My tune of the month

[Trish Santer]

Hmm! I have to say agree with Eric that harmony, whether planned or spontaneous, can enrich a tune. After all, is that not exactly what e.g. guitarists might be doing when they play whatever chords they think might fit with a certain melody? (and in a session you can bet they won't all be playing the same!) There are many instrumentalists (and singers) who can hear a tune and instantly invent a harmony. Playing in unison all the time is frankly boring, and I don't see what is wrong with adding harmony to tunes! ("We've never done it before so it can't be done now", seems to be JAJ's philosophy.)

[JAJ]

There should never be more than one guitarist playing in a session at any one time. Or more than one drum(preferably none) for the very reasons you suggested above.

Nothing wrong with a bit of harmonising if the player knows what he or she is doing. Otherwise, it's just "noodling".

I wasn't meaning to have a go at Eric(So, please don't take offence. None intended) but sessions aren't usually the place for "planned" or rehearsed arrangements. I do say "usually" as more relaxed sessions such as the Kirkliston one and even our own wee monthly one in Musselburgh are good places to try out his sort of thing and I certainly don't have a problem with this at all and would even encourage a bit of experimentation at the latter.

However, I was really talking in general terms, e.g. your typical good going tune session where the playing of the music isn't regarded to be a "performance" as such.

"Playing in unison all the time is frankly boring"

Better musicans than either you or I have being doing this for years especially as far as Irish music is concerned. Scotland, I agree, is a little different in this respect.

[Trish Santer]

You'll have had your opinion! (As ever!)

[JAJ]

(17-02-2012 07:02 PM)Trish Santer Wrote:  You'll have had your opinion! (As ever!)

You're never particularly shy about expressing your own....

[John Kelly]

Interesting thread, this with a bit of needle creeping in - unusual for this forum.

I am reminded of the early days of the folk revival when it was claimed by many of the "purist" persuasion that folk songs were basically set in stone at a particular time in the past and were to be performed authentically, usually unaccompanied but with a finger in one ear!

Think of the influence of institutions such as Cecil Sharp, but also of the great work done by people like our own Hamish Henderson and The School of Scottish Studies at Edinburgh University. When Henderson et al went out on their early recording ventures they face a lot of opposition from others who did not see the songs and other recordings they were making as being valid historically, yet Henderson was recording the living tradition.

The traditional music that we perform today was, when first played, the new music of its time, and what we play now will become the traditional music of a future time, with the added advantage that we can now have recorded versions of whatever we create/play so that those coming after can reference this material and in turn do with it what they think is fitting in their time. Instruments are introduced - think of the very recent advent of the bouzouki into Irish music, thanks largely to Donal Lunny among others - which might not have been used previously, and I do not believe this devalues the music being played on them but rather enhances the total experience. Arrangements will be made by various musicians according to how they interpret a tune and there is of course a place for all the variants which have been suggested in the thread by Trish, Eric and JAJ. Yes, there will be times when protocol and those present dictate that tunes are played in a particular way, but equally there are many times when a group of folk will be playing together and creating an experience unique to that group and that situation.

Surely there is room for us all? Let hatchets be buried and lets move on and continue in harmony (or even in unison!).

[JAJ]

(18-02-2012 11:47 AM)John Kelly Wrote:  Yes, there will be times when protocol and those present dictate that tunes are played in a particular way, but equally there are many times when a group of folk will be playing together and creating an experience unique to that group and that situation.

I quite agree and every session is different. However, I was just commenting on what is usually the norm in most of the more serious ones which I've visited over the years especially when they are in "full flow".

Obviously, a few "musical friends" who wish to get together are quite at liberty to arrange things as they choose. It may not suit everyone though and even appear a little "exclusive" to a casual visitor.

Also, all sorts of arrangements can be used for public performance and/or recording purposes depending on the musicians' abilities and imagination. They may or may not be to everyone's taste, of course.

Anyway, just to show there's no hard feelings, I might even submit a new tune today.