I am starting to learn another tune that is played at the local session - Nancy’s Fancy. It has thrown up a few questions and I wondered if anyone here could help, please.
Tempo: I have two written versions, one in 4/4 and one in 2/4 (with notes all half the length of the first). What is the difference? The MIDI renditions sound the same to me, but that does not convince me that there is no difference.
Variation: There is a difference between the versions in the A part.
I think that the session plays c’s, and I will, of course, play what they play. But does that mean that I may encounter the other version at other sessions? Would it be a big musical mistake to play the d instead of the c or vice versa if that happened? I find the c’s easier to play, but prefer the tune with the d’s, especially the second instance.
Ornamentation: The B part has some repeated notes (b, c), which I am trying to cut, but the tune does not ‘flow’ for me. The repeated c notes I find awkward even to cut. Is there an ornamentation I could be learning here? Or is it a good place for tonguing?
Don’t know the tune. But it strikes me as a fairly “square” English dance tune - à la Playford, or maybe a clog? In any case, thinking 2/4 or 4/4 shouldn’t make much difference at all. It’s just how heavy a push you want to give to the main beats.
For d vs. c - meh, either one. d is a bit brighter and happier, maybe implying a V-I progression instead of V7-I or IV-I.
Ornament … Either you approach it as an English dance tune, in which case the “rules” of Irish ornament don’t apply. Or you approach it as a 2/4 Irish polka, in which case the “rules” of Irish reel/jig ornament again don’t necessarily apply. Polkas really are a different beast, and best played with less fussy ornament and more emphasis on the lift and phrasing.
Here, those repeated notes almost sound like dance “stomps” to me (stomp-stomp-stomp!). I’d just tongue them, and maybe tongue+cut the 3rd ones.
But there are people here who know far more than I do about both English dance and Irish polkas. So no offense at other suggestions.
For the meter I will follow the crowd, I was filling in an ‘ignorance spot’. Likewise I will play the c as the others do. I never intended to do otherwise, but it was my first conscious encounter with variation and it gave me pause for thought.
I had not realised that I was straying from ITM mainstream (if I understand you right). This shows that my ignorance continues unabated though neither my straying nor my ignorance cause me concern. If tonguing the notes is appropriate then the tune seems to get easier.
One day I will get confident enough just to play without having to understand. I am getting there slowly, and I really appreciate the time help given.
Had a quick look at it Phill - I don’t know it either, though the first setting of the A music with the Cs ending bars 2 & 6 kinda sounds more natural to the tune to my ears - though the Ds alternative works fine too, as MTG says.
Based on a few runs through, I would quite soon find myself using various ways of playing (“ornamenting”/articulating) the B music, including:
B{A}B {^c}B/A/B|c{d}c {d}c/B/c| where the {A} = L2 tap, the {^c} = L1 cut and the {d} = R2 tap in oxx xox C nat fingering, or equivalent tap for whatever C nat you’re using.
~B2 {^c}B/A/B|~c2 {d}c/B/c| where the ~s are full rolls starting on the written note. One could tongue the initial note, or not, but I would do the actual roll on the second quaver - i.e with the roll’s emphasis towards the end of the available time (on-beat emphasised by tongue &/or push), in order to differentiate it from the following figure (maybe better notated B-~B {^c}B/A/B|c-~c {d}c/B/c|).
One could instead do “short” rolls starting on the upper grace (and so with the roll’s emphasis on the on-beat), though that would just sound like a simple repetition of the second figure in the bar prefaced with a cut, thus: {^c}B/A/B {^c}B/A/B| - a perfectly valid and effective variation.
Thanks Jem, that gives me some to work on. I will give those articulations a close look now. I like the apparent simplicity of your last variation.
I did play a bit with cuts and taps, and actually started to get close to your first variation but I felt this started to mess with the Note,Note, half note, half note rhythm. Probably my sloppy cuts and taps.
Oh, I forgot to mention that I did not post the entire abc. Here it is, in case any are interested:
though neither my straying nor my ignorance cause me concern. If tonguing the notes is appropriate then the tune seems to get easier.