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Discussions => Tune of the Month => Topic started by: Clive Williams on August 01, 2016, 07:44:58 AM

Title: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Clive Williams on August 01, 2016, 07:44:58 AM
Here we go folks - a rather nice 32bar jig in G; there's also a rather nice third part that makes it a 48 bar jig too which I'm sure someone will only demo in a bit.

Enjoy
Clive
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Lester on August 01, 2016, 07:54:57 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcUv38wm2zE

X:360
T:Oyster Girl
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G
B2c|ded B2 G|A2 F D3|G2 G BGB|d2 c A3|
ded Bdg|f2 e c2 e|ded cBA|1G2 B:|2 G3 G2 d||
Bcd Bcd|e2 c e2 c|ABc ABc|d2 B d2 B|
ded Bdg|f2 e c2 e|ded cBA|1G3 G2 d:|2 G2 B||
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Clive Williams on August 01, 2016, 10:27:29 AM
Cheers Lester :-)
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: folkbluesnbeyond on August 01, 2016, 11:53:40 AM
https://youtu.be/iX84sfW7_7w

48 bar Oyster Girl  is middle tune in this set from 2011, now to see what we can do with it for this month.

All the best

Bill
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: 911377brian on August 01, 2016, 11:59:20 AM
Play it on a one row Bill...please
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Lester on August 01, 2016, 12:08:59 PM
Play it on a one row Bill...please

Perfectly doable on a 1 row in either octave.
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: george garside on August 01, 2016, 12:33:30 PM
I wouldn't dream of playing it any other way than on one row 'cos the 'bounce' comes free of charge!

george ;)
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: folkbluesnbeyond on August 01, 2016, 02:19:40 PM
as requested, 48 bars (x2) one row A, and a 32 bar 3/4 knoodle on BbEb.

 https://youtu.be/PtHHqUlHwKc

All the best

Bill
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: 911377brian on August 01, 2016, 02:25:45 PM
Just what I wanted, thanks Bill
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: playandteach on August 01, 2016, 02:41:57 PM
as requested, 48 bars (x2) one row A, and a 32 bar 3/4 knoodle on BbEb.

 https://youtu.be/PtHHqUlHwKc
Well done. I think someone should lock me in a room with a one row for a week and not let me out until I could play something.
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: penn on August 01, 2016, 10:59:13 PM
Here's mine played on Mr Grunty in G
https://youtu.be/0ryzPHS165Q (https://youtu.be/0ryzPHS165Q)

Yes P&T you should get a 1 row. I haven't really got the hang of it, but it's a lot of fun all the same.
Steve
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Steve_freereeder on August 02, 2016, 12:46:19 AM
A few years ago Forrest (of this parish) posted the following, which for me, sums up the glories of playing a one-row box:

It forces you to make the decision of what to leave in and what to leave out, as well as what to fake. You must be decisive in selecting the note you are using, as a mis-step can be alarming. Also, since the ins and outs are pretty much the same up and down the row as on a standard 2- or 3-row, you will get a  better feel of where the notes are and to anticipate if a note is a pull or push. It stimulates the mind to think quickly a bit ahead of the fingers.
   
A one-row puts you directly in the drivers seat for rhythm; since you have fewer choices melodically (no dreamy chords or bass runs or cross rowing), you have to dance the notes out of the box to make it interesting. It's more of a lesson in playing the box than playing a tune.
 
I have found that all these things (and other subtle effects) help make my 2- and 3-row playing better, because they are fundamental to all diatonic boxes. It's also fun to see what you can do with fewer bells and whistles.

The italics are mine - I particularly liked this bit!  (:)

Here's the original post:
http://forum.melodeon.net/index.php/topic,3762.msg46643.html#msg46643
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Tone Dumb Greg on August 06, 2016, 12:21:55 PM
Here's mine played on Mr Grunty in G
https://youtu.be/0ryzPHS165Q (https://youtu.be/0ryzPHS165Q)

Yes P&T you should get a 1 row. I haven't really got the hang of it, but it's a lot of fun all the same.
Steve

