Easy - you learned it from the dots in the privacy of your bedchamber, and then later in the evening you went to a session at the Olde Dogge and Ducke, where you played it supberbly. When your friends asked what it was called and where it came from you pretended not to know the name, and said that you had once heard the Earl of Rochester's minstrel play it at a gig in Somerset.
Fascinating- it must have been a bit difficult to read from a distance though, and play while lying down, especially the harp...
Could this idea be adapted for modern times- a few bars of ABC scribed into the ceiling of pubs as prompts?
Hey P-K have you ever noticed how, when a musician is trying to remember how a tune starts, they very often look up towards the ceiling for inspiration ...... now we know where this habit comes from!
Blimey Cathy- you've got good eyesight
Ptarmi- that's it- I think we've uncovered the secret of those who seem to know all the tunes! Won't be long before Specsavers bring out 'trad glasses' for ceiling gazing (tax deductable). Could spawn a whole new industry.
I have never seen any tunes written on the ceiling--not even when I was lying on my back.
"Ye Olde Dogge and Ducke" Are you trying to quack us up?
"There are 10 types of people: those who understand binary and those who don't" Very funny Mark
And. last but not least, Harpists may do it in the bedchamber, but bass players either do it upright or with electricity.
Harpists do it in the Bedchamber
Harpists do it in the Bedchamber
I never knew that they used binary.
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6811540.ece
and indeed: http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolpda/ukfs_news/hi/newsid_8222000/8222727.stm
I heard a harpist's interpretation of those markings on radio 3 this morning.It sounded fairly funky to my ears.
My question is:what was this 'notation' doing in the bedroom?
# Posted on August 27th 2009 by biggus dave
Re: Harpists do it in the Bedchamber
Easy - you learned it from the dots in the privacy of your bedchamber, and then later in the evening you went to a session at the Olde Dogge and Ducke, where you played it supberbly. When your friends asked what it was called and where it came from you pretended not to know the name, and said that you had once heard the Earl of Rochester's minstrel play it at a gig in Somerset.
# Posted on August 27th 2009 by showaddydadito
Re: Harpists do it in the Bedchamber
Yes, I heard that harpist playing the tune too ....... fascinating!
# Posted on August 27th 2009 by Ptarmigan
Re: Harpists do it in the Bedchamber
Fascinating- it must have been a bit difficult to read from a distance though, and play while lying down, especially the harp...
Could this idea be adapted for modern times- a few bars of ABC scribed into the ceiling of pubs as prompts?
# Posted on August 27th 2009 by Here Lyeth
Re: Harpists do it in the Bedchamber
Hey P-K have you ever noticed how, when a musician is trying to remember how a tune starts, they very often look up towards the ceiling for inspiration ...... now we know where this habit comes from!
# Posted on August 27th 2009 by Ptarmigan
Re: Harpists do it in the Bedchamber
Not on the ceiling, but on the outside of the pub, Pepper's bar in Feakle has the tune Maids of Feakle on the wall.(Just visible on left in photo). So if you're in a session there and you've forgotten that one, you could nip out to remind yourself how it goes.
http://images.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.goireland.com/Photos/43101_43200/PeppersBarandRestaurant-US-389.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.goireland.com/clare/peppers-bar-and-restaurant-attraction-restaurants-id43146.htm&usg=__G_7zslbEX0MJmZ-KHnWsRIcqIx0=&h=225&w=300&sz=63&hl=en&start=7&sig2=NGkL0hUtjU72f0ywGEKcsg&tbnid=ed4FU8wPIYqQCM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpeppers%2Bbar%2Bfeakle%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN&ei=4GeWSu2KJI7X-QbSsZDVCQ
# Posted on August 27th 2009 by cathycook
Re: Harpists do it in the Bedchamber
Blimey Cathy- you've got good eyesight
Ptarmi- that's it- I think we've uncovered the secret of those who seem to know all the tunes! Won't be long before Specsavers bring out 'trad glasses' for ceiling gazing (tax deductable). Could spawn a whole new industry.
# Posted on August 27th 2009 by Here Lyeth
Re: Harpists do it in the Bedchamber
A former lady harpist to the Prince of Wales has just been done for burglary, I believe.
Must be good on the high wires.
This has nothing to do with anything.
# Posted on August 27th 2009 by nicholas
Re: Harpists do it in the Bedchamber
There are 10 types of people: those who understand binary and those who don't.
# Posted on August 27th 2009 by Mark Harmer
Re: Harpists do it in the Bedchamber
I'm still bemused- why would anyone conceal a tune on a ceiling roundel in a Scottish king's bedchamber?
# Posted on August 28th 2009 by Here Lyeth
Re: Harpists do it in the Bedchamber
I refer you to my reply above, which explains everything.
# Posted on August 28th 2009 by showaddydadito
Re: Harpists do it in the Bedchamber
Show- I'd buy it if the session was at Ye Olde King's Heade- but Ye Olde Dogge and Ducke...never.
# Posted on August 28th 2009 by Here Lyeth
Re: Harpists do it in the Bedchamber
I have never seen any tunes written on the ceiling--not even when I was lying on my back.
"Ye Olde Dogge and Ducke" Are you trying to quack us up?
"There are 10 types of people: those who understand binary and those who don't" Very funny Mark
And. last but not least, Harpists may do it in the bedchamber, but bass players either do it upright or with electricity.
# Posted on August 28th 2009 by fauxcelt