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I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
with apologies to Wallace Stevens.
There are some places where The Music is so prevalent that if you don't like yr session, try the one across the street. Other places you might have to drive hours to get to a sesh.
Those of us in the latter category often feel like those "Vox Clamantis in Deserto" guys... foriegn missionaries among heathens.
So, on the one hand, there are at least a couple of hundred tunes that I consider essential tunes for a trad player to have been thru. So somebody just learned that tune and wants to play it at the once monthly session, As a good missionary and passer -along of THEE Tradition, I should support the effort by reinforcing their interest in The Music (i.e., play the tune with them), maybe even teach them a few polkas or single jigs, because that's what level they' play at.*
On the other hand I'd about as soon p3sh on yr electric fence as I had play that tune again.
So, you try to freshen it up by playing orn & var, ( which yr supposed to do anyway) but that only gets you thru another 3 or 4 thousand turns. The real Joy is finding someone that can breathe new life in and inspire you to think about the tune in a new way.........& play it in a new way.
And yr man on the clarinet is still playing Fin Furey settings, note for note after 20 years. ("Why don't you learn some Frederick Paris tunes, for crysake?") (sorry, wrong board)
So, if you make the effort, yr "flock" thinks you actually like the tune and keep playing it everytime they see you. SO are you passing the nonsense along with the tradition?
Or is this conflict of interest line of thought just some bored navel gazing. Please advise.
*Yr Grammical Improprieties are my Group Identity Markers.
Re: I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
This is a superb topic - because it condenses into a single question, which I can't understand, three or four recent threads that I couldn't understand when they were posted separately.
Well done Owell.
This confusion is not my identity marker - it is a genuine failure to understand.
Re: I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
I am in 3 minds whether to answer/respond to this thread so maybe I won't. Anyway we don't have any Blackbirds here in Perth (Oz). They have em in Melbourne - but we have crows/ravens in plenty.
As for the tune scenario above, I can't say for sure but I'd be co-operative the first time and then a little distant if it persisted. Not sure if my comment makes any more sense than the thread.
Re: I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
Hmm, not confusing to me. Not sure how much help I can be, but from one Texan to another - you made sense. What you're saying is that you aren't happy having to play this one (or maybe more) songs that this person has learned. Maybe it was a song you never liked. Anyways, you don't have the option of going to another session (big surprise there) so you have to stick it out in some form or another. You try to make it more interesting by ornamenting and adding variations but this all just seems to make the people you play with think you like the tune. And you seem to be suffering through some classical musico syndrome of someone playing stuff note for note.
My advice - you've played the tune three/four thousand times - I think they've learned it by now. So go get a drink or whatever when they play that tune. And quit teaching down to their level. Teach them up to yours. Maybe they can't handle all of the intricacies of the harder tunes but I bet they can still grasp the basics. Teach them tunes you like to play and encourage them to learn other tunes that you know you like, because it's quite possible that you are bogging down in not having enough tunes to make for a varied 2-3 hours of music.
Oh yeah, why don't you tell me what the evil song is, so that when I drive up (the hour and a half) to your session this Saturday I don't play it. Or give me a list of your favorite tunes and I'll try to know at least the bare bones of the tunes when I show up.
Re: I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
Ptarmigan, I am concerned about the Goldfinches on your nut bags.
Apart from the rich imagery (and your inevitable arrest if you besport yourself around town like this) surely the potential for disease (to both you and the birds) and the pain is not to be encouraged.
Down our way we only encourage Great Tits on our nut bags.
Re: I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
I've got a crack team of Owls here who would be prepared to sort out any finches or tits causing bother to anyone's nutbags, for a small consideration, such as a brace of voles.
Re: I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
Oh yes, soon after I started teaching, I learnt to only teach people tunes that I could stand to play over and over at slow speed.
Luckily, my favourite tune is 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'
Re: I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
showaddydadito... Really it was about being confused, so you hit the nail on the head. Anyway no offense taken.
