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Music session - 22nd August 2017

Submitted by Elyna Delynor on August 29, 2017 - 8:53am

Music session - 22nd August 2017

Present:

Sympkyn of the Moor, hammered dulcimer
Katherine of Glastonbury, harp
William de Cameron, tenor recorder
Elena y Delyn, lever harp

Tunes played:

We began this session looking at Anello as I had been toying with it and thought we should learn it. However the written music I have is questionable and after discussion verging on a wee rant from me it was decided to leave it for now until I can research a little further and possibly re-write a lead sheet. The pitch of the sheet that we have is probably fine but the rhythm was pronounced weird. This may be one of those cases where several interpretations exist and the original manuscript is unclear; if this is the case we will probably come to a consensus of 'what the dancers are used to hearing' and learn it that way. Watch this space.

Next up was Single Bransle.

And then Double Bransle.

Both these are coming more easily. We started playing them mixed together as a fun and confusing exercise, e.g. two repeats of one and then two repeats of the other. Well that was the original plan, I lost count remarkably quickly.

This opened up discussion on our game with Pinagay about randomising the number of kicks in the second passage of the dance and whether we could randomise the number of repeats of Single vs Double Bransle... and then the idea of keeping to even numbers of repeats, so the dancers would at least be leading off on the correct foot for the initial double left of whichever the next bit happened to be... and then the even eviller idea that we shouldn't necessarily stick to even numbers and the dancers may have to be ready to double to the right if need be...! (The very idea!)

More discussion will no doubt happen at some point.

We then played Montarde Bransle and (sorry everyone) revisited the fact that the original is starting on a G whereas we had previously moved it to start on an A. Now we no doubt had a reason for that decision at the time but this evening it wasn't clear what that was, and so we chose to play in the original pitch. The dulcimer and the tenor recorder are both lacking a low B flat, which may well have been why we moved it, but the players in question were happy enough to replace the single use of the said B flat with a D instead, which works just fine.

Then we played Pease Bransle and for clarity we are in the same 'key' (modern equivalent of Gm) and starting on a B flat.

At this point William and I got sidetracked talking about singing and recorder music and the tea had run out so we called it a wrap for the night.

**Reminder**
Future music sessions will take place on Tuesdays rather than Mondays. Same venue (email me for address), same time (7.30pm - 9.30pm).
Newcomers are very welcome :)                                                          *** NEW VENUE BEGINS IN SEPTEMBER ***
Regards,                                                                                                   Email me off list for details!
Elyna Delynor

 

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