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Poll: Tune Of The Month For June, 2014


Jim Besser

Poll: Tune of the Month, June, 2014  

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Are you ready for summer? Actually, what I really mean is, are you ready to learn a great new tune?

 

Here are four tasty choices for June. Vote, then get to work!

 

Finnish: Emma's Waltz.

 

I can't remember where I first heard this lovely Finnish waltz, but I do remember that I initially thought it must be Klezmer, or something else out of Eastern Europe. Surprise - it's Finnish. What I really like about it is that it can be played in so many different ways. Here are a few examples.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvC80hNT1UM - this one has a real klezmer feel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1IHW0nTt8w - virtuosic playing by an Irish melodeonist
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0O4f3DuLzI . What is that instrument I'm playing? Sure doesn't look like a concertina!

 

Scottish: Alexandra Park.

 

I never heard this tune until C.netter Chris Drinkwater posted it in the May Theme of the Month. And I'm really glad he did because, as Chris said, it's a jolly little tune. Play it slow, play it at breakneck speed, it's all good.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSTtHfTFyic

Here's Chris playing it: https://soundcloud.com/aeolaman/alexandra-park

 

Welsh Gospel: Tôn Y Botel / Ebenezer

 

I confess: I know almost nothing about gospel music, hymns and the like. But I do know good tunes when I hear them, and this is definitely one.

 

I learned to love this tune when I heard it on Brian Peters' CD Squeezing Out Sparks. Brian pairs it with a lively Frederic Paris tune, Le Saut du Chien. If you don't have this CD, you should; it's full of great tunes and songs, like all Brian's recordings. On the CD, the tune is labeled Tôn Y Botel; a Web source suggested it was named Ebenezer after a chapel near Swansea, Wales.

 

I couldn't find any free reed versions online that wouldn't violate copyright, but here are a couple of very formal versions that should give you an idea of what the tune sounds like. If I get a chance before the poll closes, I'll record it on Anglo - a pale imitation of Brian's version, but it'll give you an idea of what it sounds like on concertina.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWQPalurs-U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UjBJIjPsYo

 

And here are some dots: http://abcnotation.com/tunePage?a=www.stephenmerrony.co.uk/ABC/Carols/E/Ebenezer/0000

 

English / Morris: Old Molly Oxford (Step Back).

 

One of the cool things about Morris dance music is that so many of the tunes are really nice even removed from the raucous world of bells, sticks and hankies. One of my favorites is the traditional tune Old Molly Oxford, also commonly called Step Back. I've played it in the typically chunky Morris dance style, but also heard haunting, very lyrical versions. Listen to this, by c.netter Aybee, and you'll see what I mean. Truly wonderful playing by Dapper's Delight.

 

And here's the tune in its native Morris setting:

Another version on banjo! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk73snbiX_g
And a sprightly version way too fast for any Morris group: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6unAt6AvvLQ
Finally, our own Peter Trimming on Anglo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKZHUWznlMY
If this is the tune selected for June, give it your own interpretation; no need to imagine a bunch of rowdy men and women wielding dangerous looking sticks.

 

That's it: vote for the tune you want to learn in June.

Remember, the TOTM is a great educational exercise for skilled players and newcomers to the concertina alike. Don't worry about mistakes; we all make plenty, especially when that red record light winks at us. Sometimes I think the record button should be re-labeled paralysis. The object here is to improve our skills through the discipline of recording and with the helpful feedback we get from our concertina colleagues.
Just as important, the goal is to have fun. I'm having plenty with TOTM; hope you are as well!
Edited by Jim Besser
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Here's one set of ABC for Emma's

 

X:1
T:Emma
R:Vals
S:Trad
O:Trad, Finland
M:3/4
L:1/8
Q:1/4=180
K:Am
Ac |: "Am"e3 e e2 | c2 A2 Ac | e3 e e2 | c2 A2 Ac | "E"B4 Bc |
d2 c2 B2 | "Am"A3 B cd | e4 Ac | e3 e e2 | c2 A2 c2 | e3 e e2 |
c2 A2 c2 | "E"B4 Bc | d2 c2 B2 | "Am"A3 B cB | [1 A4 Ac :|2 A2 c2 e2 |]
|: "Dm"a3 a a2 | a2 g2 f2 | "Am"e3 e e2 | e2 d2 c2 | "E"B4 Bc | d2 c2 B2 |
"Am"A3 B cd | e4 ce | "Dm"a3 a a2 | a2 g2 f2 | "Am"e3 d ef | e2 d2 c2 |
"E"B4 Bc | d2 c2 B2 | "Am"A3 B cB | [1 A2 c2 e2 :|2 A4 z2 |]
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And here's one set for Alexandra Park

 

This one seems to be played in G and A most commonly, while Emma's is in Am, Em, Dm, And perhaps some other keys.

 

X: 1
T:Alexandra Park
R:polka 32 reel
S:Kerr's Merry Melodies
M:2/2
L:1/8
Q:1/4=180
K:G
|:"G"d2BG d2BG|"C"cdef "D"agfe|
"G"d2BG d2BG|"D"ABcB ABc^c|
"G"d2BG d2BG|"C"cdef "D"agfe|
"G"dgfe "D"dcBA|"G"G2B2 G4:|
|:"D"A2FD "Em"B2GE|"Am"c2AF "Bm"d3d|
"C"edcB cBAG|"D"AGFE D4|
A2FD "Em"B2GE|"Am"c2AF "Bm"d3d|
"C"edcB "D"cBAG|ADFA "G"G4:|]
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The inimitable Belshazzar’s Feast play Ebenezer as the second tune in this set, featuring Paul Sartin on swanee whistle and general interruptions. It’s a poor recording but worth a listen, though they don’t entirely take it seriously!

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Well, Emma's Waltz is way ahead. I'll have to tell my Swedish friend Emma (who can play a bit on the EC, but is making a career of the oboe).

 

But there doesn't seem to have been any activity in this thread for nearly a week, and it's only a few hours before June arrives. Anybody else want to vote or comment before it's too late?.

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