DANNY MACKAY ..... It's a little frustrating no to get to soar much. I did mention the joy. There's 3 or 4 musos I get with sometimes that are really inspiring and fun to play with. There are few beginners that mange to radiate enough quality enthusiasm to make it pleasurable to help them. But the Big Shots cloister themselves in Closed "Sessions" (Performances). Most of my unhappiness stems from this Vampire Shift (5p-4a) and the limited social opportunities. At least I have weekends now.
Musicfan = I'll load the tunelist in my pickup and drive it out.so you can look at it. I lost track after 700 and some-odd. I take so many breaks as it is that the Maid Behind The Bar thinks I'm in infatuated with her. Fortunately, she's charitably amused.
Ptarmo = I'd think the simple expedient of TREWS would be a good preventative. I know yer really Scots but that "regimental " bit can cause problems out here in the world
Sharon the Flute = I wish I could do for "Ger the Rigger" what Mozart did for "Twinkle, etc".
I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
with apologies to Wallace Stevens.
There are some places where The Music is so prevalent that if you don't like yr session, try the one across the street. Other places you might have to drive hours to get to a sesh.
Those of us in the latter category often feel like those "Vox Clamantis in Deserto" guys... foriegn missionaries among heathens.
So, on the one hand, there are at least a couple of hundred tunes that I consider essential tunes for a trad player to have been thru. So somebody just learned that tune and wants to play it at the once monthly session, As a good missionary and passer -along of THEE Tradition, I should support the effort by reinforcing their interest in The Music (i.e., play the tune with them), maybe even teach them a few polkas or single jigs, because that's what level they' play at.*
On the other hand I'd about as soon p3sh on yr electric fence as I had play that tune again.
So, you try to freshen it up by playing orn & var, ( which yr supposed to do anyway) but that only gets you thru another 3 or 4 thousand turns. The real Joy is finding someone that can breathe new life in and inspire you to think about the tune in a new way.........& play it in a new way.
And yr man on the clarinet is still playing Fin Furey settings, note for note after 20 years. ("Why don't you learn some Frederick Paris tunes, for crysake?") (sorry, wrong board)
So, if you make the effort, yr "flock" thinks you actually like the tune and keep playing it everytime they see you. SO are you passing the nonsense along with the tradition?
Or is this conflict of interest line of thought just some bored navel gazing. Please advise.
*Yr Grammical Improprieties are my Group Identity Markers.
# Posted on November 10th 2005 by Owell Mabee
Re: I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
This is a superb topic - because it condenses into a single question, which I can't understand, three or four recent threads that I couldn't understand when they were posted separately.
Well done Owell.
This confusion is not my identity marker - it is a genuine failure to understand.
# Posted on November 10th 2005 by showaddydadito
Re: I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
Hey Owell - on a re-read, in case that seemed unfriendly - which wasn't intended - heres a smiley,
.
I just looked at your profile - we middle aged fat men need to stick together.
Well - as close as we can get anyway.
# Posted on November 10th 2005 by showaddydadito
Re: I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
I am in 3 minds whether to answer/respond to this thread so maybe I won't. Anyway we don't have any Blackbirds here in Perth (Oz). They have em in Melbourne - but we have crows/ravens in plenty.
As for the tune scenario above, I can't say for sure but I'd be co-operative the first time and then a little distant if it persisted. Not sure if my comment makes any more sense than the thread.
# Posted on November 10th 2005 by Donough
Re: I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
Hey, if we're talking birds, I just had two Gold finches on my Nut Bags & a flock of Long Tailed Tits called by this morning!
# Posted on November 10th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
"at least a couple of hundred tunes that I consider essential tunes for a trad player to have been thru"
I think that's where I began to struggle.
# Posted on November 10th 2005 by showaddydadito
Re: I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
Thanks for mentioning my recent thread Owell:
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/7966
Yep, it can be tough. You don't sound too happy with your music scene right now, or am I wrong?
