Here is the recording of Coronation Day tune with the phased rhythmic ostinato that we used in the warm up, inspired in part by Steve Reich’s Clapping Music which was in turn partially inspired by flamenco music.
Here is a video of Clapping Music with a useful graphic to help you see what’s going on. The pattern is repeated eight times before the lower part phases by one quaver.
This week’s tune is English Morris dance tune Constant Billy. There are versions in most of the different Cotswold Morris tradition in various keys, though often transposed into G major to suit the commonly used melodeon. We made two different versions of the chords, the first being a conservative version that harmonises every half bar and the second a more contemporary version that harmonises every full bar. To refer back to our inspiration arrangement, Coronation Day, we have used/tried:
We will look at long and short ostinati next week and use these to make an intro/outro for the whole piece, also extending the tune by developing certain phrases.
Here is the video, with the second version of the chords:
Here are the dots:
I’m not going to put up dots for the arrangement we tried last week as we have used the Nick Wyke and Becki Driscoll arrangement as a base and that is not mine to share! The elements we have taken from it to use this week are:
Idbury Hill/Sheriff’s Ride
Captain Leno’s/Major Mackie
Uncle Bernard’s/Grandfather’s Tune
Mairi’s Wedding/Peat Fire Flame
Hector the Hero
Kafoozalum
Rusty Gully/Pawkie Adam Glen
Lilting Banshee/My Darling Asleep
Star Above the Garter
And finally, the arrangements for our last few tunes – we will run through all arrangements on Monday 28th.
Star Above the Garter:
Uncle Bernard’s/Grandfather’s Tune
Lilting Banshee and My Darling Asleep
Captain Lanoe’s/Major Mackie’s:
Hector the Hero harmony and arrangement:
Mairi’s Wedding/Peat Fire Flame arrangment:
Rusty Gully/Pawkie Adam Glen arrangement:
On this Monday (21st) we will look at The Lilting Banshee/May Darling Asleep, Uncle Bernard’s/Grandfather’s, Star Above the Garter and Idbury Hill/Sheriff’s Ride.
I’ve given you three files here, the first is the complete arrangement of the set in written out instructions. The other two are the compact scores for Captain Leno’s and Major Mackie. I’ve also made a video of the rhythmic variation for the B sections of Major Mackie.
Here are some videos talking about how to play accompanying chords on the fiddle, as requested last week. The first two videos are explanations, there are then some hastily drawn chord shapes, and finally some ACapella videos demonstrating the chord sequences and rhythms in context.
Video one – basic chords and rhythms, using Step Back as a reference:
Video Two – slightly more difficult chords and some other things to consider, using Idbury Hill as a reference. Also, I turned the lights on.
Here are some pictures of the chord shapes:
And finally, the shuffle ideas in context: