Tune Req: More to 'I Saw Three Ships' tune?

Subject: Tune Req: More to 'I Saw Three Ships' tune?
From: Jon W.
Date: 20 Nov 06 - 02:59 PM

I'd like to play the familiar tune "I Saw Three Ships" while my Irish step dancing daughters do a jig for a Christmas church talent show. Most Irish/Celtic dance tunes have at least two parts, but the song uses only one part. Does anyone know if there is a second part to this tune and if so, how does it go?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: More to 'I Saw Three Ships' tune?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Nov 06 - 05:40 PM

The tune I'm familiar with is this one, which I found at JC's ABC Tune finder:

Click to play

Mudcat MIDIs has this tune, which is quite different:

Click to Play

There is an orchestral arrangement by Grainger or somebody like that, that has an expanded treatment with variations on the theme.

Hope that helps, Jon.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Tune Req: More to 'I Saw Three Ships' tune?
From: Jon W.
Date: 20 Nov 06 - 06:44 PM

Thanks, Joe. The tune I'm using is the first one (also given in the DT as this.

If there is no known second part to this tune, perhaps someone can suggest another jig tune that would go well with it. Please keep it simple as I don't do "difficult."

Subject: RE: Tune Req: More to 'I Saw Three Ships' tune?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Nov 06 - 08:41 PM

The tune in HCOC (Hymns and Carols of Christmas) by Sandys, 1833, is the one Jon and JC tunefinder use (and the one I sang in chorus when a kid).
The Mudcat midi reminds me of a dance tune, which I can't remember. Interesting!

Hymns and Carols of Christmas has a third one; Martin Shaw and Percy Dearmer, from their English Carol Book, 1913; a trad. version sung by Samuel Newman, Wiltshire.

Look at the sheet music in HCOC, it might fill in for you.
http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/HTML/index_of_carols_ij.htm

Subject: RE: Tune Req: More to 'I Saw Three Ships' tune?
From: leeneia
Date: 21 Nov 06 - 01:59 PM

I decided it would be intersting to turn this song into a jig, so I composed one. I will send it to Joe for posting.

The original tune is in 3/4 time and it's 12 measures long. A double jig usu has two sections of 8 measures each. Often, if the first section is major, thn the beginning of the second section is minor. So that's what I did.

Stand by, and if this doesn't work, post here after the long Thanksgiving weekend.

I think the dance idea is delightful, and I hope you like the tune.

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Click to play

Subject: RE: Tune Req: More to 'I Saw Three Ships' tune?
From: Rumncoke
Date: 21 Nov 06 - 02:52 PM

How about the non churchy version of the holly and the ivy?

Anne

Subject: RE: Tune Req: More to 'I Saw Three Ships' tune?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Nov 06 - 03:40 PM

I posted leeneia's MIDI.>

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Click to play

Subject: RE: Tune Req: More to 'I Saw Three Ships' tune?
From: leeneia
Date: 21 Nov 06 - 08:29 PM

Thanks, Joe. I hope Jon W rejoins us and see it.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: More to 'I Saw Three Ships' tune?
From: Jon W.
Date: 22 Nov 06 - 11:06 PM

Leeneia, that's great. I was able to download the MIDI and import it into Noteworthy Composer and see the music notation, which will at least be a check against my tin ear. I really appreciate your efforts and talent.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: More to 'I Saw Three Ships' tune?
From: Paul Burke
Date: 23 Nov 06 - 03:44 AM

You could make it into a 3- part tune by marrying it up with "On Christmas night all Christians sing".