Drops and raises

Subject: Drops and raises
From: Banjovey
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 03:01 AM

The introduction to a book of English dance tunes, Peter Kennedy's I think, uses the term drops and raises to describe how fiddler's play yht etunes. Can anyone tell me what this term means and how it relates to English fiddle playing?
Thanks

Subject: RE: Drops and raises
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 07 Aug 08 - 12:33 AM

Looking around - reference to this phrase in dance seems to refer to the dancer's hands dropping and raising.

Also "YouTube - How to belly dance hip lifts/drops" seems to refer to the dancer.

Vance's Fantastic Tap Dance Dictionary - [ C - E ]

Performed both on stage and in social dancing; the dance has been revived numerous ... the heel drop: With the weight on one foot, the free foot is raised; ...

No more sorry...

Subject: RE: Drops and raises
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 07 Aug 08 - 04:13 AM

I first came on the term in respect of improvising simple harmonies to tunes. The second instrument would just follow the broad outline of the the lead but a third, fourth or fifth different.

Subject: RE: Drops and raises
From: Old Roger
Date: 07 Aug 08 - 02:06 PM

I had these two fiddle tune books since early 1960s. I understood it to mean the following. There are various decorative devices you can use to embellish a simple tune. We call them grace notes and such these days. Even most rural fiddlers would have been familiar with the sound and use of the majority of them. They are commonly used on other instruments too and it seems they always have been. I assumed that the little device that decorates the principal note by using the next higher note was called "a raise" and the one which uses the note blow was call "a drop". We call them mordents. I am sure that they had other names for decorations which died out with rural fiddling as the taste for Italian, French and German culture progressively engulfed the old English country life back in the early 1800s.

Subject: RE: Drops and raises
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 08 Aug 08 - 04:26 AM

Cuts and tips in Irish traditional music