At the end of february we have to play for a celtic fair here in Ghent, and we're asked to play for a dance show as well. And one of the dances they wanna do is "the three tunes". I know they consist of Haste to the wedding, The German Beau and Leslie's Hornpipe, but what I like to know is the order of the tunes, the structure, and the pace.
Anyone out there who can help me?
FFF
You know, I really really must get a copy of An Rinci Forne one of these days. Our VCR self-destructed this Christmas, and I would have loved to have answered the St. Pat's Day question and this one, but only have these dances on video tape at the moment. If, by the time I get that VCR replaced, no one has answered this and if I'm in time for your gig, I'll take a look at the tape and let you know, Fre. Too bad Eoin doesn't post any longer, because he'd know without having to look...any other ceili dancing types out there?
Dafydd, KEWL on that last! I'm very pleased to get that myself! However, don't think it'll help Fre much 'cause The Book doesn't seem to tell the musicians when to switch tunes. (It DOES say that St. Pat's the ceili dance requires three times through the A and then play the tune normally after that BBAABBAABB for however long needed).
Zina,
A local dance instructor always wants the first tune to start out with 3 A-parts on the first time through. She says the kids need those 8 measures to get the beat. Is that typical?
Yes, very -- the old players used to play AA BB AA BB A, but usually you hear AAA BB AA BB these days. Either way works, the dancers usually don't know enough about the music to know if it works, but if they're stepdancers it's sometimes unsettling to have to stop the first time through a B. I find it easier to try and remember to play the A 3x through (well, usually easier), myself, but if it's a stepabout, I figure it doesn't really matter.
If memory serves I believe Maureen had us playing 3As ( very typical ) and the once thru each tune and then repeat in sequence. It's been about 15 years, so I could be barking up the wrong tree here.
If it's a stepabout (lead-around?) you can always stuff a 4bar reel in to even it out.
I've always found that when playing for dancers it's best to play the A part 3 times as otherwise you'll end up in the middle of the tune when they finish - something to do with steps being 16 bars I think.
in the interests of being informative ( ): a stepabout is when stepdancers get into a line and do their steps down the line -- usually one but sometimes two, or sometimes one and then they start over at the beginning to get in two steps. Often, if they all know a step or two together, they'll start the stepabout by doing a step together and maybe again at the end.
Well...yeah.. . Of course, dancers often get some strange ideas, themselves, so maybe it's them that's confused and not you. ;)
Originally, a leadaround was simply a step used by a dancer to indicate to the crowd surround him or her how much floor they needed to dance in. A modern leadaround is now basically any step that moves in a circular or other pattern around the outside of the stage floor.
A leadaround can be a full step (16 bars), or a half step (8 bars). If it IS a half step, then a second half step must be used if the dancer is going for two full steps. (Competition regulations call for two full steps to be danced.) Often, the dancer will dance a half step leadaround, dance a full step, and then dance the leadaround again to make it two full steps. However, at a party, rather than a competition, the dancer needn't stick to two full steps and could dance a step and a half.
Clear as mud?
Um. This only counts for Munster or southern-style step dancing, which is all I truly know about. Connemara dancers, for instance, don't usually dance a right and left foot step, they dance (I'm told) a 16 bar step that doesn't mirror itself.
thanks everybody it's a delight seeing one musician helping the other!
and dafydd, this one's specially for you, why don't you come over for the fair, it's 17 and 18th of february, i'ld love to heay your music again
fff
Three Tunes
Three Tunes
Hello there,
At the end of february we have to play for a celtic fair here in Ghent, and we're asked to play for a dance show as well. And one of the dances they wanna do is "the three tunes". I know they consist of Haste to the wedding, The German Beau and Leslie's Hornpipe, but what I like to know is the order of the tunes, the structure, and the pace.
Anyone out there who can help me?
FFF
# Posted on January 17th 2006 by Four-Fingered Fre
Re: Three Tunes
You know, I really really must get a copy of An Rinci Forne one of these days. Our VCR self-destructed this Christmas, and I would have loved to have answered the St. Pat's Day question and this one, but only have these dances on video tape at the moment. If, by the time I get that VCR replaced, no one has answered this and if I'm in time for your gig, I'll take a look at the tape and let you know, Fre. Too bad Eoin doesn't post any longer, because he'd know without having to look...any other ceili dancing types out there?
# Posted on January 17th 2006 by Zina Lee
Re: Three Tunes
Hi Fre.Are these any help?
http://www.angelfire.com/on2/ceili/threetunes.html
http://www.rinceoiri.cz/tance1.doc
# Posted on January 17th 2006 by dafydd
Re: Three Tunes
Dafydd, KEWL on that last! I'm very pleased to get that myself! However, don't think it'll help Fre much 'cause The Book doesn't seem to tell the musicians when to switch tunes. (It DOES say that St. Pat's the ceili dance requires three times through the A and then play the tune normally after that BBAABBAABB for however long needed).
# Posted on January 17th 2006 by Zina Lee
Re: Three Tunes
Zina,
A local dance instructor always wants the first tune to start out with 3 A-parts on the first time through. She says the kids need those 8 measures to get the beat. Is that typical?
# Posted on January 17th 2006 by cuchulain54
Re: Three Tunes
Yes, very -- the old players used to play AA BB AA BB A, but usually you hear AAA BB AA BB these days. Either way works, the dancers usually don't know enough about the music to know if it works, but if they're stepdancers it's sometimes unsettling to have to stop the first time through a B. I find it easier to try and remember to play the A 3x through (well, usually easier), myself, but if it's a stepabout, I figure it doesn't really matter.
# Posted on January 17th 2006 by Zina Lee
Re: Three Tunes
If memory serves I believe Maureen had us playing 3As ( very typical ) and the once thru each tune and then repeat in sequence. It's been about 15 years, so I could be barking up the wrong tree here.
If it's a stepabout (lead-around?) you can always stuff a 4bar reel in to even it out.
# Posted on January 17th 2006 by Owell Mabee
Re: Three Tunes
I've always found that when playing for dancers it's best to play the A part 3 times as otherwise you'll end up in the middle of the tune when they finish - something to do with steps being 16 bars I think.
# Posted on January 18th 2006 by Bannerman
Re: Three Tunes
in the interests of being informative (
): a stepabout is when stepdancers get into a line and do their steps down the line -- usually one but sometimes two, or sometimes one and then they start over at the beginning to get in two steps. Often, if they all know a step or two together, they'll start the stepabout by doing a step together and maybe again at the end.
# Posted on January 18th 2006 by Zina Lee
Re: Three Tunes
As opposed to a leadaround in which the dancers line up and take 8 bar solos........or am I still confused.?
# Posted on January 18th 2006 by Owell Mabee
Re: Three Tunes
Well...yeah.. .
Of course, dancers often get some strange ideas, themselves, so maybe it's them that's confused and not you. ;)
Originally, a leadaround was simply a step used by a dancer to indicate to the crowd surround him or her how much floor they needed to dance in. A modern leadaround is now basically any step that moves in a circular or other pattern around the outside of the stage floor.
A leadaround can be a full step (16 bars), or a half step (8 bars). If it IS a half step, then a second half step must be used if the dancer is going for two full steps. (Competition regulations call for two full steps to be danced.) Often, the dancer will dance a half step leadaround, dance a full step, and then dance the leadaround again to make it two full steps. However, at a party, rather than a competition, the dancer needn't stick to two full steps and could dance a step and a half.
Clear as mud?
Um. This only counts for Munster or southern-style step dancing, which is all I truly know about. Connemara dancers, for instance, don't usually dance a right and left foot step, they dance (I'm told) a 16 bar step that doesn't mirror itself.
# Posted on January 18th 2006 by Zina Lee
Re: Three Tunes
thanks everybody
it's a delight seeing one musician helping the other!
and dafydd, this one's specially for you, why don't you come over for the fair, it's 17 and 18th of february, i'ld love to heay your music again
fff
# Posted on January 18th 2006 by Four-Fingered Fre
Re: Three Tunes
I'll be there Fre,start pouring out the Guiness!
# Posted on January 18th 2006 by dafydd
Re: Three Tunes
It'll be gordon's dafydd ;)
btw could you mail me your number, maybe it's easier to keep in touch that way
Fre
# Posted on January 19th 2006 by Four-Fingered Fre
Re: Three Tunes
I've mailed my number to you.
# Posted on January 20th 2006 by dafydd