Sounds pretty good to me. Is that a mic lead hanging off the bass end?
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Winston Smith on August 06, 2016, 12:58:06 PM
Further on in Steve's quote from forrest, he says, "you have to dance the notes out of the box", and you certainly seemed to be doing that in your lovely video, penn!
I love the sound of Mr Grumpy, also a 114 in A which was featured the other day. They're so rich, I just love them. (Now to find a distressed one somewhere, for small money of course!)
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: penn on August 06, 2016, 08:54:15 PM
Thanks Greg & Edward. Yes it is a mic cable, I've settled on a fairly simple recording regime these days - a small cardioid on the right side, and a tie clip AKG lavalier mic (I think it's designed for tv presenters) clipped to the bass strap. I usually back off the clip mic, and tweak the pans to make the stereo narrower. I suppose I should get a clip-on for the right side too, then I could dance around the room a lot more. (:)
Steve
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Winston Smith on August 06, 2016, 08:58:04 PM
I don't know about all this "tweaking" which you techies all go on about! Isn't it tantamount to musical "Photoshopping"?
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Lester on August 06, 2016, 09:06:59 PM
I don't know about all this "tweaking" which you techies all go on about! Isn't it tantamount to musical "Photoshopping"?

Yep, All I ever offer is, as they say in the photography world, Straight Out of the Camera, a Lumix TZ20 in my case. None of your cheating here ):)
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: penn on August 06, 2016, 11:35:46 PM
I don't know about all this "tweaking" which you techies all go on about! Isn't it tantamount to musical "Photoshopping"?

Yep, All I ever offer is, as they say in the photography world, Straight Out of the Camera, a Lumix TZ20 in my case. None of your cheating here ):)

Cheating? I do use a digital camera, but in my opinion it makes better pictures than sound recordings, so I usually use the camera for images, and record the sound separately using microphones.
Did my recording sound photoshopped? I knew I should never have touched the blasted reverb. It won't happen again m'lud.

Steve
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Winston Smith on August 07, 2016, 01:12:40 AM
Steve, your recording sounds fine, and I've no idea whether your tweaking has altered what a listener would hear. Nevertheless, your (Double Dutch to me) statement "I usually back off the clip mic, and tweak the pans to make the stereo narrower." surely gives the impression that what we are listening to isn't quite real any more.
It's not only you, and I'm certainly not having a dig at you, but I've noticed one or two more posters mentioning other ways that recordings are altered. It's something we all expect from professional recording artists, but I just wonder if it has a place amongst friendly forum member players, most of whom seem to be amateurs?
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Lyra on August 07, 2016, 07:39:28 AM
I guess it doesn't matter as long as you know.
Otherwise some of us could get somewhat dispirited  :-\
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Anahata on August 07, 2016, 08:29:39 AM
your (Double Dutch to me) statement "I usually back off the clip mic, and tweak the pans to make the stereo narrower." surely gives the impression that what we are listening to isn't quite real any more.

If I'm reading that correctly, the implication is that if he hadn't done that and you listened on a stereo system (like most computer speakers), you would have heard all the bass end of the box out of the right speaker and unnaturally loud, and all of the treble side out of the left speaker. That wouldn't sound very natural, so mixing them a bit is perfectly legitimate.

But we digress, and I agree with your first point that it's a nice performance anyway, whatever the technicalities.
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: penn on August 07, 2016, 10:31:18 AM
yes, spot on Anahata, that's what I meant - yours is a much better explanation than my shorthand.

If anyone is interested, I'll try and refute Edward's claim that music recording is generally unreal, but that would probably be better on a different thread, and when I have time. Right now I have to dash to set up the P.A. for a village fete and dog show. Yes I am working as both a professional sound engineer and musician, my remuneration will be a pint of beer (I hope).
Steve
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: playandteach on August 07, 2016, 10:43:03 AM
Nevertheless, your (Double Dutch to me) statement "I usually back off the clip mic, and tweak the pans to make the stereo narrower." surely gives the impression that what we are listening to isn't quite real any more.
It's not only you, and I'm certainly not having a dig at you, but I've noticed one or two more posters mentioning other ways that recordings are altered. It's something we all expect from professional recording artists, but I just wonder if it has a place amongst friendly forum member players, most of whom seem to be amateurs?
For me there are two different things here - for me 1 is fine, and 1 is taste-subjective.
The first one is that backing off the mic and making the stereo field narrower is not 'enhancing' the sound, it is just getting the recording equipment to work. If you were to put a mic in your mouth you'd get a distorted recording that is neither pleasant nor accurate. Having the mic too close to the sound source on a melodeon does the same thing so backing it off is just using the equipment effectively. When we listen to a box live we hear the bass side and treble side coming from the same place. When we record it on 2 separate mics it can seem as if they are on different sides of the stage - so again this is just getting the equipment to work properly.

