Melodeon.net Forums

Discussions => Tune of the Month => Topic started by: Clive Williams on February 01, 2011, 12:16:08 AM

Title: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Clive Williams on February 01, 2011, 12:16:08 AM
From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Playford)

John Playford (1623–1686/7) was a London bookseller, publisher, and member of the Stationers' Company, who published books on music theory, instruction books for several instruments, and psalters with tunes for singing in churches. He is perhaps best known today for his publication of The English Dancing Master in 1651.

Although many of the tunes in the book are attributed to him today, he probably did not write any of them. Most were popular melodies that had existed for years. John Playford published several other collections of music, including:
A Musicall Banquet (1651)
Catch that Catch Can (1652)
A Booke of New Lessons for Cithern (1652, revised 1666 as Musick's Delight on the Cithren)
Musick's Recreation on the Lyra Viol (1652)
A Breefe Introduction to the Skill of Musick (1654)
Court Ayres (1655)
Choice Musick to the Psalmes of David (1656)
The Whole Book of Psalms (1661)
The Musical Companion (1667) - songs and catches
Apollo's Banquet for the Treble Violin (1669)
Psalms and Hymns (1671) - psalm tunes in four parts
Musick's Handmaid (1678) - songs for the harpsichord
The Division Violin (1685)

The bottom line - there's a whole treasury of well documented 17th Century English Music, with some lovely, lovely, tunes amongst them. And many of the collections have been turned into ABC - like this one (http://www.logarithmic.net/pfh/sca/playford), for example. If you've never heard this music before, have a listen to them - there's some very nice playable/danceable stuff, both quick and slow tempo. Let's see what you can find!

If anyone finds more collections of playford abc's on the web, please feel free to post links.

Cheers,

Clive



Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Alan Morley on February 01, 2011, 08:20:35 AM

If anyone finds more collections of playford abc's on the web, please feel free to post links.

Cheers,

Clive


Try this:
http://www.ceolas.org/pub/tunes/abc.tunes/Playford.abc (http://www.ceolas.org/pub/tunes/abc.tunes/Playford.abc)

http://abcnotation.com/searchTunes?q=playford&f=c&o=a&s=0 (http://abcnotation.com/searchTunes?q=playford&f=c&o=a&s=0)


Alan
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: smiley on February 01, 2011, 08:55:09 AM
It's a great theme this month - and here are some more online compilations of Playford tunes:
http://www.srcf.ucam.org/round/dances/rbbop (http://www.srcf.ucam.org/round/dances/rbbop)
http://www.shipbrook.com/jeff/playford/contents.html (http://www.shipbrook.com/jeff/playford/contents.html)

My current favourite Playford tune is 'Orleans Baffled'. Can anyone point me to a recording of it?
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Howard Mitchell on February 01, 2011, 09:24:02 AM
There is a book called Push Pull Playford with all of the tunes in melodeon-friendly keys and an accompanying cd

http://www.battilana.ndo.co.uk/ (http://www.battilana.ndo.co.uk/)

Mitch
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Howard Mitchell on February 01, 2011, 10:37:53 AM

My current favourite Playford tune is 'Orleans Baffled'. Can anyone point me to a recording of it?
[/quote]

Orleans Baffled is the second tune in Fairport Convention's track "Bridge over the River Ash".
It's on the CD Angel Delight and there's a live recording at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG7XKhay8KE  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG7XKhay8KE)

They do something strange in the last bar of the tune.

Mitch
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Ollie on February 01, 2011, 06:50:15 PM
 ;D ;D ;D I've just got into Playford. Excellent timing, sir!
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: ladydetemps on February 03, 2011, 09:16:01 AM
Here is my attempt at 'mount hills' which I first heard and a ceilidh at Shrewsbury folk festival in 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHFLwyP1XCo
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Larry on February 03, 2011, 09:37:12 AM
NIce going Sarah! Always in the running! your timing is to be respcted>
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: zubz on February 03, 2011, 10:39:50 AM
Here is my attempt at 'mount hills' which I first heard and a ceilidh at Shrewsbury folk festival in 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHFLwyP1XCo

Nicely done LdT ... solid rhythm, and a great choice of tune.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: ladydetemps on February 03, 2011, 10:44:22 AM
Thanks both.

