Things go wrong in session. I get that.
Still sessions thrive. A question for you who have played in several sessions ~ Which was the worst session? I'm not so interested in a few bad nights of session or a session you visit occassionally. No, I would like to hear about that which you stepped into willingly. Yet over time, blood, sweat, & tears had no choice but to throw in the towel.
I hope these tales are all water under the bridge.
A trad player is happiest whilst playing a tune.
What could be better than a good session with your mates? We know the best ~ give us your worst!
;)
Two Djembe's, three beginning bodhran players, two guitar players, one bluegrass fiddle player and me. I would try and start a set and the drum section would rumble into life with all the rhythmic synchronization of a heard of drunken ponies falling down a stairwell. That was followed up with the bluegrass fiddle player attempting to solo/improvise over the top of what I was playing. The guitar players were rocking out in their own little world. I couldn't hear a note I was playing and I'm a banjo player.
I finished my pint and politely excused myself after about 30 minutes of futility.
The ones I dread are the ones where I walk into the pub to greet a guitar player and bodhran player eagerly awaiting a melody player, any melody player and not even a good one of it happens to be me who walks in.
I see I will have to have a chat about you doing yourself down again, Emily ,You are doing fine with those pipes ! I look forward to playing with you again soon .
Apart from such none starters, as turning up to a session that had 5 guitarists and one fiddle player, so in the finest traditions of the News of the World ,we made an excuse and left . It was at the ‘was the win ‘ ( anagram )
No the worst session ever was the one that was so serious, so earnest so ……not fun I had to leave at the risk of going mad . Part of me would like to say where it is but the libel laws in the UK would get in the way .:
Drummers "like a herd of drunken ponies falling down a stairwell" - that's an absolutely brilliant simile! I hope to remember that one, and use it myself...
Dave & Tooty - I hope the dreadful sessions you mention are / were in Newcastle.
If so, it would give me the warm fuzzies, making me feel I'd missed nothing by being cut off from sessions there by the inadequacy of late public transport back to Durham on weekdays.
It would take a lot for me to be unhappy while playing tunes. And 99 percent of the sessions I've sat in on were more fun than a herd of drunken ponies. Even wild (drunken) horses couldn't drag me away.
Sure, sessions have their flaws and foibles, and sometimes the music sounds worse than a pack of piano accordions slinkying down a stairwell. But then the crack is grand--what's funnier than truly atrocious music?! (Thinking of Phil Cunningham's instrumental version of Danny Boy with the tonic center played a half step sharp when it matters.)
Besides, I'd be stupid to comment on any session I've put blood, sweat, and tears into only to throw in the towel. Those are my session mates I'd be slandering! Who else am I gonna play with next week if I dish on them in a public forum?!
Mine is not so bad.
Who could beat Jussa's. It was a weekly commitment to play in a small coffee shop. We did pay for our drinks. Had to ~ we outnumbered the customers. Coffee & tea. No beer.
But aside from the session leader constantly admonishing the guitarist (good guitar player) & 1 fiddler who could not keep time it was a decent group of musicians. The session just devolved into a constant grind. So we were not sad to see it end. I hope they cleaned up the B.S.&T stains from the sidewalk out front. Give me a sturdy pony anyday.
Jussa, at least you had the pint. Good thing you didn't have a full pitcher,eh?
You've got me there, benhall, but I think "with all the rhythmic synchronisation of a herd of drunken ponies..." is an Adverbial Clause: the drum section would rumble into life "drunken pony-ishly..." - And that's pretty well the same as saying, "like drunken ponies" - which is a simile! So I think an adverbial clause is a sort of elaborate simile.
A metaphor is saying - contrary to the evidence of all one's everyday sense - that something *is* something else, which in literal terms it quite plainly isn't:
Before I unleash a pack of angry bodhranistas (and learned English Language experts) upon my previous post, let me further elaborate by clarifying that the beginning drummers were at least playing within the tradition as it were. It was far more difficult to battle phrase for phrase with the bluegrass fiddle player who was laboring under the idea that our gathering was an open jam session and free-wheeling solos were perfectly alright over the top of a jig like Langstrom's Pony, etc. That's what finally broke my spirit. I could have played along with the drunken ponies - at least they were falling down the stairwell in 6/8 time.