# Posted on November 10th 2005 by Nick Splease
Re: I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
Hmm, not confusing to me. Not sure how much help I can be, but from one Texan to another - you made sense. What you're saying is that you aren't happy having to play this one (or maybe more) songs that this person has learned. Maybe it was a song you never liked. Anyways, you don't have the option of going to another session (big surprise there) so you have to stick it out in some form or another. You try to make it more interesting by ornamenting and adding variations but this all just seems to make the people you play with think you like the tune. And you seem to be suffering through some classical musico syndrome of someone playing stuff note for note.
My advice - you've played the tune three/four thousand times - I think they've learned it by now. So go get a drink or whatever when they play that tune. And quit teaching down to their level. Teach them up to yours. Maybe they can't handle all of the intricacies of the harder tunes but I bet they can still grasp the basics. Teach them tunes you like to play and encourage them to learn other tunes that you know you like, because it's quite possible that you are bogging down in not having enough tunes to make for a varied 2-3 hours of music.
Oh yeah, why don't you tell me what the evil song is, so that when I drive up (the hour and a half) to your session this Saturday I don't play it. Or give me a list of your favorite tunes and I'll try to know at least the bare bones of the tunes when I show up.
# Posted on November 10th 2005 by musicfan
Re: I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
I don't like blackbirds. Only crows. Red ones.
# Posted on November 10th 2005 by Red Crow
Re: I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
Ptarmigan, I am concerned about the Goldfinches on your nut bags.
Apart from the rich imagery (and your inevitable arrest if you besport yourself around town like this) surely the potential for disease (to both you and the birds) and the pain is not to be encouraged.
Down our way we only encourage Great Tits on our nut bags.
Sorry, what was the thread about again?
# Posted on November 10th 2005 by Geoff Pollitt
Re: I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
Honest Gov. it's a stitch up - that Pollitt bloke was just trying to frame me!
http://www.pollittselection.com/
# Posted on November 10th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
I had no idea I had relatives in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Let alone any who were trying to stitch you up.
I assume you needed the stitches due to the action of the Goldfinches on aforesaid nut bags?
# Posted on November 11th 2005 by Geoff Pollitt
Re: I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
The first time I met my mother in law, she was walking out of her back door holding two halves of a coconut.
"Hello dear," she called out to me "these are for my tits"
# Posted on November 11th 2005 by showaddydadito
Re: I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
I've got a crack team of Owls here who would be prepared to sort out any finches or tits causing bother to anyone's nutbags, for a small consideration, such as a brace of voles.
What was the question?
# Posted on November 11th 2005 by Sharon the Flute
Re: I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
Oh yes, soon after I started teaching, I learnt to only teach people tunes that I could stand to play over and over at slow speed.
Luckily, my favourite tune is 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'
# Posted on November 11th 2005 by Sharon the Flute
Re: I am of 3 minds, Like a tree In which there are 3 blackbirds.
showaddydadito... Really it was about being confused, so you hit the nail on the head. Anyway no offense taken.
DANNY MACKAY ..... It's a little frustrating no to get to soar much. I did mention the joy. There's 3 or 4 musos I get with sometimes that are really inspiring and fun to play with. There are few beginners that mange to radiate enough quality enthusiasm to make it pleasurable to help them. But the Big Shots cloister themselves in Closed "Sessions" (Performances). Most of my unhappiness stems from this Vampire Shift (5p-4a) and the limited social opportunities. At least I have weekends now.
Musicfan = I'll load the tunelist in my pickup and drive it out.so you can look at it.
I lost track after 700 and some-odd. I take so many breaks as it is that the Maid Behind The Bar thinks I'm in infatuated with her. Fortunately, she's charitably amused.
Ptarmo = I'd think the simple expedient of TREWS would be a good preventative. I know yer really Scots but that "regimental " bit can cause problems out here in the world
Sharon the Flute = I wish I could do for "Ger the Rigger" what Mozart did for "Twinkle, etc".
# Posted on November 12th 2005 by Owell Mabee