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Discussions => Tunes => Topic started by: Jesse Smith on June 05, 2018, 02:12:07 PM

Title: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Jesse Smith on June 05, 2018, 02:12:07 PM
This topic might be too individual to be practically useful, but I thought it would be interesting to hear about.

I have primarily learned tunes for one or two reasons:

1) It's the next tune in my tutor book.
2) Something about the sound of the tune in a recorded version caught my interest; I like the melody itself.

But I have found some tunes have sections that are physically very satisfying to play, entirely besides the sound of it. There is just something pleasing about the fingering pattern or the mental shapes that playing the tune creates.

Are there tunes for that didn't particularly catch your ear's interest at first, but once you learned them you found that you enjoy playing them because the physical act of playing them is particularly pleasing to you?
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: xgx on June 05, 2018, 02:46:45 PM
Roxburgh Castle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3qInzAf6EE  a slightly laconic but easy on the ear version

this is closer to my playing,,, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHBO8CGAIeQ

seeing the cloggies dancing to it seems to add another dimension and lift

stumbled across this whilst on a fruitless search for for melodeon version that I liked ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_mutu6GneE   sorfly long tho...
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: robotmay on June 05, 2018, 03:05:22 PM
Stoney Steps Hornpipe is particularly enjoyable in the upper octave of a box. It's a bit of a pain in the lower octave I find, but the tune just flows if you move it up and all the keys are easier to reach. That's the tune that introduced me to playing hornpipes in the upper octave of C on a G/C (and it works nicely)! ;D
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Lester on June 05, 2018, 03:23:49 PM
Albert's Last Dance (A Cutting) particularly the B music which upsets guitarists as they strum along  ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YirC4LmWbpo
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Tone Dumb Greg on June 05, 2018, 03:43:37 PM
Albert's Last Dance (A Cutting) particularly the B music which upsets guitarists as they strum along  ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YirC4LmWbpo

Sadist. Didn't realise this was by Mr Cutting.
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: John MacKenzie (Cugiok) on June 05, 2018, 04:16:16 PM
Call me boring and Scottish, but the tune my fingers always fall into, is Dancing in Kyle. Also a good tune for those who are struggling with waltz tempo on the left hand end.

SJ
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: nigelr on June 05, 2018, 04:20:30 PM
A set of tunes - Astley's Ride / Welsh March / Egan's Polka.  Used by Customs & Exiles and Chiltern Hundreds Morris for the dance Horbury Rushcart.  They are great tunes that go well together and suit the dance perfectly.  They are a joy to play and just seem to come together and "work" (although I still have a long way to go to perfect them!).
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: xgx on June 05, 2018, 04:24:49 PM
(...) Dancing in Kyle. Also a good tune for those who are struggling with waltz tempo on the left hand end.

That's another favourite along with The Spinning Wheel (..Mellow, the moonlight) not forgetting Mo Ghile Mear (specsavers sheepshearing ad)  :)
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: xgx on June 05, 2018, 04:28:31 PM
Albert's Last Dance (A Cutting) particularly the B music which upsets guitarists as they strum along  ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YirC4LmWbpo

Sadist. Didn't realise this was by Mr Cutting.

neither did Mozart ...
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Graham Spencer on June 05, 2018, 07:57:47 PM
Fred Pigeon's No 2; I often use it to kick off our monthly session, because it just jogs along so nicely.  Don't have a recording of it to hand, but will see what I can do.......

Graham
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: arty on June 05, 2018, 08:28:04 PM
For me, it would have to be almost any tune that I have learned by Stephane Delicq.

