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Playing With My Accordion Friend


Aquarussell

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Hello,

 

Is there someplace I could find sheet music for an Irish duet that I could play with my Accordion playing friend? I hope something not too difficult, as I am just a beginner. And I am playing an English system Jackie.

 

We both dance in an international folk dance group, and he has volunteered the both of us to play a duet during an Irish show.

 

Thanks,

Russell Hedges

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Thank you.

 

I need something not too hard, and in time to practice it with Ted (the Accordionist) for a show on March 14th. If that's too soon, then I would not blame you for changing your mind!

 

I wonder why we get any gigs dancing Irish at all, what with there being a few specifically Irish Dance organisations here in San Diego. I suppose that all the really GOOD groups will be busy on St. Patric's Day.

 

Ted suggested something in a pattern like A-B-B-A, or anyway something without too many different verses to it.

 

Thanks again,

Russell Hedges

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I have a fondness for waltzes. . . but really, I need something I can play, slow to medium tempo. I really am just a beginner, I got the Concertina in November last year.

 

People could dance to it, but that's not neccessary.

 

By the way, it's nice of you to offer to arrange something, I was only hoping to be show a link or something.

 

Thanks,

Russell Hedges

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  • 2 weeks later...

What about an air or waltz. Southwind sounds nice as a duet.

 

There's some book out there with tunes used for English Country Dance that already notes music in three parts. Whoever made the copies of these tunes for me didn't note what book they were from. This is frustrating because the arrangements I have from it are quite good.

 

Great that you are already playing gigs!

 

ldp

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There's some book out there with tunes used for English Country Dance that already notes music in three parts. Whoever made the copies of these tunes for me didn't note what book they were from. This is frustrating because the arrangements I have from it are quite good.

I suspect these may be arrangements by Marshall Barron. She has several books, which can be purchased from the Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS).

....Her arrangements, in particular, can be found here.

 

And remember that copying may flatter the author, but it doesn't pay her (and most music -- including Marshall's -- is copyright).

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I should have posted this last Wednesday, but the March Irish dance I was to dance and play for is off. For me at least, I have to work that day.

 

Thank you for the offer Mr. Wright. I appreciate it. I am glad you have been too busy to work on an arrangement for Concertina and Accordion! I however have LOTS of things to look through now! I thank all who posted to this subject!

 

Russell Hedges

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I suspect these may be arrangements by Marshall Barron. She has several books, which can be purchased from the Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS).

....Her arrangements, in particular, can be found here.

 

Are these compact? One tune per page? That's the format for this book.

 

And remember that copying may flatter the author, but it doesn't pay her (and most music -- including Marshall's -- is copyright).

 

As I wrote, someone made the copies for me and those were apparently given to that person by someone else. I have been attempting to find the book, with much frustration, because the arrangements are quite good and I would like to buy it. No arranger is credited. The tunes I have are Purcell or Playford/O'Carolan. I have been looking unsuccessfully for this book for a couple of years.

 

ldp

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Your time will come again, I'm sure, Russell. So here's a standing offer for you.

 

There are many fine midi arrangements of tunes on the web and search engines dedicated to finding them. If you find an example of something you want to play, let me know. The program TablEdit, which I use, lets you import the midi and view, play, or print out the separate parts, transposed as you wish. You throw away the parts you don't want, maybe combine two and away you go. It's pretty simple and I use it that way a lot.

 

So, feel free to contact me offline if you find something you want. A lot of British Isles tunes can be found on www.contemplator.com. I tend to find them a little dense and usually throw away or combine over half the parts. You'd need to let me know the range of the various instruments, who gets the accompaniment and so forth.

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There's some book out there with tunes used for English Country Dance that already notes music in three parts. Whoever made the copies of these tunes for me didn't note what book they were from. This is frustrating because the arrangements I have from it are quite good.
I suspect these may be arrangements by Marshall Barron.

That sounded familiar to me so I looked up to see if those were the same as what I had - but not! I've two books of ECD for recorder trio by Michael Meech and one by Stephanie Champion. I also rediscovered my copy of the Northumbrian Piper's Duet Book which also may be appropriate. Does anyone know if these are still in print and available?

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The Duet Book, published by the Northumbrian Pipers' Society, is indeed still in print.

 

Another source might be the set of Piper's Companion books published by Derek Hobbs. These books contain Northumbrian, Scottish and English tunes arranged for two or three parts. Guitar chords are also included. The series consists of Piper's Companion Books 1 to 4, Book 5 is subtitled Classics for Folk, Book 6 contains tunes only in the key of D, and Book 7, subtitled The Wild Hills o' Wannies contains tunes only in the keys of Em and Am. Each book contains 40 to 50 settings.

 

In North America, many of these books can be obtained from Andy's Front Hall at:

 

Andy's

 

or from Dave Mallinson's web site at:

 

Mallys

 

Cheers,

 

Peter Dyson

Bellingham, WA

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