My Learning Process - Bourrée D'egletons.

[PeterT]

Thought I'd share how I've reached my current point on Bourrée d'Egletons.

 

My start point was one of the video clips from the December 2007 "George Session", London. Bourrée d'Egletons is the second tune in the set:

 

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca2qonkYDKo

 

I then managed to find the ABC notation (in the key of F), transposed it into G (key of session recording) using:

 

http://www.8ung.at/abctransposer/

 

Pasted the tune into the Tune-o-tron:

 

http://www.concertina.net/tunes_convert.html

 

Converted the music into sheet form and saved/printed.

 

At this point, I started learning the tune from a combination of the sheet music and recordings, using first English concertina, then Anglo. Having got the tune "somewhere close" to the original, I then wondered whether the concept of offering sheet music, plus audio, plus video had any mileage as a learning tool.

 

There is a problem in that I can't achieve a sharp focus on the sheet music, as yet, but if this could be resolved, would it be of use? Bourrée d'Egletons is the second of the two tunes.

 

Here's my two recordings, both played in G (interestingly, both recordings came out at 50 seconds!):

 

On English:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=StB-M7U0Sg0

On C/G Anglo (octave higher than written):

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BM6f3WF2RV4

[peelypost]

I would certainly use it, Peter. In fact, as I have mentioned in another post, my current 'study' piece which I am rather pleased with was learned this way (your La luna dins l'aiga video, thread, and score posted a few weeks ago).

 

You could always just post the abc / score along with the link to the video as a starter.

 

Cheers,

 

Neil.

[Leo]

Hi Peter

 

Nice idea. I like it. If the concertina, and the music were the same distance from the camera, then both would be in focus. If they are different distances, then chances are then only one would be in focus. The effect is called depth of field.

 

Thanks

Leo

[gibet_b]

Thanks Peter to try to do good learning tools !

 

I'm always amazed by english men (or americane, etc) who play songs like "Bourrée d'Egletons". Because Egletons is a little town not so far to mine. And because, in france, this kind of songs are often unliked...

 

But I suppose that it's the same for an irish or an english man who listen a frenchie played a traditionnal song of his country. Something is a bit different maybe : the french traditionnal songs are often called by the name of a town, and a lot of town are located very near my location, in Auvergne region. And for a lot of french people, Auvergne is the "asshole of the world", as we say in french

Edited January 8, 2008 by gibet_b

[PeterT]

I'm always amazed by english men (or americane, etc) who play songs like "Bourrée d'Egletons". Because Egletons is a little town not so far to mine. And because, in france, this kind of songs are often unliked...

Hi JB,

 

Thanks for your comment.

 

Maybe it's the same in many countries; certainly in England a large percentage of the population have no regard for our traditions.

 

So, where in the Auvergne are you? I was fairly close to Egletons on my visit, last year. From what I saw of the Auvergne, I was quite impressed.

 

Regards,

Peter.

[gibet_b]

I'm in the "Puy-De-Dôme" county (like Juliette Daume, but if i'm no wrong, on the opposite point on a map), more precisely in an area called "Les Combrailles", and more again precisely in a village called Saint-Maurice Près Pionsat.

 

I know that english people love Auvergne ! My wife is teacher in the village's school and 25% of the children are english !!! To be honnest, the only problem : it's now very difficult to buy a no so expansive house... Or we had to make it build, but it's not the same. But you are wecome ! Come in France, come in Auvergne !

 

For me, I'm proud to be an auvergnat, and i always happy to talk about it ! And to prove it and finish, some photos (on the 2nd : my sister, me and my wife) :

 

 

 

[PeterT]

For me, I'm proud to be an auvergnat, and i always happy to talk about it ! And to prove it and finish, some photos (on the 2nd : my sister, me and my wife) :

Thanks for the update plus the photos; the nearest I got was to travel through Pontaumur (maybe 25/30 km south of you).

 

In your area, are there many players of traditional music? Also, which type(s) of music do you wish to play on the concertina?

 

Regards,

Peter.

[David Barnert]

Is your video editing software versatile enough to add the notation to the bottom of the screen "post-production"? Then it could be as clear as a pdf.

 

By the way, when playing the tune (particularly on the English), I would try to add some hurdy-gurdy-like drone notes. It's really effective with this tune in the George video.

[PeterT]

Is your video editing software versatile enough to add the notation to the bottom of the screen "post-production"? Then it could be as clear as a pdf.

 

By the way, when playing the tune (particularly on the English), I would try to add some hurdy-gurdy-like drone notes. It's really effective with this tune in the George video.

Hi David,

 

Thanks for your comments.

 

I don't have any editing software, so all my videos are un-edited (I'm just a simple soul!).

 

One of these days I'll work out how to do more "fancy" things on the English. What I did try, on the Anglo, was to see how this tune came out in various keys on the C/G. C,G,D,F are all possible, but in F (the "written" key for this tune), the tune sounds great with a C drone.

 

Regards,

Peter.

[David Barnert]

One of these days I'll work out how to do more "fancy" things on the English.

Sorry, Peter. I had just read Danny Chapman's last post here and was beginning to think anybody could do that.

[PeterT]

One of these days I'll work out how to do more "fancy" things on the English.

Sorry, Peter. I had just read Danny Chapman's last post here and was beginning to think anybody could do that.

