Tuesday Tunes Music session - 15th May 2018
Present:
Katherine of Glastonbury, harp
Elyna Delynor, alto rebec & lever harp
Emily of Ildhafn, soprano recorder
Rosalind Ryne, various recorders
Sympkyn of the Moor, hammered dulcimer
Tunes played:
- Stella Splendens
Version used is on page 66 of the Snogbook. After bar 34 we hold for another bar, so effectively the minim D and A become four beats long. Similarly when we repeat from the start, the very last bar also becomes four beats.
We customarily play a chorus to finish, after the last verse. For practices we only play a couple of verses depending how we feel. Today we did two, the first slow and soft, the second moderate speed and strongly, then a final chorus at the same tempo but softly again.
- Dona Nobis Pacem
Version used is on page 29 of the Snogbook. Played in unison for familiarity then broke into three-part canon. We achieve canon by breaking into groups and each group repeating the first passage an increasing number of times, once, twice, and three times, before continuing through the piece. Once your group has played three times through, repeat the last passage until everyone is done.
- Oh My Heart
Version used is on page 50 of the Snogbook. Mostly played as written except the dulcimer has no Eb so when Sympkyn is playing the Tenor line he uses a C instead. Other instruments have this option if the Eb is too high for comfort.
This session we had two on soprano, one on tenor and two on bass. The instruments playing soprano and tenor switched parts for alternating repeats, the bass parts stayed as they were.
- If Ye Love Me (Thomas Tallis)
This too is from the Snogbook, pages 34 & 35.
This session we had two on the soprano, one alto and one bass. Some of the timing will need a little work but as it becomes familiar it will fall into place nicely. The first half especially is already sounding pretty. Keep up the good work!
- Cassandra Bransle
Starts on C. By Arbeau this isn't written with any 'key signature' but does have the last B in the tune written as flattened. Harps therefore leave out the (only) other B in the tune, which recorders and dulcimer etc play as B natural. Played 4 times.
- Charlotte Bransle
Starts on G and has a Bb, and as mentioned before we play the high E near the end of the melody as a natural (not flattened as sometimes opted for). Played 4 times.
- Montarde Bransle
Starts on G and has Bb. I refer to the A part and the B part for ease of reference. The structure is based on the number of dancers:
The A part is repeated (if there are many many dancers it can be repeated more than twice but for our practice sessions we'll just go twice) and then the B part is played once for each dancer. Then that whole structure is repeated once for each dancer, with a single A part as an ending, and a G chord to indicate the finish (allows the dancers to reverence).
This week as we had 5 people we pretended there were 5 dancers. So the structure becomes: (AABBBBB)x5+A+final G chord.
It is remarkably hard to count sometimes! But we managed quite well.
Will probably need to hike up the tempo that we play this at, to me it sounds a little slow for dancing.
Tuesday 22th May is a PRACTICE AT HOME session. Same tunes as above. Contact me with any queries :)
**Reminder**
Future group music sessions will take place on Tuesdays ONCE A FORTNIGHT. Email me on music@ildhafn.lochac.sca.org for address or to check when next group session falls, same time (7.30pm - 9.30pm).
Newcomers are very welcome :)
Regards,
Elyna Delynor