Something about playing a beautiful melody, written with imagination and flair but most importantly, written by a diatonic accordion player of considerable merit. These tunes fit the instrument perfectly, making them a joy to play. There is no 'showing off', they are usually quite simple, there are no musical gymnastics, just great music, definitely 'feel good music'.
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Daniel McPhee on June 05, 2018, 10:13:45 PM
One of my very favourite melodies is the lovely Irish air , The Isle Of Innesfree.
I still watch the film with John Wayne every time it’s on telly  :|||:

https://youtu.be/a-7a8EeJKW4
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: george garside on June 05, 2018, 10:22:48 PM
as I tend to play tunes I enjoy playing it is difficult to select one or two but here goes ……  oh dem golden slippers,  napoleon crossing the rhine, but then there are also the road and miles to Dundee, dark island,  Maggie, Geordie hinnie,  6.20 two step,  home on the range,  muckin of geordies byre etc etc, I enjoy playing them and many others!

george
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Tone Dumb Greg on June 05, 2018, 10:57:32 PM
Hands down, for me this has to be Not For Joe. More or less passed me by completely as a tune to listen to but I love playing it. So does just about everybody else I play with. There is something about it.
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Chris Rayner on June 05, 2018, 11:03:38 PM
Albert's Last Dance (A Cutting) particularly the B music which upsets guitarists as they strum along  ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YirC4LmWbpo

Just a bit of modulation.  I reckon I could strum around that after a couple of listens.  What’s more I could do a proper B min and an F#min if necessary.  Do there.🤡
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Jesse Smith on June 05, 2018, 11:55:26 PM
Hands down, for me this has to be Not For Joe. More or less passed me by completely as a tune to listen to but I love playing it. So does just about everybody else I play with. There is something about it.

Greg, this is just the sort of thing I was getting at - tunes that are deceptively fun to play because they didn't strike you as a great tune just by listening to it, but something about the actions of playing it is surprisingly enjoyable.

(I do like Not For Joe as a tune, especially the version that John Kirkpatrick plays on Sheepskins with the droning D bass. Though sadly the song is a bit tainted for me since I heard the original lyrics. Possibly we are more sensitive in the US about these old minstrel songs.)
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Elledeepee on June 06, 2018, 01:35:15 AM
   As the melodeon is my first chord producing instrument I still get extreme satisfaction when playing a new tune when I select the best fit chord.  I haven't got an extensive repertoire but Uttoxeter Swing is one that I really enjoy playing around with for the cross rowing and also it's one of those minor key tunes where alternative chords can be used to give the tune variety and a slightly different mood. 
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Julian S on June 06, 2018, 07:22:10 AM
Scottish a Virmoux. Nice and easy tune, no stretches required, notes just ideally placed for relaxed playing - great to warm up and start a set with a more challenging tune afterwards.

J
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Tone Dumb Greg on June 06, 2018, 09:05:15 AM
Hands down, for me this has to be Not For Joe. More or less passed me by completely as a tune to listen to but I love playing it. So does just about everybody else I play with. There is something about it.

Greg, this is just the sort of thing I was getting at - tunes that are deceptively fun to play because they didn't strike you as a great tune just by listening to it, but something about the actions of playing it is surprisingly enjoyable.

(I do like Not For Joe as a tune, especially the version that John Kirkpatrick plays on Sheepskins with the droning D bass. Though sadly the song is a bit tainted for me since I heard the original lyrics. Possibly we are more sensitive in the US about these old minstrel songs.)

Fortunately, those associations don't exist over here. It's a tune not a song. I think there are  many tunes which could be offensive to one party or another if the antiquated words were sung to them.Especially if your Irish catholic, or protestant, or a women, or disabled.

It's a shame things can't be accepted for what they are, not what they might have once been.

Would it make things better if I said we normally follow it with The Rochdale Coconut Dance and The Backup Coconut Dance (AKA Tip Top Polka)?
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Helena Handcart on June 06, 2018, 09:30:25 AM

Fortunately, those associations don't exist over here. It's a tune not a song.

Oh yes they do. I have heard it sung recently and sung with 'that' word it in.

It's a shame things can't be accepted for what they are, not what they might have once been.