I love 'Langstrom's Pony' It is always rough to hear a grand tune skewered. Thank you Jusa. Almost everyone has a worst session experience. I was hoping to open the door a bit & (as Will mentioned) find the good in even the worst session.*
We tend to focus on the best players. There is still something to be gained by listening to the novices.
Blimey, nicholas! You have to go all the way to China and back to prove your case! [metaphor]
... or "It's like going all the way to China and back ..." - *still* a metaphor - can't possibly be a simile, because it clearly *isn't* like going to China.
I'm fed up of being in pedant mode now. Can I drop out of it please?
I've had plenty of individual bad experiences of sessions, but never really one where I'd been on a regular basis.
The worst for me was one where I knew all of the musicians, and great blokes they were (are) too. Really great music. I went twice. It was one of those Sunday lunchtime/afternoon sessions.
The first time, I noticed that the punters in the pub were a tad excitable, but didn't really pay them much attention. The second time, this one chap got 'dancing' really close to us musicians. He was one of those chaps who get really upset when the music stops between sets. He didn't get violent ... but he did get loud, at one point leaning close into my face and yelling something like "C'mon, play that f*cking fiddle there". At which point I packed up and left.
The landlord (and my fellow musicians) tried to persuade me to stay, pointing out that he wasn't doing any harm and he was just enjoying it. But it killed it for me. I never went back. I believe it folded soon after. (Those last two sentences are probably not connected.)
I agree with the bluegrass fiddle comment. as much as I like that music, it seems to be much more competitive. You might
get a bluegrass fiddle player coming in and playing a reel at
180bpm minus the ornamentation, everyone can't keep up, the fiddler looks up, his eyes saying "cop that". Some smile, some nervously stare at the floor, another might generously give a
token hoot . They're normally great showpeople though but don't understand its not a "step up to the mike" situation. It's
communal.
chuneboi slim; I like that ~ communal.
benhall1; it is so grand what we do!
When a heckler ruins it for you the best may be to simply step outside. The edjits cannot beat you if you don't let them. Once their wrecking is done find your mates & enjoy yourself. You can play when you want to.
Cheers!
LOL, Ben, folding up that easily, you wouldn't get much playing done around here. A friend of mine plays box and fiddle. At one recent session, two well-lubed patrons managed to cling to the floor long enough to haul themselves into nearby chairs. Then one grabbed my friend's fiddle and tried to find the strings with the bow. When the friend took the fiddle back, the barfly picked up his button box by one end and played it like a yo yo. We finally got both instruments safely back, and just kept playing tunes. No blood, no foul, hilarious crack. (Then again, it wasn't my fiddle being juggled by the wino....)
Last week our pub was full of people watching the Olympics on the tube. Whatever event it was, the whole crowd would sporadically gasp and moan in unison. Normally, this would put us off, but we're well trained. From years of playing with sports on the telly, we know how to time our endings to coincide with home runs, touch downs, goals, and slam dunks. So in this case, we started inserting little flubbed notes to go with the moaning. It was good fun, and got us two free rounds besides....
From the local session, the worst one I remember was the one where I had to play lead all evening because there wasn't anyone else who could lead the session. All the usual lead players probably weren't there because they had joined and/or formed bands. I am the piano player and I am more used to accompanying the other musicians instead of having to lead them. Since then, we have found some other volunteers to lead the local sessions and I have been able to return to my usual, accustomed role of accompanist/backup musician.
I know, Will. It's because I'm terribly sensitive, you see.
[flutters eyelashes]
Seriously, though, it was a real shame, because the guys are great musicians, and I haven't played with them since then, and that was about 10 years ago, I should think. Don't even have their numbers any more.
Firstly stating that I was not there, Will, I am still much amazed at the tale.
If anyone helped themselves to mine or a mates instrument, let alone abused and manhandled it, I would surely not be above a bit of carnage without a huge apology. I would have at least swung them out the door for a bit of a dance, I think.
To simply laugh it off confounds me. Where does one draw the line? Can we be too nice?
That was an obscene invasion of personal space and property, at least as described. Some things are simply not done in any enlightened society.
Give me an hour to calm down and I will likely see that you all were right, but, for now I remain -
Still shaking and imagining if it were my fiddle,
rook
Take your time Rook.
It is good to know you regard your instrument as your baby. There is no fault in being upset when someone misuses your instrument. I hope Will is only pointing out that stuff happens. Once things calm down (sobers up) perhaps you can show the offenders what a beautiful baby you have. They are free to look.
Correction ~
Will & Rook ~ I take it you have not met. Often on this board I feel as if we are all in the same room just talking. Rook I read that you were not at the session but assumed you had sessioned with Will other times. My bad.
That said ~ I like your vision of an enlightened society with passionate caring musicians.& all our lovely babies who will hopefully outlve us.
Oh I didn't mean to imply that my friend was at all happy about his fiddle and box being waltzed around the room by a breathalyzer-test-just-waiting-to-happen. Far from it. But the tunes were rolling, so he kept playing.
Laughing about it happened only much later.
The story simply illustrates a response at the other extreme of the spectrum from Ben's above. On one hand, pack up and leave. On the other, throw all caution to the wind and keep playing, despite your instruments being at peril for life and limb.
I usually land somewhere in between--ignoring the buggers as best I can, while making sure that me and my instruments (and my session mates) are safe and secure.
A night where I agreed to anchor the session while the leader was away, and no one else came. So I filled the night with music as best I could, but I am no solo act. It was a long, lonely and difficult evening.
Someone with that ridiculous percussion instruments that makes a sound like horses' hooves, and they couldn't leave the thing alone PLUS a fiddler who insisted on harmonizing with tunes in a way that clashed with them completely PLUS an alcoholic bodhran player who couldn't keep from rushing a beat to save his life and insisted on telling the same unfunny "recitation" session after session. I stopped going to one session after this became the norm rather than the exception.
In desperation, I once went to an "acoustic jam session" at a coffee house. I tried playing a tune, and the five or six guitarists (no kidding) all started strumming away. They did mostly manage to follow the beat, but they were all playing different chords, and didn't seem to notice, or care.
And now that I think about it, there's nothing at all unusual about my story. And now I'm depressed.
There are good reasons to Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, eh?
... "Okay, this is where you do the fiddly bits."
"Eh? What are they?"
Five string banjo player looks peeved "You know the fiddly bits"
Me again "Eh?"
... they wanted something radical (but who was gunna show me?)
... I didn't go back.
"irish music", what's that pipewatcher?
Seriously, though, I have played piano for a local contra dance society and at the local session. Although the contra dance society uses some Irish tunes, they do use a lot of tunes from other countries and ethnic traditions as well.
I had a similar experience with a musician from the contra dance band who came to the local Irish Session one evening. This person tried to play some inappropriate tunes which weren't Irish.
there was a piano in the venue . when the fiddle players had finished roaring through "jenny's chickens" at 100mph, first in Am, then in Bm, then Dm,Cm ,Dm, F#m, and Gm, one or another of them would play the piano. it always added a very lovely groove to the session.But, as you say there were always the hambos, the polskas, the yiddish tunes-and even the "irish tunes" had a decidedly appalachian swing to them. I should add this: the first time some of us "irish" musicianers were asked to play one of the contra dances we gave 'em hell. Miss Mcleod"s, The Virginia-they were cheering and dancin' like mad! then we let go with a three-part slip jig! utter confusion as the dance ground to a halt with dancers scattered and wandering the floor trying to find their partners= everyone wondering what the !@#$ just happened. talk about an inappropriate tune!
Yes, three part slip jigs do not work very well for contra dancing (speaking from experience both as a dancer and a musician). My father agrees with this statement. He doesn't play any instruments; but, he does like to square dance and contra dance. I was discussing what is and is not appropriate music for contra dancing with him. Since my father didn't know what a slip jig is, I played Foxhunter's Jig for him and he told that wouldn't work for any of the dances the local contra dance group likes to do. He recommended that I talk to the fiddler who leads their contra dance band. So I talked to the fiddler and he said they play a variety of music from Ireland and Scotland and various other countries.
If I really wanted to confuse the dancers, there is a piano piece by Arensky in 5/4 titled "Basso Ostinato" which has a six note ostinato bass that repeats continously all of the way through the piece. The accents on the beat shift from one measure to the next.
I have never tried to play anything by Dave Brubeck but I like to listen to his music. My parents (both of whom liked and listened to a wide variety of music) taught me how to appreciate the music of Dave Brubeck.
The Happy Complainer
The Happy Complainer
Things go wrong in session. I get that.
Still sessions thrive. A question for you who have played in several sessions ~ Which was the worst session? I'm not so interested in a few bad nights of session or a session you visit occassionally. No, I would like to hear about that which you stepped into willingly. Yet over time, blood, sweat, & tears had no choice but to throw in the towel.
I hope these tales are all water under the bridge.
A trad player is happiest whilst playing a tune.
What could be better than a good session with your mates? We know the best ~ give us your worst!
;)
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by Ben Steen
Re: The Happy Complainer
Two Djembe's, three beginning bodhran players, two guitar players, one bluegrass fiddle player and me. I would try and start a set and the drum section would rumble into life with all the rhythmic synchronization of a heard of drunken ponies falling down a stairwell. That was followed up with the bluegrass fiddle player attempting to solo/improvise over the top of what I was playing. The guitar players were rocking out in their own little world. I couldn't hear a note I was playing and I'm a banjo player.
I finished my pint and politely excused myself after about 30 minutes of futility.
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: The Happy Complainer
When ponies party in the penthouse they should take the elevator down.
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by Ben Steen
Re: The Happy Complainer
The ones I dread are the ones where I walk into the pub to greet a guitar player and bodhran player eagerly awaiting a melody player, any melody player and not even a good one of it happens to be me who walks in.
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by DrSilverSpear
Re: The Happy Complainer
I see I will have to have a chat about you doing yourself down again, Emily ,You are doing fine with those pipes ! I look forward to playing with you again soon .
Apart from such none starters, as turning up to a session that had 5 guitarists and one fiddle player, so in the finest traditions of the News of the World ,we made an excuse and left . It was at the ‘was the win ‘ ( anagram )
No the worst session ever was the one that was so serious, so earnest so ……not fun I had to leave at the risk of going mad . Part of me would like to say where it is but the libel laws in the UK would get in the way .:
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by bazouki dave
Re: The Happy Complainer
Drummers "like a herd of drunken ponies falling down a stairwell" - that's an absolutely brilliant simile! I hope to remember that one, and use it myself...
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by nicholas
Re: The Happy Complainer
That;s the spirit nicholas ~ Happy even in miserable circumstances.
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by Ben Steen
Re: The Happy Complainer
I have to agree - that simile about the drunken ponies is responsible for my laptop being spattered with droplets of red wine!!
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by Mark Harmer
Re: The Happy Complainer
Dave & Tooty - I hope the dreadful sessions you mention are / were in Newcastle.
If so, it would give me the warm fuzzies, making me feel I'd missed nothing by being cut off from sessions there by the inadequacy of late public transport back to Durham on weekdays.
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by nicholas
The unHappy Equines
You're not thinking about tying some drummers into their saddles? Are you?
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by Ben Steen
Re: The Happy Complainer
I'll rephrase that: total absence of late night transport, taxis excepted - and I'm not going to blow my dosh on those!
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by nicholas
Re: The Happy Complainer
[Engage pedant mode]
It's not a simile. It's a metaphor.
[sniff]
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by ethical blend
Re: The Happy Complainer
It would take a lot for me to be unhappy while playing tunes. And 99 percent of the sessions I've sat in on were more fun than a herd of drunken ponies. Even wild (drunken) horses couldn't drag me away.
Sure, sessions have their flaws and foibles, and sometimes the music sounds worse than a pack of piano accordions slinkying down a stairwell. But then the crack is grand--what's funnier than truly atrocious music?! (Thinking of Phil Cunningham's instrumental version of Danny Boy with the tonic center played a half step sharp when it matters.)
Besides, I'd be stupid to comment on any session I've put blood, sweat, and tears into only to throw in the towel. Those are my session mates I'd be slandering! Who else am I gonna play with next week if I dish on them in a public forum?!
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: The Happy Complainer
Mine is not so bad.
Who could beat Jussa's. It was a weekly commitment to play in a small coffee shop. We did pay for our drinks. Had to ~ we outnumbered the customers. Coffee & tea. No beer.
But aside from the session leader constantly admonishing the guitarist (good guitar player) & 1 fiddler who could not keep time it was a decent group of musicians. The session just devolved into a constant grind. So we were not sad to see it end. I hope they cleaned up the B.S.&T stains from the sidewalk out front. Give me a sturdy pony anyday.
Jussa, at least you had the pint. Good thing you didn't have a full pitcher,eh?
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by Ben Steen
Re: The Happy Complainer
You are fortunate Mr. Harmon. Live long & prosper.
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by Ben Steen
Re: The Happy Complainer
You've got me there, benhall, but I think "with all the rhythmic synchronisation of a herd of drunken ponies..." is an Adverbial Clause: the drum section would rumble into life "drunken pony-ishly..." - And that's pretty well the same as saying, "like drunken ponies" - which is a simile! So I think an adverbial clause is a sort of elaborate simile.
A metaphor is saying - contrary to the evidence of all one's everyday sense - that something *is* something else, which in literal terms it quite plainly isn't:
"The rhythm section was a bull in a chinashop..."
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by nicholas
Re: The Happy Complainer
No, not fortunate, just happy-go-lucky.
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by Will Harmon
Happy ( go - lucky) Complainer
Is that a simile or a metaphor?
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by Ben Steen
Re: The Happy Complainer
Before I unleash a pack of angry bodhranistas (and learned English Language experts) upon my previous post, let me further elaborate by clarifying that the beginning drummers were at least playing within the tradition as it were. It was far more difficult to battle phrase for phrase with the bluegrass fiddle player who was laboring under the idea that our gathering was an open jam session and free-wheeling solos were perfectly alright over the top of a jig like Langstrom's Pony, etc. That's what finally broke my spirit. I could have played along with the drunken ponies - at least they were falling down the stairwell in 6/8 time.
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: The Happy Complainer
I love 'Langstrom's Pony' It is always rough to hear a grand tune skewered. Thank you Jusa. Almost everyone has a worst session experience. I was hoping to open the door a bit & (as Will mentioned) find the good in even the worst session.*
We tend to focus on the best players. There is still something to be gained by listening to the novices.
* truly atrocious music
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by Ben Steen
Re: The Happy Complainer
Blimey, nicholas! You have to go all the way to China and back to prove your case! [metaphor]
... or "It's like going all the way to China and back ..." - *still* a metaphor - can't possibly be a simile, because it clearly *isn't* like going to China.
I'm fed up of being in pedant mode now. Can I drop out of it please?
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by ethical blend
Re: The Happy Complainer
benhall1 we note that you were 1st in your English language classes.
Are you critical of any sessions you have attended?
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by Ben Steen
Re: The Happy Complainer
Meanwhile, back to the subject ...
I've had plenty of individual bad experiences of sessions, but never really one where I'd been on a regular basis.
The worst for me was one where I knew all of the musicians, and great blokes they were (are) too. Really great music. I went twice. It was one of those Sunday lunchtime/afternoon sessions.
The first time, I noticed that the punters in the pub were a tad excitable, but didn't really pay them much attention. The second time, this one chap got 'dancing' really close to us musicians. He was one of those chaps who get really upset when the music stops between sets. He didn't get violent ... but he did get loud, at one point leaning close into my face and yelling something like "C'mon, play that f*cking fiddle there". At which point I packed up and left.
The landlord (and my fellow musicians) tried to persuade me to stay, pointing out that he wasn't doing any harm and he was just enjoying it. But it killed it for me. I never went back. I believe it folded soon after. (Those last two sentences are probably not connected.)
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by ethical blend
Re: The Happy Complainer
I agree with the bluegrass fiddle comment. as much as I like that music, it seems to be much more competitive. You might
get a bluegrass fiddle player coming in and playing a reel at
180bpm minus the ornamentation, everyone can't keep up, the fiddler looks up, his eyes saying "cop that". Some smile, some nervously stare at the floor, another might generously give a
token hoot . They're normally great showpeople though but don't understand its not a "step up to the mike" situation. It's
communal.
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by chuneboi slim
Re: The Happy Complainer
chuneboi slim; I like that ~ communal.
benhall1; it is so grand what we do!
When a heckler ruins it for you the best may be to simply step outside. The edjits cannot beat you if you don't let them. Once their wrecking is done find your mates & enjoy yourself. You can play when you want to.
Cheers!
# Posted on August 24th 2008 by Ben Steen
Re: The Happy Complainer
LOL, Ben, folding up that easily, you wouldn't get much playing done around here. A friend of mine plays box and fiddle. At one recent session, two well-lubed patrons managed to cling to the floor long enough to haul themselves into nearby chairs. Then one grabbed my friend's fiddle and tried to find the strings with the bow. When the friend took the fiddle back, the barfly picked up his button box by one end and played it like a yo yo. We finally got both instruments safely back, and just kept playing tunes. No blood, no foul, hilarious crack. (Then again, it wasn't my fiddle being juggled by the wino....)
Last week our pub was full of people watching the Olympics on the tube. Whatever event it was, the whole crowd would sporadically gasp and moan in unison. Normally, this would put us off, but we're well trained. From years of playing with sports on the telly, we know how to time our endings to coincide with home runs, touch downs, goals, and slam dunks. So in this case, we started inserting little flubbed notes to go with the moaning. It was good fun, and got us two free rounds besides....
# Posted on August 24th 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: The Happy Complainer
From the local session, the worst one I remember was the one where I had to play lead all evening because there wasn't anyone else who could lead the session. All the usual lead players probably weren't there because they had joined and/or formed bands. I am the piano player and I am more used to accompanying the other musicians instead of having to lead them. Since then, we have found some other volunteers to lead the local sessions and I have been able to return to my usual, accustomed role of accompanist/backup musician.
# Posted on August 24th 2008 by fauxcelt
Re: The Happy Complainer
I know, Will. It's because I'm terribly sensitive, you see.
[flutters eyelashes]
Seriously, though, it was a real shame, because the guys are great musicians, and I haven't played with them since then, and that was about 10 years ago, I should think. Don't even have their numbers any more.
# Posted on August 24th 2008 by ethical blend
Re: The Happy Complainer
My insane rant:
Touching someone else's baby? Geez.
Firstly stating that I was not there, Will, I am still much amazed at the tale.
If anyone helped themselves to mine or a mates instrument, let alone abused and manhandled it, I would surely not be above a bit of carnage without a huge apology. I would have at least swung them out the door for a bit of a dance, I think.
To simply laugh it off confounds me. Where does one draw the line? Can we be too nice?
That was an obscene invasion of personal space and property, at least as described. Some things are simply not done in any enlightened society.
Give me an hour to calm down and I will likely see that you all were right, but, for now I remain -
Still shaking and imagining if it were my fiddle,
rook
# Posted on August 24th 2008 by Piece
Re: The Happy Complainer
Take your time Rook.
It is good to know you regard your instrument as your baby. There is no fault in being upset when someone misuses your instrument. I hope Will is only pointing out that stuff happens. Once things calm down (sobers up) perhaps you can show the offenders what a beautiful baby you have. They are free to look.
# Posted on August 24th 2008 by Ben Steen
Re: The Happy Complainer
Correction ~
Will & Rook ~ I take it you have not met. Often on this board I feel as if we are all in the same room just talking. Rook I read that you were not at the session but assumed you had sessioned with Will other times. My bad.
That said ~ I like your vision of an enlightened society with passionate caring musicians.& all our lovely babies who will hopefully outlve us.
# Posted on August 24th 2008 by Ben Steen
Re: The Happy Complainer
Oh I didn't mean to imply that my friend was at all happy about his fiddle and box being waltzed around the room by a breathalyzer-test-just-waiting-to-happen. Far from it. But the tunes were rolling, so he kept playing.
Laughing about it happened only much later.
The story simply illustrates a response at the other extreme of the spectrum from Ben's above. On one hand, pack up and leave. On the other, throw all caution to the wind and keep playing, despite your instruments being at peril for life and limb.
I usually land somewhere in between--ignoring the buggers as best I can, while making sure that me and my instruments (and my session mates) are safe and secure.
# Posted on August 24th 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: The Happy Complainer
A night where I agreed to anchor the session while the leader was away, and no one else came. So I filled the night with music as best I could, but I am no solo act. It was a long, lonely and difficult evening.
