Melodeon.net Forums

Discussions => Recordings and Videos => Topic started by: Anahata on March 17, 2020, 05:32:59 PM

Title: Self-isolation Videos - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: Anahata on March 17, 2020, 05:32:59 PM
We were planning to retire from gigging very soon and concentrate on making YouTube videos of songs and tunes. It's been forced on us a little more hastily than we expected as we are keeping a low profile while a certain worldwide health issue is affecting us all, and we need something to do (along with other retirement projects that hadn't really started happening...)

So... I posted Tankard of Ale last year on solo melodeon, but we now have an arrangement of for melodeon and English concertina: Tankard of Ale (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYW_Tu1jQvs)

And feel free to ignore this as there's no melodeon content, but if you like unaccompanied singing of traditional songs here's Mary Humphreys singing Lonely Waterloo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRjY7ApSxbo) which we also did this afternoon.

There'll be more, and I'll keep them in this thread to keep Melnet tidy.
Title: Re: Self-isolation Videos - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: Fred on March 17, 2020, 06:37:25 PM
Your recording of Tankard of Ale has made its way into my list of tunes to learn. Been sitting there for quite a while now. Maybe I should use the forced home office situation to work on it...  :|glug
Title: Re: Self-isolation Videos - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: butimba on March 17, 2020, 07:24:19 PM
That two-part harmony is really nice.
Title: Red Running Rue - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: Anahata on March 19, 2020, 10:25:00 PM
Another song, with melodeon this time (1 row 4 stop in C)

Red Running Rue (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY9q_emyzn0), with floral illustrations...

Title: Re: Self-isolation Videos - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: Anahata on March 19, 2020, 11:46:57 PM
That two-part harmony is really nice.

Thank you! (Sorry, I should have replied earlier.)
I'm quite pleased with that one. It took several goes to get it right, most of the improvements being simplification to make it easier for Mary to play, but a harmony part can be too elaborate, so simple is good...
I'm particularly happy about the way it blends in with the melodeon LH bare 5ths when they come in.
Title: Re: Self-isolation Videos - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: Anahata on March 26, 2020, 11:52:39 PM
Here's something a bit different: Dvajspetorka (https://youtu.be/utnkVlrYiIw), a Macedonian dance in 25/8 time. (7 + 7 + 11)

From Linsey Pollak's Macedonian Folk Music (https://www.linseypollak.com/product/macedonian-folk-music-book/) book which is full of interesting challenges for the melodeon, with an impressive range of time signatures and many with gapped scales. This one works nicely once you've got your head round the rhythm, as it's all in D major (in C in the book). I've always liked Balkan music and have a more from the same source, as a well a couple of Bulgarian tunes.
Title: Re: Self-isolation Videos - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: Jesse Smith on March 27, 2020, 12:45:58 AM
Here's something a bit different: Dvajspetorka (https://youtu.be/utnkVlrYiIw), a Macedonian dance in 25/8 time. (7 + 7 + 11)

A pretty heroic effort to make the time signature sound somewhat comprehensible on the basses! I wonder what the dance for this looks like. And is this a standard Macedonian dance form with many tunes in this time signature?
Title: Re: Self-isolation Videos - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: Anahata on March 27, 2020, 07:43:20 AM
It's the only one I know of. But I believe there are some Balkan dances that have a specific tune, in contrast with generic rhythms like Gankino and Pajdusko.
Title: Re: Self-isolation Videos - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: Steve_freereeder on March 27, 2020, 08:12:45 AM
Here's something a bit different: Dvajspetorka (https://youtu.be/utnkVlrYiIw), a Macedonian dance in 25/8 time. (7 + 7 + 11)
Wow! Seriously impressed. I love quirky irregular time signatures and rhythms. Well played!
 (:)
Title: Re: Self-isolation Videos - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: Winston Smith on March 27, 2020, 08:43:04 AM
"most of the improvements being simplification to make it easier for Mary to play,"

I take it that Mary doesn't read the posts on Melnet, then?
Title: Re: Self-isolation Videos - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: alexalexander on March 27, 2020, 09:00:38 AM
really nice. 
Title: Re: Self-isolation Videos - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: Julian S on March 27, 2020, 09:58:49 AM
I like that a lot. My knowledge of Balkan music is very limited - very small section in the cd rack, but I really enjoyed some workshops in Balkan music and dance at Sidmouth a few years ago. I must dig out the music sheets - and maybe track down that book of Macedonian music you mention, Anahata.I do recall having a really good percussionist in the workshop helped a lot - not certain my metronome could cope with the rhythms !

The one positive thing I can say about the current times - lots of people are recording and posting some great music online, on various forums.

