Topic: Tune of the Month for May 2018: The Tip Top Polka (Read 8564 times)

Clive Williams · « **on:** May 01, 2018, 11:11:53 AM »

Hi all - this month's tune after 2 months being runner up,is the Tip Top Polka - here played by Paul Earwicker, and very nice too... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFM_f36k42k and here's as complete a tutorial as you could possibly want from Gavin Atkin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgQbOsTVRFs

Enjoy!

Clive

folkbluesnbeyond · « **Reply #1 on:** May 01, 2018, 11:30:56 AM »

The sun is shining: pro tem

https://youtu.be/Gqj1zzTYPqc

All the best

Bill

baz parkes · « **Reply #2 on:** May 01, 2018, 11:58:30 AM »

https://youtu.be/0-Gyo2bmO6Y

Someone had to....

Jesse Smith · « **Reply #3 on:** May 02, 2018, 12:35:53 PM »

Was this tune originally written by the Bacup Coconutters, or is it an older traditional tune that predates their use of it?

Saul Bailey · « **Reply #4 on:** May 02, 2018, 01:26:17 PM »

Complete with cheesy key changes and the old switch-a-roo!

https://youtu.be/fPHjuWmABgk

Saul

baz parkes · « **Reply #5 on:** May 02, 2018, 03:22:28 PM »

Quote from: Jesse Smith on May 02, 2018, 12:35:53 PM

Was this tune originally written by the Bacup Coconutters, or is it an older traditional tune that predates their use of it?

Given they usually dance to a silver band, I doubt they would have composed it...but have no evidence that this is the case.
Someone more knowledgeable than I will be along shortly,,,x

Lester · « **Reply #6 on:** May 02, 2018, 03:45:01 PM »

This is from t'internet so is definitely true

CLOW BANK. AKA - "Tip Top Polka." English, North-West Morris Tune (2/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. Tune for a polka step dance and is employed by the dancers of the Pennine town of Bacup, Lancashire. The melody has been attributed to Moravian composer, conductor and impresario Max Maretzek (1821-1897), composed about 1850, and published by Edward L. Walker of Philadelphia.

https://tunearch.org/wiki/Annotation:Clow_Bank

Jesse Smith · « **Reply #7 on:** May 02, 2018, 04:01:54 PM »

Thanks, Lester, that's something at least!

baz parkes · « **Reply #8 on:** May 02, 2018, 04:08:45 PM »

Might it be here

https://www.loc.gov/resource/sm1884.13797.0/?sp=1

I don't do dots so I don't know...

Jesse Smith · « **Reply #9 on:** May 02, 2018, 04:12:38 PM »

Quote from: baz parkes on May 02, 2018, 04:08:45 PM

Might it be here

https://www.loc.gov/resource/sm1884.13797.0/?sp=1

I don't do dots so I don't know...

No, that's a different tune (and I think I saw yet another different Tip Top Polka on the LoC website earlier).

Tufty · « **Reply #10 on:** May 02, 2018, 05:04:45 PM »

For anyone not familiar with the Britannia Coconut Dancers ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl58rIDNdWA

Mike Carney · « **Reply #11 on:** May 02, 2018, 05:15:27 PM »

Quote from: Tufty on May 02, 2018, 05:04:45 PM

For anyone not familiar with the Britannia Coconut Dancers ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl58rIDNdWA

A work of true beauty and grace. Only in England. Thanks for the reminder!

olly · « **Reply #12 on:** May 02, 2018, 06:44:16 PM »

Quote from: Saul Bailey on May 02, 2018, 01:26:17 PM

Complete with cheesy key changes and the old switch-a-roo!
Great stuff 😀

https://youtu.be/fPHjuWmABgk

Saul

Thrupenny Bit · « **Reply #13 on:** May 02, 2018, 08:08:06 PM »

Thank you so much Tufty - just sublime!
It always makes me smile when watching, it's something you just can't make up in a million years.....
Q

Daddy Long Les · « **Reply #14 on:** May 03, 2018, 08:01:06 AM »

This is my version. Slow and steady for tuition purposes and interspersed with the Tip Top Hornpipe. We use these tunes for our processional with Chelmsford Morris.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvUSYN3z0KA

Cheers

Les

Martin P · « **Reply #15 on:** May 03, 2018, 08:19:28 PM »

I’m told that The Nutters band play TTP in Eb (being a Silver Band, that is natural for them). So perhaps don’t expect to sound the same on a D/G box!

Martin P · « **Reply #16 on:** May 03, 2018, 09:34:18 PM »

Causes confusion amongst confused Southerners, but does anybody know of an actual dance that is danced to Rochdale Coconut Dance Tune? For the geographically challenged, Bacup is not the same as Rochdale. Bacup is much prettier.

Lester · « **Reply #17 on:** May 03, 2018, 09:43:55 PM »

Quote from: Martin P on May 03, 2018, 09:34:18 PM

Causes confusion amongst confused Southerners, but does anybody know of an actual dance that is danced to Rochdale Coconut Dance Tune? For the geographically challenged, Bacup is not the same as Rochdale. Bacup is much prettier.

This is the traditional dance

Martin P · « **Reply #18 on:** May 03, 2018, 10:38:37 PM »

Whilst bowing to Lester’s great wisdom, I suspect he is being ironic here. I’m sure this tune wasn’t written for Belly Dancers. Any other (sensible) suggestions?

howard mitchell · « **Reply #19 on:** May 03, 2018, 10:53:00 PM »

Here’s my concoction simulating the parts played by the Stacksteads Band for the Bacup dancers.
All played on the same melodeon, multitracked.

https://youtu.be/xyqgikYeRA4

Compare with https://youtu.be/Sl58rIDNdWA

Mitch

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Author Topic: Tune of the Month for May 2018: The Tip Top Polka (Read 8564 times)