For me, tunes share many of the same qualities as a romantic relationship. If you don't spend some quality time with the tune, the relationship grows stale, and eventually dies. Last night at my session I tried to kick off a tune I had known for ages. But when I called for her - she was gone. It wasn't just that she started off awkwardly under my fingers and then warmed to my touch, she was just gone - without a sound. Without a note. I sat there in disbelief, frozen in the middle of the set I was playing. At first I blamed her. "You whore!" I thought to myself. "How could you leave me? We've had a relationship for more than 8 years!" But it wasn't her - the tune. It was me. I stopped paying attention. I took her for granted. Oh sure, I made a pass at her every now and again. "Just once through to keep her fresh" I'd say to myself before rushing off to some new tune I wanted a fling with. But did I spend quality time with her? Did I caress each note and seek out new possibilities with her phrases and turns? No. I took her love for granted, and when I wanted her - she was gone. So now today, I shall go back to her and beg her forgiveness. I shall spend quality time with her and reacquaint myself with all her charms. I have learned my lesson. Far better to know and love a tune well, than flirt with a bunch of half learned floozies.
That said, I have had a fling with a tune that seemed well over my head, way too high maintenance for me (or maybe I was too high maintenance for him -- oh wait, that's actual guys) and then went back to him sometime later. We then got on fantastically.
There is always a collection of tunes in my repertoire which I have a very close relationship with and even more with which I am having a fling. Like the fling, you never get to know him very well or develop much of an attachment towards him.
Jussa, let's see if this holds true for men and their tunes too: A man can love one tune for all the rest of his days, and be only the better for it. The sad, harsh truth is that tunes are more like busses than women. We should talk about relationships/romances with instruments. There's a piper I know who laments that his pipe set seems to enjoy itself more when it's on the laps of other men.
Well Grego that is indeed my point. I used to have my tune lists - my "little black book of conquests" if you will. I stopped writing in names around 250 tunes or so. In my zeal to acquire more and more tunes (all quickly and poorly learned) I forgot how important it is to know a tune well. Sure you go out and meet new tunes - begin new relationships, etc. But don't rush over them. Get to know them. It's really worth it. That is what I learned last night.
Haha. No idea how many tunes I have. Too many to count. Then there are the ones which are like the fella you pulled when you were pished and couldn't remember it at all. Then one day he appears at a session and you can play him and you're like, "Where the hell did I learn that?" (are we stretching metaphors too far?).
I used to keep a list when I first started playing but gave up on that.
I admit, I like going out on the tune pull and meeting a new, exciting tune. Just can't neglect the old ones too much or they get cranky.
I think we all suffered that zeal to acquire as many tunes as quickly as possible.
A couple years ago I started a thread which I called something like "Top ten reasons why a set of uilleann pipes is better than a man."
Ahh, who gives a t*ss. It's easy come easy go, there'll be another along in a while. Tunes are like women, fascinatin' for a while and then they lose their figure and sure an' all another sexier model comes along to grab you by the attention or whatever. Who's in charge here anyway? Are you a man or a mouse?
A dear friend said to me one time; "Don't be bothering about women. Get married to your instrument. It'll never bother you about where you've been or who with or for how long."
Sometimes, though, it's the other way around. Sometimes you lose touch for a while, and then they call and you spend a little while catching up. Happened tonight with the Jig of Slurs - just popped into my head, and I played it, couldn't remember the last time I'd played it.
Forgetting women (er... tunes) is part of the whole equation. Because the newer, sexier ones get more attention. So it's no surprise she left, with you tickling all those younger ones. But like a good friend, she'll forgive you. It might be tomorrow night, when one of your friends has his arm around her. Or maybe you just need to go back to your photo album, and remind yourself what she looks like, and soon you'll remember how to conjure her up. And next thing you know, she'll be fetching your pints and scratching your back again...
Geez Trucks, just having a little artistic license with the simple (and frequently occurring) fact that I forgot a tune. You haven't a romantic bone in your body have you? Perhaps I'd have gotten a better response if I'd have called this post: "Oy! Maid behind the Bar! Shows us yer T!ts!"
She left me - and who could blame her?
She left me - and who could blame her?
For me, tunes share many of the same qualities as a romantic relationship. If you don't spend some quality time with the tune, the relationship grows stale, and eventually dies. Last night at my session I tried to kick off a tune I had known for ages. But when I called for her - she was gone. It wasn't just that she started off awkwardly under my fingers and then warmed to my touch, she was just gone - without a sound. Without a note. I sat there in disbelief, frozen in the middle of the set I was playing. At first I blamed her. "You whore!" I thought to myself. "How could you leave me? We've had a relationship for more than 8 years!" But it wasn't her - the tune. It was me. I stopped paying attention. I took her for granted. Oh sure, I made a pass at her every now and again. "Just once through to keep her fresh" I'd say to myself before rushing off to some new tune I wanted a fling with. But did I spend quality time with her? Did I caress each note and seek out new possibilities with her phrases and turns? No. I took her love for granted, and when I wanted her - she was gone. So now today, I shall go back to her and beg her forgiveness. I shall spend quality time with her and reacquaint myself with all her charms. I have learned my lesson. Far better to know and love a tune well, than flirt with a bunch of half learned floozies.
# Posted on August 10th 2009 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
The only problem being those "half learned floozies" give you instant and cheaply bought gratification! But where's the respect in the morning?
# Posted on August 10th 2009 by just4fun
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
Nice post. Welcome to my world. On all fronts.