The second point is a player's desire to get the recording to sound pleasant. I try to achieve that by recording in a resonant room and not editing the sound (by the way I have never successfully improved the sound by editing anyway). My pet hate is post recording reverb - it is chocolate box soft-focus for my taste.

I do edit my soundcloud recordings of the tunes I'm writing to cut and paste separate recordings to eliminate mistakes, as I am trying to demo the tune, not the playing. I don't edit the youtube ones, other than to use a separate mic to the video cameras. I don't bother for the piano versions, which I think people on this forum just accept as - "it's a piano" - but for the melodeon ones where I think people want to hear the sound clearly.
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Winston Smith on August 07, 2016, 12:49:22 PM
It's all technical, and quite beyond a old fart like me. But, as Steve implies, this isn't the thread for anyone to try to teach this old dog some of these new tricks. Thanks for the explanations, anyway; I am a bit enlightened, honestly!
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Pete Dunk on August 07, 2016, 03:21:41 PM
Nevertheless, your (Double Dutch to me) statement "I usually back off the clip mic, and tweak the pans to make the stereo narrower." surely gives the impression that what we are listening to isn't quite real any more.

I don't see that altering the volume of one mic relative to another (especially when the type and characteristics of mics used are very different) as altering the sound in any way, simply restoring the balance of the accoustic sound that was thrown out of kilter by the recording process and the equipment used. Keeping the stereo pans tight is similarly restoring the natural sound, any wider and you would be listening to an accordion with five foot wide bellows!

Quote
It's not only you, and I'm certainly not having a dig at you, but I've noticed one or two more posters mentioning other ways that recordings are altered. It's something we all expect from professional recording artists, but I just wonder if it has a place amongst friendly forum member players, most of whom seem to be amateurs?

There are a lot of amateur musicians who are also amateur (and in some cases professional) recording engineers and they are bound to make the best audio track that they can. I don't see that as 'cheating' at all. On the rare occassions that I record myself these days I either use a digital camera for video or a Zoom H4 stereo recorder for straight audio recording and apart from topping and tailing the file to keep things tidy no other processing goes on. I do have a digital 8 track recorder with built in multi-effects though and have been know to edit audio heavily, it's fun and all part of my amateur music hobby. So yes, I think a bit of audio editing has a place amongst friends on a music forum.  ;D
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Winston Smith on August 07, 2016, 03:53:21 PM
"I don't see that altering the volume of one mic relative to another (especially when the type and characteristics of mics used are very different) as altering the sound in any way, simply restoring the balance of the accoustic sound that was thrown out of kilter by the recording process and the equipment used. Keeping the stereo pans tight is similarly restoring the natural sound, any wider and you would be listening to an accordion with five foot wide bellows!"

Now that some of the jargon is becoming a bit more clear, I am beginning to understand what you're all on about. (And wishing I'd kept my trap shut in the first place!) But "stereo pans"? If you asked me about the liner height and topping the pistons on a Ricardo engine, I'd know exactly what you're referring to, but I'm lost with this jargon so I'll bow out, with the relevant apologies to one and all.
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Nick Collis Bird on August 07, 2016, 04:21:41 PM
Stereo pans are cooking two fried eggs in different saucepans on both sides if the cooker  8)
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Winston Smith on August 07, 2016, 04:25:43 PM
Aaaaah, the voice of reason!
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Pete Dunk on August 07, 2016, 11:52:09 PM
Now that some of the jargon is becoming a bit more clear, I am beginning to understand what you're all on about. (And wishing I'd kept my trap shut in the first place!) But "stereo pans"? If you asked me about the liner height and topping the pistons on a Ricardo engine, I'd know exactly what you're referring to, but I'm lost with this jargon so I'll bow out, with the relevant apologies to one and all.

