The school where I teach is holding a talent quest along the lines of Australian Idol. But not too serious. The emphasis on participation - a lot of fun. I was trying to think of some tunes that I might be able to play in it that would be engaging and interesting to young and old who don't have any interest or understanding of ITM, while at the same time staying true to myself (that is playing from what I love). Anyhow, Pop goes the Weasle sprang to mind.
Anyone have any suggestions?
A tune called "Washing Day" would go with "Pop Goes..." It goes to a song of that name which is or was well-known in NE England, and I assume the tune is also, if not originally, Scottish.
Does anyone down there watch the cartoon Popeye? I'm a teacher here in the States and have disappointingly found that none of the kids watch the show, but adults still get a little chuckle when I play the theme tune better known as the College Hornpipe or Sailor's Hornpipe.
Ah yes, Jason, also known as Captain Pugwash (its a cartoon). That could be great fun. Thanks. Don't know about "There's Nae Guid Luck Aboot the Hoose", don't know it meself, unfortunately.
now now, old Scraper, Captain Pugwash is "The Trumpet Hornpipe" - Popeye is "the Sailor's Hornpipe" as suggested, along with the jig "A Life on the Ocean Wave" it used to be commonly used in cartoons and movies to denote "we're at sea!"
But the best TV theme jig for you to use is "Skippy" by Eric Jupp. Although the young 'uns these days probably woudn't even remember that.
You can find the music on the Bushwackers' "Dance Album" and accompanying tunebook.
'Pop Goes...' was used in 'Ballymorey', a very popular kids show made in Scotland. The episode had a well known scots fiddler visiting and she played it for kids Irish dancing. Shiona something-or-other was the fiddler's name.
Nice, harmless little show. My little girl loves it.
Yuk! Bren - is 'Skippy the bush kangaroo' an Irish jig? I know the Bushwackers once upon a time made the hit parades in Ireland, but yuk! And I have the *bl**dy* sheet music for it stuffed away deep in a cupboard somewhere - not inclined at all. Don't want Aussie, I want Irish! or otherwise I'd play "Give me a home among the gum trees". Don't want to do the bushband thingy. Others can do that, not I.
Could have sworn Old Cap'n Pugwash was the same, but it seems I don't know about these things either. Then, of course, there is the Drunken Sailor. But I recon the secret of this talent quest is to get on, do something light and funny, and get off quick, Let the kids steal the show - and they will.
Donegal fiddler Danny Meehan plays a great "Oh Dear, What Can the Matter be..?" with a nice 2nd part. Forget the name he has on it. It's on his 'Navvy on the Shore' CD.
"Washing Day" is in the site's "Tunes" section; so is "The Cumberland Reel" (aka. "The King Of The Cannibal Islands" - a jolly, extended jig); also "Off She Goes" (aka. "Humpty Dumpty"), another jig. Any of these could fit the bill, and the latter two have picked up comical / nursery-rhyme words on their travels.
"The Rakes of Mallow" is one everybody recognises, and most people also recognise "The Soldier's Joy". Not by name, of course, but they'll know the tune. It might be worth considering "The Spanish Lady" (played as a reel).
Roaring Jelly just put together a jig set for a contra dance of Here We Go Looby Lou/Pop Goes the Weasel/Eating Goober Peas/Daisy (Daisy is a 16-bar tune and has to be played twice for once thru the dance, but we asked the caller if it was ok - at least with it at the end we won't have to count to see if we've done it a correct number of times before going on to the next tune). Fun set -
Most people would have heard "The Irish Washerwoman" in those old Hollywood begorrah and bejapers films years ago. However, fiddle players mightn't thank you for it because of string crossing problems!
Thank you for all your ideas guys and gals. Now have six weeks to get up and practice the set - get the toons into a short and sweet little act. Love the "Oh dear what can the matter be" thanks Harry, and Off She Goes (Humpty Dumpty) thanks Nicholas, Life on the Ocean Waves, I'm Popi the Sailor Man to go with the Pop goes the Weasle slide and The Sailor's Hornpipe. Pop idol-dom around the corner, yearh, not likely, but it will be fun. Might see how many they can identify. Thanks again. Cheers.
Oldfield did do a tune called Portsmouth in addition to the Blue Peter theme fairly close together in nthe late 70s and I had confused the two. The Blue Peter tune is called Barnacle Bill I believe.
If anyone's still paying attention, http://www.honkingduck.com/realaudio/stream/E/baze44.ram has some great fiddling on the Weasel. That's "Virginia Reel" : Old Henry & His Musicians, from honkingduck.com. Ignore that "Reel," the Virginia Reel was just a type of dance, like the Stack of Barley.
Pop goes the Weasle?
Pop goes the Weasle?
The school where I teach is holding a talent quest along the lines of Australian Idol. But not too serious. The emphasis on participation - a lot of fun. I was trying to think of some tunes that I might be able to play in it that would be engaging and interesting to young and old who don't have any interest or understanding of ITM, while at the same time staying true to myself (that is playing from what I love). Anyhow, Pop goes the Weasle sprang to mind.
Anyone have any suggestions?
# Posted on September 17th 2006 by Clear Drops
Re: Pop goes the Weasle?
At a young fiddlers' session in my area, they really like The Butterfly. Smash the Windows is also popular.
# Posted on September 17th 2006 by mickray
Re: Pop goes the Weasle?
A tune called "Washing Day" would go with "Pop Goes..." It goes to a song of that name which is or was well-known in NE England, and I assume the tune is also, if not originally, Scottish.
# Posted on September 17th 2006 by nicholas
Re: Pop goes the Weasle?
("There's Nae Guid Luck Aboot The Hoose" - I think that's the Scottish title to the tune and song.)
# Posted on September 17th 2006 by nicholas
Re: Pop goes the Weasle?
Does anyone down there watch the cartoon Popeye? I'm a teacher here in the States and have disappointingly found that none of the kids watch the show, but adults still get a little chuckle when I play the theme tune better known as the College Hornpipe or Sailor's Hornpipe.
# Posted on September 17th 2006 by Jason G
Re: Pop goes the Weasle?
Ah yes, Jason, also known as Captain Pugwash (its a cartoon). That could be great fun. Thanks. Don't know about "There's Nae Guid Luck Aboot the Hoose", don't know it meself, unfortunately.
# Posted on September 17th 2006 by Clear Drops
Re: Pop goes the Weasle?
And Butterfly and Smash the Windows are great tunes but wouldn't be known at all either unfortunately.
# Posted on September 17th 2006 by Clear Drops
Re: Pop goes the Weasle?
now now, old Scraper, Captain Pugwash is "The Trumpet Hornpipe" - Popeye is "the Sailor's Hornpipe" as suggested, along with the jig "A Life on the Ocean Wave" it used to be commonly used in cartoons and movies to denote "we're at sea!"
But the best TV theme jig for you to use is "Skippy" by Eric Jupp. Although the young 'uns these days probably woudn't even remember that.
You can find the music on the Bushwackers' "Dance Album" and accompanying tunebook.
# Posted on September 17th 2006 by Bren
Re: Pop goes the Weasle?
'Pop Goes...' was used in 'Ballymorey', a very popular kids show made in Scotland. The episode had a well known scots fiddler visiting and she played it for kids Irish dancing. Shiona something-or-other was the fiddler's name.
Nice, harmless little show. My little girl loves it.
Regards,
Harry.
# Posted on September 18th 2006 by Harry B
Re: Pop goes the Weasle?
Yuk! Bren - is 'Skippy the bush kangaroo' an Irish jig? I know the Bushwackers once upon a time made the hit parades in Ireland, but yuk! And I have the *bl**dy* sheet music for it stuffed away deep in a cupboard somewhere - not inclined at all. Don't want Aussie, I want Irish! or otherwise I'd play "Give me a home among the gum trees". Don't want to do the bushband thingy. Others can do that, not I.
Could have sworn Old Cap'n Pugwash was the same, but it seems I don't know about these things either. Then, of course, there is the Drunken Sailor. But I recon the secret of this talent quest is to get on, do something light and funny, and get off quick, Let the kids steal the show - and they will.
# Posted on September 18th 2006 by Clear Drops
Re: Pop goes the Weasle?
Old scraper, you could become a pop idol
playing a set with "Pop Goes The Weasel" and the tune of "I'm Popeye The Sailor Man."
# Posted on September 18th 2006 by joesmith
Re: Pop goes the Weasle?
...then there's the old Blue Peter them tune - a kind of hybrid of The Sailor's (College) Hornpipe and The Dashing White Sergeant.
# Posted on September 18th 2006 by ragaman
Re: Pop goes the Weasle?
...but I don't suppose Australian kids have ever watched Blue Peter.
# Posted on September 18th 2006 by ragaman
Re: Pop goes the Weasle?
Donegal fiddler Danny Meehan plays a great "Oh Dear, What Can the Matter be..?" with a nice 2nd part. Forget the name he has on it. It's on his 'Navvy on the Shore' CD.
Regards,
Harry.
# Posted on September 18th 2006 by Harry B
Re: Pop goes the Weasle?
"Washing Day" is in the site's "Tunes" section; so is "The Cumberland Reel" (aka. "The King Of The Cannibal Islands" - a jolly, extended jig); also "Off She Goes" (aka. "Humpty Dumpty"), another jig. Any of these could fit the bill, and the latter two have picked up comical / nursery-rhyme words on their travels.
# Posted on September 18th 2006 by nicholas
Re: Pop goes the Weasle?
"The Rakes of Mallow" is one everybody recognises, and most people also recognise "The Soldier's Joy". Not by name, of course, but they'll know the tune. It might be worth considering "The Spanish Lady" (played as a reel).
# Posted on September 18th 2006 by Innocent Bystander
Re: Pop goes the Weasle?
Roaring Jelly just put together a jig set for a contra dance of Here We Go Looby Lou/Pop Goes the Weasel/Eating Goober Peas/Daisy (Daisy is a 16-bar tune and has to be played twice for once thru the dance, but we asked the caller if it was ok - at least with it at the end we won't have to count to see if we've done it a correct number of times before going on to the next tune). Fun set -
cj
# Posted on September 18th 2006 by cj
Re: Pop goes the Weasle?
Most people would have heard "The Irish Washerwoman" in those old Hollywood begorrah and bejapers films years ago. However, fiddle players mightn't thank you for it because of string crossing problems!
# Posted on September 18th 2006 by Bannerman
Re: Pop goes the Weasle?
The Blue Peter tune was called "Portsmouth" I think.
Mike Oldfield did a version of it at one stage.
I remember Bully Wee did a great version of the the Trumpet Hornpipe. Nice jazz chords and progressions. Ian Cutler is an excellent fiddler
Happy days
# Posted on September 18th 2006 by Geoff Pollitt
Re: Pop goes the Weasle?
(No Geoff, the BP tune was as spoon described it a few posts above...)
# Posted on September 18th 2006 by nicholas
Re: Pop goes the Weasle?
Thank you for all your ideas guys and gals. Now have six weeks to get up and practice the set - get the toons into a short and sweet little act. Love the "Oh dear what can the matter be" thanks Harry, and Off She Goes (Humpty Dumpty) thanks Nicholas, Life on the Ocean Waves, I'm Popi the Sailor Man to go with the Pop goes the Weasle slide and The Sailor's Hornpipe. Pop idol-dom around the corner, yearh, not likely, but it will be fun. Might see how many they can identify. Thanks again. Cheers.
# Posted on September 18th 2006 by Clear Drops
Re: Pop goes the Weasle?
I have a fiddle friendly version of irish washerwoman if you want it.
# Posted on September 19th 2006 by Joze
Re: Pop goes the Weasle?
For someone who said kids in the States don't know Popeye...I certainly do!!!!!
# Posted on September 20th 2006 by possumawesome
Re: Pop goes the Weasle?
You are right Nicholas!
Oldfield did do a tune called Portsmouth in addition to the Blue Peter theme fairly close together in nthe late 70s and I had confused the two. The Blue Peter tune is called Barnacle Bill I believe.
Nurse! Screens...
# Posted on September 20th 2006 by Geoff Pollitt
Re: Pop goes the Weasle?
If anyone's still paying attention, http://www.honkingduck.com/realaudio/stream/E/baze44.ram has some great fiddling on the Weasel. That's "Virginia Reel" : Old Henry & His Musicians, from honkingduck.com. Ignore that "Reel," the Virginia Reel was just a type of dance, like the Stack of Barley.
# Posted on September 20th 2006 by Kevin Rietmann
Re: Pop goes the Weasle?
Very enjoyable thanks Kevin.
# Posted on September 21st 2006 by Clear Drops