Notes for David Greely tunes

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Paul Tyler

Last minute help for those who want to come prepared for tonight’s jam.
We’ll be upstairs in E324 in the Old Town School East building (4545 Lincoln), one floor above the Global Dance Party in Szold Hall. The acoustics in our new building are phenomenal.

Some answers to questions I’ve been asked. If you have a yearly subscription, you do not need to register. We welcome everyone who wants to hear and/or learn some Cajun fiddling. It would be great if you register online, but you can also pay at the front desk tonight.

In ABC Notation. Free software to read, print and play the ABCs is available here. And a short tutorial on ABC notation for fiddlers can be downloaded from the Old Town School’s Tune Archive using this link.

X:1
T:Lacassine Special
M:C|
L:1/8
O:Iry Lejeune
S:David Greely
K:A
zc2 | {Bc}B2A2 d2e2 | “slide”f3 f2ede | {e}f2=gf ecBA | A3 A3c2 |
{Bc}B2A2 c2d2 | e3 e2Ace | f2=gf ecBA | A3 A2 ::
Bcc | BAFE CEFA | Bcc2 Bc2c | BAFE CEFA | Bcc2 Bc2c |
BAFE CEFA | Bcc2 Bc2d | B3B2 cBA | A3 A2 :|

(The notation for “Lacassine Special has been revised to be more like the way David taught it at the Fiddle Club workshop. C’est la vie.)

X:2
T:Barres de la Prison
M:3/4
L:1/8
O:Canray Fontenot
S:David Greely
K:D
“NB swing those 8th notes”
FAd | f2{fg}fe fg | “slide” (3f=fed ^FAd | f2{fg}fe fg | “slide” (3f=fed ^FAd |
f2{fg}fe fg | “slide” (3f=fe d2{ed} BA | “slide”(3=cBA =F2 “slide”(3FED | D6 | D3 ::
z2D | =F-EDF {EF}ED | =F-ED2 B,D | =F-EDF {EF}ED | =F-ED2 B,D |
=F-EDF {EF}ED | =F-ED2 B,D | E2=F2 “slide”(3FED | D6 | D3 :|

(Notation for “Prison Bars was also revised to indicate 2nd finger slides marked by slurs and the triplet slides at the end of each strain.)

To use these notes, it is essential to listen to the tunes as David recorded them for us. To do that, go here.

David Greely, Cajun Fiddler

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Paul Tyler

Friday, February 24, 7:30pm
Room E324, Old Town School East (4545 Lincoln)
David Greely

For an interesting story on what can draw a person into a lifelong love affair with traditional music, you should read the bio on David Greely’s website. If you want to dance a two-step or waltz, you should pick up a Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys CD (their latest, Grand Isle, was a Grammy nominee). David and Steve, co-founded the band 23 years ago; David left for a solo and acoustic career after their storied Mardi Gras gig in Mamou, Louisiana last year. (I first met David during Mardi Gras in Mamou 17 years ago.) To be inspired to reach for new levels melodic magic and heavenly harmonies, listen to the two cuts below (from his solo CD, Sud du Sud.

Bayou Teche Waltz

Cotillion / Chatagnier

For further interest and inspiration, come to David’s demo workshop for fiddlers and other musicians at the Fiddle Club of the World this Friday. Admission for this meeting is $15, click here to register. To save some money of the next 12 months, join Fiddle Club of the World with $60 yearly dues. Plus you get your own very cool Fiddle Club card.

To learn a couple of tunes to play with David on Friday, click here.

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

From Joe Thompson: Tune of the Week for February 20, 2012

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Paul Tyler

R.I.P.
Joseph Aquilla Thompson
December 9, 1918 – February 20, 2012
Joe & Odell Thompson
From Mebane, North Carolina, Joe Thompson was a gentleman, a family man, a fiddler and a saint. He started playing for house dances with his brother before his legs were long enough to reach the floor from the chair in which he sat while he fiddled. In the late 1970s, he was convinced to start performing again, teaming up with his cousin Odell on banjo.

Twenty years ago, I got to see him perform in Philadelphia, many cultural miles away from his home district of small tobacco farmers. A dozen years ago I got to dance as he called an old-time frolic (ie, square dance) from the family and community tradition he grew up with. In 2005, I attended the Black Banjo Then and Now conference in Boone, North Carolina, where Joe was received as an honored elder (and where the Carolina Chocolate Drops got their start). A couple of times in the following years, I got to see him play in Chicago, once at the Old Town School in an afternoon program sponsored by the Center for Black Music Research at Columbia College. Afterwards, I sat beside him at a jam session in the back room of the Grafton as he tried to teach us to play Georgia Buck.

Georgia Buck, Joe & Odell Thompson, 1987

The notes are simple. The rhythm and ornaments are complex. The form and variations are fluid. The tune has two parts (what we normally call ‘A’ and ‘B’), but they are played with a logic different from the regular progression of repeated alterations. The transcription that follows is roughly taken from the last three times through the performance recorded above. It is meant to give you an idea of some of the variations use. The slides are more important that the actual starting pitches indicated by the grace notes. The Bb is more bluesy and not a tempered Bb. Listen to the recording a lot, as you learn to play the tune.

X:8
T:Georgia Buck
M:C|
L:1/8
S:Joe & Odell Thompson
K:G
“A” ^A-| B2dd G2AA | BAGG E2GG |”slide” {^A}B2dd G2B=A | G2GG E2GG |
“slide” {^A}B2dd G2B=A | D2EE DEGD | G2G4 G2 | G2DD E2G2 ||
“B slide” {^A}B2dd d2ee | =f2fA G2GG | “slide” {^A}B2dd d2B=A | G2GG E2G2 |
“slide” {^A}B2d4 e2 | =f2GG EGGE | G2G4 G2 | G2AG E2GA ||
“A” _B2dd B2AA | _BAAG E2GG | “slide” {A}_B2dd d2=BA | G2GG E2GG |
“slide” {A}_B2dd d2eA | G2AG EGGE | G2G4 G2 | G4 G2z ||

Two Fabulous Guests

Posted on February 19, 2012 by Paul Tyler

David Greely – Cajun Fiddler
Friday, February 24, 7:30
Old Town School East (4545 Lincoln), Rm E324

David Greely

Founding fiddler of the Mamou Playboys, David Greely has assembled a repertoire of uncommon Cajun music and new companion pieces to entertain and inspire you.

To learn a couple of tunes to play with David, click here.

$15 dues for either of these meetings, click here.

Arto Järvelä with Kaivama – Finnish Trad
Saturday, March 3, 7:30p
Old Town School East (4545 Lincoln), Rm E324

Arto Järvelä & Kaivama

Born to a family of fiddlers from Kaustinen, the epicenter of Finnish fiddling, our good friend Arto Järvelä makes a return to fiddle club, bringing with him Kaivama, the Minnesota-based duo of Sara Pajunen and Jonathan Rundman, for their second visit to the Old Town School.

To learn a couple of tunes to play with Arto, click here.

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Join Fiddle Club of the World for $60 yearly dues, support our guest artists and save 20% off the spring schedule alone. You will then have free admission for the rest of your year-long membership. Plus you get your own very cool Fiddle Club card.

Tunes from David Greely

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Paul Tyler

Here are a couple of Cajun classics we can all play together with David Greely, when he makes his appearance at the Fiddle Club of the World, on Friday, February 24.

The first tune is a fiddle version of a tune made famous by the great accordionist, Iry Lejeune (1928-55) from Pointe Noire, Louisiana.

Lacassine Special, a two-step

Lacassine Special, a two-step

And here’s a bluesy waltz from the playing of one of my favorites, Creole fiddler Canray Fontenot (1922-95) of L’Anse aux Vaches. The song was penned by Douglas Bellard.

Barres de la Prison, a waltz in 3/4

Barres de la Prison slow

For notes for these tunes, click here.

Dues for the February 24 meeting are $15 – you can register here (02/24/12).
Save money with a yearly subscription of $60. It gives you admission to all Fiddle Club events.

Tune of the Week for February 13, 2012

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Paul Tyler

Some island fiddling from the Indian Ocean

From a record of field recordings from Seychelles Islands, Danses et Romances de l’Ancienne France, from the great series of field recordings on the Ocora label from Radio France. The inhabitants of the Seychelles are a Creole people, whose culture has roots in Europe, Africa and Madagascar. A map locating the Seychelles and a short description of the music and the band can be found by clicking this link to a pdf, testimony from England.

The tune given here is a tropical rendition of a 19th-century social dance in 3/4, the mazurka, that originated in Europe. The distinctive Kamtole band sound of the Seychelles was used for dances, especially to celebrate Christian weddings. In the word of one anonymous internet author: “There was a time when Seychellois married couples came out of the church with their guests and they all left in a procession with musicians- two fiddles, a guitarist, an accordion, a drummer and a triangle.”

Tunes from Arto Järvelä

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Paul Tyler

Arto Järvelä is the first Fiddle Club of the World guest to make a return appearance. Along with Kaivama, a duo from Minnesota, he will be perform at the Fiddle Club meeting on Saturday, March 3rd at 7:30pm in room E324 in Old Town School East (4545 Lincoln). He’s looking forward to another good jam session after their concert. Here are some tunes to work on.

Kesäkuun Polkka, a polka in 2/4

Masurkka Eräjärveltä, a mazurka in 3/4

Wikström’s Vals, a waltz in 3/4

An ancient polonaise or polska in triple time that Arto learned from a 1806 manuscript collection kept by Adolf Frederik Starc (or Stare) in Turku, the old capital city of Finland.
Starc No. 44

Stare No. 44 stemma, a 2nd voice

For notation to some of these tunes, click here.