Perhaps because some things should never have been in the first place/should be left behind/have no place in modern society?
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: summerstars on June 06, 2018, 09:50:38 AM
Albert's Last Dance (A Cutting) particularly the B music which upsets guitarists as they strum along  ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YirC4LmWbpo

oh Yes!   That is another tune on the bucket list - and promoted to quite near the top
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Thrupenny Bit on June 06, 2018, 10:01:40 AM
Blimey Helena, I'm taken a-back at your recent experience.
A point made by Roy Dommett at one of his many morris workshops - over here we are very ready to adopt new ideas ( and therefore let go of older ones). This saw a massive adoption and absorption of the Minstrel song and genre before WWI and Big Band during WWII so our traditions such as morris were cast out. Modern rock/pop now superceeding Big Band.... and so it goes on.

A session regular here is Redwing, in fact a brilliant tune demonstrated slowly here by Gavin Atkin in a recent thread.
It came across the pond as others have though it's origin faded for most players and now simply known just as a tune. If it's connotations don't grate, it's a nice relatively simple tune to play.
Q
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Winston Smith on June 06, 2018, 10:30:10 AM
"Perhaps because some things should never have been in the first place/should be left behind/have no place in modern society?"

So, should we not be accompanying singers singing about the oppression of the working classes, child labour, seaport harlots, national "heroes" like Nelson and Wellington in their warring ventures, etc. etc. ad infinitum?
The folk music world will disappear!
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Thrupenny Bit on June 06, 2018, 11:15:24 AM
Jesse,
Here are two excellent tunes that fall to the fingers well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RyY7WDmkog

When starting up I found it utterly inspirational .... and still do!
Q
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: george garside on June 06, 2018, 12:26:30 PM

Fortunately, those associations don't exist over here. It's a tune not a song.

Oh yes they do. I have heard it sung recently and sung with 'that' word it in.

It's a shame things can't be accepted for what they are, not what they might have once been.

I play tunes   with  both orange and green  origins  , not because of their history  but because I like the tunes and for no other reason.  I also like some of the orange marching accordion bands   even though they do not represent my own  religious backgraound.. 

george


Perhaps because some things should never have been in the first place/should be left behind/have no place in modern society?
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Tone Dumb Greg on June 06, 2018, 01:10:16 PM
A session regular here is Redwing...

'tis a small musical world, sometimes. Redwing is the tune I was going to record for last month's theme, American tunes.

The A part of this tune was one of the first tunes I learnt when I was learning the piano, aged 12, or so. It wasn't called Redwing in my bokk, though, it was "The Happy Farmer" in my book of beginners tunes by Schumman called Album Fur Dei Jugend
http://imslp.org/wiki/Album_f%C3%BCr_die_Jugend,_Op.68_(Schumann,_Robert)

I might still get around to a late posting.
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Thrupenny Bit on June 06, 2018, 01:17:48 PM
yes, it was on my mind to record it for American tunes......it's a cracking little tune!
Q
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Jesse Smith on June 06, 2018, 01:41:32 PM
The A part of this tune was one of the first tunes I learnt when I was learning the piano, aged 12, or so. It wasn't called Redwing in my bokk, though, it was "The Happy Farmer" in my book of beginners tunes by Schumman called Album Fur Dei Jugend

Oh, there's a blast from the past! I remember playing that on piano as well, probably around the same age or a little older.

Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Tone Dumb Greg on June 06, 2018, 01:42:59 PM
To finish off what I was going to say about Redwing,  Q says, it's a cracking little tune and he's right. However, the original tune I learned, the Frolicking Landworker is a much less developed version of the melody. Less worthy, you might think, but I love the way it falls under the fingers and it would make a rather good morris tune. I love playing it. Were this thread a theme OTM I would consider it a good candidate for me.
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: baz parkes on June 06, 2018, 01:43:24 PM

Fortunately, those associations don't exist over here. It's a tune not a song.

Oh yes they do. I have heard it sung recently and sung with 'that' word it in.

It's a shame things can't be accepted for what they are, not what they might have once been.

Perhaps because some things should never have been in the first place/should be left behind/have no place in modern society?

I danced border for many years and was well aware of the song's heritage. You may lament history, but you can't ignore it. "The past is a foreign country...they do things differently there..."
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Tone Dumb Greg on June 06, 2018, 01:50:01 PM

Fortunately, those associations don't exist over here. It's a tune not a song.

