World Fiddling

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Comment by Aisha on October 5, 2009 at 4:30pm

I have really been enjoying some of the Swedish and Finnish tunes that our fiddle group has been playing lately. Something spooky about those scandinavian waltzes....

Comment by Bink F. Williams on August 13, 2009 at 6:32pm

Haven't been able to upload to this site due to size restrictions; however, was successful with two on Youtube. Search for Eric Favreau (beautiful french-canadian waltz and Pete Sutherland (swedish appelbo). Hope to post some more of the swedish with David Kaynor. All from classes in Vermont at the NorthEast Heritage Music Camp.

Comment by Sharon Hartmann on August 7, 2009 at 7:20pm

Sorry Y'all for the side line. We'll get back to fiddlin now!

Comment by Sharon Hartmann on August 7, 2009 at 7:19pm

I'm jealous... My drop thumb really needs working on since I pick the thing like I would playing the fiddle! I think if I just didn't think about it, it would happen more naturally:)

Comment by Aisha on August 7, 2009 at 1:39pm

Yes, I do feel pretty lucky... I wish I was better at knowing what keys I'm playing on the banjo. Usually I just play by myself and I just stayed in G major for the logest time. Then I tried dropping the b to a b flat to make it minor since I love minor stuff. Only in the past little while have I tried D or other stuff. It is kinda mind-boggling. I have come to have a much deeper appreciation for banjo players since I started trying to play myself. My drop thumb is getting much better though!!!!! Pretty excited about that cause I think it sounds so cool. Hope you have a great weekend too!!

Comment by Sharon Hartmann on August 7, 2009 at 12:56pm

I've heard about the color spectrum. I can envision different colors for different keys. Your lucky to have a banjo player that will accommodate you on key changes. The jams around here like to stay in the same key because of the banjo having to always tune, which I think is a lame excuse as there are capo's, and tuning usually is only 1 or 2 strings. I don't mind changing keys when I play the banjo, in fact I'm really enjoying it. Usually the jammers will play in D or an hour then switch to A. At my house, I like to do maybe 6 tunes in one key then switch to another. We can get at least 3 key changes in that way. Changing keys is definately something I like to get on a soapbox about! Have a nice weekend. Play many tunes and have fun times.

Comment by Aisha on August 7, 2009 at 8:12am

sounds like a lot of fun despite the rain. That is really interesting about the keys... I saw a special on this autistic piano player a while back and he was identifying the different keys with colors in his mind - like Dminor was a dark blue and A yellow or something - I don't remember the colors exactly but it's really interesting the way people feel the different keys and it's so much more than just a different level up a scale. Banjo camp was my first experience with playing lots of tunes in the same key and then finally switching to another key and then lots of tunes there for a while. I thought it a bit weird too. Luckily the banjo player I've been playing with lately ENJOYS switching keys (as long as I tell her the right key to go to!!). I agree that the changing it up really helps in a jam. Even in a medley - like in Irish music I think it sounds so much better to play tunes in different keys in a medley than to pick all the same key. Kind of makes it build or go somewhere different...evolve or something. I would really love to come down there to visit sometime. Thanks for the invite! I'll take you up on it eventually!

Comment by Sharon Hartmann on August 5, 2009 at 12:40pm

Hi Aisha, It was really wet and muddy but we had a great time. The only contest that I was in was the trad band contest. Our bass player came up and I told him if he did we would enter. I picked the number 3 and then 1 & 2 were a no show so I wanted to change our name from the "ship of fools" to "first by default". The ship of fools was the name we dubbed the RV we rented. I watched some of the contests, weather permitting. I was really interested in watching one of the younger fiddlers I've been mentoring. She did really well. Of course I thought she should have been in the finals, but hey it's a big contest and it looks like the usual folks placed from the postings. I jammed late into the am, slept in my tent while we had torrential downpours and was amazed at how dry I kept with just a thin fabric. Saw some old faces and had a blast with my friends. I plan on going to the fiddler's convention in October. I'll probably sleep in my van since the weather is better then.
I think keys add "color" to the songs and make them warm or cold. I usually think of G as happy and laid back, D is kinda serious, C is a warm key with pep, F is emotional as well as minor keys. A is up beat and energetic. It drives me nuts at some of the jams when they only play in one key, usually because of a banjo (which is really easy to change keys in). I've had this discussion with a few jammers. I think it is essential to play in different keys for that mood enhancing effect. If your ever down this way, let me know. You can stay here and we can hit an irish session, which is usually on a Wednesday or Sunday, or my jam which is on the 2nd and 4rth Wednesdays. Or even a drumming circle.....

Comment by Aisha on August 5, 2009 at 8:20am

I'm so jealous about Clifftop....really wanted to go this year but just couldn't. I'm definitely going next year. Did you do the fiddle competition, Sharon???? I enjoy watching that video on youtube of Eryn playing her winning set from last year. And it's funny that you say that the minor keys remind you of cold because just yesterday I was playing a swedish tune with one of my students and she said "that sounds like snowy cold..." and it really does give that feeling - not only the picture but even the temperature or something. But major keys don't really sound like summer to me.... maybe a crisp sunny fall day. Very interesting. I'd like to come down there for your session some time. Maybe eventually. Are you guys going to the fiddler's convention at O'Leno in October? I got a camping site reserved already and am really excited about it.

Comment by Linda L. Pahia on August 4, 2009 at 7:57pm

Ah...we'll have to find Woody's Waltz, too...There is a new Irish Session kinda building up, too...It'd be GREAT to have a few happening each month...

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