 I was actually quite worried about the rhythm of this one as by the time I got round to filming it and had got a take where I didn't mess up...epic-ly my arms were aching and was quite tired.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: zubz on February 03, 2011, 11:14:11 AM
I was actually quite worried about the rhythm of this one as by the time I got round to filming it and had got a take where I didn't mess up...epic-ly my arms were aching and was quite tired.

<raises head above parapet> The challenge is to enjoy playing it ('cos it IS a wonderful tune), and worry less about the recording. The aim of the game (imho) is to "let the music out" - it's not about what others think. <ducks down again>.

Ben Zander does a brilliant talk on this kind of subject here (http://www.ted.com/talks/benjamin_zander_on_music_and_passion.html) - it's 21 minutes but so insightful, and thoughtprovoking.

Anyway, drifting back ... good solid rhythm ... great tune.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Anahata on February 04, 2011, 12:17:39 PM
After much agonising about what to play, here's my Playford Tune: All In A Garden Green (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNaBDwfjd7c) on a 1940's Hohner Club C/F box.

I usually do this on the Oakwood but thought the tune would suit the sonority of the club box - amazing how the knock-on effect of having 1 note different means having to re-learn half the tune, but the gleichton also makes some opportunities to do things that you can't do without it - mostly smooth scales through that C over a held bass note.

I also looked at Hole in the Wall in the original key, but decided it was just too hard to do convincingly. It was very tempting as it would have used the E flat chord  :o, but in other places the accidentals and chords just don't go together properly.

Might do another one later...
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Larry on February 04, 2011, 12:32:14 PM
Hello Anahata, a well chosen piece and so well played. there are lessons to learn
for the viewer/listener. As for the instrument I believe you knew how well it would
sound even with uncertainty of the difference of layout. great accordion!
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: zubz on February 04, 2011, 12:36:25 PM
After much agonising about what to play, here's my Playford Tune: All In A Garden Green (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNaBDwfjd7c) on a 1940's Hohner Club C/F box.

Mmmmmm, aaaah <contented sigh> .... what a beautiful and relaxing posting that is.
The simplicity of the bass - no (or at least hardly any) chords - supports a crispness and lightness that this piece so well deserves.
And then when the chords are added it adds colour - just great! Deceptively simple, but much going on!

This is set to be a particularly great ThOTM (hopefully).

Quote
Might do another one later...

Please do.  8)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Anahata on February 04, 2011, 12:57:29 PM
This is set to be a particularly great ThOTM (hopefully).

It should be. Playford had some great tunes.
Thanks for the other comments  (:)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Steve_freereeder on February 04, 2011, 01:38:54 PM
After much agonising about what to play, here's my Playford Tune: All In A Garden Green (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNaBDwfjd7c) on a 1940's Hohner Club C/F box.
That was absolutely delightful! Lovely, lovely playing, which has enriched my day. Thank you so much.  (:)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Steve Fox on February 04, 2011, 03:21:48 PM
here's my Playford Tune: All In A Garden Green (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNaBDwfjd7c) on a 1940's Hohner Club C/F box

Absolutely delightful.  Proof, if it were needed, that music can make even the most frustrating day bearable.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Andy Simpson on February 04, 2011, 05:53:56 PM
All In A Garden Green is one of my favourite tunes in the whole world and that's one of the best renditions I've ever heard. I can only echo what Steve and...er...Steve have said above, just wonderful. (:)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Owen Woods on February 04, 2011, 06:07:35 PM
Agreed, lovely stuff as always Anahata (:)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Chris Brimley on February 04, 2011, 06:26:03 PM
Can I chip in with my praise, too, Anahata - having a rather similar old box myself that I don't use as much as I should, I particularly appreciate the way you're playing those basses so sensitively.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Ollie on February 04, 2011, 07:16:02 PM
That was wonderful!

I will be contributing this month, but will now have to re-think what I'm going to do, as my arrangement of All in the Garden Green was pretty much like that (in terms of harmony), only a tone lower!
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Clive Williams on February 04, 2011, 11:36:06 PM
Here's a couple of playford tunes for you:

Kettle Drum/Glory of the West (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZpWgZkb-G8)

I've been playing this set for a while, which is how I've managed to figure out an arrangement, and record these so early in the month!  :D It's nice to record it though - recording kind of fixes it in my mind, and glues it back into my repertoire.

Like far too much of my repertoire, these come from the fiddle playing of Chris Wood - these can be found on Chris' and Jean Francois Vrod's album 'Crossing' which I think you can still get from the English Acoustic Collective website. There's some fantastic music on there, including these 2 tunes, which were in his solo repertoire back in about 2000 or so, when he did very occasional folk club gigs (after he was famous, and before he was famous again!)

