I wrote tune a couple of months ago, and I was wondering if you guys and gals could give it a play and let me know what you think. I’m still unsure if it works better as a reel or a hornpipe. Fair warning, it has a high c in it.
I’ve ‘played’ it in my head. Not bad. To me, at least from playing it that way, it comes across decidedly as a reel. I might try it on an instrument or two later.
Thanks, Ben. I certainly intended it as a reel when I set out to write it, but then once the triplets made their way in I started to wonder if if might not play better as a hornpipe.
Incidentally, and at the risk of going political, my working title from day 1 was “Roy’s Lament” or “Moore’s Downfall.” i.e. a tune to commemorate Roy Moore’s loss to Doug Jones here in the Alabama Senate race.
I only read with difficulty, and I’ve no instruments on hand at the moment, but I worked out the rhythm of the notes and for some reason the word “strathspey” keeps popping into my head. I’m wondering what our Chiffers of the Caledonian persuasion would have to say about this. It’s not common, but I have come across the rare undotted strathspey at least once in my time.
No, that’s even worse. I’m such a by-ear person that I never developed the ability to “hear” what I’m reading very well at all. I’d be far better off with a recording - a MIDI at the very least - or a whistle to work out the dots and help me along, but without either (yes, it’s true. For the time being, Nano hasn’t even so much as a whistle. ), I’m pretty well sunk. I have a harp coming and that might have served, but the interim is of no use to anyone, is it. Sigh.
Right. I’ve tried it on both flute and fiddle. I think it’s way better without just about all of the triplets. Try this, and apologies for the liberties taken, but they’re in the spirit of trying to help. Simplified like this, I think it’s a really nice tune. Good stuff!
Not seeing it here, though perhaps I could if the rhythm was ‘strathspeyed’ up a bit.
But not sure I’m quite getting reel or hornpipe either, and suspect most of the ‘reel’ problem lies in the number of consecutive triplets. I’m also stopped in my tracks by the half note at the start of the B section, where I keep hearing it go straight to the following eighth notes and wanting another half note’s worth to balance at the end of the section.
(Edit: or do something to break those half notes up a bit rhythmically if you want to keep the rest where it is?)
Try my version as above Peter. It becomes quite a flowing reel.
In line with your later comment, I found myself breaking up the half notes, with some extra rhythmic thingies (differently each time), but personally I’d be happy to keep the notation as it is, and just vary it in playing.
Had a listen via MIDI, and it’s a reel, all right. Nice tune. Makes me think of slowly drifting down a lazy river in the evening haze, for some reason.
- Mod.]
), I’m pretty well sunk. I have a harp coming and that might have served, but the interim is of no use to anyone, is it. Sigh.
