There are many, but here's a little one that just keeps giving;
I love going back to a tune after not playing it for months or years and finding that the tricky or frustrating bit that led to me putting it aside is now no longer a problem. What was I fretting about ?
What other simple pleasures do you find in our music ?
"I love going back to a tune after not playing it for months or years and finding that the tricky or frustrating bit that led to me putting it aside is now no longer a problem. What was I fretting about ?..."
stoneboy2, I know exactly what you're on about.
But it tends to happen to me when I've had a few drinks, and am hiding (playing-wise, at least) behind strong players.
I have learnt that to attempt to lead with such a tune can prove a ghastly mistake as the fairies snatch away their delusive gift and leave me musically trouserless and socially dead. For a long moment or two, anyway.
The single greatest thing about this music from a musician's point of view is that it is totally self-contained. You need no accompaniment to get a very complete sound. There may be some other musical forms that can claim that, but none that sound so contemporary and can get the uninititated tapping their foot and nodding in approval or commenting on the heart-wrenching beauty of a song or air. I can play it alone any time of the day or night and feel as contented (if not more so) than I would to play with friends or with a band. Usually, such musical pleasure is limited to instruments like guitar or piano, which is why so many who learn an instrument during school stop playing as an adult. ITM has me playing more at the age of near 60 than I have ever played in my life. For that, I bow low. It is lovely, exciting, and I am the only person that needs to be in the room. However, the more the merrier!
It always takes me on a time ride (time travel IS possible!) - either into my own personal past or generally into some "past" - but mostly this is done by clawhammer banjo tunes. Besides that, it´s - sometimes - like stoneboy2 said: you play a tune that didn´t work some time ago, and suddenly the parts fall into place (I find this happens when I have been listening to/playing lots of other tunes in between. And - like ailin writes - the aspect of self-containment is important, too. You can just sit down and play.
Most of the time when I'm playing I make mistakes or my tone and touch just aren't quite right. This I accept, after all I am mere mortal, whose meagre talents cannot be compared with those traditional music gods we all know so well. However, occasionally it all just seems to click into place and suddenly everything works, and I'm in a "zone" where I can do no wrong. It's almost as if I've finally got it.
This doesn'y usually last long. but the memory of being able to play that way is what encourages me to pick up the fiddle for a long time after.
stoneboy2: Indeed, such magical moments are ones that I'll probably remember as long as I live. "...like that day that I was playing such-and-such a set with such-and-such a person and the music just took life, and transcended my mediocrity..."
Things I like about this music No3527
Things I like about this music No3527
There are many, but here's a little one that just keeps giving;
I love going back to a tune after not playing it for months or years and finding that the tricky or frustrating bit that led to me putting it aside is now no longer a problem. What was I fretting about ?
What other simple pleasures do you find in our music ?
# Posted on December 26th 2011 by stoneboy2
Re: Things I like about this music No3527
I can play it.
# Posted on December 26th 2011 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Things I like about this music No3527
Sometimes, I can play it too!
# Posted on December 26th 2011 by ormepipes
Re: Things I like about this music No3527
I can't play it, but I like a challenge.
# Posted on December 26th 2011 by skreech
Re: Things I like about this music No3527
"I love going back to a tune after not playing it for months or years and finding that the tricky or frustrating bit that led to me putting it aside is now no longer a problem. What was I fretting about ?..."
stoneboy2, I know exactly what you're on about.
But it tends to happen to me when I've had a few drinks, and am hiding (playing-wise, at least) behind strong players.
I have learnt that to attempt to lead with such a tune can prove a ghastly mistake as the fairies snatch away their delusive gift and leave me musically trouserless and socially dead. For a long moment or two, anyway.
# Posted on December 26th 2011 by nicholas
Re: Things I like about this music No3527
Guinness - lol.
jim,,,
# Posted on December 26th 2011 by FIDDLE4
Re: Things I like about this music No3527
What/whom I especially like: all the people who introduced me to great tunes over the years. You know who you are.
# Posted on December 26th 2011 by John Galt
Re: Things I like about this music No3527
The single greatest thing about this music from a musician's point of view is that it is totally self-contained. You need no accompaniment to get a very complete sound. There may be some other musical forms that can claim that, but none that sound so contemporary and can get the uninititated tapping their foot and nodding in approval or commenting on the heart-wrenching beauty of a song or air. I can play it alone any time of the day or night and feel as contented (if not more so) than I would to play with friends or with a band. Usually, such musical pleasure is limited to instruments like guitar or piano, which is why so many who learn an instrument during school stop playing as an adult. ITM has me playing more at the age of near 60 than I have ever played in my life. For that, I bow low. It is lovely, exciting, and I am the only person that needs to be in the room. However, the more the merrier!
# Posted on December 26th 2011 by Ailin
Re: Things I like about this music No3527
the ratio of technical necessity compared to art is stacked so demonstratively in favour of the art.
# Posted on December 26th 2011 by ...
Re: Things I like about this music No3527
It always takes me on a time ride (time travel IS possible!) - either into my own personal past or generally into some "past" - but mostly this is done by clawhammer banjo tunes. Besides that, it´s - sometimes - like stoneboy2 said: you play a tune that didn´t work some time ago, and suddenly the parts fall into place (I find this happens when I have been listening to/playing lots of other tunes in between. And - like ailin writes - the aspect of self-containment is important, too. You can just sit down and play.
# Posted on December 26th 2011 by alexweger
Re: Things I like about this music No3527
Where does one start? But here's just a few:
1) Playing music without the encumbrance of music stands, sheet music etc.
2) Being able to find some common ground and make music with total strangers that one has only just met at festivals, sessions etc.
3) Being able to play most of the music in the keys containing just one, two or three sharps.
4) Being able to play the music in convivial surroundings: e.g. out-of-doors on a warm summer's day - or in the pub!
# Posted on December 27th 2011 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Things I like about this music No3527
Here's another;
Most of the time when I'm playing I make mistakes or my tone and touch just aren't quite right. This I accept, after all I am mere mortal, whose meagre talents cannot be compared with those traditional music gods we all know so well. However, occasionally it all just seems to click into place and suddenly everything works, and I'm in a "zone" where I can do no wrong. It's almost as if I've finally got it.
This doesn'y usually last long. but the memory of being able to play that way is what encourages me to pick up the fiddle for a long time after.
# Posted on December 27th 2011 by stoneboy2
Re: Things I like about this music No3527
stoneboy2: Indeed, such magical moments are ones that I'll probably remember as long as I live. "...like that day that I was playing such-and-such a set with such-and-such a person and the music just took life, and transcended my mediocrity..."
# Posted on December 27th 2011 by browndog
Re: Things I like about this music No3527
"the ratio of technical necessity compared to art is stacked so demonstratively in favour of the art."
I don't claim to be an 'artist', but that was more or less what I meant by my first comment.
# Posted on December 28th 2011 by CreadurMawnOrganig