I play these on the Streb, in A/D (I think! - I've forgotten already!), and rely heavily on the unisonoric setup on the basses to provide drones and all manner of neat effects. Assuming it's an A/D, the tunes should have come out in Em.

Cheers,

Clive
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Larry on February 05, 2011, 09:14:08 AM
Hello Clive, Your the master of the dream. weaving a simple pattern into
solid silk.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Alan Morley on February 05, 2011, 09:47:28 AM
Great playing Clive, lovely sound from the Streb ( I thought I'd never say that  ;) ) well chosen tunes and played almost hypnotically - fantastic stuff.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: folkbluesnbeyond on February 06, 2011, 09:16:37 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cLUAEUTsRQ

A trio of straight to tape tunes from the headless hohners. I had thought of tweaks and enhancements but thought again. The DG is fairly dry so you may need to adjust some treble off the first tune.

All the best

Bill
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Larry on February 06, 2011, 09:36:36 AM
Great Bill! I liked them all and the drysound of the DG too.
not a tweak needed!!
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Alan Morley on February 06, 2011, 10:22:02 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cLUAEUTsRQ

A trio of straight to tape tunes from the headless hohners. I had thought of tweaks and enhancements but thought again. The DG is fairly dry so you may need to adjust some treble off the first tune.

All the best

Bill

Sounds good Bill, nice playing and a good set of tunes.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Anahata on February 06, 2011, 10:30:57 AM
will now have to re-think what I'm going to do, as my arrangement of All in the Garden Green was pretty much like that

There's an advantage to jumping in early. LDT already beat me to Mount Hills which had been on my list of possibilities - both tunes being regularly played at our main local session.
Never mind, plenty more fish in the Playford sea!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cLUAEUTsRQ
A trio of straight to tape tunes from the headless hohners.
Thanks Bill - my type of melodeon music - very danceable!
And The 29th of May is a lovely tune that I'd forgotten...

Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Sandy on February 06, 2011, 11:29:36 AM
Nice playing Bill. I'm already enjoying this month a lot.

will now have to re-think what I'm going to do, as my arrangement of All in the Garden Green was pretty much like that
There's an advantage to jumping in early. LDT already beat me to Mount Hills which had been on my list of possibilities - both tunes being regularly played at our main local session.
Never mind, plenty more fish in the Playford sea!

I was rather hoping that Ollie will still post his version of All in the Garden Green and that Anahata will post Mount Hills too. I love hearing different versions even if they are similar. I'm working on Mount Hills at the moment which is an similar to how Saul Rose taught is at Witney last year. However, I really like Paul Scourfields arrangement too on http://www.myspace.com/paulscourfield.

Please  ::)

cheers
Sandy
 (:)

Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: zubz on February 06, 2011, 12:01:05 PM
I really like Paul Scourfields arrangement too

That really is a cracking version!
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: **DTN** on February 06, 2011, 12:50:54 PM
I'm lazy!  ...i'll post an old one!  ;D ;D ;D ;D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJR1CNpgjdc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJR1CNpgjdc)

DTN
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Larry on February 06, 2011, 12:58:14 PM
Hello DTN,
well being one of the players with a pedigree (one of the best) laziness
can go with talent. As Nigel said "brilliant as usual".
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Owen Woods on February 06, 2011, 03:58:55 PM
I'm lazy!  ...i'll post an old one!  ;D ;D ;D ;D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJR1CNpgjdc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJR1CNpgjdc)

DTN

Only a matter of time before someone would post that! :P I wonder how many orders Loffet has got because of that video... you should ask for a rebate.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Banjo Ray on February 08, 2011, 03:53:11 AM
Anyone care to recommend some good Playford CDs - not necessarily melodeon.
I have Ashley Hutchings' the compleat dancing master, and a Broadside Band cd which is called something like "dances from france and england" that has some playford - but that's about it. 
Somebody mentioned Pyewacket but I cant find their CDs anywhere.
Any other good ones?

Ray
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Anahata on February 08, 2011, 08:02:42 AM
Try Belshazzar's Feast: John Playford's Secret Ball (http://www.brightyoungfolk.com/gigs/belshazzars-feast-john-playfords-secret-ball/record-detail.aspx)

I haven't even heard the album, but I know the two Pauls and their music well enough to make a confident recommendation that it will be top quality stuff.

Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Theo on February 08, 2011, 09:21:22 AM
And of course there 'Cast a Bell from the magnificent  1651 (http://www.bejo.co.uk/bejo/html/art1651.htm#)  including Andy Cutting demonstrating why he won the  BBC Radio 2 award last night.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Lester on February 08, 2011, 10:20:36 AM
Just by happenstance this appeared in my email this week:

http://www.eastleighfolkdance.org/MainlyPlayford.pdf (http://www.eastleighfolkdance.org/MainlyPlayford.pdf)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Fidjit on February 09, 2011, 08:50:30 AM
Thanks Lester I needed that.

Someone says that this is Playford, but not necessarily as I playford  :|bl  it.

No time this month for anything else I'm too busy packing for my big move.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYyXqMBQ9I0

Cheers  :|glug
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: shift on February 09, 2011, 10:04:54 PM
Hi all, I've had another go, this time at Newcastle. Sorry about the video quality - the lighting must have been wrong... There really are some great Playford tunes, so I may have another go at one of the slightly more intricate ones, but I really liked this one when I came across it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Co1vDaJ5bA
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Mcgrooger on February 10, 2011, 06:02:59 PM
Sorry all - especially shift! I'm going to have to post another version of the tune you've already posted. It's Newcastle - it was one of only two Playford tunes I already knew - the other being Portsmouth which seemed just too well known. I used to play them as a pair about 30 years ago and the only other Playford tunes that I thought I might have a go at have also already appeared here. Anyway - here's my version. It's taken an age to get ready - my computer decided to have a bit of a hissy fit when I started.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiJPyXI2N1E
Once again sorry for the lack of originality!  :|bl
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: shift on February 11, 2011, 09:22:52 PM
Hi Mcgrooger no worries, I really enjoyed your playing... I've had a bash at Gathering Peascods, although it's probably a little too quick and bouncy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzpGQQyI_jw

Cheers
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Mcgrooger on February 11, 2011, 11:07:11 PM
Thanks Shift. And thank you for posting your two nicely Play(ford)ed tunes! As to the slight visual gloom - don't know if it helps, but I filmed Newcastle with the sun streaming in through our big window. Good job I didn't record it today - it was hoying it down here - as it usually does. Anyway I was having loads of fun getting my broken car towed away and some young techie trying to sort out the headphone socket on my PC - as usual he fixed one problem and left me with a load of new ones - oh the joys of Windows 7 - NOT!  :||:
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: jackson10 on February 12, 2011, 03:15:21 PM
Not having been familiar with Playford I was finding it hard to choose something that I might be able to play that would sound good. But really enjoyed your posts and I realize that the interpretation given to the tune is what makes it sound good. Especially use of the basses, which I haven't been doing before. Encouraging! I will try one before the end of the month. (Might have to repeat something that has already been done.)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Gary P Chapin on February 12, 2011, 10:55:19 PM
Just checking in.  I'm working on a few tunes and should have at least one up by the end of the month, but I'm finding this very interesting.  I very much enjoy Brit dance music, but don't play much.  I play mainly French, and what I'm noticing is that the melodic structures of different styles of music have certain characteristic qualities.  The types of intervals and rhythms that are common in French music and the types that are common in British music are subtly different.  I'm playing some fairly easy Playford tunes -- Nottingham Ale (Lilebulero), for example -- but they just feel foreign because I'm not used to playing intervals like that.  The same for the Dark Girl Dressed in Blue.  It's not a hard tune, but it feels strange to me.

Anyway, not complaining, just finding it interesting.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Anahata on February 13, 2011, 12:51:44 AM
I play mainly French, and what I'm noticing is that the melodic structures of different styles of music have certain characteristic qualities.  The types of intervals and rhythms that are common in French music and the types that are common in British music are subtly different.

English musicians find exactly the same when playing French music! The melodic building blocks (Mary H. calls them "Lego pieces") just aren't the same.

Playford is different again from later English music such as the 19th/20th century hornpipes, reels, polkas and jigs that make up the common current  English dance band and session repertoire.

