Risking an(other) hopefully acrimony-free discussion during the adverts for Slumdog Millionaire......
So, toward the end of the sesh, one of the regulars pipes into a song. If it approximates a playable key, does anyone play a tune or two to provide a coda?
egs, Spancil Hill followed by Ships Are Sailing
The Airport Here in Knock then The Irish Washer Woman
Spanish Lady in G followed by Fermoy Lasses (Eminor/G) works well. We did it recently as a (shock, horror) performance. Three verses of Spanish Lady, once through the reel, last verse, repeated chorus, once through the reel again.
Spanish Lady in G goes well into Fermoy Lasses in Eminor/G. Three verses of Spanish Lady, once through the reel, last verse and repeated chorus, once more through the reel.
Yea, I've done that sort of arrangements for live gigs with my bands sometimes, it can work really nicely. But, I've also witnessed (too many times IMHO) in sessions somebody give an awesome vocal performance, and some piper/flute player/whatever starts a tune immediately after the singing has stopped, as if it's an outro/coda.
I think this is most often rude towards the singer! It's stealing someone else's thunder, can't stand it (especially if it results in a 10 minute set of reels, after which nobody can remember there was a song leading into it).
As somebody pointed out in another discussion, one should let the session breathe...
I think it's a grand idea. Planxty, the Bothies, Danu, Ron Kavana (par excellence) and Christy Moore (on Iron Behind the Velvet, with Noel Hill and Tony Linnane!!!) all did it, and I think it's great. Why not! I supppose planned is better than unplanned by a session visitor, but who cares. I've yet to see a singer in a session who finds this to be offensive. After all, it isn't a performance is it?
Ron Kavana is an excellent example of a singer who can follow his own tune with a ripping set. However, matti makes a good point too - jumping in after a singer unannounced - much like set hi-jacking amongst the melody players - when done crudely and carelessly it does seem a tad too eager...
You could make the same comment about airs - if someone plays a slow air, more often than not they'll break into a dance tune afterwards.
Playing the air in the first place often requires a bit more passion and emotional involvement on behalf of the musician and it's as if most trad musicians are a wee bit uncomfortable with that and seek to deflect it and distance themselves by returning to the familiar??
It's bad enough that musicians have so little to say about a dance tune that they have to play them in medleys, let alone ruining songs and slow airs with them too. (tongue-in-cheek, but not entirely)
Yeah, performances (gag) only. Those kinda things are good with a band, you can get them really tight and they sound great, but at a session on the fly? Pretty messy.
Even worse than hopping all over the end of a song with tunes is everyone playing the tune while the signer is singing. I never understood that one. "Ooo! I know this tune! Let's all drown out the singer by playing!"
I see that you are of the John Kirkpatrick school of medley-deniers, Matt! I've heard a lot of players use good imagination in use of variation in tunes but still play them in medleys. Oh well. I suppose it's probably best to not have rules.
'The Lord of the dance' into 'Davy Nick Nack'
'Can't help falling in love with you' followed by 'Crowley's Polka'
The Lark in the Clear Air' into 'Christmas Eve'
Depends what the song is. If you're going to launch into a tune set it works best if the tune is reminiscent of the melody of the song (or even IS the melody of the song - Rocky Road to Dublin or Rattlin Roarin Willie, for example). If it's been an unaccompanied, moody ballad then jumping in with a set of tunes at the end will make you look like a douche.
Personally, I prefer unaccompanied songs at sessions without any tunes tacked on. For gigs, I like pretty careful arrangements where the tune is selected for how well it fits with the song, and I like to work it in throughout rather than simply tack it onto the end.
I think the tightest song mellody arrangment is Jamie Mc Menamie singing Jesuitmont (Childs #?) with Breton band Kornog - Soig Siberel, JM Veillon and Christain le Maitre arranging the music brilliantly. Try and have a listen
Or even I'll Never Find Another Ewe followed by My Darling A Sheep. Christ, I knew that bloody tune would come in useful some time. That's the last joke on that theme ewe are getting from me.
Ewe Ewe Ewe. Classic Homer and Jethro.
"He followed her into the bushes just to see what he could learn. He followed her into the bushes; he didn't see the Ewe turn."
tune(s) after a song
tune(s) after a song
Risking an(other) hopefully acrimony-free discussion during the adverts for Slumdog Millionaire......
So, toward the end of the sesh, one of the regulars pipes into a song. If it approximates a playable key, does anyone play a tune or two to provide a coda?
egs, Spancil Hill followed by Ships Are Sailing
The Airport Here in Knock then The Irish Washer Woman
?