Oh yes they do. I have heard it sung recently and sung with 'that' word it in.

It's a shame things can't be accepted for what they are, not what they might have once been.

Perhaps because some things should never have been in the first place/should be left behind/have no place in modern society?

I danced border for many years and was well aware of the song's heritage. You may lament history, but you can't ignore it. "The past is a foreign country...they do things differently there..."

but if I never played anything which might be construed by someone, somewhere, as being politically correct my repertoire would be very limited.
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Jesse Smith on June 06, 2018, 02:01:57 PM
Were this thread a theme OTM I would consider it a good candidate for me.

Ha ha, sounds like a great theme of the month: "lousy tunes that are fun to play!"
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: baz parkes on June 06, 2018, 02:10:48 PM

Fortunately, those associations don't exist over here. It's a tune not a song.

Oh yes they do. I have heard it sung recently and sung with 'that' word it in.

It's a shame things can't be accepted for what they are, not what they might have once been.

Perhaps because some things should never have been in the first place/should be left behind/have no place in modern society?

I danced border for many years and was well aware of the song's heritage. You may lament history, but you can't ignore it. "The past is a foreign country...they do things differently there..."

but if I never played anything which might be construed by someone, somewhere, as being politically correct my repertoire would be very limited.

I think we sort of agree...
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Jesse Smith on June 06, 2018, 02:11:20 PM
but if I never played anything which might be construed by someone, somewhere, as being politically correct my repertoire would be very limited.

Agreed, but there is a difference between a song that might be construed as politically incorrect (e.g., a whole host of bawdy songs like "The Black Joak") and a song that is just plain offensive today. This is the offending verse of "Not for Joe" in case you're not familiar:

There was a little ******
and he grew no bigger
so they put him in the wild west show.
He tumbled out the window
and he broke his little finger
and he couldn't play the ol' banjo.


I can't sing that in public, absolutely not in the US and I suspect it wouldn't go over well in the UK either. I still like the tune and would like to learn to play it at some point. All I'm saying is that for me the tune is "soiled" a bit by these words.

Didn't mean to hijack my own thread...  ;D
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Tone Dumb Greg on June 06, 2018, 02:43:01 PM
The tune isn't the song, though. I play the tune because it's fun to play. Not because of any connotations. To pick a couple of other (not very good, but what comes to mind right now) examples, I also play a tune called Croppies Lie Down, which is about killing catholics (which I think is pretty offensive, but it's a great tune) and one called King of the Fairies, which convoluted logic has referenced to the homosexual tendencies of Bonnie Prince Charlie. I don't care about the political correctness, or otherwise of these tunes. I just like to play them.

Anyway, it's another topic. In my defense, King of the Fairies is another tune that falls under the fingers rather pleasingly.
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Jesse Smith on June 06, 2018, 03:18:39 PM
I also play a tune called Croppies Lie Down, which is about killing catholics (which I think is pretty offensive, but it's a great tune) and one called King of the Fairies, which convoluted logic has referenced to the homosexual tendencies of Bonnie Prince Charlie. I don't care about the political correctness, or otherwise of these tunes. I just like to play them.
That's interesting, I hadn't heard about that with King of the Fairies, I assumed it was just a reference to Oberon or someone like that.

I once saw a YouTube video (might have been Gavin actually) where he played a tune called Down With the French and introduced it by saying it must mean he gets on well with French people, that he's down with them, right? I thought that was pretty funny.
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Tone Dumb Greg on June 06, 2018, 03:53:36 PM
I also play a tune called Croppies Lie Down, which is about killing catholics (which I think is pretty offensive, but it's a great tune) and one called King of the Fairies, which convoluted logic has referenced to the homosexual tendencies of Bonnie Prince Charlie. I don't care about the political correctness, or otherwise of these tunes. I just like to play them.
That's interesting, I hadn't heard about that with King of the Fairies, I assumed it was just a reference to Oberon or someone like that.

I once saw a YouTube video (might have been Gavin actually) where he played a tune called Down With the French and introduced it by saying it must mean he gets on well with French people, that he's down with them, right? I thought that was pretty funny.

Ha, ha! Croppies Lie Down was played, at Wellington's command, for the Allied troops triumphal march into Paris on 17th July, 1815. Legend has it the bands started to play the Downfall Of Paris (an even better tune), but Wellington stopped that because it was a tune purported to support the worker's revolution.

Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Thrupenny Bit on June 06, 2018, 03:56:46 PM
Jesse - I never knew there was a song attached to the Not for Joe tune....
and certainly not a little ditty like that.
The point being, there are lots of tunes where the actual symbolism ( or real reason for their scripting ) that lies behind them simply isn't known. It's lost in time. We often genuinely innocently play them cos they are good tunes.
Not too sure where that leaves this discussion  ::)
Q
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Winston Smith on June 06, 2018, 04:40:44 PM
"Not too sure where that leaves this discussion"

Of course you do, Q! If there are "Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play", then you keep on playing them. I know that "Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me", and I'm even more certain that Tunes will never hurt anyone, unless they particularly want them to. (Especially if they're played on a melodeon!)
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Thrupenny Bit on June 06, 2018, 04:51:57 PM
There is a tune sometimes heard at a session nearby.
It's a resonably good little tune but I could never and would never play it due to it's title. I couldn't call it out loud.
Perhaps it's the difference between innocently doing something that has no overt connotations and consciously doing something that could obviously offend.
 I never wish to offend anyone. Life's too short.

....but this is a looong way from Jesse's question regarding good little tunes to play.
Q
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: baz parkes on June 06, 2018, 05:11:58 PM
Jesse - I never knew there was a song attached to the Not for Joe tune....
and certainly not a little ditty like that.

Q

Given your long association with the morris Q that surprises me...

A certain border team tried to change it to "There was a little Turk/And he did no work" which wasn't at all racist of course...

The purported change didn't last long....
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Jesse Smith on June 06, 2018, 05:32:07 PM
There is a tune sometimes heard at a session nearby.
It's a resonably good little tune but I could never and would never play it due to it's title. I couldn't call it out loud.
Is it that Irish tune? ;) Sometimes retitled as "The Good Wife" (which I actually think is more offensive)?
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Jesse Smith on June 06, 2018, 05:36:05 PM
A certain border team tried to change it to "There was a little Turk/And he did no work" which wasn't at all racist of course...

The purported change didn't last long....

If anything that's worse! ;D

I've also heard the following attached to it, which is merely bawdy rather than racist but still rather inappropriate for mixed company!

My uncle Billy
had a ten foot *****
and he showed it to the girl next door.
She thought it was a snake
so she hit it with a rake
and now it's only five foot four.


Man, this thread has drifted, and it's entirely my own fault! ::)
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Lester on June 06, 2018, 05:59:55 PM
I've also heard the following attached to it, which is merely bawdy rather racist but still rather inappropriate for mixed company!

My uncle Billy
had a ten foot *****
and he showed it to the girl next door.
She thought it was a snake
so she hit it with a rake
and now it's only five foot four.


Man, this thread has drifted, and it's entirely my own fault! ::)

It always raises a titter when we dance Dilwyn
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Steve_freereeder on June 06, 2018, 06:04:42 PM
I always thought that the tune 'Not for Joe' was a variant of the tune for the song 'Old King Cole' - which has its bawdy rugby song version* but, as far as I'm aware, is not racist.

* look it up if you're curious  >:E
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Tone Dumb Greg on June 06, 2018, 06:16:27 PM
There is a tune sometimes heard at a session nearby.
It's a resonably good little tune but I could never and would never play it due to it's title. I couldn't call it out loud.
Perhaps it's the difference between innocently doing something that has no overt connotations and consciously doing something that could obviously offend.
 I never wish to offend anyone. Life's too short.

....but this is a looong way from Jesse's question regarding good little tunes to play.
Q

Now I have to know  :D Gi'us a clue mate.
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Lester on June 06, 2018, 06:19:46 PM
Now I have to know  :D Gi'us a clue mate.

