Topic: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes (Read 25880 times)

Clive Williams · « **on:** February 01, 2011, 12:16:08 AM »

From Wikipedia

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, 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

Alan Morley · « **Reply #1 on:** February 01, 2011, 08:20:35 AM »

Quote from: Clive Williams on February 01, 2011, 12:16:08 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://abcnotation.com/searchTunes?q=playford&f=c&o=a&s=0

Alan

smiley · « **Reply #2 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.shipbrook.com/jeff/playford/contents.html

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

Howard Mitchell · « **Reply #3 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/

Mitch

Howard Mitchell · « **Reply #4 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

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

Mitch

Ollie · « **Reply #5 on:** February 01, 2011, 06:50:15 PM »

I've just got into Playford. Excellent timing, sir!

ladydetemps · « **Reply #6 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

Larry · « **Reply #7 on:** February 03, 2011, 09:37:12 AM »

NIce going Sarah! Always in the running! your timing is to be respcted>

zubz · « **Reply #8 on:** February 03, 2011, 10:39:50 AM »

Quote from: 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

Nicely done LdT ... solid rhythm, and a great choice of tune.

ladydetemps · « **Reply #9 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.

zubz · « **Reply #10 on:** February 03, 2011, 11:14:11 AM »

Quote from: ladydetemps on February 03, 2011, 10:44:22 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 - it's 21 minutes but so insightful, and thoughtprovoking.

Anyway, drifting back ... good solid rhythm ... great tune.

Anahata · « **Reply #11 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 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

, but in other places the accidentals and chords just don't go together properly.

Might do another one later...

Larry · « **Reply #12 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!

zubz · « **Reply #13 on:** February 04, 2011, 12:36:25 PM »

Quote from: 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 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.

Anahata · « **Reply #14 on:** February 04, 2011, 12:57:29 PM »

Quote from: zubz on February 04, 2011, 12:36:25 PM

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

It should be. Playford had some great tunes.
Thanks for the other comments

Steve_freereeder · « **Reply #15 on:** February 04, 2011, 01:38:54 PM »

Quote from: 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 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.

Steve Fox · « **Reply #16 on:** February 04, 2011, 03:21:48 PM »

Quote from: Anahata on February 04, 2011, 12:17:39 PM

here's my Playford Tune: All In A Garden Green 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.

Andy Simpson · « **Reply #17 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.

Owen Woods · « **Reply #18 on:** February 04, 2011, 06:07:35 PM »

Agreed, lovely stuff as always Anahata

Chris Brimley · « **Reply #19 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.

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Author Topic: Theme of the Month for February 2011: Playford Tunes (Read 25880 times)

Howard Mitchell

Howard Mitchell

Larry

Larry