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by Rudall the time
Re: tune(s) after a song
Spanish Lady in G followed by Fermoy Lasses (Eminor/G) works well. We did it recently as a (shock, horror) performance. Three verses of Spanish Lady, once through the reel, last verse, repeated chorus, once through the reel again.
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by buttons 'n' whistles
Re: tune(s) after a song
Spanish Lady in G goes well into Fermoy Lasses in Eminor/G. Three verses of Spanish Lady, once through the reel, last verse and repeated chorus, once more through the reel.
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by buttons 'n' whistles
Re: tune(s) after a song
oops, I thought my first posting got lost in cyberspace... sorry for the double up
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by buttons 'n' whistles
Re: tune(s) after a song
Sorry could you repeat that please?
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by Rudall the time
Re: tune(s) after a song
Yea, I've done that sort of arrangements for live gigs with my bands sometimes, it can work really nicely. But, I've also witnessed (too many times IMHO) in sessions somebody give an awesome vocal performance, and some piper/flute player/whatever starts a tune immediately after the singing has stopped, as if it's an outro/coda.
I think this is most often rude towards the singer! It's stealing someone else's thunder, can't stand it (especially if it results in a 10 minute set of reels, after which nobody can remember there was a song leading into it).
As somebody pointed out in another discussion, one should let the session breathe...
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by matti
Re: tune(s) after a song
good point matti
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by Rudall the time
Re: tune(s) after a song
I think it's a grand idea. Planxty, the Bothies, Danu, Ron Kavana (par excellence) and Christy Moore (on Iron Behind the Velvet, with Noel Hill and Tony Linnane!!!) all did it, and I think it's great. Why not! I supppose planned is better than unplanned by a session visitor, but who cares. I've yet to see a singer in a session who finds this to be offensive. After all, it isn't a performance is it?
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by Steve Shaw
Re: tune(s) after a song
Ron Kavana is an excellent example of a singer who can follow his own tune with a ripping set. However, matti makes a good point too - jumping in after a singer unannounced - much like set hi-jacking amongst the melody players - when done crudely and carelessly it does seem a tad too eager...
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: tune(s) after a song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHlc8ObzNGk
He.he.he.ha!
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by Greenwiggle
Re: tune(s) after a song
I hear it on records and see it in concerts, but at the pub--almost never.
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by AlBrown
Re: tune(s) after a song
Our singers are too good--faffing around on the instruments right after a song is like sipping aged Laphroig and then chasing it with WIld Turkey.....
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: tune(s) after a song
Bang out some tunes, any applause for a singer will only encourage them.
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by len
Re: tune(s) after a song
After the singer stops, I usually like to sneak in a quiet but audible "phew" in the pregnant pause before the punters clap.
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by ...
Re: tune(s) after a song
You could make the same comment about airs - if someone plays a slow air, more often than not they'll break into a dance tune afterwards.
Playing the air in the first place often requires a bit more passion and emotional involvement on behalf of the musician and it's as if most trad musicians are a wee bit uncomfortable with that and seek to deflect it and distance themselves by returning to the familiar??
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by the wounded hussar
Re: tune(s) after a song
The song: "Down by the Sally Gardens" - followed by the reel: "The Sally Gardens" works quite well ...
... providing that the singer is able to sing "Down by the Sally Gardens" in G-Maj ...
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: tune(s) after a song
That's a silly notion. It makes as music musical sense as following "Ground Control to Major Tom" with "Major Harrison's Fedora"
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by ...
Re: tune(s) after a song
Can the song not just be enjoyed unaccompanied? Why do the musos feel the need to steal the singers thunder and more likely f**k the whole thing up.
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by iwerzon
Re: tune(s) after a song
"silly notion", liig?
Why? The notes of the reel are based on the notes of the song!
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: tune(s) after a song
It's bad enough that musicians have so little to say about a dance tune that they have to play them in medleys, let alone ruining songs and slow airs with them too. (tongue-in-cheek, but not entirely)
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by Matt Seattle
Re: tune(s) after a song
Nice, Michael. I expect you'll be pairing those two at Sandy Bells next time you're at the session, then?
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by DrSilverSpear
Re: tune(s) after a song
Yeah, performances (gag) only. Those kinda things are good with a band, you can get them really tight and they sound great, but at a session on the fly? Pretty messy.
Even worse than hopping all over the end of a song with tunes is everyone playing the tune while the signer is singing. I never understood that one. "Ooo! I know this tune! Let's all drown out the singer by playing!"
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: tune(s) after a song
Some guys I used to play with in Colorado used to pair "Paint it Black" with the Man of the House as kind of a gag.
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by DrSilverSpear
Re: tune(s) after a song
I see that you are of the John Kirkpatrick school of medley-deniers, Matt!
I've heard a lot of players use good imagination in use of variation in tunes but still play them in medleys. Oh well. I suppose it's probably best to not have rules.
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by Steve Shaw
Re: tune(s) after a song
Ah! Deny-ers. Got it now. I read it like the things that stockings have ...
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by ethical blend
Re: tune(s) after a song
'The Lord of the dance' into 'Davy Nick Nack'
'Can't help falling in love with you' followed by 'Crowley's Polka'
The Lark in the Clear Air' into 'Christmas Eve'
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by Free Reed
Re: tune(s) after a song
"Relax" by Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Followed by "Never was Piping so Gay"
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by ...
Re: tune(s) after a song
YMCA then Cottaging in the Glen.
OK, enough of this it could be thought of as homophobia.
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by Rudall the time
Re: tune(s) after a song
Depends what the song is. If you're going to launch into a tune set it works best if the tune is reminiscent of the melody of the song (or even IS the melody of the song - Rocky Road to Dublin or Rattlin Roarin Willie, for example). If it's been an unaccompanied, moody ballad then jumping in with a set of tunes at the end will make you look like a douche.
Personally, I prefer unaccompanied songs at sessions without any tunes tacked on. For gigs, I like pretty careful arrangements where the tune is selected for how well it fits with the song, and I like to work it in throughout rather than simply tack it onto the end.
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by Kerri Brown
Re: tune(s) after a song
ha ha tv, good one
How about:
"Smack my Bitch up" by Prodigy.
followed by "Drag Her Round the Road"
# Posted on January 15th 2010 by ...
Re: tune(s) after a song
Or "I want to break free" by Queen followed by "The Woman of the House"
# Posted on January 15th 2010 by ...
Re: tune(s) after a song
Love Me Tonight followed by My Darling Asleep and the Lark in the Morning. Come on, let's put some bloody energy into this.
# Posted on January 15th 2010 by Steve Shaw
Re: tune(s) after a song
Wouldn't that be better as:
"A hard Day's Night" followed by My Darling Asleep and the Lark in the Morning.
# Posted on January 15th 2010 by ...
Re: tune(s) after a song
How about:
Kung Fu Fighting followed by The Lads of Laos
# Posted on January 15th 2010 by ...
Re: tune(s) after a song
Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds followed by The Trip to Athlone
# Posted on January 15th 2010 by ...
Re: tune(s) after a song
"Get off a my Clowd" followed by Mrs McLeod's
# Posted on January 15th 2010 by ...
Re: tune(s) after a song
Come on Steve ... you're slackin
# Posted on January 15th 2010 by ...
Re: tune(s) after a song
Alright, You Ain't Nothin But a Hound Dog followed by Lads of Laois?
# Posted on January 15th 2010 by Kerri Brown
Re: tune(s) after a song
"Hey Hugh get offa Mc Cloud"
I think the tightest song mellody arrangment is Jamie Mc Menamie singing Jesuitmont (Childs #?) with Breton band Kornog - Soig Siberel, JM Veillon and Christain le Maitre arranging the music brilliantly. Try and have a listen
# Posted on January 15th 2010 by iwerzon
Re: tune(s) after a song
Hey, McLeod, get offa my ewe.
# Posted on January 15th 2010 by johndsamuels
Re: tune(s) after a song
Played after Mrs McLeod's, right?
# Posted on January 15th 2010 by DrSilverSpear
Re: tune(s) after a song
follow up with:
"you can't always get what Ewe you want"
# Posted on January 15th 2010 by mumhain abu
Re: tune(s) after a song
Did it have to be Ewe?(he asked sheepishly)
# Posted on January 15th 2010 by fauxcelt
Re: tune(s) after a song
Hells Bells followed by Father O'Flynn's
# Posted on January 15th 2010 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: tune(s) after a song
OK Gill. I could get in trouble for this. We'll Keep A Welcome In The Hillsides followed by My Darling A Sheep. Happy now?
# Posted on January 16th 2010 by Steve Shaw
Re: tune(s) after a song
Or even I'll Never Find Another Ewe followed by My Darling A Sheep. Christ, I knew that bloody tune would come in useful some time. That's the last joke on that theme ewe are getting from me.
# Posted on January 16th 2010 by Steve Shaw
Re: tune(s) after a song
That's a cracker
# Posted on January 16th 2010 by bogman
Re: tune(s) after a song
Steve, you missed
Ewe Ewe Ewe. Classic Homer and Jethro.
"He followed her into the bushes just to see what he could learn. He followed her into the bushes; he didn't see the Ewe turn."
# Posted on January 16th 2010 by cboody
Re: tune(s) after a song
Good one Steve - or, I'll never find another Yew, followed by The Oak Tree
# Posted on January 16th 2010 by Rudall the time