his slow down-speed up thing. I love the tune, though--I learned it from a concertina player but I play it on the lap dulcimer. (I like the minor version, too, but can't play it).

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Princess Royal
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 28 Jul 03 - 09:55 AM

Oh, and the notation is on their website:http://www.squeezy.fsnet.co.uk/spiers_boden/

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Princess Royal
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 28 Jul 03 - 09:43 AM

You ain't heard nothing till you listen to the John Spiers arrangement of the Abingdon version of Princess Royal on Bellow (Fellside FECD 175). Cuckoo's Nest (arr Spiers/Boden) is even weirder. But brilliant!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Princess Royal
From: clueless don
Date: 28 Jul 03 - 09:17 AM

I listened to the clip provided by GUEST,Masato. Gad! Nothing wrong with it, but a *very* different tune from the Princess Royal that I know (as performed, e.g. by the Chieftains on "Bonaparte's Retreat" [I think].)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Princess Royal
From: Snuffy
Date: 28 Jul 03 - 09:10 AM

There are roughly two dozen different Morris versions of this tune, about equally divided between Major and Minor

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Princess Royal
From: GUEST,Masato
Date: 27 Jul 03 - 08:25 PM

Here's a sound clip of "The Princess Royal" on Martin Simpson's Bramble Briar.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Princess Royal
From: Helen
Date: 27 Jul 03 - 08:14 PM

In Lesley Nelson's page called
Turlough O'Carolan - Music in Midi Format
scroll down to the one called Miss MacDermott (Princes Royal). There are two Midi versions by Barry Taylor. A beautiful tune. It's the first tune I heard Mudcatter alison play on her Celtic harp.

Helen

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Princess Royal
From: Leadfingers
Date: 27 Jul 03 - 06:31 PM

Originally an O Carolan tune Modifeid to use by Morris sides by taking out the minor. Maire Ni Cathasaigh and Chris Newman do the O Carolan and any Morris melodeon player should provide the other tune.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Princess Royal
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Jul 03 - 05:30 PM

From JC's Tunefinder, take your pick.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Princess Royal
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 27 Jul 03 - 05:28 PM

There are (at least) two versions, the one on Morris On, and another strange melancholy one they always play at Standon May Festival.

Subject: Tune Req: Princess Royal
From: GUEST,Gordon (Cutty Wren Folk Club, Marske)
Date: 27 Jul 03 - 05:25 PM

Can any of you good people help me locate the music for this fine tune? I first heard it on Martin Simpson's CD 'The Bramble Briar' and I would like to try to play it on the whistle.