Julian
Title: Re: Self-isolation Videos - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: Fred on March 27, 2020, 12:53:16 PM
Here's something a bit different: Dvajspetorka (https://youtu.be/utnkVlrYiIw), a Macedonian dance in 25/8 time. (7 + 7 + 11)

From Linsey Pollak's Macedonian Folk Music (https://www.linseypollak.com/product/macedonian-folk-music-book/) book which is full of interesting challenges for the melodeon, with an impressive range of time signatures and many with gapped scales. This one works nicely once you've got your head round the rhythm, as it's all in D major (in C in the book). I've always liked Balkan music and have a more from the same source, as a well a couple of Bulgarian tunes.

This is absolutely stunning, I've always been a big fan of weird rhythms and time signatures (listen to songs by Meshuggah or Mnemic, if you dare). I'm definitely going to learn this one, even though it will most likely take quite a few hours to get a proper bass/chord rhythm going.

On a sidenote, I found an abc transcript by Pete Dunk on another forum:
Code: [Select]
X:1
T:Dvajspetorka
M:25/8 (7+7+11/8)
L:1/8
Q:1/8=250
B:Linsey Pollack and Philip Griffin Macedonian Folk Music (1990)
Z: Steve Mansfield 20140309
K:C
|: e2c ef gf .| e2c ef gf .| ed dc c2 G cd e2 |
e2c ef gf .| e2c ef gf .| ed dc c2 G c2 z2 :|
gca gf ec .| gca gf ec .| ed dc c2 G cd eG | gca gf ec .| gca gf ec .| ed dc c2 G c2 z2 |
ecf ed dc .| ecf ed dc .| ed dc c2 G cd eG | ecf ed dc .| ecf ed dc .| ed dc c2 G c2 z2 |
efg e2 ec .| efg e2 ec .| gG fG e2 d cd ec | efg e2 ec .| efg e2 ec .| gG fG e2 d c2 z2 |
cdG e2 eG .| cdG e2 eG .| gG fG e2 d cd ec | cdG e2 eG .| cdG e2 eG .| gG fG e2 d c2 !fine!z2 ||
a_bc' a2 ag .| fga f2 fe .| f2 fe dec de fg | a_bc' a2 ag .| fga f2 fe .| f2 fe dec d2 z2 |
cBc d2 dA .| cBc d2 dc .| ef fe dec de fg | cBc d2 dA .| cBc d2 dc .| ef fe dec d2 z2 !D.C.! |
Title: Re: Self-isolation Videos - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: Anahata on March 27, 2020, 05:18:26 PM
Won't take you long, it's child's play (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3FptYeD4R0)...  >:E
(if I need a new project to take up my time, it could be learning to the play the Kaval. I actually have one gathering dust at home...)
Title: Re: Self-isolation Videos - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: Fred on March 27, 2020, 07:27:30 PM
Won't take you long, it's child's play (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3FptYeD4R0)...  >:E
(if I need a new project to take up my time, it could be learning to the play the Kaval. I actually have one gathering dust at home...)

Well, I'll take that as encouragement to get it up to snuff and make a recording asap. :)
Title: Re: Self-isolation Videos - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: playandteach on March 27, 2020, 10:00:39 PM
Nicely done, Anahata.
Title: Two Jigs - The Merry Month and The Squirrel Up A Tree - Mary Humphreys & Anahata
Post by: Anahata on March 28, 2020, 08:04:58 PM
Here's a couple of jolly jigs: The Merry Month and The Squirrel Up a Tree (https://youtu.be/tW5PDtiwZuo)
The first by John Sommerville, a Scots fiddler who used to be a resident at Maidenhead Folk Club in Berkshire. The second tune is from Cape Breton.
Title: Two Hornpipes in 3/2 time - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: Anahata on March 28, 2020, 08:46:53 PM
...and hot on the heels of those, A pair of 3/2 Hornpipes (https://youtu.be/xoMOqy7djag) - the first, Geld Him, Lasses, Geld Him! from James Oswald's Caledonian Pocket Companion, a set of six book published from 1745 onwards, and the second an untitled hornpipe by Purcell, originally found in a piano tutor book. We've been playing these for a long time, though you might not think so from the number of fluffs. The video is a second start after I miscounted and failed to go into the second tune.
Title: Re: Two Hornpipes in 3/2 time - May Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: Jesse Smith on March 31, 2020, 04:16:58 AM
Geld Him, Lasses, Geld Him!

Are we talking about horses here, or husbands? :o
Title: Re: Self-isolation Videos - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: TomBom on March 31, 2020, 10:14:44 AM
Here's something a bit different: Dvajspetorka (https://youtu.be/utnkVlrYiIw), a Macedonian dance in 25/8 time. (7 + 7 + 11)
Thanks for that! This tune will keep me busy for quite some time. I love it.
I'm also very glad, Fred posted the ABC transcription.
Title: Re: Self-isolation Videos - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: Fred on March 31, 2020, 11:18:29 AM
Here's something a bit different: Dvajspetorka (https://youtu.be/utnkVlrYiIw), a Macedonian dance in 25/8 time. (7 + 7 + 11)
Thanks for that! This tune will keep me busy for quite some time. I love it.
I'm also very glad, Fred posted the ABC transcription.

Note that I've posted it in C, however the two videos posted by Anahata (the one with the young boy and the other one with the flute player) are in G.
Title: Re: Self-isolation Videos - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: Anahata on March 31, 2020, 11:46:03 AM
Note that I've posted it in C, however the two videos posted by Anahata (the one with the young boy and the other one with the flute player) are in G.

The music is in C in Pollak's book, but I'm playing it in D (except for a small part of it that goes into G and Em.)
Title: Re: Self-isolation Videos - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: Fred on March 31, 2020, 02:50:39 PM
Note that I've posted it in C, however the two videos posted by Anahata (the one with the young boy and the other one with the flute player) are in G.

The music is in C in Pollak's book, but I'm playing it in D (except for a small part of it that goes into G and Em.)

My fault, sorry. I just assumed that you've also played it in G because you're playing higher than the C notation.
Title: The Lady in the Boat and St George's Day - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: Anahata on April 14, 2020, 01:25:34 PM
Last night Sue Coe asked us if we could record St George's Day for a dance she is teaching to special-needs school kids.
While we had the studio set up for that, we thought we'd make a video featuring the same tune, especially as St George's Day is next week.
We've paired it with another tunes we were sent last night to go with it.

We're both staring right a lot, because there's music on a stand just off camera. Harmonies improvised by me on the spot.

The Lady in The Boat and St George's Day (https://youtu.be/gIgaxfM3BP4)
Title: Self-isolation Videos - Three songs from Mary Humphreys
Post by: Anahata on April 18, 2020, 04:59:27 PM
For completists and song enthusiasts only only, with apologies for lack of melodeon content, in fact I'm not even playing anything.
I'm only the recording engineer and producer for these three songs sung by Mary.

A Sailor's Life (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8fAGAzdydk)

The Trees They Grow So High (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stX2jSI2Mj8)

The False Bride (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkW513npfxo) (with banjo) a version of The Week Before Easter.

I'd better do something on melodeon now, or there'll be questions asked...
Title: Re: Self-isolation Videos - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: Anahata on April 18, 2020, 08:33:24 PM
OK, this one's got a melodeon in it...

Knole Park and One More Dance And Then (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl5TVoHBGXg) with Mary on concertina.
Title: Re: Self-isolation Videos - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: Anahata on April 21, 2020, 09:20:53 PM
Pajduško Horo (https://youtu.be/pcowvKdblKk), a Macedonian dance in 5/8 time, which I once knew how to dance (the basic steps, anyway.)
The name means 'limping' in the Balkan languages.
Title: Re: Self-isolation Videos - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: Chris Brimley on April 24, 2020, 09:47:57 AM
Loved the LH playing on that one, Anahata, particularly.  That cannot have been easy to learn!
Title: Mary Humphreys and Anahata - Swinton New May Song / Lovely Nancy
Post by: Anahata on April 29, 2020, 04:30:04 PM
Look away now if you're only interested in melodeon content...
Here's a May song Mary has discovered recently, in a new arrangement, followed by the waltz tune Lovely Nancy. Both somewhat under-rehearsed...
Mary on vocals and English concertina
Me on Anglo concertina
Swinton New May Song and Lovely Nancy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BssPHD2fbkE)
Title: Re: Mary Humphreys and Anahata - Swinton New May Song / Lovely Nancy
Post by: Steve_freereeder on April 29, 2020, 04:35:48 PM
Look away now if you're only interested in melodeon content...
Here's a May song Mary has discovered recently, in a new arrangement, followed by the waltz tune Lovely Nancy. Both somewhat under-rehearsed...
Mary on vocals and English concertina
Me on Anglo concertina
Swinton New May Song and Lovely Nancy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BssPHD2fbkE)

Lovely playing, lovely singing!
There is something very special about two concertinas playing together in this way.
 (:)
Title: Re: Self-isolation Videos - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Post by: Anahata on June 12, 2020, 04:54:42 PM
Another one with voice and concertina only:

The Slave's Lament (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IoK9LWT6yA) Sung by Mary Humphreys accompanying herself on English concertina.
SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal