BS: Stringin' 'em Together...

Subject: RE: BS: Stringin' 'em Together...
From: GUEST,Les B
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 06:33 PM

Ely - Cherokee Shuffle goes pretty good as a medley with Bill Cheatum . In linking together fiddle tunes there seem to be several ethnic variations. The Canadians and Scots I've heard like to jump from key to key, sort of in a circle of fifths, with each new tunel, while the Americans I've heard like to stay in the same key. (This may be because the 5-string banjo, which is usually in the mix with American fiddlers, is not easy to change keys with ??)

Also, when Bill Staples (English) came through on the Mudcat Tour last June, he was fairly adamant that each tune in a medley should only be played twice before moving on to the next, wheras the American fiddlers here go on for four or five repetitions.

Subject: Stringin' 'em Together...
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 06:07 PM

Ely... most old timers are gonna be dead soon, so I don't really worry about them liking what I do or not!

LOL!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Stringin' 'em Together...
From: GUEST,Kernow Jon
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 05:48 PM

We often link songs in what we like to call Skiffle sets ie., Worried Man,Down by the river side, Pick a bale of Cotton. They don't link in the thematic way but more in the way that tune sets do they just seem to fit.
KJ

Subject: RE: BS: Stringin' 'em Together...
From: Ely
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 05:44 PM

Most old-time people here won't let us do that, but when I'm alone, I often do Black Them Boots/Spotted Pony, Whiskey Before Breakfast/Soldier's Joy, John Brown's March/Booth Shot Lincoln (no, the first is not named for the abolitionist, but it usually gets some chuckles anyway), Scotland the Brave/Bonaparte Crossing the Alps. The Swallowtail Contradance Band did Scotland the Brave/Otter Holt/Down the Brae and it was very effective (I can't change keys that fast on the dulcimer or I'd do it, too). I'm sure there are others I've stuck together, too, but it varies. It also depends on the tune--some of them are pretty repetitive and it's less boring if you string two or three together. Others stand on their own (I've never been tempted to put Cherokee Shuffle in a melody).

Subject: Stringin' 'em Together...
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 04:33 PM

So tunes, ya... but am I still one my own when it comes to songs?

Another example... My Scottish Freedom Set...Parcel Of Rogues, into Flower Of Scotland into Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye... all in the glorious key of D minor... Flower of Scotland is much better in a minor key...

:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Stringin' 'em Together...
From: mousethief
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 04:15 PM

I've noticed in the (very few, alas!) folk CD's I have, very often two or more instrumentals are joined into one continuous track, sort of like a "medley" of 2 or 3 tunes. It seems to me (again, from my very limited perspective) to be rather commonplace among players of traditional fiddle tunes. But not at all "commonplace" in the sense of dull or stupid. I find it very pleasant, and fun to "guess" where one leaves off and the other picks up.

Alex
O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: BS: Stringin' 'em Together...
From: Kim C
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 04:03 PM

We sometimes do this thing with Farewell to Tarwathie/Jack of Diamonds/I Am a Rebel Soldier, but mostly with fiddle tunes. Great fun!

Subject: RE: BS: Stringin' 'em Together...
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 02:23 PM

Good thread eh?

Subject: RE: BS: Stringin' 'em Together...
From: mkebenn
Date: 19 Nov 00 - 02:29 PM

If I'm in the mood, I meld Coal Tattoo and The L and N don't stop here anymore rather than sing 'em back to back... more fun Mike Bennett

Subject: RE: BS: Stringin' 'em Together...
From: Troll
Date: 19 Nov 00 - 11:04 AM

I rarely do this except on instrumentals. The audience needs time to breath and reflect and I need a drink of water.

troll

Subject: Stringin' 'em Together...
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 19 Nov 00 - 10:54 AM

I find myself more and more these days, rather than playing one song, stopping and then playing another, creating these 2 and 3 song combinations... Most times keeping within a broad theme... Sometimes I just put 'em together because I like 'em, or even just 'cause they're in the same key...

Fer instance... I have sort of an deportation/immigrant set that starts with Fields Of Athen Rye, goes into The Outside Track and ends with When The Boys Come Rolling Home... Or The Ribbon, followed by Queen of Argyle... Sure eats up the sets...

Am I alone in this? Some of my local folk terrorist have remarked that once I start, sometimes, I seem to almost never stop...

;-)