I'm sure that Dark Girl Dressed in Blue is a fairly recent invention. Well, C.20 anyway.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Ziachmusi/Louise on February 13, 2011, 05:42:35 PM
Kemp's Jig

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVLpwMZJRWI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVLpwMZJRWI)

I choose this because

A. it's a lovely tune
B. Norwich (Playford was born there, I was born there and Will Kemp danced there)

Louise
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Chris Ryall on February 13, 2011, 06:01:31 PM
Just to say Playford is popular in Paris, where they call it contredanse anglaise.  Went to a club dance when I used to commute there and there must have been 200 of them.  None of that mimsy 'walk it through' several times either.  The band launched straight into the tunes and madame on the stage called each figure a second or so before it started.  Now that's proper dancing!   

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contredanse    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va0f-Y-eojc -  costumed!

... the related video links suggest that the term covers a bit more than the gig I was taken to  :|glug
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Gary P Chapin on February 13, 2011, 06:05:05 PM
Just to say Playford is popular in Paris, where they call it contredanse anglaise.  Went to a club dance when I used to commute there and there must have been 200 of them.  None of that mimsy 'walk it through' several times either.  The band launched straight into the tunes and madame on the stage called each figure a second or so before it started.  Now that's proper dancing!  
When I went to Alsace some years ago, the dancing had it's fair share of English Country Dance.  A CD I have of French dance music for dance leaders includes four or five Playford tunes.  Because I didn't know the tunes, I put down my accordion to dance -- yeah, that is funny -- and you're right.  No wimps these.  The centrifugal force was impressive.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Chris Brimley on February 14, 2011, 11:19:29 AM
My contribution:

http://www.onmvoice.com/play.php?a=40975

The first tune is 'Epping Forest', published in Playford's 1670 edition.  The second is 'Nonesuch', and the third 'A la Mode de France', from the 1651 edition, with another go at Nonesuch to finish off.  If you consider Nonesuch as being in Dm, and replace the C and F with C# and F#, you get A la Mode de France in D major.

Following the recent discussion on this thread, I thought it was interesting that the third tune was named 'A la Mode de France', because to today's ears the minor version 'Nonesuch' sounds much more 'French' than the major version.  This is probably because of the vielle à roue or hurdy-gurdy sound it seems to generate, which I tend to associate with France (or Italy) rather than England, though I don't know whether there was an English version of the instrument made in the 17th Century.  Speculating, and bearing in mind the continual rivalry between the two countries around this time, I wondered if Mr Playford named the tune himself, and was having a little joke at the expense of those 'uncultured Frenchies across the channel', considering the 'A la Mode de France' tune rather rough and ready compared with the much more delicate 'Nonesuch'.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Owen Woods on February 14, 2011, 01:35:43 PM
Those are lovely tunes Chris (:)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: mayord21 on February 14, 2011, 01:58:17 PM
My contribution:
http://www.onmvoice.com/play.php?a=40975

Very fine multi-layered symphony of playford !
Don
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Sandy on February 14, 2011, 02:51:07 PM
My contribution:

http://www.onmvoice.com/play.php?a=40975


I really like the choice of tunes and lovely playing. Thank you Chris.
 (:)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Chris Brimley on February 15, 2011, 01:58:48 AM
Quote
multi-layered symphony

Thanks Don for kind comments - it's actually just one track with plenty of reverb from Goldwav's sound editor, and the strange 'percussion' is just very clacky bass buttons and a heavy foot, I'm afraid.  The initial bird song clip came from my garden, with reverb on as well to try to suggest being deep in Epping Forest.

Thanks also, Sandy and Ukebert, for your kind words.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Alan Morley on February 15, 2011, 08:07:54 AM
My contribution:

http://www.onmvoice.com/play.php?a=40975

The first tune is 'Epping Forest', published in Playford's 1670 edition.  The second is 'Nonesuch', and the third 'A la Mode de France', from the 1651 edition, with another go at Nonesuch to finish off.  If you consider Nonesuch as being in Dm, and replace the C and F with C# and F#, you get A la Mode de France in D major.


Nicely done Chris, Nonesuch is a tune I have been familiar with for years but never played it and never knew what it was called - thanks for posting, well played.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Anahata on February 15, 2011, 06:33:58 PM
My contribution:

http://www.onmvoice.com/play.php?a=40975

The first tune is 'Epping Forest', published in Playford's 1670 edition.  The second is 'Nonesuch', and the third 'A la Mode de France', from the 1651 edition, with another go at Nonesuch to finish off.