# Posted on August 24th 2008 by AlBrown
Re: The Happy Complainer
Someone with that ridiculous percussion instruments that makes a sound like horses' hooves, and they couldn't leave the thing alone PLUS a fiddler who insisted on harmonizing with tunes in a way that clashed with them completely PLUS an alcoholic bodhran player who couldn't keep from rushing a beat to save his life and insisted on telling the same unfunny "recitation" session after session. I stopped going to one session after this became the norm rather than the exception.
# Posted on August 25th 2008 by cathrynb
Re: The Happy Complainer
In desperation, I once went to an "acoustic jam session" at a coffee house. I tried playing a tune, and the five or six guitarists (no kidding) all started strumming away. They did mostly manage to follow the beat, but they were all playing different chords, and didn't seem to notice, or care.
And now that I think about it, there's nothing at all unusual about my story. And now I'm depressed.
There are good reasons to Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, eh?
# Posted on August 25th 2008 by John Galt
Re: The Happy Complainer
1, 6 , 2 , 5 , being one of them mickray.
# Posted on August 25th 2008 by chuneboi slim
Re: The Happy Complainer
"1, 6 , 2 , 5 " -- as in, say, the chords for The Ash Grove (among many others)?
# Posted on August 25th 2008 by John Galt
Re: The Happy Complainer
... "Okay, this is where you do the fiddly bits."
"Eh? What are they?"
Five string banjo player looks peeved "You know the fiddly bits"
Me again "Eh?"
... they wanted something radical (but who was gunna show me?)
... I didn't go back.
# Posted on August 25th 2008 by Clear Drops
Re: The Happy Complainer
a weekly session with far too many contra-dance musicians who insisted they "were" playing irish music
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by pipewatcher
Re: The Happy Complainer
"irish music", what's that pipewatcher?
Seriously, though, I have played piano for a local contra dance society and at the local session. Although the contra dance society uses some Irish tunes, they do use a lot of tunes from other countries and ethnic traditions as well.
I had a similar experience with a musician from the contra dance band who came to the local Irish Session one evening. This person tried to play some inappropriate tunes which weren't Irish.
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by fauxcelt
Re: The Happy Complainer
there was a piano in the venue . when the fiddle players had finished roaring through "jenny's chickens" at 100mph, first in Am, then in Bm, then Dm,Cm ,Dm, F#m, and Gm, one or another of them would play the piano. it always added a very lovely groove to the session.But, as you say there were always the hambos, the polskas, the yiddish tunes-and even the "irish tunes" had a decidedly appalachian swing to them. I should add this: the first time some of us "irish" musicianers were asked to play one of the contra dances we gave 'em hell. Miss Mcleod"s, The Virginia-they were cheering and dancin' like mad! then we let go with a three-part slip jig! utter confusion as the dance ground to a halt with dancers scattered and wandering the floor trying to find their partners= everyone wondering what the !@#$ just happened. talk about an inappropriate tune!
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by pipewatcher
Re: The Happy Complainer
Yes, three part slip jigs do not work very well for contra dancing (speaking from experience both as a dancer and a musician). My father agrees with this statement. He doesn't play any instruments; but, he does like to square dance and contra dance. I was discussing what is and is not appropriate music for contra dancing with him. Since my father didn't know what a slip jig is, I played Foxhunter's Jig for him and he told that wouldn't work for any of the dances the local contra dance group likes to do. He recommended that I talk to the fiddler who leads their contra dance band. So I talked to the fiddler and he said they play a variety of music from Ireland and Scotland and various other countries.
# Posted on August 28th 2008 by fauxcelt
Re: The Happy Complainer
great story pipewatcher - makes me want to try Balkan tunes at a ceili... "now count to eleven..."
# Posted on August 28th 2008 by airport
Re: The Happy Complainer
If I really wanted to confuse the dancers, there is a piano piece by Arensky in 5/4 titled "Basso Ostinato" which has a six note ostinato bass that repeats continously all of the way through the piece. The accents on the beat shift from one measure to the next.
# Posted on August 29th 2008 by fauxcelt
Re: The Happy Complainer
or Brubeck's "Unsquare Dance"?
# Posted on August 30th 2008 by pipewatcher
Re: The Happy Complainer
I have never tried to play anything by Dave Brubeck but I like to listen to his music. My parents (both of whom liked and listened to a wide variety of music) taught me how to appreciate the music of Dave Brubeck.
# Posted on September 1st 2008 by fauxcelt