The Session: Tunes - Die Alte Kath (waltz)

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

I learnt this last year at the Radway session at Sidmouth and don't know anything else about it. Couldn't decide whether to write it in 5/4, or 2/4 with 5-bar phrases, but alternating 3/4+2/4 seems to be best.
Once you get into this tune, it gets kinda hypnotic and can go on for quite some time!
Any other German tunes on here? Michael Turner's waltz - although Mozart was Austrian.

# Posted on March 21st 2009 by fynnjamin

5/4 and 2/4

Here it is then in other time signatures if you prefer, although 3/4 is clearer for the B part.

X: 1
T: Unser Alte Katze
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: Gmaj
|:D3 C|B,C (D2|D2) G2|F2 A2|G2 B2|D3 C|B,C (D2|D2) G2|F2 A2|G2 z2:|
|:E2 cB|c2 D2|BA B2|D2 A2|G2 B2|E2 cB|c2 D2|BA B2|D2 A2|G2 z2:|

# Posted on March 21st 2009 by fynnjamin

Zwiefacher

This is a Zwiefacher, a traditional dance common in Bavaria. The names means " a twice one". There are a couple of different types, this one is of the regular kind (3,3,2,2,3,3,2,2...)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zwiefacher

# Posted on March 21st 2009 by swisspiper

http://www.germandance.org/zwiefache.html

# Posted on March 21st 2009 by swisspiper

"Die Alte Kath" ~ Zwiefacher = mixed 3/4 & 2/4

Way back when, as I started my involvement with this website, I contributed this tune, and it was axed. Things have moved on since then. We used to play this in D Major, and that's how I was first introduced to it, though I remember it being played in C and F as well... Here's how I remember it and how I first contributed it a few years back, with other 'non-Irish' fare that also got the chop... :-D

X: 2
T: Die Alte Kath
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
R: zwiefacher
K: Dmaj
|: A3 G FG | A4 d2 | [M: 2/4] c2 e2 | d2 f2 | [M: 3/4]
A3 G FG | A4 d2 | [M: 2/4] c2 e2 | d4 :|
|: B2 gf g2 | A2 fe f2 | [M: 2/4] c2 e2 | d2 f2 | [M: 3/4]
B2 gf g2 | A2 fe f2 | [M: 2/4] c2 e2 | d4 :|

This is one of only a few 'regular' Zweifacher, meaning it alternates 2 x 3/4 with 2 x 2/4. They are great fun to dance and to play, whether regular or not... We kept time with one beat or foot tap per measure, short (2/4) & long (3/4), in a similar fashion to Balkan mixed meters or as if the measures were 3/8 & 2/8... A tapan gives a great rhythmic accompaniment to these... ;-)

# Posted on March 21st 2009 by ceolachan

Deutsch Tanz

Yes, there are a few other Germanic tunes on site here... There is also a great website for German music online. I'll see if I can find the link for you... The Irish 7-step has its origins there too:

"Siebenschritt" / "German" / "Lucy Farr's Barndance"
Submitted on January 8th 2003 by Bannerman.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1307
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1307/comments

Da Seven Step Polka
Submitted on June 2nd 2007 by Dow.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/7298

TANZ! / DANCE! - Steps for this 'seed':
The Seven-Step (originally 12 bars) / The German (short/long) / The German Schottische / The Seven-Step Polka / The Ulster 7-Step
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/3371/comments

"Sallbacher Masur"
Submitted on June 25th 2008 by ceolachan.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/8658

# Posted on March 21st 2009 by ceolachan

Volksmusik und Volkstanz im Alpenland ~ a lovely website

http://www.volksmusik.cc/

"Boxhamerisch Zwiefach / Unser alte Kath"
http://www.volksmusik.cc/volkstanz/zwiefachboxhamerisch.htm

# Posted on March 21st 2009 by ceolachan

"Boxhamerisch Zwiefach" / "Unser alte Kath"

http://www.volksmusik.cc/volkstanz/zwiefachboxhamerisch.htm

X: 3
T: Die Alte Kath
L: 1/8
R: zwiefacher
K: Dmaj
|: [M: 3/4]
AB AG FG | A4 d2 | [M: 2/4] c2 e2 | d2 f2 | [M: 3/4]
AB AG FG | A4 d2 | [M: 2/4] c2 e2 | d4 :|
|: [M: 3/4]
B2 gf g2 | A2 fe f2 | [M: 2/4] c2 e2 | d2 f2 | [M: 3/4]
B2 gf g2 | A2 fe f2 | [M: 2/4] c2 e2 | d4 :|

& the lyrics ~

Unser alte Kath mõcht ah ah, ah an,
Unser alte Kath mõcht ah ah Mann.
Unser alte Kath hat ah ah, ah an,
Unser alte Kath hat ah ah Mann.