Well I didn't mean to put you off and the 'jargon' is really old! Pan is short for panorama, movie makers talk for sweeping a camera from hard left to hard right or vice-versa. If I recorded you playing a tune with a single mic straight on from the front that would be a monophonic recording from the audience perspective and if the bass overpowered the treble so be it. If I were to use two highly directional mics to record either end of your melodeon onto seperate tracks simultaneously I then have full control over the two ends of the instrument when it comes to mixing the track. You as a player have the bass end on your left and the treble on your right. The audience hear your bass on the right and the treble end on the left. On the mixing desk I can 'pan' any track to left or right and most recordings play back from the perspective of the audience. A melodeon doesn't have a massive stereo spread so treble slightly left and bass slightly right gives you the feeling of being in the audience.

No need to bow out of the conversation, and no criticism of you comments was intended, just a gentle nudge in one direction or another!  ;)
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Pete Dunk on August 07, 2016, 11:54:10 PM
Oh and citing NCB as the voice of reason is rather like putting the lunatics in charge of the asylum!  >:E
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Winston Smith on August 08, 2016, 12:19:04 AM
"I then have full control over the two ends of the instrument"

Haha, that's more than I ever have, especially the left hand! Thank you, I now consider myself "nudged".
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Nick Collis Bird on August 08, 2016, 07:22:37 AM
Oh and citing NCB as the voice of reason is rather like putting the lunatics in charge of the asylum!  >:E

 ::) ;D
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Clive Williams on August 20, 2016, 12:27:57 AM
Here we go folks; 48 bar version played (fairly) straight on the Preciosa in Bb/Eb....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2-3gdTTyV4

Cheers,

Clive
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Wannabeplayer on August 21, 2016, 09:54:21 AM
After many, many attempt to record this, here it is. Once through only, as I was getting it wrong so often it was a miracle that I finally managed to get a version that was reasonably OK!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFFuyK2SO7E (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFFuyK2SO7E)
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Mike Carney on August 21, 2016, 11:41:45 AM
After many, many attempt to record this, here it is. Once through only, as I was getting it wrong so often it was a miracle that I finally managed to get a version that was reasonably OK!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFFuyK2SO7E (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFFuyK2SO7E)
Very nice. You kept the pace well, which is not always easy to do. Good, light touch!
Mike
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Graham Spencer on August 21, 2016, 01:21:47 PM
Here we go folks; 48 bar version played (fairly) straight on the Preciosa in Bb/Eb....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2-3gdTTyV4

Cheers,

Clive

Interesting - I recognise that C part as the B part to another tune, but can't for  the life of me remember what it is. I'm sure I've heard it played for NW Morris, though.

Graham
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Rob2Hook on August 21, 2016, 02:22:50 PM
Trouble with NW is that there are often irregular length measures, so a bit of one tune gets grafted into another to make up the difference...

Rob.
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Graham Spencer on August 21, 2016, 03:50:08 PM
That's true; but something in what passes for my brain instantly recognised the 8 bars in question from some other context. A long trawl through a dozen or so tune-books, I suppose...... ::)

Graham
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: george garside on August 21, 2016, 04:13:10 PM
After many, many attempt to record this, here it is. Once through only, as I was getting it wrong so often it was a miracle that I finally managed to get a version that was reasonably OK!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFFuyK2SO7E (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFFuyK2SO7E)

It is much harder to play a tune while recording it than when just playing it for pleasure. Even experienced players sometimes have this factor creep in resulting in recording 2, 3 etc etc.

I thought it sounded fine and would just suggest that if you bring the bellows in to about half what you were using you would get better control of the ins and outs.

george
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Lester on August 21, 2016, 04:36:35 PM
That's true; but something in what passes for my brain instantly recognised the 8 bars in question from some other context. A long trawl through a dozen or so tune-books, I suppose...... ::)

Graham

How's about The Muckin' O' Geordie's Byre, reasonably similar

X: 1
T:107. The Muckin' O' Geordie's Byre
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:D
B|"D"ABA AFA|d2ef2a|"G"g2ef2d|"A"e2d Bcd|
"D"ABA AFA|d2ef2g|afd "A"efe|"D"d3d2:|
|:e1/2f1/2|"G"g2g gag|"D"f2f faf|"Em"e2e ede|fed BdB|
"D"ABA AFA|d2ef2g|afd "A"efe|"D"d3d2:|
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Graham Spencer on August 21, 2016, 05:00:11 PM
That's true; but something in what passes for my brain instantly recognised the 8 bars in question from some other context. A long trawl through a dozen or so tune-books, I suppose...... ::)

