One of our local sessioners last night raised the question - what's the difference between a jig and a slide? We came to the conclusion that we should 'ask the audience' so .... please can anyone out there enlighten us?
Technically its the 6/8 time signature for a jig and 12/8 for a slide. I find it easier to think of it as a sort of a pulse thing in the music and bring to mind some examples. Compare the feel of O'Keefe's slide (A2e e2d BAB d2B|A2e e2d B2G G) with say the Lark in the Morning jig (dB|AFA AFA|BGB BdB) and I think the difference is apparent.
Thanks chaps ... that's very helpful - I thought that Kerry would be a key factor. I'm not sure what steps are used in the slide but does anyone know if the slide is a geographical 'take' on the jig? (or vice versa?).
Also, I have a chicken and egg question next; historically, have we danced to the rhythm of the tune or created the tune to the rhythm of the dance?
There was some jokey explanation being that a slide is a slipjig for dancing on porter-soaked floors, but I'll take that with a pinch of salt, or a drop of the porter....
From my experience, slides are played at a quicker tempo. I heard someone say once that a slide is to a jig like a polka is to a reel, same meter, but simpler in nature that permits a faster pace.
I have encountered jigs in NE US that turn out to be mutated slides, played at normal jig pace, a few more twiddley bits thrown in--musicians can take tunes in one form and change them into another--something discussed in the recent thread on variations.
I've never quite made sense of it myself. What about Merrily Kiss the Quaker's Wife? It sounds like a slide because of the characteristic ta-dum ta-dum rhythm, but if I count it in 12/8, then the sections are only four measures. So is it really in 6/8?
If I count Patsy Geary's in 12/8, then the A part is eight measures and the B part is four. Or is it really supposed to be played singly with the "B" part doubled to make a single eight bar B part?
So is the rhythm really the defining factor, with the meter and section length being flexible
I' too lazy to cut and paste all the relevant URLs, but if you search the Discussions for "slides", you'll find several threads relating to this.
You can also find discussions about single vs. doulbe jig, hop- vs. slip-jig, single vs. double reel, mazurka vs. waltz, highland vs. fliung vs. barndance etc.
Ditto to spoon's suggestion ~ this discussion is recurring, for some balance do a search, not forgetting 'single jig' / 'single jigs' as you go... I like the 'fliung' spoon, is that a Japanese fling?
Slide is also a movement in set-dancing particularly in (surprise) figures danced to slides: eg "Ballyvourney Jig Set"
It is a sashay (sdeways) into the centre of the set by a couple, takes 2 bars and invariably followed by a slidw out - back to place
Jigs & Slides
Jigs & Slides
Mornin' all & Happy New Year!
One of our local sessioners last night raised the question - what's the difference between a jig and a slide? We came to the conclusion that we should 'ask the audience' so .... please can anyone out there enlighten us?
Many thanks
# Posted on January 4th 2007 by boxershort
Re: Jigs & Slides
in a slide, many of the first two notes in the triplets are tied.
# Posted on January 4th 2007 by llig leahcim
Re: Jigs & Slides
jig: 6/8 time, predominantly three quavers rhythm; slide 12/8 time, predominantly crotchet/quaver rhythm.
Slides originate from Co. Kerry, jigs can be from anywhere.
# Posted on January 4th 2007 by Henk Bos
Re: Jigs & Slides
Technically its the 6/8 time signature for a jig and 12/8 for a slide. I find it easier to think of it as a sort of a pulse thing in the music and bring to mind some examples. Compare the feel of O'Keefe's slide (A2e e2d BAB d2B|A2e e2d B2G G) with say the Lark in the Morning jig (dB|AFA AFA|BGB BdB) and I think the difference is apparent.
# Posted on January 4th 2007 by Bannerman
Re: Jigs & Slides
Thanks chaps ... that's very helpful - I thought that Kerry would be a key factor. I'm not sure what steps are used in the slide but does anyone know if the slide is a geographical 'take' on the jig? (or vice versa?).
Also, I have a chicken and egg question next; historically, have we danced to the rhythm of the tune or created the tune to the rhythm of the dance?
# Posted on January 4th 2007 by boxershort
Re: Jigs & Slides
There was some jokey explanation being that a slide is a slipjig for dancing on porter-soaked floors, but I'll take that with a pinch of salt, or a drop of the porter....
# Posted on January 4th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Jigs & Slides
From my experience, slides are played at a quicker tempo. I heard someone say once that a slide is to a jig like a polka is to a reel, same meter, but simpler in nature that permits a faster pace.
I have encountered jigs in NE US that turn out to be mutated slides, played at normal jig pace, a few more twiddley bits thrown in--musicians can take tunes in one form and change them into another--something discussed in the recent thread on variations.
# Posted on January 4th 2007 by AlBrown
Re: Jigs & Slides
I've never quite made sense of it myself. What about Merrily Kiss the Quaker's Wife? It sounds like a slide because of the characteristic ta-dum ta-dum rhythm, but if I count it in 12/8, then the sections are only four measures. So is it really in 6/8?
If I count Patsy Geary's in 12/8, then the A part is eight measures and the B part is four. Or is it really supposed to be played singly with the "B" part doubled to make a single eight bar B part?
So is the rhythm really the defining factor, with the meter and section length being flexible
# Posted on January 4th 2007 by Bob himself
Re: Jigs & Slides
I' too lazy to cut and paste all the relevant URLs, but if you search the Discussions for "slides", you'll find several threads relating to this.
You can also find discussions about single vs. doulbe jig, hop- vs. slip-jig, single vs. double reel, mazurka vs. waltz, highland vs. fliung vs. barndance etc.
# Posted on January 4th 2007 by granama
Re: Jigs & Slides
Hey spoon, what is a fliung? Is there a new tune type I don't know about??????
# Posted on January 4th 2007 by AlBrown
Re: Jigs & Slides
Ditto to spoon's suggestion ~ this discussion is recurring, for some balance do a search, not forgetting 'single jig' / 'single jigs' as you go... I like the 'fliung' spoon, is that a Japanese fling?
# Posted on January 4th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Jigs & Slides
What Al Brown says about slides played in a quicker tempo is also my experience.
# Posted on January 4th 2007 by Henk Bos
Re: Jigs & Slides
See the discussion on tune "The Road to Lisdoonvarna" for some past discussion of slides/jigs/single jigs.
# Posted on January 4th 2007 by AlBrown
Re: Jigs & Slides
Okay, thanks a *lot* for sending me back to those old discussions. Now I have a headache!
I guess I'll fall back on my old reliable definition:
If it sounds like a slide, it's a slide.
# Posted on January 5th 2007 by Bob himself
Re: Jigs & Slides
Buy a trombone, and then everything is a slide.
# Posted on January 5th 2007 by wormdiet
Re: Jigs & Slides
"Hey spoon, what is a fliung?"
An Phing Fliung - it's a Vietnamese slip jig.
# Posted on January 5th 2007 by granama
Re: Jigs & Slides
Slide is also a movement in set-dancing particularly in (surprise) figures danced to slides: eg "Ballyvourney Jig Set"
It is a sashay (sdeways) into the centre of the set by a couple, takes 2 bars and invariably followed by a slidw out - back to place
# Posted on January 7th 2007 by Alancorsini