Arrangement Question - Mandolin

Subject: Arrangement Question - Mandolin
From: Áine
Date: 28 May 03 - 12:06 PM

Greetings Fellow Mandophiles!

I've written the tab for my three favorite pieces from The Godfather movies' soundtracks - Speak Softly Love/Love Theme from GF I, the Waltz/main theme from GF I, and The Immigrant from GFII. I'd like to link them together in a kind of montage, to be played one after the other.

The Love Theme and the Waltz can be played together without any kind of transition/turnaround, really. My main problem is the transition between the Waltz and The Immigrant. I've lowered the key on The Immigrant from the violin version on the soundtrack because it's just too high for proper interpretation on the mandolin IMHO. In the original key, The Immigrant begins on the open high E string. In my 'lower' version, it now begins on the open A string.

Therein lies my problem. The Waltz ends on G (third fret, high E string), and I'm trying to come up with an appropriate turnaround to connect the end of the Waltz with the beginning of The Immigrant.

Any ideas?

All the best, Áine

Subject: RE: Arrangement Question - Mandolin
From: MMario
Date: 28 May 03 - 12:08 PM

I used to understand her when she talked, except of course when she was talking in Gaelic, but this is in English and I still don't understand a word she said.

Subject: RE: Arrangement Question - Mandolin
From: Leadfingers
Date: 28 May 03 - 01:16 PM

Thats the trouble with the Folk Scene today-Too many proper musicians
showing us mere mortals up all the time.

Subject: RE: Arrangement Question - Mandolin
From: Willie-O
Date: 28 May 03 - 01:20 PM

Aw come on Mmario, don't you ever go to sessions where everybody sits around and plays all the music from The Godfather?

No? Me neither, actually.

Umm, Aine, what key is each tune in? And what is the tempo of The Immigrant?

Without even knowing that, though, you could end on the high G, then throw in a "Cape Breton ending" (the low tonic note, so go to an emphatic low G), hold --well, tremolo--that for a beat or two, then go chromatically (play the G#) to the A....and have at it.

Or sumpin like that...or else you could try one of them demented scales, I mean diminished...maybe.

/W-O

Subject: RE: Arrangement Question - Mandolin
From: Áine
Date: 28 May 03 - 01:34 PM

Thanks, Willie-O, for kinda backing me up there . . . ;-)

OK, so Nino Rota isn't a real 'folk' music composer -- or is he? The 'folk' aspect of his movie score(s) for The Godfather series is what attracted me enough to go to the effort of writing the tablature. If you listen to each of the pieces I mentioned on their own, and then imagine them being played by an ensemble other than a symphony orchestra -- voila, Italian folk music!

As to the key(s), I really don't know (see, I still retain my 'folkie' license). I tabbed them all by ear. But, all the pieces are in slow 3/4 / waltz time.

I'm going to try out your 'Cape Breton' turnaround -- I have a feeling that'll work a treat. Thanks!!

But, if anyone else has another idea, I'm open to it. ;-)

All the best, Áine

Subject: RE: Arrangement Question - Mandolin
From: Willie-O
Date: 28 May 03 - 01:49 PM

Thanks, Willie-O, for kinda backing me up there . . . ;-)

It's a matter of honour among mandolin players. We gotta watch each others backs.

Subject: RE: Arrangement Question - Mandolin
From: Frankham
Date: 28 May 03 - 04:50 PM

Aine,

You might try a Neopolitan cadence (a bII chord to a V7) into the new song. You could devise it partially in 3/4 and then change the signature using the cadence as a transition. It least it would be Italian sounding. I'm not familiar with the Immigrant but any Neopolitan cadence would probably work.

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: Arrangement Question - Mandolin
From: M.Ted
Date: 28 May 03 - 05:52 PM

Go from the tonic chord in the first melody to the Dominant chord in the second, then to the tonic in the second--don't know the chords or keys you are working with, but here is one way it would work, going from E minor to G minor:

Em / B7 / Em / D7 /Gm /D7 /Gm.....

If you are looking for a single melody note,pick a note from that chord that sounds good, or, better still, play an arpeggio of that chord--

Nothing wrong with figuring this all out by ear, but my advice to you is to figure out the keys and chords, because having them on hand saves an awful lot of grief when something doesn't sound quite right.

Subject: RE: Arrangement Question - Mandolin
From: Áine
Date: 28 May 03 - 09:49 PM

Thanks for the suggestions, Frankham and M. Ted!!

I'm going to be experimenting tonight with all your suggestions.

I'm also going to type up my TABs and post them so you all can see what I'm talking about.

I'll probably have them up some time tomorrow.

All the best and thanks again, Áine

Subject: RE: Arrangement Question - Mandolin
From: GUEST,Chords for The Immigrant
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 01:32 PM

I play the Uke and would like these chords...

Michael Iannarino
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