1. A bodhranist lilting the melody while others played it at the session--which just seems so very wrong, to me. Not overly loud, but audible. Is this ever done, at any of your sessions?
2. Backers who really are quite good at improvising accompaniment once the tune gets going, but often stumble at the start because they don't actually know the tune by name (any name).
So--should I tell the bodhranista to put a sock in it? In this case, the problem might eventually solve itself. She plans to start learning the whistle. And lilting the tunes might be a good way to start learning them. But still... *at* the session?
And should I suggest that those backers do the opposite, in a way--learn to lilt the melodies of common session tunes, and accompany themselves, when playing at home?
One of our bodhran players occasionally litls the tune while he plays, and I've always enjoyed it. But he's a great lilter, is subtle with it, and only does it now and then.
He's also 6 foot 4 inches and used to play football, so he can do whatever he likes.
I get the impression that lilting is like playing the bodhran or backing guitar, in that it's extremely open to people thinking they can do it with the minimum of know-how, and making quite annoying noises.
But it doesn't happen round my way. Lilting, I mean. Thank you for reminding me of the existence of this exotic practice. I might try a bit in the bath.
I must admit that I lilt in sessions but only to tunes that I know really well. I also try and keep a lid on it if I am somewhere where I am not known well but do occasionally get carried away.
The trouble with lilting is , as you say, it is easy to do it badly not know it. I would hope that our lot would tell me to shut up if it was disturbing them. Saying that there I have been in tune sets where I have held the melody and the musicians are off on tangents around me. And the odd musician has learned tunes from my lilting them.
I think the rule is think before you lilt and only do it among friends
J
I can't see anything wrong with lilting in a session if it's good lilting. And the same goes for bad lilters as for bad fiddlers and pipers and guitarists - if what they are doing is putting others off, they need to do it more quietly or not at all.
lilting while backing
lilting while backing
Two things brought on this post:
1. A bodhranist lilting the melody while others played it at the session--which just seems so very wrong, to me. Not overly loud, but audible. Is this ever done, at any of your sessions?
2. Backers who really are quite good at improvising accompaniment once the tune gets going, but often stumble at the start because they don't actually know the tune by name (any name).
So--should I tell the bodhranista to put a sock in it? In this case, the problem might eventually solve itself. She plans to start learning the whistle. And lilting the tunes might be a good way to start learning them. But still... *at* the session?
And should I suggest that those backers do the opposite, in a way--learn to lilt the melodies of common session tunes, and accompany themselves, when playing at home?
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by mickray
Re: lilting while backing
yes i agree they should just shh ! as , if they dont know the tune it just ruins the session for those who CAN hear them ..
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by aoibheann-90
Re: lilting while backing
One of our bodhran players occasionally litls the tune while he plays, and I've always enjoyed it. But he's a great lilter, is subtle with it, and only does it now and then.
He's also 6 foot 4 inches and used to play football, so he can do whatever he likes.
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: lilting while backing
I get the impression that lilting is like playing the bodhran or backing guitar, in that it's extremely open to people thinking they can do it with the minimum of know-how, and making quite annoying noises.
But it doesn't happen round my way. Lilting, I mean. Thank you for reminding me of the existence of this exotic practice. I might try a bit in the bath.
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by nicholas
Re: lilting while backing
I must admit that I lilt in sessions but only to tunes that I know really well. I also try and keep a lid on it if I am somewhere where I am not known well but do occasionally get carried away.
The trouble with lilting is , as you say, it is easy to do it badly not know it. I would hope that our lot would tell me to shut up if it was disturbing them. Saying that there I have been in tune sets where I have held the melody and the musicians are off on tangents around me. And the odd musician has learned tunes from my lilting them.
I think the rule is think before you lilt and only do it among friends
J
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by jfother
Re: lilting while backing
I can't see anything wrong with lilting in a session if it's good lilting. And the same goes for bad lilters as for bad fiddlers and pipers and guitarists - if what they are doing is putting others off, they need to do it more quietly or not at all.
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by granama
Re: lilting while backing
I was lilting while backing the other day and ran over the cat.
# Posted on June 21st 2008 by de Selby