I would vote for that tune than John Spiers wrote who's title gives his opinion of a political party.
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Tone Dumb Greg on June 06, 2018, 06:23:23 PM
Now I have to know  :D Gi'us a clue mate.
I would vote for that tune than John Spiers wrote who's title gives his opinion of a political party.

My vote, too.
Actually, it describes what action you could take with a particular political party.
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Thrupenny Bit on June 07, 2018, 07:28:30 AM
Baz - well, it does remind me of a certain other border side that we both know and love...... but I really didn't put it with the tune.

All: I should have kept quiet.
No nothing to do with Squeezy, though his 'certain' tune would have to be re-named by me, ' a tune from JS....'
No. I was thinking of a tune ' The C-----d Aristocracy' that people play and promptly apologise for it's title.
Can't be bothered with learning something I need to apologise for. There's plenty more in the tune books.
Q
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Helena Handcart on June 07, 2018, 07:46:30 AM
"Perhaps because some things should never have been in the first place/should be left behind/have no place in modern society?"

So, should we not be accompanying singers singing about the oppression of the working classes, child labour, seaport harlots, national "heroes" like Nelson and Wellington in their warring ventures, etc. etc. ad infinitum?
The folk music world will disappear!

Hmm... no. I can see a clear difference between songs that remember our political and social history, in all it's 'glory' and despair, it's triumphs, scandals, shame and poverty,  and a song that contains an unacceptable, outdated racial slur.   


My objections only extend to the song -  happy to play the tune, the tune is innocent of all harm as all tunes are.  The 'ten foot willy' version is in my view entirely acceptable, even in front of a family audience as I don't believe there is a five year old in the land who doesn't already know it.  I certainly remember learning it at about that age, that one truly is a timeless classic.
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Chris Ryall on June 07, 2018, 07:49:32 AM
Bill Caddick's "Unicorns" song, plays nicely in C on my kit and … some of its chords frankly make my spine tingle.

Or in "rip roaring" mode … Copper family's  "Spencer the Rover", or Nic Jones' "Warlike Lads of Russia". Also in C cross-rowed, using sus, rather than modal chords.
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Thrupenny Bit on June 07, 2018, 08:05:02 AM
I think Helena has summed up my thoughts on the previous point entirely.
Thank you Helena.
Q
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: george garside on June 07, 2018, 08:44:38 AM
Well said Helena.  Many tunes have  bawdy words which even if not sung  give you a bit of a smirk when playing them.  The ball of Inverness comes to mind and I have seen some famously po faced musicians smirk while paying it!

Back to tunes  One I enjoy playing on a dg box is the Bluebell Polka  ( 3 parter in GDC)  I play it on a bog standard 3rd button start 2 row and use the thumb when playing the C part.  Getting  the c part right is very satisfying!

On the other hand its a doddle on a bc or  bccsharp box

george

Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Thrupenny Bit on June 07, 2018, 08:58:49 AM
Yep, the Bluebell's a good 'un.
Lets get back to throwing tunes at Jesse to give him something to get his teeth into......
Q
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Julian S on June 07, 2018, 09:48:21 AM
Bluebell polka -good 'un which makes me think of Primrose Polka - which used to be an old favourite of mine and needs reviving.
Re the 'Aristocracy' issue - I play the tune quite often as the Southern Aristocracy, not that I'm particularly happy about that title. I follow it with 'Ragtime Annie' which is great fun to play.

J
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Roger Hare on June 07, 2018, 10:51:33 AM
...A session regular here is Redwing, in fact a brilliant tune...It came across the pond as others have
though it's origin faded for most players and now simply known just as a tune. If it's connotations don't
grate, it's a nice relatively simple tune to play.

When I listened to this, I realised I already knew the tune - not to play, but through having heard the
Charlie Chaplin version (I only remember the C: part) performed by The Oldham Tinkers in about 1968
in Manchester (any Mancunians remember the MSG on Long Millgate?).

The Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Wing_(song) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Wing_(song))) tells the story - quite interesting
I thought...
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Helena Handcart on June 07, 2018, 08:24:26 PM
OK so not tunes that I enjoy primarily because they feel good to play, but how about some bouncy, upbeat, jolly tunes that my partner likes to play? 

He plays irrepressibly bouncy and annoying tunes (sometimes aided and abetted by Lester). I pretend not to like them before joining in.  Mostly.

Tunes such as In the Toyshop, Marche des Cabrettaires, Dennis Crowther's Number1, Uncle Bernard's Polka, Grandfather's Tune.

All suitable candidates I feel.
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Helena Handcart on June 07, 2018, 08:37:13 PM
Actually I CAN think of two tunes I play that fall into this category, The Keel Row and Kafoozalum*

* yes I know, before anyone tells me, we're back in 'don't google the lyrics territory' but 'tis a cracking tune to play.
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Thrupenny Bit on June 07, 2018, 08:47:48 PM
Rather than me list more tunes:
I think one of the absolute best couple of tune books are produced by Nick Barber, available with cd's to give you a flavour of what they sound like.
Take a look here.....
http://shop.nickworks.co.uk/home.aspx

Somewhere on his page you can by both session books and CDs as a package, or just start with one.
There are a lot of very jolly tunes in his books, ones often heard at sessions.
There are a lot in there to keep most people happy!

I have no connection with Nick, except having chatted to him at Radway sessions at Sidmouth.
It's just that they are a tune source that time after time I refer back to.....
Q
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: george garside on June 07, 2018, 09:53:33 PM
I would recommend the northumbrian pipers tune books 1 and 2,    and the ceildh collection volumes 1,2,3,&4. 

george
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: MikeK on June 08, 2018, 09:56:57 AM
The Dark Island played as a slow Air.  I imagine  standing on the shore, listening to the Alantic waves rolling
on to the sands. Very,very relaxing.
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Elledeepee on June 08, 2018, 03:10:17 PM

I've also heard the following attached to it, which is merely bawdy rather than racist but still rather inappropriate for mixed company!

My uncle Billy
had a ten foot *****
and he showed it to the girl next door.
She thought it was a snake
so she hit it with a rake
and now it's only five foot four.


Man, this thread has drifted, and it's entirely my own fault! ::)

Oh I think we wimmin' are made of sterner stuff over here since many of us dance Dilwyn and sing the ditty along with the men...afterall it makes a change for the bloke to come to a sticky end instead of the woman ;)
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Joan Kureczka on June 08, 2018, 04:08:07 PM
I've been enjoying playing Morrison's jig. Took a while to get it down reliably but it gallops along nicely. Usually played as follow up tune to a slowish version of Atherfeld.
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Graham Spencer on June 08, 2018, 04:14:14 PM
I've been enjoying playing Morrison's jig.

Followed by Just Asda Tide was A-Flowing?

Sorry - I'll get me coat............

(Please take this in the spirit in which it was intended!)
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Elledeepee on June 08, 2018, 04:51:04 PM
I've been enjoying playing Morrison's jig.

Followed by Just Asda Tide was A-Flowing?

Sorry - I'll get me coat............

(Please take this in the spirit in which it was intended!)

and then Each Lidl Thing? ..........
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Stotty on June 08, 2018, 05:47:58 PM

and then Each Lidl Thing? ..........

I like the chorus

https://youtu.be/cL7jyXCQ2Zc
But back on theme, I find Huntsmans Chorus, Michael  Turners Waltz and Phil Cunningham's "Sarah's Song " among my current satifaction favourites
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Graham Spencer on June 08, 2018, 07:00:36 PM
I've been enjoying playing Morrison's jig.

Followed by Just Asda Tide was A-Flowing?

Sorry - I'll get me coat............

(Please take this in the spirit in which it was intended!)

and then Each Lidl Thing? ..........


And probably Aldi Young Dudes....... I MUST STOP DOING THIS!!!!  I blame  the local wine.......

Apologies again!
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Chris Ryall on June 08, 2018, 07:19:46 PM
The Dark Island played as a slow Air.  I imagine  standing on the shore, listening to the Alantic waves rolling  on to the sands. Very,very relaxing.