Wart nur a bissl, wart nur a bissl, kummt scho, kummt scho,
war nur a bissl, wart nur a bissl, kummt scho, no.
Hatscht nur a bissl, scheanglt nur a bissl, tuat's scho, tuat's scho,
Hatscht nur a bissl, scheanglt nur a bissl, tuat's scho no.

# Posted on March 21st 2009 by ceolachan

Unser Alte Katth

From my dismal German, "c", that looks Austrian

We had a German visitor to our session a few years back who introduced us to a Zweifacher - great fun. She even got up and tried to teach the braver ones how to dance it (not me) once she'd got us established on the tune.

I wish I could remember the name of the tune that we played!

# Posted on March 21st 2009 by spindizzy

Yup! :-D

# Posted on March 21st 2009 by ceolachan

Spin, is it 'equal', meaning 3-3-2-2-3-3-2-2 ~ etc...? There aren't many as balanced as that, as regular, so if it is, I may be able to pull your tune out of a hat. Or, if you remember the order, waltz to polka (dreher/pivot), give me some idea and I many still be able to pull it out of the, well, flat cap... ;-)

# Posted on March 21st 2009 by ceolachan

My German ~ speaking, reading and writing ~ is likely even more dismal than yours... But I aspire to improve. However, eating the food and drinking Bock beers doesn't seem to be enough... :-/

# Posted on March 21st 2009 by ceolachan

Bavarian

While the title given with the abc "Unser(e) alte Katz" means "our old Cat" the lyrics of the song mean something comletely different:

Our old Cathie wants ah ah, ah an,
Our old Cathie wants a man
Our old Cathie has ah ah, ah an,
Our old Cathie has a man

Wait a little, wait a little, it'll come, it'll come
Wait a little, wait a little, it'll come,still
Limps a little, cross-eyed a little, don't care, don't care
Limps a little, cross-eyed a little, don't care even still.

# Posted on March 22nd 2009 by swisspiper

wow great thanks everyone for all this!

# Posted on March 22nd 2009 by fynnjamin

Bless the Bavarians, an influence that bleeds into Austria, and my favourite German, to my ears that likes it a little rougher than how the North takes it... ;-) & dear Swiss Piper, thanks for filling in the 'blanks'... :-/

# Posted on March 22nd 2009 by ceolachan

Zweifacher

I'll see if the dancers remember, c
I vaguely remember unequal, more waltz than polka.

# Posted on March 22nd 2009 by spindizzy

There are all sorts Spin, and there are those that go through progressive changes rather than a definite repeat pattern... I don't have it at hand, but one of my favourite recordings was of someone they called the 'king of zweifacher', on the box, I believe Austrian, and brilliant playing...

# Posted on March 22nd 2009 by ceolachan

c. - Ihad to fill some blanks in my German as well, but since I know there is an online dictionnary Austrian <-> German at
http://www.ostarrichi.org.

The dance is waltz in the 3/4 and a turn in the 2/4 bars?

# Posted on March 22nd 2009 by swisspiper

John Barnes has a couple of nice ones in "A Little Couple DanceMusic"

# Posted on March 23rd 2009 by Alancorsini

Oops

Sorry . . . PETER Barnes'

# Posted on March 23rd 2009 by Alancorsini

'dreher' = 'double' = 'pivot' = 1-2

Swiss ~ yes, waltz and 'dreher', or as called in Irish set dancing, 'the double', in this case one complete turn with just two steps. So, waltz round for 2 x 123, then once round with a 1-2... Some I've danced finish with a long stretch of the 'double' / 'dreher' ~ 1-2, 1-2, 1-2, 1-2 ~ and if you're going to get up for one of those you really don't want too much alcohol in your system... ;-)

# Posted on March 25th 2009 by ceolachan

"A little Couple-Dancemusik"

: 400 Waltzes, Polkas, Tangos, Hambos, Zwiefachers
and other traditional dance tunes."
Transcribed, edited and chorded by Peter Barnes, 1992

http://mysite.verizon.net/~peterabarnes/books.htm
http://mysite.verizon.net/~peterabarnes/coup_intro.htm

http://www.sover.net/~marylea/bnhome.htm
http://www.sover.net/~marylea/bnmems_p.htm

Yes Alan, as usual for Mr. Barnes, a lovely book...

# Posted on March 25th 2009 by ceolachan