Can anyone put a name to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6uWtFqVrdg for me? And what is it you have to do right in order to play a waltz or a slow air on a tenor banjo or a mandolin? Usually these instruments make slow tunes sound like a collection of miserable plonking noises!
I like slow airs too. But when you try to play them on a banjo they loose the plaintiveness, the grace and the expression that define them as slow airs. They cease to be slow airs, and become just tunes.
Thankyou for the name of the tune. I don't play a tenor banjo, but I know a man who does, and he wants to learn another waltz. I don't think the Viennese style and "Hungarian" waltzes make the most enjoyable banjo tunes. (I am choosing my words carefully). "South Wind" seems to survive being plonked, so I had a look for an Irish waltz or slow air in triple time being played on tenor banjo - and this is what I found. I'll get out my mandolin and have a go.
I've heard the Blair Douglas tune before. I think it was in the session in Aberfeldy in Perthshire. It's like Kate McMartin's to the banjo player's Kate O'Martin's.
but with variation of the melody, such as dropping down to a long note on a low 6th note of the scale (la), instead of running up to a high 6th note . . .
"Hector the Hero" was going round in my head after I listened to this tune, so something must have triggered that, but I didn't think they were the same.
I'll vote for Hector the Hero walzified under the influence of another idiom. If it was Kate Martin's Waltz (which also reminds me of Hector the Hero) it wouldn't need messing about with would it ?
I've just listened to it again and you could be right. Next time I hear a tune and start humming what seems to be a completely different tune I'll believe myself! Thanks all.
Name that waltz
Name that waltz
Can anyone put a name to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6uWtFqVrdg for me? And what is it you have to do right in order to play a waltz or a slow air on a tenor banjo or a mandolin? Usually these instruments make slow tunes sound like a collection of miserable plonking noises!
# Posted on December 16th 2011 by LowProfile
Re: Name that waltz
It's probably "Kate Martin's Waltz" by Blair Douglas.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/3857
# Posted on December 16th 2011 by nigelg
Re: Name that waltz
"And what is it you have to do right in order to play a waltz or a slow air on a tenor banjo or a mandolin? "
Trade your banjo for a fiddle.
It doesn't matter how good the player, airs on a banjo always sound naff. It can be done on a mandolin, but the results still aren't great.
# Posted on December 16th 2011 by skreech
Re: Name that waltz
i dont think it sounds naff
# Posted on December 16th 2011 by glengarslasher
Re: Name that waltz
nor do it, i really enjoy slow airs on most instruments.
# Posted on December 16th 2011 by palethinboy
Re: Name that waltz
I like slow airs too. But when you try to play them on a banjo they loose the plaintiveness, the grace and the expression that define them as slow airs. They cease to be slow airs, and become just tunes.
# Posted on December 16th 2011 by skreech
Re: Name that waltz
Buy a bouzouki. Airs can sound great on them
# Posted on December 16th 2011 by greg sheils
Re: Name that waltz
Thankyou for the name of the tune. I don't play a tenor banjo, but I know a man who does, and he wants to learn another waltz. I don't think the Viennese style and "Hungarian" waltzes make the most enjoyable banjo tunes. (I am choosing my words carefully). "South Wind" seems to survive being plonked, so I had a look for an Irish waltz or slow air in triple time being played on tenor banjo - and this is what I found. I'll get out my mandolin and have a go.
# Posted on December 16th 2011 by LowProfile
Re: Name that waltz
"Thankyou for the name of the tune"
I don't think that is Kate Martin's Waltz.
If it is, it's a poor rendition.
# Posted on December 17th 2011 by Weejie
Re: Name that waltz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBzRGQbyGHI
# Posted on December 17th 2011 by Weejie
Re: Name that waltz
I've heard the Blair Douglas tune before. I think it was in the session in Aberfeldy in Perthshire. It's like Kate McMartin's to the banjo player's Kate O'Martin's.
# Posted on December 17th 2011 by LowProfile
Re: Name that waltz
this is beautifully and sensitively played, in my nsgd humble opinion. naff schmaff.
# Posted on December 17th 2011 by 'tinamatt
Re: Name that waltz
Listen to Kieran Hanrahan Playing Tom Bhettys Waltz on Banjo
# Posted on December 17th 2011 by glengarslasher
Re: Name that waltz
The tune in the original clip has a chord progression much like Hector the Hero
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/scottskinner/display.php?ID=JSS0176
but with variation of the melody, such as dropping down to a long note on a low 6th note of the scale (la), instead of running up to a high 6th note . . .
PG
# Posted on December 17th 2011 by Paul Groff
Re: Name that waltz
I agree with Paul. Hector the Hero gets my vote.
# Posted on December 17th 2011 by vonnieestes
Re: Name that waltz
Sounds a lot like Debbie's Waltz.
# Posted on December 18th 2011 by leftynow
Re: Name that waltz
Weejie said "I don't think that is Kate Martin's Waltz."
Admittedly you need a bit of imagination, but I'm still plumping for a mangled version of "Kate Martin's Waltz".
# Posted on December 18th 2011 by nigelg
Re: Name that waltz
"Hector the Hero" was going round in my head after I listened to this tune, so something must have triggered that, but I didn't think they were the same.
# Posted on December 18th 2011 by LowProfile
Re: Name that waltz
Well done Paul Groff - it's a middle-Eastern version of "Hector The Hero" - ie, Shi-ite.
# Posted on December 18th 2011 by Kenny
Re: Name that waltz
I'll vote for Hector the Hero walzified under the influence of another idiom. If it was Kate Martin's Waltz (which also reminds me of Hector the Hero) it wouldn't need messing about with would it ?
# Posted on December 18th 2011 by David50
Re: Name that waltz
I've just listened to it again and you could be right. Next time I hear a tune and start humming what seems to be a completely different tune I'll believe myself! Thanks all.
# Posted on December 18th 2011 by LowProfile
Re: Name that waltz
Turned this up on playing waltzes on the banjo. http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/6028. Conclusion seemed to be much the same.
# Posted on December 19th 2011 by LowProfile