At almost any session I've ever been to in my area, Boys of Blue Hill gets played with Harvest Home. I guess If I was new to a session, and unfamiliar with the tunes that particular session usually links together, I might ask, "Shall we play Britches Full of Stitches and Bill Sullivan's next?" (as an example.) Is that proper session etiquette? Somene will let me know...
-Andee
I think this thread or a variant on it has come up before. Most established sessions build up their own favourite sets over a period of time. These may derive from all sorts of sources such as universally played sets (Tarbolton, Longford Collector & Sailor's Bonnet or maybe Joe Cooley's Reel & Wise Maid are two examples); also we too always play the Cork Hornpipe after The Boys of Bluehill at the Monkstown sessions! I agree with you that it's always a good idea to let other musicians know the tunes you're going to play before launching into a set (if you're interested in the sets we put together over a two year period or so at the Monkstown Wednesday sessions, these are now available via the Comhaltas website - see http://www.comhaltas.com/seisiun/foinn.htm for details)
I'd say there are no hard rules about this, or tunes that "have" to go with each other, althought they should obviously be the same type of tune (jig/reel) and probably with a similar feel.
The aim should be to get some kind of "lift"(feeling of musical satisfaction) from the changeover.
The changeover should slide naturally and there should be no feeling of "cramming notes in". Look for tunes probably in a different key where the last notes and first notes "fit together". They can slide smoothly or sometimes a clear cut break and then attack on the first beat of the new tune is good.
Each tune has a different mood, often it's the change of mood that makes things interesting. Changing key is good, also major/minor changes can be very effective.
In a session, if the others will let you lead a set, they'll probably trust you to string tunes together.
One thing that I and many others enjoy about sessions is that the tunes are not "permanently stuck together" like they would when playing on stage or in an organised group. Having said that, the more popular tunes often lurk in "loose groups" and go best together in some arrangement or other. (also allowing everyone to join in on the more popular sets).
sets
sets
Are there any rules for deciding which tunes get linked together? For example what two tunes might you play with "the boys of bluehill"
# Posted on September 29th 2002 by mike880
Re: sets
At almost any session I've ever been to in my area, Boys of Blue Hill gets played with Harvest Home. I guess If I was new to a session, and unfamiliar with the tunes that particular session usually links together, I might ask, "Shall we play Britches Full of Stitches and Bill Sullivan's next?" (as an example.) Is that proper session etiquette? Somene will let me know...
-Andee
# Posted on September 29th 2002 by Andee
Re: sets
I think this thread or a variant on it has come up before. Most established sessions build up their own favourite sets over a period of time. These may derive from all sorts of sources such as universally played sets (Tarbolton, Longford Collector & Sailor's Bonnet or maybe Joe Cooley's Reel & Wise Maid are two examples); also we too always play the Cork Hornpipe after The Boys of Bluehill at the Monkstown sessions! I agree with you that it's always a good idea to let other musicians know the tunes you're going to play before launching into a set (if you're interested in the sets we put together over a two year period or so at the Monkstown Wednesday sessions, these are now available via the Comhaltas website - see http://www.comhaltas.com/seisiun/foinn.htm for details)
# Posted on September 30th 2002 by Bannerman
Re: sets
I'd say there are no hard rules about this, or tunes that "have" to go with each other, althought they should obviously be the same type of tune (jig/reel) and probably with a similar feel.
The aim should be to get some kind of "lift"(feeling of musical satisfaction) from the changeover.
The changeover should slide naturally and there should be no feeling of "cramming notes in". Look for tunes probably in a different key where the last notes and first notes "fit together". They can slide smoothly or sometimes a clear cut break and then attack on the first beat of the new tune is good.
Each tune has a different mood, often it's the change of mood that makes things interesting. Changing key is good, also major/minor changes can be very effective.
In a session, if the others will let you lead a set, they'll probably trust you to string tunes together.
One thing that I and many others enjoy about sessions is that the tunes are not "permanently stuck together" like they would when playing on stage or in an organised group. Having said that, the more popular tunes often lurk in "loose groups" and go best together in some arrangement or other. (also allowing everyone to join in on the more popular sets).
Kenn
# Posted on September 30th 2002 by Kenn
Re: sets
Definately no rules. If you find some, break them
# Posted on September 30th 2002 by ...
Re: sets
Wahhhh! I wanna go to Edinburgh again and visit your session, Michael
No one I've met plays Kildare Fancy but me, but that would work after Boys of Bluehill, I think. It's similiar to Harvest Home, though.
# Posted on September 30th 2002 by soft black stars
Re: sets
Actually, I made a mistake, there is one rule that you can't break.
Don't play tunes all night that nobody else knows
# Posted on October 1st 2002 by ...