Topic: JK's English Choice - intro. notes inspire..... (Read 4957 times)

Thrupenny Bit · « **on:** December 28, 2011, 12:20:00 PM »

In a fit of panic, my reply to 'what on earth can I get you for Crimble?' was
"well, JK's English Choice tune book would always be handy....."
Apart from the obvious ( tunes! ) I'm finding the introduction from His Lordship utterly thought provoking and very resonant to me personally. Several of his comments about playing have drifted through many forum threads, but the introduction in this book has many of these thoughts condensed into a couple of sides of print.
Play tunes not melodies; play a tune for a while to get inside it as repetition gets you into the tune; learning the notes is not the end, it's the start.... and a whole lot on the tunes we mostly play are for *dance* and only come alive when danced to...... and on it goes.
I don't want to quote them all, or infringe copyrights or anything, but I keep reading the comments and they really do resonate with me....
Now I just have to learn how to play like him

yeah, I know, dream on.....
Q in thoughtful mode.

Steve_freereeder · « **Reply #1 on:** December 28, 2011, 01:01:10 PM »

Yes - I also like JK's philosophical approach to playing tunes.

This article impressed me years ago and it still comes up in this forum from time to time. Definitely a 'Marmite' item, but personally I love it.
http://www.johnkirkpatrick.co.uk/wr_MedleyMania.asp

Thrupenny Bit · « **Reply #2 on:** December 28, 2011, 01:30:12 PM »

Yes I agree.
I 'rediscovered' the article recently when I was flitting through the 'Opus Pocus' tunebook, trying to get my eldest to have a go at 'Jump at the sun'. I'd forgotten about the article, but I re-read it made sense.

Some of his other points made coincide with my last session, where I had two good friends trading tunes, both playing 2 row D/G's and obviously trying to out-do each other. I remember thinking 'what more do you want? a 2 row and all these lovely tunes.... that's enough'
John touches on over elabourating tunes in this Introduction article. I confess to recently lusting after perhaps a 2.5 row, after enjoying the wizardry on 'Banquet of Boxes' where players are using mainly 'other' boxes.
A combination of that last session and this article has stopped me in my tracks and made me think.
Always a good think when I think......except it hurts *so much*

cheers
Q

Theo · « **Reply #3 on:** December 28, 2011, 01:35:36 PM »

Quote from: Thrupenny Bit on December 28, 2011, 01:30:12 PM

I remember thinking 'what more do you want? a 2 row and all these lovely tunes.... that's enough'
John touches on over elabourating tunes in this Introduction article. I confess to recently lusting after perhaps a 2.5 row, after enjoying the wizardry on 'Banquet of Boxes' where players are using mainly 'other' boxes.

JK may have developed his view since then because he himself mostly plays his BCC# box now, and though I'm not suggesting he over elaborates, his playing style is pretty full with lots of fills, ornaments, variations, counter melodies on the bass and RH chords.

Stiamh · « **Reply #4 on:** December 28, 2011, 01:54:28 PM »

Quote from: Thrupenny Bit on December 28, 2011, 01:30:12 PM

... elabourating...

Brilliant - a very felicitous misspelling. Combines elaborate and labouring in one word to indicate trying too hard and producing a dog's dinner. I'll borrow this if you don't mind.

Thrupenny Bit · « **Reply #5 on:** December 28, 2011, 03:09:49 PM »

Theo: I agree his style is full. Listening to the tunes on my ipod and trying to follow them in the tune book shows how a simple tune ends up an extraordinary one in his hands. I think his right hand is quite stunning!, yet I find his complex style still in keeping with the flow of the tune.
Not sure if I can say what I mean here...... maybe he keeps the fullness without taking it beyond the perameters of the tune's purpose (?).
Oh dear, rambling again

Steve: Errmm..... please feel free

I do have problems at times, as I'm sure others have noticed, when translating from my native tongue....... but I know what I mean

Q

Theo · « **Reply #6 on:** December 28, 2011, 03:23:40 PM »

Quote from: Thrupenny Bit on December 28, 2011, 03:09:49 PM

yet I find his complex style still in keeping with the flow of the tune.

Because he is a musical genius. I can't think of anyone else who can do all that and make it sound effortless.

Thrupenny Bit · « **Reply #7 on:** December 28, 2011, 03:29:13 PM »

Ahhh.... that too!
I knew there was something I forgot to mention

Q

baz parkes · « **Reply #8 on:** December 28, 2011, 05:06:50 PM »

Quote from: Thrupenny Bit on December 28, 2011, 01:30:12 PM

. I confess to recently lusting after perhaps a 2.5 row, after enjoying the wizardry on 'Banquet of Boxes' where players are using mainly 'other' boxes.

Q

Just remind yourself of the specifications of the box JK used on that recording (in the notes). That will put an end to that sort of nonsense....

Baz

Thrupenny Bit · « **Reply #9 on:** December 28, 2011, 06:02:59 PM »

Yeah Baz I know...... a perspective hit too.
Lots of things to make notes of from the book.
..... and whilst we converse, Seasons Greetings to you sir!
Q

Owen Woods · « **Reply #10 on:** December 29, 2011, 03:29:00 PM »

Quote from: Thrupenny Bit on December 28, 2011, 03:09:49 PM

I do have problems at times, as I'm sure others have noticed, when translating from my native tongue....... but I know what I mean
Q

English isn't your native tongue? I would never have guessed!

Thrupenny Bit · « **Reply #11 on:** December 29, 2011, 03:35:52 PM »

yer, you'm een fer a gurt slap if you iddn careful ;=)

Ahem.
I have no idea what you mean, Mr. Ukebert my good man.

Q

Owen Woods · « **Reply #12 on:** December 29, 2011, 04:14:29 PM »

I'm confused now.

Thrupenny Bit · « **Reply #13 on:** December 29, 2011, 07:35:45 PM »

ukebert: Don't worry too much, I spend all my life in a perpetual state of confusedness

cheers
Q

Ollie · « **Reply #14 on:** December 29, 2011, 07:39:31 PM »

Quote from: ukebert on December 29, 2011, 04:14:29 PM

I'm confused now.

Q's like Ross...

Thrupenny Bit · « **Reply #15 on:** December 29, 2011, 07:41:03 PM »

Arghhhh now *I'm* confused

life's a worry y'know
Q

pikey · « **Reply #16 on:** January 25, 2012, 04:58:01 PM »

Quote from: Steve_freereeder on December 28, 2011, 01:01:10 PM

Yes - I also like JK's philosophical approach to playing tunes.

This article impressed me years ago and it still comes up in this forum from time to time. Definitely a 'Marmite' item, but personally I love it.
http://www.johnkirkpatrick.co.uk/wr_MedleyMania.asp

I think JK got that idea from a session we were both in at Cricklade ECMW 1978, when the 'traditional' hammer dulcimer player, Reg Reeder, played Heel and Toe Polka for 30 minutes, in C (which upset all the G/D melodeon players), until Rod Stradling uttered the immortal line 'one more time!.......'

I also agree with JK about medleys, but you can use the same approach if you have two tunes that go well together (e.g 3 around 3 followed by the Quaker) :
Don't stop playing after twice through each tune plus one more of the first one (a hangover from the early days of EFDSS, when that is all would fit on one side of a '78!) - play the set for 30 or more minutes.

You will find that the tunes 'take you over', you find new nuances, and float off in a trance...... We once played our Buttered Peas and Officers Polka set at a dance for 45 minutes. The dancers didn't want to stop, and neither did we - when we did, they wanted more!

Thrupenny Bit · « **Reply #17 on:** January 25, 2012, 05:13:44 PM »

pikey:
Absolutely agree... let the tune ( or maybe 2! ) just take over and float off........
and they do don't they!
Q

pikey · « **Reply #18 on:** January 25, 2012, 08:15:04 PM »

Even Heel and Toe Polka takes on hidden meanings after the 30th time through.......

pbsalt · « **Reply #19 on:** January 25, 2012, 08:29:07 PM »

Quote from: Steve_freereeder on December 28, 2011, 01:01:10 PM

This article impressed me years ago and it still comes up in this forum from time to time. Definitely a 'Marmite' item, but personally I love it.
http://www.johnkirkpatrick.co.uk/wr_MedleyMania.asp

Why is it a "Marmite item " - can't see why anyone would disagree( !) - apart from his argument about playing a tune many times for dance also suits sessions - gives participants a chance to get to grips with the tunes and then develop wonderful harmonies ...

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Author Topic: JK's English Choice - intro. notes inspire..... (Read 4957 times)