Tune Req: Trad Tunes Not Yet Used In The Revival

Subject: Tune Req: Trad Tunes Not Yet Used In The Revival
From: GUEST,King Knapperty
Date: 15 May 17 - 01:25 AM

I have lyrics of a ballad sort ready to go, but I cant seem to find a melody that fits it.

Thus I've decided to adapt a trad tune.

Before I begin my search, I would like to ask Mudcat if there are any tunes that havent been overused?

Thanks,

His Majesty King Knapperty

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Trad Tunes Not Yet Used In The Revival
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 15 May 17 - 05:58 PM

probably a lot of the ones that have not been used so much- - are no' verra guid?!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Trad Tunes Not Yet Used In The Revival
From: Jack Campin
Date: 15 May 17 - 06:03 PM

Is in common ballad metre?

Maybe you could post a verse?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Trad Tunes Not Yet Used In The Revival
From: Jack Campin
Date: 16 May 17 - 07:41 AM

And for the usual ballad forms you might try the Blaikie MS tunes, on my website. Not very often used and seemingly not covered by Bronson.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Trad Tunes Not Yet Used In The Revival
From: leeneia
Date: 16 May 17 - 12:17 PM

Hail o King. Why don't you compose your own music? Just make it up.

In fact, compose at least two melodies and alternate them. A long ballad to an 8-bar tune gets monotonous.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Trad Tunes Not Yet Used In The Revival
From: Jack Campin
Date: 16 May 17 - 01:02 PM

There is tradition going back centuries of using just one fairly simple tune for a long ballad. You need to do something to provide variety and drama, but that's what good singers have always been paid for.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Trad Tunes Not Yet Used In The Revival
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 18 May 17 - 04:34 AM

Apart from posting a verse, which would help, could you say which tune you had thought of adapting? Then those who are reading this might be able to say if it was an over-used tune or not.
I can think of several tunes that HAVE been repeatedly used for different songs, e.g. Star of the County Down, Tramps and Hawkers, Puir Roving Lassie, Nicky Tams, Sick Note. (Just citing one example for each tune here, not listing all the respective songs.) So best avoid any of those tunes.