That said, I have had a fling with a tune that seemed well over my head, way too high maintenance for me (or maybe I was too high maintenance for him -- oh wait, that's actual guys) and then went back to him sometime later. We then got on fantastically.
There is always a collection of tunes in my repertoire which I have a very close relationship with and even more with which I am having a fling. Like the fling, you never get to know him very well or develop much of an attachment towards him.
(BTW, my tunes are male. LOL)
# Posted on August 10th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
So. .. How many tunes have You got under your belt?
# Posted on August 10th 2009 by grego
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
Tunes are male, Silver Spear?
... but what about these, then?
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/27
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1225
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/8942
... to name but a few ...
# Posted on August 10th 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
Jussa, let's see if this holds true for men and their tunes too: A man can love one tune for all the rest of his days, and be only the better for it. The sad, harsh truth is that tunes are more like busses than women. We should talk about relationships/romances with instruments. There's a piper I know who laments that his pipe set seems to enjoy itself more when it's on the laps of other men.
# Posted on August 10th 2009 by Atahualpa Quigley
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
Well Grego that is indeed my point. I used to have my tune lists - my "little black book of conquests" if you will. I stopped writing in names around 250 tunes or so. In my zeal to acquire more and more tunes (all quickly and poorly learned) I forgot how important it is to know a tune well. Sure you go out and meet new tunes - begin new relationships, etc. But don't rush over them. Get to know them. It's really worth it. That is what I learned last night.
# Posted on August 10th 2009 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
Haha. No idea how many tunes I have. Too many to count. Then there are the ones which are like the fella you pulled when you were pished and couldn't remember it at all. Then one day he appears at a session and you can play him and you're like, "Where the hell did I learn that?" (are we stretching metaphors too far?).
I used to keep a list when I first started playing but gave up on that.
I admit, I like going out on the tune pull and meeting a new, exciting tune. Just can't neglect the old ones too much or they get cranky.
I think we all suffered that zeal to acquire as many tunes as quickly as possible.
A couple years ago I started a thread which I called something like "Top ten reasons why a set of uilleann pipes is better than a man."
# Posted on August 10th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
I have a well-stocked harem. With only the best lookers.
# Posted on August 10th 2009 by llig leahcim
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
And I bet you play them in groups of three...
"Group sets," as it were.
# Posted on August 10th 2009 by grego
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
Nice analogy Jusa. Let me just say that my choice in tunes is vastly superior to my choice in women.
...and after meeting a few of my exs, my session mates can probably vouch for this.
# Posted on August 10th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
Ahh, who gives a t*ss. It's easy come easy go, there'll be another along in a while. Tunes are like women, fascinatin' for a while and then they lose their figure and sure an' all another sexier model comes along to grab you by the attention or whatever. Who's in charge here anyway? Are you a man or a mouse?
A dear friend said to me one time; "Don't be bothering about women. Get married to your instrument. It'll never bother you about where you've been or who with or for how long."
# Posted on August 10th 2009 by john knoss
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
Sometimes, though, it's the other way around. Sometimes you lose touch for a while, and then they call and you spend a little while catching up. Happened tonight with the Jig of Slurs - just popped into my head, and I played it, couldn't remember the last time I'd played it.
# Posted on August 11th 2009 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
I don't think tunes ever leave you, they just distance themselves until you are more ready for them.
# Posted on August 11th 2009 by bogman
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
Jusa:
Have you two considered counseling? You never know if it is really over till you talk things out.
(and if it is really over, relax - in a few years, you'll be posting the ABCs here, saying "I can't even remember her NAME!"
Good luck.
# Posted on August 11th 2009 by Piece
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
Jon brings up a good point. There's nothing like one of those long lost and forgotten ones calling you up and dropping in for a visit out of the blue.
# Posted on August 11th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
jesus..
what a thread..
im stunned into silence..
..
jesus..
and I thought I had too much time on my hands
# Posted on August 11th 2009 by Miss Mulligan
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
get er bucked
# Posted on August 11th 2009 by Miss Mulligan
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
Come on Trucks, you've got to have something funny to say.
# Posted on August 11th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
i thought get her bucked was quite funny :(
# Posted on August 11th 2009 by Miss Mulligan
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
OK, it is now!
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=get%20her%20bucked
# Posted on August 11th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
if only you knew.
# Posted on August 11th 2009 by Miss Mulligan
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X2zFSyzKrE
# Posted on August 11th 2009 by Miss Mulligan
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfopUbT ..
o no
# Posted on August 11th 2009 by Miss Mulligan
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
"Group sets" good one, grego.
You will have to admit, though, that some just let themselves go. Get old and flabby, have nothing new to say.
# Posted on August 12th 2009 by Michele Sims
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
Forgetting women (er... tunes) is part of the whole equation. Because the newer, sexier ones get more attention. So it's no surprise she left, with you tickling all those younger ones. But like a good friend, she'll forgive you. It might be tomorrow night, when one of your friends has his arm around her. Or maybe you just need to go back to your photo album, and remind yourself what she looks like, and soon you'll remember how to conjure her up. And next thing you know, she'll be fetching your pints and scratching your back again...
# Posted on August 12th 2009 by Reverend
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
And as for Breton tunes..........................
# Posted on August 12th 2009 by bazouki dave
Re: She left me - and who could blame her?
Geez Trucks, just having a little artistic license with the simple (and frequently occurring) fact that I forgot a tune. You haven't a romantic bone in your body have you? Perhaps I'd have gotten a better response if I'd have called this post: "Oy! Maid behind the Bar! Shows us yer T!ts!"
# Posted on August 12th 2009 by Jusa Nutter Eejit