In a session, or a performance (hmm... are the two mutually exclusive? Who knows...), and you're leading a set of tunes, how do you indicate to all the others that you're about to go into a different tune? My favourite method is the lifting of the leg, although when there's a table in front of you with 6 pints of Guinness on it, that's maybe not the best idea... Do you say "hup!", or sort of lift your fiddle/flute/whatever, or waggle your eyebrows at everyone, or just change tune, leaving everyone else to founder in your wake?
I've seen some sessions where they just always play a tune either two or three times consistently. In a big session, that's probably the easiest way. I'm most familar with raising the foot, but that probably comes from my OT roots. In smaller sessions, I've seen it where everyone looks at the leader when they start the B part (or C or D) to look for a sign.
Lifting the foot or saying hup during the last time through the last part of a tune to signal going to the next one seems to be a fairly universal signal. The smaller the gathering, however, and the more people know each other, the more subtle the signals can be, a raised eyebrow or slight nod can do it.
Sometimes we do the "Hup!" thing (kind of hard if you're playing a wind instrument, though), but usually after someone's played a tune for the second time we just play the last note and listen to see if he either keeps playing it or switches tunes.
I just watch whomever started the tune to see when they're ready to change. A tune can go four or five times if the energy's good. I start looking around as the last part of the tune starts to see what the consensus is. This can all be done without making any noise.
If I'm the only one playing (which doesn't happen that often), I simply stare* at the backer and he/she usually get's the point. When others are playing, too, I simply stop playing and tell the backer next tune's key signature. That normally indicates a tune change.
I'm a flute player, and I am constantly getting better to sneak that "hup!" in, if it's a small session however, the others often show some consideration and look at me the third time through a tune and a wink or a nod is enough to indicate the change.
I usually just give a nod or, if no one is looking for recognition of a change, I'll shout 'hup.' Only of course if I start that set myself. If someone else starts a set, I'll just look at them to see if they want to change and leave it up to their discretion.
Recognition is a great thing in these circumstances.
Some people shout "hup" or something like it, when they mean "one more time"
Who cares? They usually get it OK across the room by the time you're ready for the next tune after that one
Having said that, facing the sole of your foot, or shoe, toward anyone is the height of rudeness and contempt in Arab countries and a few others too I suspect. Lifting a leg when sitting is like lifting two fingers (UK) or a middle digit (USA) - saying "fleck you, you worthless piece of goat manure"
Eye contact during the B part preceeding the change usually does it. If there are loads of players and lines of sight are difficult, then I tend to shout "Change". Worked fine for Carthy and Swarbrick when I first saw them 40 odd years ago - I'm still working on getting hold of their playing styles though
Keith
At a number of sessions in Stromness last week and the most common thing was to yell out the key of the next tune at a convenient point during the last section of the current tune. Not everyone hears it right the first time, but , that's life ....
Actually, just like the fact that some places "hup" means go again, lifting your leg around here generally means stop. (A practice borrowed from old time, I think, but not sure)
Most of the experienced players I have played with do most of it with subtle visual communication, like PB said, people start looking around during the last part of the tune, and for me, usually direct eye contact or a little nod is enough of a signal. Nodding, shaking the head, and lifting the eyebrows can all come into play. Verbal stuff in my sessions is usually to extend the tune by saying "one more", "arís", or "again", unless it is to specify the next tune, and then it's just the tune name (or an abbreviated version of it... like "crowbar" obviously means "floating crowbar", etc).
The thing is, most people have their regular sessions. You get comfortable with the people you play with, and don't necessarily need a real formal way of communicating. If you're in an unfamiliar situation, then pay attention to see what they do. When in Rome...
Also be aware that you might be in a session that all know each other, and know what they always play next, and never give any clue that they're going to change, because they all know already. In those cases, just be prepared to change at any given time at the end of a tune...
What I always find difficult is getting a session to end on the first part of a tune. The Clogger's Quilt is a tune I've often heard ending on the first part and it flows into other tunes much better that way but it would be very awkward for others if you give the nod near the end of part 1. I suppose the solution is to decide on what to play before you play, which I ideally do.
I think you're expecting too much from a session if you want performance- or recording -style arrangements, even something as simple as the ending Paddy suggests.
Every now and then you can get something tricksy like that to happen on the fly and that's just great, but you can't legislate for spontaneity.
Speaking as someone who more often participates in sessions where people don't all know each other so well, than the ones where they do.
Changing Tunes
Changing Tunes
In a session, or a performance (hmm... are the two mutually exclusive? Who knows...), and you're leading a set of tunes, how do you indicate to all the others that you're about to go into a different tune? My favourite method is the lifting of the leg, although when there's a table in front of you with 6 pints of Guinness on it, that's maybe not the best idea... Do you say "hup!", or sort of lift your fiddle/flute/whatever, or waggle your eyebrows at everyone, or just change tune, leaving everyone else to founder in your wake?
It was this that made me think of it... about 2:58: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eWLjhXXr68E&feature=related
# Posted on June 1st 2008 by Joe CSS
Re: Changing Tunes
I've seen some sessions where they just always play a tune either two or three times consistently. In a big session, that's probably the easiest way. I'm most familar with raising the foot, but that probably comes from my OT roots. In smaller sessions, I've seen it where everyone looks at the leader when they start the B part (or C or D) to look for a sign.
# Posted on June 1st 2008 by nofrets
Re: Changing Tunes
Lifting the foot or saying hup during the last time through the last part of a tune to signal going to the next one seems to be a fairly universal signal. The smaller the gathering, however, and the more people know each other, the more subtle the signals can be, a raised eyebrow or slight nod can do it.
# Posted on June 1st 2008 by AlBrown
Re: Changing Tunes
Sometimes we do the "Hup!" thing (kind of hard if you're playing a wind instrument, though), but usually after someone's played a tune for the second time we just play the last note and listen to see if he either keeps playing it or switches tunes.
# Posted on June 1st 2008 by Whiddler
Re: Changing Tunes
In my country lifting one's leg is a very serious offense.
Breathe, listen and bat your eyes.
It will calm you down in the same moment.
peace
# Posted on June 1st 2008 by Bodhi
Re: Changing Tunes
I just watch whomever started the tune to see when they're ready to change. A tune can go four or five times if the energy's good. I start looking around as the last part of the tune starts to see what the consensus is. This can all be done without making any noise.
# Posted on June 1st 2008 by Phantom Button
Re: Changing Tunes
If I'm the only one playing (which doesn't happen that often), I simply stare* at the backer and he/she usually get's the point. When others are playing, too, I simply stop playing and tell the backer next tune's key signature. That normally indicates a tune change.
* I'm a flute player.
# Posted on June 1st 2008 by s.g.
Re: Changing Tunes
Tootey has the most amazing eye brows that wiggle in a very cute manner when she is going to change tunes
# Posted on June 1st 2008 by bazouki dave and the real tooty flutey
Re: Changing Tunes
I'm a flute player, and I am constantly getting better to sneak that "hup!" in, if it's a small session however, the others often show some consideration and look at me the third time through a tune and a wink or a nod is enough to indicate the change.
# Posted on June 1st 2008 by TMB
Re: Changing Tunes
I usually just give a nod or, if no one is looking for recognition of a change, I'll shout 'hup.' Only of course if I start that set myself. If someone else starts a set, I'll just look at them to see if they want to change and leave it up to their discretion.
Recognition is a great thing in these circumstances.
# Posted on June 1st 2008 by PaddyCmusic
Re: Changing Tunes
Some people shout "hup" or something like it, when they mean "one more time"
Who cares? They usually get it OK across the room by the time you're ready for the next tune after that one
# Posted on June 1st 2008 by Bren
Re: Changing Tunes
mariska -- really?
# Posted on June 1st 2008 by crazy_fingerz
Re: Changing Tunes
She's from the Isle of Dogs
# Posted on June 1st 2008 by Bren
Re: Changing Tunes
Having said that, facing the sole of your foot, or shoe, toward anyone is the height of rudeness and contempt in Arab countries and a few others too I suspect. Lifting a leg when sitting is like lifting two fingers (UK) or a middle digit (USA) - saying "fleck you, you worthless piece of goat manure"
# Posted on June 1st 2008 by Bren
Re: Changing Tunes
Eye contact during the B part preceeding the change usually does it. If there are loads of players and lines of sight are difficult, then I tend to shout "Change". Worked fine for Carthy and Swarbrick when I first saw them 40 odd years ago - I'm still working on getting hold of their playing styles though
Keith
# Posted on June 1st 2008 by ocarolan
Re: Changing Tunes
At a number of sessions in Stromness last week and the most common thing was to yell out the key of the next tune at a convenient point during the last section of the current tune. Not everyone hears it right the first time, but , that's life ....
# Posted on June 1st 2008 by Bren
Re: Changing Tunes
Ah, Bren - these Arab countries don't know what they're missing. Throwing your leg up in the air to change is often the best bit in a set of tunes!
# Posted on June 1st 2008 by Joe CSS
Re: Changing Tunes
Certainly could release a few low notes
# Posted on June 1st 2008 by Bren
Re: Changing Tunes
Actually, just like the fact that some places "hup" means go again, lifting your leg around here generally means stop. (A practice borrowed from old time, I think, but not sure)
Most of the experienced players I have played with do most of it with subtle visual communication, like PB said, people start looking around during the last part of the tune, and for me, usually direct eye contact or a little nod is enough of a signal. Nodding, shaking the head, and lifting the eyebrows can all come into play. Verbal stuff in my sessions is usually to extend the tune by saying "one more", "arís", or "again", unless it is to specify the next tune, and then it's just the tune name (or an abbreviated version of it... like "crowbar" obviously means "floating crowbar", etc).
The thing is, most people have their regular sessions. You get comfortable with the people you play with, and don't necessarily need a real formal way of communicating. If you're in an unfamiliar situation, then pay attention to see what they do. When in Rome...
Also be aware that you might be in a session that all know each other, and know what they always play next, and never give any clue that they're going to change, because they all know already. In those cases, just be prepared to change at any given time at the end of a tune...
# Posted on June 1st 2008 by Reverend
Re: Changing Tunes
What I always find difficult is getting a session to end on the first part of a tune. The Clogger's Quilt is a tune I've often heard ending on the first part and it flows into other tunes much better that way but it would be very awkward for others if you give the nod near the end of part 1. I suppose the solution is to decide on what to play before you play, which I ideally do.
# Posted on June 1st 2008 by PaddyCmusic
Re: Changing Tunes
I think you're expecting too much from a session if you want performance- or recording -style arrangements, even something as simple as the ending Paddy suggests.
Every now and then you can get something tricksy like that to happen on the fly and that's just great, but you can't legislate for spontaneity.
Speaking as someone who more often participates in sessions where people don't all know each other so well, than the ones where they do.
# Posted on June 2nd 2008 by Bren