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Suite des 5 jumellesClick
here to play or download midi file This month something different, a lively and fun five part Quebecois tune, commemorating the five Dionne quintuplet sisters born in 1934. Their story can be read here Dionne quintuplets . Two of the sisters are still living. The original tune and an MP3 sample can be found HERE The notes with the tunes in French; "Here are 5 tunes in honour of the quintuplets, a juxtaposition of five different reels." This tune is from a very large collection of over 400 Quebecois tunes that along with an international team, transcribing them into ABC format and correcting a few errors along the way. The project is being overseen by the website owners. Most of the tunes have mp3 samples along with the dots and a midi file. Please feel free to use this great new resource, I will update with news on the ongoing project. VISIT HERE Many thanks to Steve Jones for the story behind the tune, and Eric Lortie for permission to use the transcription and inviting me to participate in this great project. Happy Playing, David Jacobs
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DaphneClick
here to play or download midi file A wonderful example of how versatile a simple tune can be, as a dance, song
and concert piece. Played by
Frans Bruggen
When Daphne from faire Phoebus did flie, The West winde most sweetly did blow in her face: Her silken Scarfe scarce shaddowed her eyes, The God cried, O pitie, and held her in chace, Stay Nimph, stay Nimph, cryes Apollo, Tarry, and turn thee, Sweet Nimph stay, Lion nor tyger doth thee follow: Turn thy faire eye and look this away. O turn O prettie sweet, And let our red lips meet: Pittie O Daphne, pittie O pitty me. Pittie O Daphne pittie me. She gave no eare unto his cry, But still did neglect him the more he did mone; He still did entreat, she still did denie, And earnestly prayes him to leave her alone. Never never cryes Apollo, Unlesse to love thou do consent: But still with my voice so hollow, Ile crie to thee, while life be spent. But if thou turn to me, I will praise thy felicitie. Pitty O Daphne, pittie O me, Pitty O Daphne, pitty me. Away like Venus dove she flies, The red blood her buskins did run all adowne, H[is] plaintiffe love she now denies Crying, help help Diana and save my renowne: Wanton wanton lust is neare me. Cold and chaste Diana aid, Let the earth a virgin beare me: Or devoure me quick a maid: Diana heard her pray, And turned her to a Bay. Pittie O Daphne, pittie, O pittie me, Pitty O Daphne, pittie me. Amazed stood Apollo then, While he beheld Daphne turn'd as she desired, Accurst I am above Gods and men, With griefe and laments my sences are tired. Farewel false Daphne most unkinde, My love is buried in this grave, Long have I sought love, yet love could not finde. Therefore is this my Epitaph This tree doth Daphne cover, That never pitied lover, Farewell false Daphne, that would not pittie me, Though not my Love, yet art thou my Tree. Happy Playing, David Jacobs
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MoonriseClick
here to play or download midi file I only know this tune from playing for Ragged Morris around Brisbane, It
appears to have been imported by Joyce and Eric from their side Wild Morris in the UK. This is link to a Tassie side The Mad Tatters dancing and playing it, an
alter ego for The Mad Hatters Morris side. Happy Playing, David Jacobs
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The Parson in the Suds and Click
here to play or download midi file and also
Click
for RH257 midi file Two slightly different versions of the same tune, The originals can be viewed here: Yarker's MS, 1797, Cumbria Yarkers1797/5234/p7 Rev.R.Harrison's MS, c1815,Cumbria Harrison/18473/p76 This is the second submission in a sometimes series of parson’s tunes. All editions of this tune is in personal, handwritten manuscripts, and from the same area, Yarkers circa 1797 being the earliest, The second variant is from Rev Harrisons’ circa 1815. It would seem possible that they may have played the tunes socially, in what we’d call a session, then take them home. Alternately they may have been taught the tunes by their music teacher? Without empirical evidence we will never know the circumstances how these tunes were played or communicated. Happy Playing, David Jacobs
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An Dro and LarideClick
here to play or download midi file Two Breton dance tunes from Brittany in the North West of France. These dance tunes are simple yet open for so much elaboration and improvisation..yet keeping the same rhythm, and essential playing for dancers. These tunes are often sung, always by two people, alternating between parts and repeats. The dances are circle or line dances, linking little fingers, no need for a partner…often the dancers will sing a chorus to the tune, that soon turns into to complex harmonies along the lines. For Peter Thornton, friendship, is a quality, not a quantity. A wonderful musician, with a joy for music, these two we almost had in common, going to miss you at the festivals… I hope they let you play your melodeon up there! Happy Playing, David Jacobs
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Braye's MagottClick
here to play or download midi file From Thomas Bray’s Country Dances 1699 p26. The Original can be found: HERE Magotts were a popular type of tune, often defined as something that was not definable, however the style has stayed on in the colloquial music term as "an earwom" or a tune that gets stuck. We know little of Bray except for this early published book of country dances. Being a dance book the tunes also have their dance steps included. Most of the tunes are in two parts, if you look at the original you can see the Bass line is printed upside down. The treble and bass players would sit on opposite sides to read their respective parts, negating the need to purchase or print separate parts. It can also be assumed the music was on a flat table not on a music stand. Given the name it can be assumed this was one of Bray(e)’s own compositions rather than a "collected" example. It should also be noted the print is not the "modern" type, but individual notes, it was not until several years later moving type allowed music to be printed as we see today. Happy Playing, David Jacobs
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Marriage March from Central FranceClick
here to play or download midi file First came across this wonderful 6/8 jig in Mel Stevens 1987 Massif Central Tune Book
Vol 1, around the same time Blowzabella also put it in their first tune book. A wonderful way to celebrate with youse all, me and Katia getting married in May. Happy Playing, David Jacobs
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Danza Dos Palillos de AnceuTwo Stick Dance from AnceuClick
here to play or download midi file As it's almost Mayday I thought I'd put in an almost Morris Tune. Long before the predominantly male folk of the Cotswolds donned their whites and baldricks while brandishing sticks or hankies, the women and men over the sea in Galicia, Northern Spain were brandishing two sticks in mixed sets and doing this HERE Very much like Morris dances in England, there are slight variations in the tunes and dances from village to village. The tune below is correct in it's own right, but from the Youtube there is an A part.\ The Source for this version is from Os Segedos da Gaita, the text book and tune book for the Galician Bagpipe College in Ourense Spain. For playing on instruments without the lower C# play it up an octave. Happy Playing, David Jacobs
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J'ai vu le loup, le renard et la beletteI saw the wolf, the fox and the weaselClick
here to play or download midi file This month another tune and song from the Cajun, Breton and Central French traditions. The theme can be dated back to the 15th Century in France. I first learnt it as a dance tune for pipes ' and hurdy gurdy off a dance troupe from the Berry region in Central France. I was surprised later ' dancing to it played as Cajun two step. This clip of Balfa Tourjours playing a stonking cajun version in A: HERE Lyrics in French and English Happy Playing, David Jacobs
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