Graham

How's about The Muckin' O' Geordie's Byre, reasonably similar

X: 1
T:107. The Muckin' O' Geordie's Byre
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:D
B|"D"ABA AFA|d2ef2a|"G"g2ef2d|"A"e2d Bcd|
"D"ABA AFA|d2ef2g|afd "A"efe|"D"d3d2:|
|:e1/2f1/2|"G"g2g gag|"D"f2f faf|"Em"e2e ede|fed BdB|
"D"ABA AFA|d2ef2g|afd "A"efe|"D"d3d2:|

H'mm..... thanks, there are similarities, but I'm sure I know that precise tune; maybe in a music-hall context?  I'm positive I can mentally see a NW side dancing to it.  Don't lose any sleep over it - leave that to me!

Cheers
Graham
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Anahata on August 21, 2016, 06:41:27 PM
The C music is part of the song When There isn't a Girl About, which exists in versions ranging from highly smutty to just about fit for a music hall.
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Graham Spencer on August 21, 2016, 07:22:49 PM
The C music is part of the song When There isn't a Girl About, which exists in versions ranging from highly smutty to just about fit for a music hall.

Ah, thanks!  I had a feeling it was a music hall song.  Maybe I remember Dave & Al Sealey singing it.....who knows?  I knew it was familiar from somewhere, though.

Cheers
Graham

Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Strigulino on August 22, 2016, 05:49:43 PM
Ooh this is a favoured tune of mine! If I can get time for a squeeze during the day I'll do a vid.
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Strigulino on August 23, 2016, 11:11:07 AM
Oyster Girl with comedy ending:
https://youtu.be/nxUoHGHEeZY

And recorded this morning with the Derringer.
https://youtu.be/8ncEkMeCVhI
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Wannabeplayer on August 23, 2016, 04:48:38 PM
Thank you Mike for your encouragment.

George - I will try your suggestion with the bellows. I must admit that I have't got to grips with the air button yet (not helped by an arthritic left thumb) so I do tend to pull the bellows open wide so I have enough air to get me through most tunes!

Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: tjsmithdog5 on August 25, 2016, 01:09:21 AM
I have not found this little piece easy to learn. My fingers keep getting tied into knots!!  Anyway, here it is, knots and all:

                          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eBDoYiFJxU
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Anahata on August 27, 2016, 08:45:01 PM
This is Not The Oyster Girl, a variation by Nick Barber invented on the spot at a Sidmouth Big Band workshop a few years ago. Sometimes played at sessions to find out if people are listening...

https://youtu.be/iuvRLSVWcu0

(Edit: newer version substituted as there was a problem with the sound. Same performance, different video processing...)
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Mike Carney on August 28, 2016, 09:43:29 AM
I have not found this little piece easy to learn. My fingers keep getting tied into knots!!  Anyway, here it is, knots and all:

                          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eBDoYiFJxU
Enjoyed it very much. Interesting to hear it on the G/C..such a mellow sound. Hopefully will get round to doing my own recording soon. Been busy!
M
Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: howard mitchell on August 30, 2016, 10:20:32 AM
I looked up this tune in my very old copy of "A Popular Selection of English Dance Airs - Book IV - Sword and Ceremony".
I've attached a scan from the book as it's shown for figure II of the North Skelton Sword Dance.  There are one or two notes that are different from the normally-heard version.

https://youtu.be/5VPMVx7Uktc


Mitch

Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: troman on August 30, 2016, 10:59:50 AM
My shot at Oyster Girl.

https://youtu.be/BMbltUPNdTI (https://youtu.be/BMbltUPNdTI)

Concentrating on the rhythm - at the expense of few fluffs!

Trevor

Title: Re: Tune of the Month for August 2016: Oyster Girl
Post by: Clive Williams on September 01, 2016, 01:34:04 AM
thanks everyone - on to a new tune; as ever feel free to keep adding late contributions.
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