Hi David,

 

Well, Danny was "a bit good" when I first met him at the ICA Festival in 1991; in fact good enough to win the "Advanced English" and "2/3 Concertinas" classes that year!

 

Like most things, I guess, with some talent and much dedication, it's possible. For me, just being able to play a single line melody, from a sheet of music, is a step forward.

 

Regards,

Peter.

[gibet_b]

In your area, are there many players of traditional music?

 

I don't know yet where is the nearest group of players of traditionnal music... But i will seek. And the grand father of my wife is a fan of traditionnal music, so he probably know where i can find players to play with them.

But all the players that i saw for the moment don't have concertina players (but bagpipe, vielle, accordion).

 

I hope to play with my family too : my sister played piano for a long time ; my mother played piano and guitar, and now begin to learn accordion ; my wife wish to study again the guitar...

 

Also, which type(s) of music do you wish to play on the concertina?

 

In fact, i wish to play a lot of types of music on the concertina : traditionnal music of auvergne and celtic music (all kind of celtic music, french, irish, scottish...) for the most important part, and why not types of music that rarely used concertina : country (i love Johnny Cash) for example.

Edited January 8, 2008 by gibet_b

[PeterT]

In your area, are there many players of traditional music?

 

I don't know yet where is the nearest group of players of traditionnal music... But i will seek. And the grand father of my wife is a fan of traditionnal music, so he probably know where i can find players to play with them.

But all the players that i saw for the moment don't have concertina players (but bagpipe, vielle, accordion).

 

I hope to play with my family too : my sister played piano for a long time ; my mother played piano and guitar, and now begin to learn accordion ; my wife wish to study again the guitar...

 

Also, which type(s) of music do you wish to play on the concertina?

 

In fact, i wish to play a lot of types of music on the concertina : traditionnal music of auvergne and celtic music (all kind of celtic music, french, irish, scottish...) for the most important part, and why not types of music that rarely used concertina : country (i love Johnny Cash) for example.

 

Apart from seeing the musicians at "The George", London, my main exposure to French traditional music has been via YouTube. Bagpipes/vielle/accordion seems to be a popular line-up, and works extremely well. But, as you will have realised, concertina also works well for French music. I favour the C/G tuning, which puts the concertina generally one octave higher than the accordion. So, I think you will have lots of fun.

 

Good, also, that you are able to play music with other family members. My mother tells me that her father and three of his brothers were musicians, and they used to play music together, in Wales, back in the 1930's. Must be a wonderful experience.

 

I think that the concertina is a good choice for many types of music, not just "traditional" or "classical". It's good, when you have learnt the basics, and made further progress, to push the boundaries.

 

Regards,

Peter.

[gibet_b]

I think that the concertina is a good choice for many types of music, not just "traditional" or "classical". It's good, when you have learnt the basics, and made further progress, to push the boundaries.

 

It's my plan. I hope I will be able to "push the boundaries". I think it's perfectly possible : i heard somebody try to play "La valse d'Amélie" by Yann Tiersen (from the "Amélie Poulain" soundtrack) and it was very interesting... It's possible but if i will be able to match the challenge.

 

For the moment, I seek for a repertoire of songs that i will be able to learn. I found for celtic music on this website (my favourites songs are here : Carrickfergus, Brian Boru's March, Morrison's jig ; only some of them miss : foggy dew, the town i love so well, and 2 or 3 songs. But I don't know french traditionnal music as well as celtic music, and i don't know where i can find a compilation of the most well known french traditionnal, especially auvergne's songs. I'm curious to learn this type of music, but i don't know it very well.

[PeterT]

But I don't know french traditionnal music as well as celtic music, and i don't know where i can find a compilation of the most well known french traditionnal, especially auvergne's songs. I'm curious to learn this type of music, but i don't know it very well.

Try this link, which has the tunes in ABC format :

 

http://www.tradfrance.com/

 

Regards,

Peter.

[PeterT]

By the way, when playing the tune (particularly on the English), I would try to add some hurdy-gurdy-like drone notes. It's really effective with this tune in the George video.

Hi David,

 

Your "drone" comment got me thinking..........what would this sound like on a duet? So, I've tried it on the Jeffries Duet, in the key of F, using just an F drone on the left hand.

 

Regards,

Peter.

 

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=JCAKoGTOFf4

 

PS - that just leaves the Maccann Duet to complete my "set".

[Alan Day]

As far as I am aware the only books available which feature tunes (I am assuming that where you say songs you mean tunes) from the Auvergne region and others in Central France were written by Mel Stevens Massif Books 1 & 2. Many of the tunes had no names and were collected by Mel on his various trips to France. There was a very active group led by my old friend Phillippe Krumm in Paris holding many events featuring dances from Auvergne and Bourbonnais regions.

Our group "Rosbif" were lucky to be invited to play alongside some of the great French Groups.Phillppe's group was called "Paris Centre" and featured an amazing cabrette bagpipe player,who just happened to be the most enthusiastic Auvergne dancer I have ever seen.Sadly he was having Wife problems at the time and had to keep going home to make the peace only to slip out again to join us.There were no concertina players that I knew of involved in French music at the time we were there ,but certainly one of the best Duet players Jean Megly is a wonderful player of French Dance Music as many of you who have heard him can verify.

Al

[Dirge]

Peter, with the greatest of respect, that's not 'What it sounds like on a duet' It's 'What it sounds like on bagpipes'!