Absolutely! Anything lyrical played as a slow air. In my Morris days i used to adore Fieldtown "Princess Royal" signposts done that way, as did the dancers. Unfortunately there was usually another musician in sight who'd join in and … push the pace.

Anyone else share my opinion that all folk tunes can be divided into 2 basic genres?

 .  1. "come all ye … etcetera "
 .  2. "Nellie the elephant"
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Lester on June 08, 2018, 07:25:23 PM
Fieldtown "Princess Royal" signposts

Think you mean Fieldtown "Shepherd's Hey" Signposts
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Tone Dumb Greg on June 08, 2018, 08:47:11 PM

... i used to adore Fieldtown "Princess Royal" signposts done that way, as did the dancers. Unfortunately there was usually another musician in sight who'd join in and … push the pace.


Just shout Steadaaay
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: smiley on June 11, 2018, 12:38:52 PM
How about wanting to play a tune that brings you to the brink of tears?

We played a beautiful waltz (from sheet music) at a dancers festival last Saturday night and it affected me so much that I had to go outside for some fresh air afterwards. Perhaps my emotions were still raw after the death of a good friend. Evidently it made quite an impact on the dancers too and we had to play it again the next night. I think I'll have to learn it by heart now.

Tourner a Trois (http://abcnotation.com/tunePage?a=www.alfwarnock.info/alfs/abc/ACCW-ecd/0065) composed by Paul Machlis.
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: brianread on June 11, 2018, 08:16:50 PM
Tunes I currently really enjoy playing:

Double Lead Through (especially the C# bit!)
Grand Hornpipe (especially the B)
Redwing (see above)

(not together though!)


Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Chris Rayner on June 15, 2018, 01:54:42 PM
Having reached the stage of gradually adding a new tune every few weeks, but still being unable to play any of them through entirely reliably, I have taken to making explorations into other genres.  I have managed to work out the fingering for “As Time Goes By”. Just have to perfect the Humphrey Bogart world weary drawl.

 On my 70th Birthday Party I played “All You Need Is Love” on the streamer as part of my address to the assembly.  I’ve been humming it  since, so the other day I had a crack at playing it, firstly on my three row G-C Acc box, ‘cause there’s a chromatic run in it, then on me two row D-G.  I was agreeably surprised to find all the notes and most of the chords on the two row.  I can’t manage to get through it in one go, but I aren’t ‘alf ‘avin’ fun with it.  Trouble is, all the practice for the other tunes is suffering.  But as an instant time travel back to 1967 it’s magic. 
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: Ebor_fiddler on July 23, 2018, 10:46:32 PM


Anyone else share my opinion that all folk tunes can be divided into 2 basic genres?

 .  1. "come all ye … etcetera "
 .  2. "Nellie the elephant"

 Which category is "Delilah" in then, Chris?
Title: Re: Tunes that you enjoy primarily because they feel good to play
Post by: IanD on July 25, 2018, 03:03:43 PM

I've also heard the following attached to it, which is merely bawdy rather than racist but still rather inappropriate for mixed company!

My uncle Billy
had a ten foot *****
and he showed it to the girl next door.
She thought it was a snake
so she hit it with a rake
and now it's only five foot four.


Man, this thread has drifted, and it's entirely my own fault! ::)

Oh I think we wimmin' are made of sterner stuff over here since many of us dance Dilwyn and sing the ditty along with the men...afterall it makes a change for the bloke to come to a sticky end instead of the woman ;)

Inappropriate for mixed company?!?!? Next somebody will say "or children might hear it"...

Aww, always thinking of the innocent little children and poor easily-offended ladies ;-)

Seeing as how I knew these words from the junior school playground having learned it from the girls who used it all the time for a skipping-rope rhyme, both these suggestions seem complete rubbish to me, and most likely to come from people who worry far too much about whether other people might concievbly be offended...

So they'd certainly have objected to the Shropshire Bedlams singing this in the old days when they blacked up... ;-)
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