Lovely sound and playing, and a stunning imitation of a hurdy gurdy on the second tune.
I had to look up the Saltarelle Tramontane to find out what it was - some of those combinations of chords and accidentals just aren't to be had on an unmolested two row box.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Chris Brimley on February 15, 2011, 09:16:31 PM
Thanks, Anahata - the hurdy gurdy sound was actually surprisingly easy to get - I held down the LH chord, and tred to simulate the zizzy effect with the bellows movement like the crank on a hurdy gurdy. Because the high RH reeds take much less air to activate them than the basses, I found you can get them to sound fairly constant, at the same time as the LHS sound stops and starts.  To get the drone I had to plan the RH fingering around playing all on the pull, then all on the push, and running out of air was the big problem.  But I changed direction on the gaps in the 'zizz', as it were, so you can hardly notice it.  Of course the box has one big advantage over the hurdy, and that's having a whole range of different chords to drone with, which I used on the B music. 

I found these tricks only work if you've got enough air, so I had to arrange some constant push bits on the B music to get the bellows back into position for the two A parts, which are all pull.  I've found playing in D minor is often difficult because of this 'mostly pull' problem, even with lots of buttons on each side.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: mayord21 on February 16, 2011, 12:44:20 AM
Another version of Kemp's Jig.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsUk9rWvg5g

Don
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Gary P Chapin on February 19, 2011, 02:28:53 AM
Liliburlero on my Salterelle with only the low reed sounding.  Just simple.  Might do something more ambitious later.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Accordeonaire#p/u/6/G-29_bcH58k
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Chris Brimley on February 19, 2011, 10:08:00 AM
Nice playing, Gary, it's a sound that deserves to be used, more often.  I also liked your http://accordeonaire.blogspot.com/2011/02/bourrees.html, from another thread.  Sensitive and rhythmic, I thought.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: folkbluesnbeyond on February 19, 2011, 11:51:25 AM
Hi Mcgrooger no worries, I really enjoyed your playing... I've had a bash at Gathering Peascods, although it's probably a little too quick and bouncy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzpGQQyI_jw

Cheers

Not too fast at all: in the dim and distant past i played for GP as a dance,(on piano accordion).
see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlIitSG5l70

(The audio is slightly out of sync but you will get the general idea that your playing is certainly neither too fast or too bouncy, in fact excellent to dance to.)
 All the best

Bill
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Gary P Chapin on February 19, 2011, 10:28:48 PM
Nice playing, Gary, it's a sound that deserves to be used, more often.  I also liked your http://accordeonaire.blogspot.com/2011/02/bourrees.html, from another thread.  Sensitive and rhythmic, I thought.
Thank you.  I quite appreciate it.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Andy Next Tune on February 20, 2011, 05:35:26 PM
Godesses on my Dino Binci http://www.onmvoice.com/play.php?a=41629 (http://www.onmvoice.com/play.php?a=41629)
Apologies for the heavy breathing and snuffles - full of cold!

Andy
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Hugh Taylor on February 23, 2011, 12:17:14 PM
Here is my contribution to the Playford Theme of the Month - Parsons Farewell, Maiden Lane, and Jamaica. They are played on a Castagnari Mory, and my friend Steve accompanies on guitar.

http://www.onmvoice.com/play.php?a=41866
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: mglamb on February 23, 2011, 01:00:22 PM
Andy and Hugh, nicely played - and a great tune selection by Hugh!
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Gary P Chapin on February 23, 2011, 01:38:51 PM
Hugh, those are lovely.  Nice box.  Nice tunes.  Nice playing from both of yez.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Mcgrooger on February 23, 2011, 03:32:20 PM
Well having duplicated one Playford tune this month I thought, what the 'eck - I'm sure DtN won't mind if I have a go at Mr Isaac's Maggot. I've paired it with another 3/2 tune - The Presbyterian Hornpipe which isn't, I think, a Playford tune and I'm aware that Derek plays that too (properly as well!) These tunes are me playing on the ragged edge of my ability - it took me quite a while to manage twice through each without too many fumbles. I picked up The Presbyterian whilst looking for a 3/2 to go with another tune a while ago. I then downloaded the abc and found that the only key I could play it in was Bm. On listening a bit more carefully to the Askew Sisters playing, I discovered that they had an octave jump in their version in Em. I quite like the fact though that it uses such a large stretch of the available notes on my box.
Here they are (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPQfSKEx8gU)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: shift on February 25, 2011, 03:03:41 PM
Hi,

Apologies if this is the proverbial straw, but I had a go at another Playford tune, Jenny Pluck Pears http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjWhHopnhO0 . I found this one a little tricky, so please excuse the dodgy notes towards the end. It's slightly different to the notation in the graphic, too...

