Tune Add: two young brothers, not Irving Gordon

Subject: Tune Add: two young brothers, not Irving Gordon
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 22 May 15 - 11:08 AM

Elsewhere on the Mudcat is a discussion of a song about two brothers going off to the American civil war, one in blue and one in gray. That song was by Irving Gordon.

I looked at the tune in the DT, and I believe that that is the most unsingable traditional tune I have ever encountered. In addition to being difficult, it is uninteresting, so it's a lot of work but not worth it. Your opinion may vary.

In 1964 or 65, I learned a very similar song in my college dorm. I don't know who wrote it. The tune is very short, only 8 measures. I've written it down, added some very simple chords and composed a descant which can be played on whistle or soprano recorder. This way, you can add interest during instrumental breaks.

I'm going to copy the lyrics in another post and send the MIDI to Joe for posting. Keep an eye out for it, because Joe might be out doing a rain dance.

If some kind soul would convert the MIDI to ABC and post that here, that would be very nice.

Subject: RE: Tune Add: two young brothers, not Irving Gordon
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 22 May 15 - 11:29 AM

Here are the lyrics:

Two young brothers marched away (3x)
All on a beautiful morning.

One in blue and the other in gray (3x)
All on a beautiful morning.

Two young brides by the railroad track (3x)
All on a beautiful morning.

One in white and the other in black (3x)
All on a beautiful morning.

The chords should be easy to sound out: Am, C and G.

Subject: RE: Tune Add: two young brothers, not Irving Gordon
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 May 15 - 01:57 PM

Out doing a rain dance? Harumpf!!

Here are the two MIDI files leeneia made. I hope she'll come back and explain them.

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Click to play (joeweb) (two young melody)

Click to play (joeweb) (two brother civil war)

Subject: RE: Tune Add: two young brothers, not Irving Gordon
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 23 May 15 - 12:02 AM

This is the explanation: listen to the melody till you've learned it, and then sing the lyrics to it.

If you have MIDI software, you can download it and print it.   

If you want to do more, sing it and play the chords from the second version. Since it's a short song, play instruments between the verses and have a friend play the descant.

It's a good song to sing on a long drive down a lonely freeway.

Thanks for posting, Joe.