The Bold Deserter. Tune from O'Neill's. I am trying to do an arrangement of it for the box.
Since it doesn't fit into the catgories in our Sessions tune file. It is a step dance or a long dance. It seems to be a bit of an unknown quantity to some of my freinds.
1. Are there any good recordings that people are familiar with?
If you're playing it for dancers they will tell you what speed they want. If you're playing it as music follow your instinct of what seems right, but don't try to play faster than the ability of the ensemble. If there is a commercial recording there is always the danger that it might be a shade too quick for most amateurs, so don't try to do the professional speed unless you're quite sure it's within your capabilities.
I dont know the tune in question but would hazard a guess that if its a set dance then its probably a hornpipe. In which case I would recomend slow with a lot of swing.
In O'Neill's "1850" it is classed as a set (long) dance, in 2/4 with sixteenth notes. 8+12 bars (both repeated).
Volume I of the Roche Collection has a different version which is in the Airs section (so it may have been a song at some time). The Roche version is simpler - and to my mind older than O'Neill's - with the structure
A part 4 bars
B part 4 bars repeated
C part - a repeat of the A part.
My speed is not as much as issue as trying to get a sens of it since my tendency is to do things briskly....sometimes a problem.
I appreciated the Roche version advice because that is the one that I am using. I actually have a copy of Oneills which was the reason for the post.
When playing through it, it has the feeling of an air or an OCarolan, which affects how aprpoach the harmony for a bass (for the box) arrangement and ornament. The next question is if ornament is cuts slides and slurs, or occasional rolls.
That's why I was hoping to hear if sveral musicians had done it to get a flavor for the different approaches since is seems to be a piece that is not one of the more common selections.
I'll post the ABC of the Roche version of The Bold Deserter. It would otherwise be inaccessible for most because Roche has been out of print for many years.
Thanks Lazy, I like the old set dances, always interested in giving them a go.
Ornament is a personal choice, some players like a simple approach, others myself included like to bring some in and some like to slather it on like butter on a pancake. None right or wrong, just individual taste. For interests sake, when the tune is up we could offer our different suggestions...
There's a Bold Deserter in Colm O'Loughlain's Irish Street Ballads which may give you a handle on the tune (I didn't compare it to either O'Neill or Roche's):
My parents reared me tenderly, I being their only son,
But little did they ever think that I should follow the drum;
Till at length I courted a fair pretty maid who soon did gain my
heart,
She first advis'd me to enlist and then for to desert.
Performance question
Performance question
The Bold Deserter. Tune from O'Neill's. I am trying to do an arrangement of it for the box.
Since it doesn't fit into the catgories in our Sessions tune file. It is a step dance or a long dance. It seems to be a bit of an unknown quantity to some of my freinds.
1. Are there any good recordings that people are familiar with?
2. If you play it, how fast? how much ornament?
any advice appreciated.
# Posted on February 4th 2009 by zippydw
Re: Performance question
If you're playing it for dancers they will tell you what speed they want. If you're playing it as music follow your instinct of what seems right, but don't try to play faster than the ability of the ensemble. If there is a commercial recording there is always the danger that it might be a shade too quick for most amateurs, so don't try to do the professional speed unless you're quite sure it's within your capabilities.
# Posted on February 5th 2009 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Performance question
I dont know the tune in question but would hazard a guess that if its a set dance then its probably a hornpipe. In which case I would recomend slow with a lot of swing.
# Posted on February 5th 2009 by piobagusfidil
Re: Performance question
In O'Neill's "1850" it is classed as a set (long) dance, in 2/4 with sixteenth notes. 8+12 bars (both repeated).
Volume I of the Roche Collection has a different version which is in the Airs section (so it may have been a song at some time). The Roche version is simpler - and to my mind older than O'Neill's - with the structure
A part 4 bars
B part 4 bars repeated
C part - a repeat of the A part.
# Posted on February 5th 2009 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Performance question
My speed is not as much as issue as trying to get a sens of it since my tendency is to do things briskly....sometimes a problem.
I appreciated the Roche version advice because that is the one that I am using. I actually have a copy of Oneills which was the reason for the post.
When playing through it, it has the feeling of an air or an OCarolan, which affects how aprpoach the harmony for a bass (for the box) arrangement and ornament. The next question is if ornament is cuts slides and slurs, or occasional rolls.
That's why I was hoping to hear if sveral musicians had done it to get a flavor for the different approaches since is seems to be a piece that is not one of the more common selections.
Thanks
# Posted on February 5th 2009 by zippydw
Re: Performance question
I'll post the ABC of the Roche version of The Bold Deserter. It would otherwise be inaccessible for most because Roche has been out of print for many years.
# Posted on February 5th 2009 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Performance question
Thanks Lazy, I like the old set dances, always interested in giving them a go.
Ornament is a personal choice, some players like a simple approach, others myself included like to bring some in and some like to slather it on like butter on a pancake. None right or wrong, just individual taste. For interests sake, when the tune is up we could offer our different suggestions...
# Posted on February 5th 2009 by piobagusfidil
Re: Performance question
great. I'd be interested to see the Roche version.
# Posted on February 5th 2009 by zippydw
Re: Performance question
There's a Bold Deserter in Colm O'Loughlain's Irish Street Ballads which may give you a handle on the tune (I didn't compare it to either O'Neill or Roche's):
My parents reared me tenderly, I being their only son,
But little did they ever think that I should follow the drum;
Till at length I courted a fair pretty maid who soon did gain my
heart,
She first advis'd me to enlist and then for to desert.
# Posted on February 5th 2009 by Prof. Prlwytzkofski
Re: Performance question
Roche version now in the Tunes section (tune 9334)
# Posted on February 6th 2009 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Performance question
thanks
# Posted on February 6th 2009 by zippydw
Re: Performance question
It looks alot like what I have been playing. Now just to make it sound like something....
# Posted on February 6th 2009 by zippydw