As I seem to have a way to go in terms of mastering the filming side of things I added some pics - rather that than only showing half the keyboard and my knee jiggling up and down!

Thanks from a newcomer for the kind comments and pointers, and I look forward to next months tune!

Cheers
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Mcgrooger on February 25, 2011, 05:37:20 PM
Apologies if this is the proverbial straw, but I had a go at another Playford tune, Jenny Pluck Pears http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjWhHopnhO0 . I found this one a little tricky, so please excuse the dodgy notes towards the end. It's slightly different to the notation in the graphic, too...
Nice playing, Shifty - again. I'd never heard this tune before - I'll add it to the list I've made of tunes from this month's theme to have a look at - I'll not be posting a version though! I'd never realised before how many good Playford tunes there are. McG
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Clive Williams on March 01, 2011, 12:42:01 AM
It's a new month (here in the UK at least!), so it's time to move onto a new theme. We've had some lovely playford tunes this month, and even though this is no longer the theme of the month, please feel free to post any late submissions!
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Owen Woods on March 01, 2011, 01:23:21 AM
Jenny Pluck Pears is a lovely tune, one of my favourites, nice recording (:)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Banjo Ray on March 04, 2011, 02:10:16 AM
.

As I seem to have a way to go in terms of mastering the filming side of things I added some pics - rather that than only showing half the keyboard and my knee jiggling up and down!


A really lovely version.  I would really have liked to see you play this one.  Even half a keyboard would help.  I guess I will have to plagiarize your version by ear as best I can.

Ray
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Ollie on March 05, 2011, 08:54:07 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WRiocvJlH0

A bit late, but I wanted to wait for my Erika to get back from Mike Rowbotham before I recorded. I've gone from Mundesse, which I got from Nick Barber's tunebook, as it's such a lovely tune. Doesn't the box sound lovely as well?  ;D I'm very very happy with it.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Alan Morley on March 05, 2011, 09:19:24 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WRiocvJlH0

A bit late, but I wanted to wait for my Erika to get back from Mike Rowbotham before I recorded. I've gone from Mundesse, which I got from Nick Barber's tunebook, as it's such a lovely tune. Doesn't the box sound lovely as well?  ;D I'm very very happy with it.

Quite dry tuning Ollie -very nice - I might have to look at my D/G Erica now.....
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Owen Woods on March 05, 2011, 10:02:02 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WRiocvJlH0

A bit late, but I wanted to wait for my Erika to get back from Mike Rowbotham before I recorded. I've gone from Mundesse, which I got from Nick Barber's tunebook, as it's such a lovely tune. Doesn't the box sound lovely as well?  ;D I'm very very happy with it.

Quite dry tuning Ollie -very nice - I might have to look at my D/G Erica now.....

Ollie has an Erika, not an Erica :P BIG difference. And it is sounding fantastic.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Anahata on March 06, 2011, 10:28:06 AM
What they all said - lovely box, nicely played - and pleased to see/hear you've kept it in club tuning!
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: jgdsp8 on February 02, 2012, 08:42:47 AM
So I'm a bit late (exactly a year I think), but I wasn't playing the Melodeon back then.  I seem to be having a bit of a Playford obsession at the moment.  Hope it's ok to post here this late!
I really want to improve the left hand, and add a little more ornamentation and harmony.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9fbcpbVNMGQ
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Mike Hirst on February 02, 2012, 08:50:02 AM
So I'm a bit late (exactly a year I think), but I wasn't playing the Melodeon back then.  I seem to be having a bit of a Playford obsession at the moment.  Hope it's ok to post here this late!
I really want to improve the left hand, and add a little more ornamentation and harmony.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9fbcpbVNMGQ

Top tune !!!
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes
Post by: Barry M on February 02, 2012, 01:11:24 PM
So I'm a bit late (exactly a year I think), but I wasn't playing the Melodeon back then.  I seem to be having a bit of a Playford obsession at the moment.  Hope it's ok to post here this late!
I really want to improve the left hand, and add a little more ornamentation and harmony.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9fbcpbVNMGQ

Really enjoyed that.
It also reminded me of hearing the tune on "The Complete Dancing Master" LP/CD By Ashley Hutchings, John Kirkpatric and others.
Not that I knew what it was then!
But what a great tune.
Thank you for posting that
Barry
SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal