Origins: Brisk Young Soldier

Subject: Origins: Brisk Young Soldier
From: GUEST,Gabe
Date: 10 Sep 10 - 09:48 AM

I have notation and teaching material (slowed down) etc. for this tune but nowhere can I find the tempo. "Brisk" like the title suggests, slow lament, reel? Thanks for any input.
Gabe

Subject: RE: Origins: Brisk Young Soldier
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 10 Sep 10 - 03:04 PM

There are several songs which have similar titles to this. If you can quote the first stanza it will give us a better idea. The word 'brisk' here has nothing at all to do with the tempo. I think it generally means something like attractive in 17th/18th century parlance. It frequently accompanies 'young' in early song titles to describe both sexes.

Subject: RE: Origins: Brisk Young Soldier
From: GUEST,gabe
Date: 10 Sep 10 - 04:52 PM

Yes, I have heard 'brisk' used in that way. A further search in the Fiddlers Companion came up with this info:

"Old-Time, Breakdown. D Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Source for notated version: Harvey Taylor [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; pg. 37".

I guess the term Breakdown says all in regards to tempo. It would mean to me a pretty fast clip.

gabe