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Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited

13 Jul 99 - 07:47 PM (#94896)
Subject: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: Angus McSweeney

About two years ago, we had a "Fantasy Folk Circle" at this sight. Sort of a Virtual Pub. The idea was for each participant to select a song they would like to perform for the group, name the key they would play (or sing) it in, the instrument they would play and maybe a word or two about why they chose that song. The end result was a lot of new songs and new friends. Anyone interested in trying this again? I've pulled up a chair and a small scotch on the rocks, tuned up my old Epiphone and I am graciously waiting for one of the others in this circle to serve up the first song. I'll try to play along.


13 Jul 99 - 08:50 PM (#94912)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: MMario

My interpretation of Alan Foster's "The Wolfhound" - I've always done it acapella - but would love it if someone played along. It's not new to the group... but it's pretty new to my repetoire.


13 Jul 99 - 08:56 PM (#94916)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: gargoyle

AWSOME IDEA!!! - Thanks Angus

To "gild the session" it would be interesting (it IS technologically possible)for each contributant to include a 20 second MP3/WAV/ midi clip of the session. To conserve the "Cat's" bandwidth it would be best to link to an outside site.


13 Jul 99 - 10:05 PM (#94936)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: Angus McSweeney

Nice choice MMario. I'm not sure my system's ready for your suggestion, gargoyle (and it does feel strange calling someone by that name) but feel free...

I'd like to offer "Sweet Sunny South" in E. There's just something hypnotic about that melody. And the words make me all nostalgic for the sweet sunny south...and that's pretty odd for a fellow from Minneapolis. Who's next?


13 Jul 99 - 10:56 PM (#94951)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: evad@prysm.net

I am a new lover of athe mountian dulcimer. I am having a problem finding others in my area who are also duclimer players. I live in Marshall TX. Between Longview,TX and Shreveport, LA. Can anyone there get me the information I am seeking.


14 Jul 99 - 07:42 PM (#95233)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: Angus McSweeney

I'm bringing this back up to the top of the list to see if anyone else is interested in joining. This time, if I watch it sink slowly to the bottom of the list, I'll let it die with dignity.


14 Jul 99 - 07:58 PM (#95234)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: bseed(charleskratz)

Angus, Gargoyle would be glad to tell you about the many times I have kept threads going far beyond their natural life span.

My choices (I'm picking two because I do breaks on different instruments.

Seed #1, clawhammer banjo, key of C, "Jimmy Brown the Newsboy," which I learned from an old Flatt and Scruggs album (but it may be an A. P. Carter composition.

Seed #2, harmonica (with band*, of course--I do more harping than vocalizing on this).

*I prefer playing with a band on Jimmy Brown, too, although I am on a CD** playing and singing it solo.

**The CD is mostly high school rockers and rappers--it was produced by one of my students.

--seed


14 Jul 99 - 08:04 PM (#95237)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: bseed(charleskratz)

Oh, I forgot the song and key for Seed #2: "Columbus Stockade Blues," key of G, Lee Oskar Melody Maker in G (Melody Makers are made to be played cross-harp style, and have complete scales in the cross-harp key).

--seed


14 Jul 99 - 11:10 PM (#95285)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: Joe Offer

Ah, that Scotch was a good idea, Angus. I've poured one myself, and we're out under the stars on a warm evening. I hear a train off is the distance. How 'bout STARLIGHT ON THE RAILS?
Lookin' back along the road I've traveled,
The miles can tell a million tales
Each year is like some rolling freight train
And cold as starlight on the rails.
-Joe Offer-


15 Jul 99 - 10:14 AM (#95447)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: Barbara

I'll sing you some sweet harmony to that, Joe, and then follow with another UUtah Phillips, GVofthe GSW...
Is that the moon I see, over there in the west?
Or the midnight train, C&O Express?
I know she's gone, whatever I say,
And it won't be long before I ma-a-a-a-ake up my mind,
And go away.

See that fool, caught out on the trestle?
Blind old fool, he can't hear the whistle
Can't go forward and he can't go back,
Train come along and brushed him off the track

Blessings,
Barbara on her sweet new Martin in the key of A


16 Jul 99 - 09:01 AM (#95827)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: Angus McSweeney

OK,round to me... I'll pull out the old 12-string (don't use it too much anymore) tuned four (yes 4 half steps down - just like Pete Seeger)and play " House of the Risin' Sun" in a Leadbelly style (as opposed to the Animals). Anyone playing harmonica? Remember, this is fantasy...so the instruments are always in tune and you sound Marvelous...


16 Jul 99 - 09:43 AM (#95837)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)

Oh, this is lovely. Just give me a bottle of Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout and I'll tune up my Seagull... Right now I'm working on Dougie MacLean's "Caledonia" in C, so if you'll bear with me when I forget the second verse, and help me out with the chorus, I'll give you a work in progress.


16 Jul 99 - 09:53 AM (#95839)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: Mudjack

Ahh, such sweet sounds...you folks sound real good.
I always consider my favorite song to be the one I'm learning, so here it is, Jim Ringer's Tramps and Hawkers or The Rose of the San Jaoquin. This melody has been haunting me for years(Lilly of the West) and Jim did it real justice by giving us this great song. I'm capo'd at the second fret of my gitpicker and playing G chords, so let's hear some mandolin and maybe a couple of breaks with the harmonica. Key of A, let's do it. I have to use the "cheat sheet" since I don't have it to memory. one, two, three and one....
Mudjack


16 Jul 99 - 09:59 AM (#95843)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: Big Mick

Could someone give me a hand with some harmony and fill pickin on "Dublin in the Rare oul Times". I appreciate it. I play it fingerstyle, arpeggio supreme, on my Guild 12 string in A.

Ahhhhh, but aren't you all sounding fine on this hill, under these stars, in Michigan. Anyone want a lovely jar of the Guinness???

Mick


16 Jul 99 - 11:01 AM (#95870)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: Night Owl

These voices and harmonies are soooo beautiful, and the stars shine bright. How about slowing it down for a sec...and doing another "train" tune..a round of "Life Is Like A Mountain Railway". I'm glad to see so many low D whistles here....take the breaks ok?? While I get the Autoharp out, would someone add another log to the campfire??


16 Jul 99 - 11:27 AM (#95878)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: MMario

campfire and stars...anyone mind if I take another round? Don't know what key...I just sing... but how about "Taps" - ALL the verses....

I'll just move back abit into the shadows first, it's too dang hot for that fire!


16 Jul 99 - 12:25 PM (#95896)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: MAG (inactive)

In this weather, it's a T&T over ice, for me --

I choose Bob Gibson's "abilene," in E. Easy to learn and sing along, great for harmonies, and the pickers like to vamp on it.

-- MA


16 Jul 99 - 12:27 PM (#95897)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: Bob Landry

If I may be permitted, I'll start off an extended version of (The Wreck of) The Old '97 in C7. All of you Bluegrass pickers with mandolins, banjos, hammered dulcimers, lead guitar who want to lead a break, just nod and go for it. There'll be plently of chances because I'll be howling my way through 20 verses gleaned from different versions I've heard and previous threads on the Mudcat.

Bob


16 Jul 99 - 06:12 PM (#95982)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: Llanfair

Perhaps time now for something a little bit quirky. You all join in with C Am F G7, capo on 2nd fret, and I'll sing "Jean Harlow". Chords sound like "If I had a hammer" but this song doesn't. Needs a good bass line, though, and a pushy rhythm. Hwyl, Bron.


16 Jul 99 - 06:50 PM (#95995)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: Bryant

Sounds nice.

I was thinkin' of leaving my banjo at home since I ain't very good at it yet, but since there's some fiddlers around here, why not "Willie Moore" in G?

     'Willie Moore was a king at the age of 21      He courted a damsel fair . . .  

Bryant


16 Jul 99 - 08:52 PM (#96027)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: catspaw49

Well folks, mind if I join in here? How about a little Hammered Dulcimer? Got this nice little Civil War medley but it ends with Ashoken Farewell---not authentic but it's so damn associated now, plus it's a beautiful tune and sounds really nice on this lumberjack piano. So we open with "Battle Hymn of the Republic" leads into "Marching Through Georgia" then a very slow rendition of "Dixie" to "Bonnie Blue Flag" ...Now on to "Lorena" and "When Johnny Comes Marching Home." Now we go into a very fast tempo version of "Battle Hymn" and end with "Ashoken Farewell." Hope you liked it...I love my dulcimers.

This is real nice out here among friends...just lovely.

Who's up?

catspaw


16 Jul 99 - 09:01 PM (#96029)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: Joe Offer

Catspaw, can you follow that up with a request - "Lover's Waltz"??
- Ahhhh!
-Joe Offer-


16 Jul 99 - 09:29 PM (#96032)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: catspaw49

Sure enough Joe and happy to do it...How about in C, that's a nice register on this weird 20/19 I built to try out a couple of new ideas. And just because you asked so nice, I won't ask you to throw another accordion on the fire!...

catspaw


16 Jul 99 - 10:36 PM (#96046)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: Paul Jay

Ah yes, just sittin' arond the campfire, listnin to the crickets cherp and watchin the sparks fly from the accordian up to mingle with the stars while listening to the dulcet tones of the the hammered dulcimer, guitars, and banjos(you said this was a fantasy) as they play those old sweet songs of yesteryear. I'd like to propose a few verses acapella and in that good British Isles harmony: The Rose of Avondale

OK here comes the Chorus: Sweet Rose of Avondale Sweet Rose of Avondale By far the sweetest flower there Was the Rose of Avondale Wow, You folks sounded great!


18 Jul 99 - 01:43 PM (#96480)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: MAG (inactive)

Am I up? Can I be vain and do "Song of the Seals," a cappella solo?

-- MA


18 Jul 99 - 04:52 PM (#96534)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: Angus McSweeney

I'd like to play Darcy Farrow in G. I can handle the picking pretty well but I'd sure like a second guitar in there and, since I'm partial to the old Ian & Sylvia version, can anyone sing her part? Nice song for a few other instruments to take breaks also.

"Where the Walker runs down to the Carson Valley Plain, There lived a maiden, Darcy Farrow was her name. The daughter of old Dundee and a fair one was she, The sweetest flower that bloomed oer the range..."


18 Jul 99 - 05:30 PM (#96543)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: Night Owl

harpgirl...taking autoharp break before second verse.


18 Jul 99 - 06:01 PM (#96557)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: Angus McSweeney

Night Owl,

How could I forget? That song NEEDS an autoharp - thanks!


18 Jul 99 - 06:34 PM (#96568)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: MAG (inactive)

"Darcy Farrow" puts me in mind of "Big Bill always loved nevada Jane." any takers?

-- MA


15 Feb 04 - 09:35 AM (#1116315)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: GUEST,Bob Foggin Eastwood Australia

Please help me. I am looking everywhere for the words of the Rose of Avondale. Mine are sitting chewed up in my cassette player.
This is my first posting to Mudcat.
Thank you,
Bob Foggin.


15 Feb 04 - 10:23 AM (#1116333)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: Uncle_DaveO

Well, I'll just sing Billy the Kid in D with guitar, if you don't mind. Or if you DO mind, for that matter!

Later I'll likely sing A Bird in a Gilded Cage in E, and you can't stop me! Nyah, nyah, nyah!

Dave Oesterreich


15 Feb 04 - 01:09 PM (#1116412)
Subject: RE: Tune Up : Fantasy Folk Circle Revisited
From: CET

Bob:

"Sweet Rose of Allandale" is in the Digital Tradition (assuming that's the song you are looking for).

Welcome to Mudcat.

Edmund