michael sam wild Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 I put a post on melodeon.net asking for some background on this tune and got a nice answer from Greg Stephens of The Boat Band on whose record I heard it Barry Callaghan's book says it had no name in the book but Greg says it was called Westmoreland and was in 6/8 time from Walsh's book of 1718 before the waltz as a dance was introduced. Greg's band slowed it down and called it WW. It's a lovely slow waltz and a pretty ordinary Jig (IMHO)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Harrison Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 ................and here are the notes for it. Robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael sam wild Posted October 26, 2008 Author Share Posted October 26, 2008 that's the one! thanks. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tootler Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 It was in the 1686 Edition of Playford's Dancing Master where it was also called "Westmoreland". It was in 6/4 time in Playford - which can be thought of as similar to 6/8 but with the note values all being doubled. Although it predates the Waltz, when the Waltz became fashionable quite a number of existing tunes were adapted to the Waltz. This is quite likely what happened with Westmorland. It's a lovely tune which I play quite a lot - usually on the tenor recorder which it fits beautifully and I have also heard it played on Northumberland pipes. I first heard it on a York Waits CD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Harrison Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 .......................just out of interest here it is in 6/4 time I've taken it from the Complete Country Dance Tunes.It's almost identical............but bar 5 is a bit odd ? Lovely tune,eh. I'm surprided it's not more widely popular...maybe it will be now it's on the Hardcore English Cd etc. Robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael sam wild Posted October 28, 2008 Author Share Posted October 28, 2008 Thanks Robin and Geoff. The 6/4 must have echoes of a 3/2 hornpipe, I'll try to figure that out, but the waltz is great, I agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Prebble Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 If you are looking for a perfect companion for the Westmoreland waltz, try the Sommervals Dave ......................................... X: 1 T: Sommarvals M: 3/4 L: 1/8 R: waltz K: Gmaj |:d2c2|B3A G2|A4F2|G6|E3FE2|D2G2A2|c4B2|B2A2G2|A2d3c| B3A G2|A4F2|G6|E3FE2|D2E2G2|G4F2|G6|G2:| |:F2G2|A3AA2|A2F2D2|c6|B3AG2|E2ABc2|d3cBA|G2F2G2|A2B3A| G3AG2|F3GF2|E3FE2|D2G2A2|1B3AG2|A2d2F2|G6|G2:|2c3BAG|A2d2F2|G6|G2|| Recorded by Frifot (Per Gudmundson, Ale Moller, Lena Willemark) on the album Jarven. Also recorded by Old Swan Band and Andrew & Margaret Watchorn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Harrison Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 Nice tune ,Dave. I've been trying this one,called "Life in the Trenches", to see if it works.It's nice and minory (!) I found it in some on-line ABC collection, which one I now forget.It said it's English but is obviously French in feel. It also stirs some vague recollection of a theme for a TV programme of my youth . Any ideas ? Robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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