This kids’ Morris troop at my daughter’s school is definitely a go, and I will be playing (hopefully some other parents will volunteer…I’m not sure that one lonely little whistle will carry over the sound of bells and sticks!). They’re going to be focusing on three tunes, two of which (Shepherd’s Hey and South Australia) I already know and need only to polish up a bit. The third, according to the person directing this endeavor, is something called “Bluebells.” I suspect I may know it under another name (I’m finding that I know a lot of Morris tunes under different names…for example, I found one called “The Rose Tree” that I know as “Waterford”). The director is planning to get sheet music to me at some point, but if this is one I don’t know at all, I’d like to get cracking on learning it. Anybody know of a clip somewhere on file (or sheet music…I’m not picky!)? Or does anyone know if this tune goes by another name? If so, I may already know it, or have it in one of my tune books.
One cool thing…the guy who coordinates the music for the adult Morris troop has agreed to meet with any parent musicians and give them some pointers on playing for dancers, which will be a definite help! I’ve never played for dancers…right now, I’m just concentrating on practicing the Hey and South Australia with a good, steady, even beat.
Morris dancing goes best with Anglo concertina Redwolf. You’ll have no volume problem with one of those. Whistles just aren’t in the spirit, if you know what I mean. Just get one before the big day and you’ll be fine—a reasonable Jeffries should leave you with serious change from $10,000. No need to worry about learning the tunes beforehand. For Morris dancing its just press and draw, press and draw and keep pushing those little white buttons.
One thing I just don’t get, Redwolf. South Australia for Morris dance?
[ This Message was edited by: Wombat on 2002-10-03 13:20 ]
Yeah…South Australia surprised me too. Not exactly trad for Morris, is it? . It’s a favorite of the local Morris dancers, however…possibly because it’s nice and bouncy, and the meter is just right for Morris dancing. On the upside, it’s one I know very well, so one less thing to learn.
On 2002-10-03 13:18, Wombat wrote:
Morris dancing goes best with Anglo concertina…
FWIW, for Morris I prefer the punch of a good melodeon over anglo concertina any day. Anglos just don’t have the bass that a melodeon does.
Whistles just aren’t in the spirit, if you know what I mean.
Solo perhaps, but as part of a morris band
(as Redwolf is doing) it is quite appropriate.
I love melodeons too but I have so much GAS (Gear Obsessive Acquisition Syndrome—like WHoa only worse) that I have to draw the line somewhere. My impression after seven years in England was that Anglos were the instrument of choice for the real-ale traditionalists. I think they’d prefer recorders to whistles too. Certainly it’s bounce you want though. I might be wrong about this though—being more of a celtic type, morris wasn’t really my thing. Real ale was, though.
Funny how they call them free reed instruments, isn’t it. I’ve never found one that was free. I’ve never found a reed that was free either.
I love melodeons too but I have so much GAS (Gear Obsessive Acquisition Syndrome—like WHoa only worse) that I have to draw the line somewhere.
Boy, I hear you there. Fortunately for me I am married to a melodeon player so there is one available in the house as well as a double reeded 20 button anglo.
Funny how they call them free reed instruments, isn’t it. I’ve never found one that was free.
Isn’t that the truth A few years back the bellows on Rose’s melodeon got pretty bad. I surprised her on her birthday with new bellows. They were a lot more expensive than I had originally anticipated. I don’t remember the exact dollar amount but it was a hearty percentage of the cost of a new box.
Yup…it IS “Bluebells of Scotland.” Just checked with the director. Funny thing is, I DO know it too…I just didn’t think about it because I don’t know it from whistling, but from my daughter’s piano practice (it’s in the Thompson “Teaching Little Fingers to Play” book, of all places). The notation in the piano book is too low, but it plays easily up in the next octave and, like the other two tunes, it’s dead simple.
My daughter hates that particular piece, because she really had to struggle with it on the piano…I think I’ll wait a while to tell her she’s going to be dancing to it! (and I don’t think she needs to know that I had it down pat on the whistle after just one run through!).
I do think this is going to be a lot of fun. It’s always neat to see kids turning on to traditional stuff. I think I’m going to have to lay in an extra supply of arnica ointment, however…I can just imagine the bruises when a bunch of seven to 12 year olds start getting active with sticks!
. It’s a favorite of the local Morris dancers, however…possibly because it’s nice and bouncy, and the meter is just right for Morris dancing. On the upside, it’s one I know very well, so one less thing to learn.
A few years back the bellows on Rose’s melodeon got pretty bad. I surprised her on her birthday with new bellows. They were a lot more expensive than I had originally anticipated. I don’t remember the exact dollar amount but it was a hearty percentage of the cost of a new box.