When I took some flute classes with June McCormack a couple of months ago, she was talking in one point, because I had done it a few times, about how taking a breath and then finishing a roll (like doing "ez~B2 g2fg") is not good to do, and I forget exactly how she put it, but just that it disrupts the flow and rhythm of a tune.
What are all your thoughts on this? I've done this for awhile, and have heard numerous players, both amateur and professional do it, so I always have figured it was fine.
Is this a personal taste thing, or is it really not good to do?
At least from the example you list (and just off the top of my head without knowing the context of that phrase within a tune) the phrase might flow better with something like:
eB3 gzfg
especially if you're just holding that g as a quarter note. 'Cause even if you do a short roll on the B, you have a pattern like this:
e2B2 g2fg
Was June maybe pointing out what's coming after that breath followed by a short roll is going to determine if the flow of the tune is disrupted?
From memory I can only think of the whistle in Lunasa on the recording of "Rathlin island" - but it's maybe only because he's varying the hell out of it.
Sounds to me like personal preference, but a preferance that many people would agree with. One of the great things about June's playing is that she focuses on those details that many people would ignore, and uses every aspect of flute playing to serve the rythm. That's what makes her playing so driving and focused, is the attention to detail. So I think that if you see what she's talking about and agree with it then don't interrupt a roll to breathe, and if you don't, then do what you want.
Yeah, when looking at the Conspiracy, I too agree it's boiling down to preference. That being said, I would look at other ways to handle that measure if you need a breath there. This is something I've been working on in my own playing the past couple of months.
First option is to get a breath in earlier--maybe you're not be getting enough breath towards the end of the A?
If you're looking at getting breath in the first of pulse of measures like that, I'd try the following:
dggz b~g3
dzga b~g3
or for the other example
eBBz g2fg
ezBd g2fg
Again, just suggestions here--hope they make sense!
What I've done in the Conspiracy if I need the breath is usually something like this d2zg bg~g2.
This thread was more about how many of you think it acceptable or not acceptable to interrupt a roll with a breath, and I think I've been getting some good responses
Breathing before rolls
Breathing before rolls
I wasn't sure what to title this, but anywho...
When I took some flute classes with June McCormack a couple of months ago, she was talking in one point, because I had done it a few times, about how taking a breath and then finishing a roll (like doing "ez~B2 g2fg") is not good to do, and I forget exactly how she put it, but just that it disrupts the flow and rhythm of a tune.
What are all your thoughts on this? I've done this for awhile, and have heard numerous players, both amateur and professional do it, so I always have figured it was fine.
Is this a personal taste thing, or is it really not good to do?
# Posted on December 4th 2008 by JosephC
Re: Breathing before rolls
At least from the example you list (and just off the top of my head without knowing the context of that phrase within a tune) the phrase might flow better with something like:
eB3 gzfg
especially if you're just holding that g as a quarter note. 'Cause even if you do a short roll on the B, you have a pattern like this:
e2B2 g2fg
Was June maybe pointing out what's coming after that breath followed by a short roll is going to determine if the flow of the tune is disrupted?
# Posted on December 4th 2008 by dr_funkenstein
Re: Breathing before rolls
I believe that little bit is a part from Emily's Reel.
She brought it up while we were all learning The Conspiracy, and when I when began to run out of breath, I would do "dz~g2 bg~g2" instead of "dg~g2"
# Posted on December 4th 2008 by JosephC
Re: Breathing before rolls
From memory I can only think of the whistle in Lunasa on the recording of "Rathlin island" - but it's maybe only because he's varying the hell out of it.
# Posted on December 4th 2008 by Tirno
Re: Breathing before rolls
Sounds to me like personal preference, but a preferance that many people would agree with. One of the great things about June's playing is that she focuses on those details that many people would ignore, and uses every aspect of flute playing to serve the rythm. That's what makes her playing so driving and focused, is the attention to detail. So I think that if you see what she's talking about and agree with it then don't interrupt a roll to breathe, and if you don't, then do what you want.
# Posted on December 5th 2008 by rudallcarte
Re: Breathing before rolls
Imagine the tune the way you would like to hear it. Is there a breath there, or are you breathing because you have to?
# Posted on December 5th 2008 by gam
Re: Breathing before rolls
Yeah, when looking at the Conspiracy, I too agree it's boiling down to preference. That being said, I would look at other ways to handle that measure if you need a breath there. This is something I've been working on in my own playing the past couple of months.
First option is to get a breath in earlier--maybe you're not be getting enough breath towards the end of the A?
If you're looking at getting breath in the first of pulse of measures like that, I'd try the following:
dggz b~g3
dzga b~g3
or for the other example
eBBz g2fg
ezBd g2fg
Again, just suggestions here--hope they make sense!
# Posted on December 5th 2008 by dr_funkenstein
Re: Breathing before rolls
What I've done in the Conspiracy if I need the breath is usually something like this d2zg bg~g2.
This thread was more about how many of you think it acceptable or not acceptable to interrupt a roll with a breath, and I think I've been getting some good responses
# Posted on December 6th 2008 by JosephC