You might also want to check out the tunes Arto gave us for his last Fiddle Club appearance in September 2009. Click here. Plus, here is a new super-link to all the tunes he taught in workshops and to classes during his residency at the Old Town School in September 2009: DrDosido.net.

Dues for the March 3rd meeting are $15 – you can register here (03/03/12).
Save money with a yearly subscription of $60. It gives you admission to all Fiddle Club events.

Fiddle Club Guests for Spring 2012

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Paul Tyler

Join Fiddle Club of the World for $60 yearly dues, support our guest artists and save 20% off the spring schedule along. You will then have free admission for the rest of your year-long membership.

Plus you get your own very cool Fiddle Club card.

Friday, February 24 – David Greely, Cajun
As the founding fiddler of the hot Louisiana band, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, David Greely has played the Old Town School many times over the last 20 years. Having embarked on a solo career–he’s also doing a twin fiddle project with Joel Savoy–he brings a rich and deep repertoire of uncommon old Cajun tunes and new companion pieces. This will be a real treat.

$15 dues for this meeting, click here, or choose the yearly dues option above.

Saturday, March 3 – Arto Järvelä & Kaivama, Finnish
Born to a family of famous Kaustinen fiddlers, Arto Järvelä makes a return visit to Fiddle Club, bringing with him the Minnesota-based Kaivama. Arto may be the hardest-working fiddler in history. He has played with just about every roots music band on the Finnish folk scene. He is a consummate master of traditional Finnish tunes, as well as a composer of tradition-worthy new tunes. Besides fiddle, he plays mandolin and various keyed-fiddles. Kaivama is fiddler Sara Pajunen and Jonathan Rundman (guitar, mandolin and keyboard). They are making their second visit to the Old Town School on their second US tour with Arto.

Learn some tunes for the jam session with Arto, Sara and Jonathon: click for tunes.

$15 dues for this meeting, click here, or choose the yearly dues option above.

Friday, March 23 – Deirdre Ní Chonghaile, Irish
A Gaelic scholar, fiddler and dancer, Deirdre comes from the Aran Islands off Ireland’s West coast. She’ll play tunes with us and tell us about Irish fiddling in its native setting.

$15 dues for this meeting, click here, or choose the yearly dues option above.

Saturday, April 14 – Ed Cosner & Katie Bern, bluegrass
Transplanted southerner Ed Cosner has been introducing scores of younger fiddlers in northwest Indiana to the sounds of bluegrass. Katie Bern, a past winner in our Midwest Fiddle Championship, was one of his finest students.

$15 dues for this meeting, click here, or choose the yearly dues option above.

Sunday, May 20 – Dorian Gehring, Cajun *
Fresh out of college, Dorian is always ready with his fiddle. He won top prize in the 2010 Midwest Fiddle Championship with his band, the Cajun Vagabonds. Plans are still being worked out for this meeting, but I’m thinking a workshop on Cajun tunes, followed by a dance.

$15 dues for this workshop, click here, or choose the yearly dues option above. Dancers pay $5 at the door.

All meetings will start at 7:30pm, except * May 20, which will start at 6:30.
Old Town School East (4545 Lincoln in Chicago).

Leave a comment. I’ll be happy to answer any questions.
Paul Tyler, convener

Viritä Viikon helmikuun 6, 2012

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Paul Tyler

Finnish for Tune of the Week for February 6, 2012

I first heard this tune as the Priazhan Katrilli on the first Arto Järvelä album I ever heard, some 20 years ago. It’s a great European square dance tune. Here is the recording, by Pinnan Pojat. It can be found in the Old Town School Tune Archive.

Austrian fiddler Rudi Pietsch, another guest featured by the Fiddle Club of the World, also played the tune. What follows are recordings from Swedish, Finnish and Estonian musicians.

Finnjorka, a 1917 recording by Swedish-American artists Hugo Johnson & Fritz Aase

Frank Hietala with folklorist Elli Köngäs Maranda

Indrek Kalda & Tiit Kikus

NB: Arto Järvela with Kaivama will be featured guests at a Fiddle Club of the World meeting on Saturday, March 3 in room E324 in Old Town School East (4545 Lincoln).

Tune of the Week for January 30, 2012

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Paul Tyler

A little gem from Missouri
The Rhythm Rats on Marimac

From the Rhythm Rats 1994 cassette on Marimac Recordings. It has been reissued on CD by 5-String Productions (click for the catalog). The band featured fiddler Kenny Jackson with Whitt Mead on banjo and Paula Bradley on guitar. Sometime in the 1980s, Kenny Jackson and Brad Leftwich learned this tune on a visit with Ed Sutherland, a Missouri fiddler. Kenny’s fiddle on this recording has the G string run up to an A (ADAE).

Note: this is not the more famous Indian War Whoop recorded by Hoyt Ming & his Pep Steppers circa 1930 and reprised by David Holt in O Brother, Where Art Thou?