I’m curious how those of you who play The Gravel Walk at reasonably high velocity (1/2=120 or higher) handle the articulation in section 2
|(3AAA aA gAfA|
and section 4
|c2 gc acgc|c2 gc BAGB|.
I’ve tended to tongue the high note of the pairs and sort of fall off into the lower note. This keeps me up to speed but is not quite as crisp as I’d like. Anybody have success tonguing them all or have another solution?
Thanks for all input,
Jon Michaels
I encounter the same problem as I am working up to speed on this tune. I’ve seen enough progress with the tonguing technique in those spots that I’m just going to keep working on that and hope that this technique improves for me whatever the tune. It is tricky to get the tongue and fingers to co-ordinate in fast tunes, isn’t it? Considering all the trouble I go through to perfect this technique, I expect the skill to transfer to other areas of life . . .
On 2002-01-18 13:47, Jon-M wrote:
I’ve tended to tongue the high note of the pairs and sort of fall off into the lower note.
I suggest you try the exact reverse of this. For example, in the second section you quote, tongue the “c” notes in the lower octave and slur into the high ones.
In the first section, you might want to tongue the first high “a”, since you have to leap from the octave below - especially if you have a loud new-fangled whistle. But on the other kind, you can jump up with tonguing.
Many top whistlers do this, and it corresponds exactly to common bowing patterns used by fiddlers.
This technique won’t necessarily give you a crisp sound, but it will give you a lovely Irish swing. Try it.
Steve
What an interesting suggestion! I’d never have thought of that. At first shot it seems promising. Many thanks, Steve.
Jon Michaels
Just tried Stevie J’s suggestion for Gravel walk. I too had been previously tonguing the 2nd octave A note. But the alternate tonguing articulation suggested by Stevie J. provides not only an interesting solution to the playing requirements, but also delivers a different rhythmic structure which is pleasing to the ear.
LIGHT BULB GOES ON: This same issue posed by Gravel Walk articulation had hit me when trying to play at speed the first 2nd octave D in Drowsy Maggie. To be able to play at speed, I had to do what Stevie J here suggested for Gravel Walk articulation. Great suggestion, Stevie J., and I suspect I will use this tip in many other tunes.