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Origins: Brisk Young Soldier

10 Sep 10 - 09:48 AM (#2983889)
Subject: Origins: Brisk Young Soldier
From: GUEST,Gabe

I have notation and teaching material (slowed down) etc. for this tune but nowhere can I find the tempo. "Brisk" like the title suggests, slow lament, reel? Thanks for any input.
Gabe


10 Sep 10 - 03:04 PM (#2984100)
Subject: RE: Origins: Brisk Young Soldier
From: Steve Gardham

There are several songs which have similar titles to this. If you can quote the first stanza it will give us a better idea. The word 'brisk' here has nothing at all to do with the tempo. I think it generally means something like attractive in 17th/18th century parlance. It frequently accompanies 'young' in early song titles to describe both sexes.


10 Sep 10 - 04:52 PM (#2984152)
Subject: RE: Origins: Brisk Young Soldier
From: GUEST,gabe

Yes, I have heard 'brisk' used in that way. A further search in the Fiddlers Companion came up with this info:

"Old-Time, Breakdown. D Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Source for notated version: Harvey Taylor [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; pg. 37".

I guess the term Breakdown says all in regards to tempo. It would mean to me a pretty fast clip.

gabe