Here is our new tune from 20th May, Peace and Plenty. It’s a tune from the 1718 edition of the Playford collection, I learned this from fantastic fiddle player Ben Potton, it is a little different than in that early manuscript, but only in the connecting/passing notes. It’s related to the Old Molly Oxford/Old Tom of Oxford Morris tune and we will potentially pair it with Old Meddon.
Here is the PDF:
Monday saw us adding a riff to Old Meddon (dots and PDF are updated) and trying Jigolo in A major (A major version in PDF under dots). We looked at the patterns of scales, arpeggios and sequences in Jigolo and used this to go from G major to A major. Useful questions included: which degree of the scale does the tune start on (A part and B part)? In bar 7-8, which degree of the scale does the descending scale start on?
Some tunes have set keys that they are typically played but others can vary. I’ve played Jigolo in both G and A major at various sessions, for instance. It’s therefore a useful skill to be able to play tunes in different keys – it also helps to fully internalise each tune, to cement the tune in one’s memory, to make sure you know the tune inside out. Certain ornaments, variations and bowings will be easier on different notes in particular keys, and certain keys are more or less resonant on different instruments. Exploring a tune like this helps to get it in your memory long term – which of the tunes in your repertoire can you play in different keys?
An English Morris tune for May Day, Old Meddon of Fawsley from the Longborough (Gloucestershire) tradition. I’ve not found any videos of this being danced, not sure why because it’s a fantastic tune! I think it’s related to Idbury Hill, given the similarities in the B part, but it definitely stands alone as a great tune. I found it in Chris Bartram’s English Fiddle book, which I would highly recommend.
New Ealing Sessions 