That is really beautiful Mark, I have to say it's so far up the neck for me I need oxygen!!!! Fantastic and inspiring, I'm just starting to learn third position and it ain't easy (for me anyway) and you make it look so simple. If only......I'll keep plugging away at my own laborious pace....
Well Mark, if there was a tune called "O'Carolan's Lullaby" this would be it - so sweet and shutting out the world's woes. Just too short, it was. I do feel very much honored to be in a social group with the ultimate Video Vizard and Banjo Babysitter.
Mark, welcome! That was some exceptional playing. Mighty fine indeed. And your mandolin sounds wonderful.
I thought I recognized Mark. I remember that Whiskey Before Breakfast video... Looking forward to a lot more posts Mark.
Bertram: Banjo babysitter!!! That made me laugh. BTW, in case you haven't seen it, Tim and I have another duo video, called Colloquium: Dark & Light. It was too long to fit on YouTube, but it's available at Tim's site, at: http://timweed.com/video.html second to last video. It's a little more "out there" than the Banjo babysitter vid, but similar in style. Thanks for the kind comments, all. I'd forgotten about the social groups, and then I found them again a few days ago. I see lots of cool tunes on the TOC, so I hope to give some of those a shot soon, too. Cheers Mark
Yep Mark, I did watch the Colloqium: Dark & Light. I like that funny Flight-of-the-Bumblebee part in the second half. Not that Tim would need a babysitter, of course - he has fascinating ways of neck-bending and string-bending that show what a delicate instrument that really is. Far out.
Here I go!!
Nice, I liked the register shift on the second part, gives it a different voice. Cheers Mark RT
Full and warm sound again, Kyle. Need no heating with that one. I feel sorry you lost your cap
Very nice playing and sound, Kyle.
haha Bertram! It really is rare to see me without my hat on... consider yourself lucky Thanks for the comments! Mark - I go to the lower register in the second part because I find it much easier to play than having to go way up the neck on my high D string. I think it sounds nice though
wow Mark... your version was fantastic! You really play with feeling. Loving all the chords too!
Kyle, very nice. love that big sound! how do you have it tuned?
Thanks, I tune my bouzouki GDAD.
Kyle, that was beautiful! Tempts me so to try out a Bouzouki! I live with a constant hat-wearer... but he's bald! You've been hiding a nice head of hair under that hat! More, more!
Don't worry Barb - constant hat-wearing suffocates the hair roots, so Kyle will develop a clearing like most of us in no time...
Really nice Kyle. Great timing. You know its tight when you can imagine yourself dancing to it.
Wow! So many enjoyable and diverse versions of a beautiful tune and they were all great! Well done, everyone! Here's mine played on the Old Wave. Eric
That Old Wave has a wonderful bell-like tone, Eric, like a child's musical box. You've got a wand there to do magic! Somehow the B part appears short - what version is this?
Very nice and musical playing, Eric. Very nice playing and interesting versions by everyone else above, too
Thank you, gentlemen. Bertram, I found the tab here on the Cafe and maybe playing it ABAB made it sound that way or maybe I just played it wrong; it surely wouldn't be the first time. Eric
Great job to everyone. I'm late, but I invested so much practice time, I had to get something posted. So, here it finally is, played on an 83 Flatiron A5-2.
Terrific. Lord I wish I could do those chords/double stops like you do. It really adds a lot.
Beautiful, Marcelyn.
Marcelyn, The time you invested definitely paid off, well done! Eric
Very intricate and elaborate version Marcelyn, a bit like two mandolins in one or, as Simon & Garfunkel would have called it, a canticle. Though your face seems to express doubts ("what the h... she's playing there?"), I can assure you it was lovely!
Thanks guys. Bertrum, you have the gift of mind reading. I think my face needs to learn to shut up.
Nice playing, Marcelyn! Cheers Mark RT
Nice work there Marcelyn, and as always, I really love the sound of your Flatiron!
Have had a few requests for a transcription of my version, so here is a PDF with tab and notation. Si Bheag Si Mhor arranged for mandolin Cheers Mark
I had a few requests too.. but I'm still going to keep posting...
Aw, Eddie, I didn't ask you to stop posting. I just wanted you to play "Down Yonder" or "On a Hill Far Away."
Mark, Thanks for the transcription. I'll definitely be working on that one. Eric
Mark, How tender. Nicely done.
I'll get right on both those tunes Marcelyn... and maybe even do a Solo - so low I can't be heard...
Inspired by Kyle's register-changing version above, I'm trying something similar to save a stretch towards the end of the B-part on this: Played on the Shippey OM.
Nicely done Mike.
Absolutely beautiful and soulful, Mike. Thank you!
A full world of harmonies Mike, made to sound like the instrument did all this by itself. One hint: try to pronounce the melody part a little more at the beginning - if you play in a session and start a tune, it's easier for the other players to recognize the tune that way; later, when everybody have joined in, you can let the whole orchestral beauty unfold and have their eyes glisten with incredulous wonder.
That's really lovely, Mike. I could listen to a CD full of that music. I'm curious how your octave style would translate to the mandolin. Have you tried it out?
Many thanks for the supportive feedback - especially Bertram, I have yet to brave the real world of sessions but your tip is very constructive. My main concern if I ever had the chance to start a session tune would be that someone else would join in and start playing twice as fast as I am capable!! Marcelyn - I don't have a proper mandolin at the moment, only a banjo mandolin, which is punchy but probably lacks the sustain needed for the waltzes and airs. However your comment has reminded me to get it out of its case and maybe try it for recording a SAW or two! cheers
Mike that was the business! Lovely playing indeed sir and nice Shippey as well!
My main concern if I ever had the chance to start a session tune would be that someone else would join in and start playing twice as fast as I am capable!! ...yes, it happens. But not on a slow O'Carolan tune. For dance tunes, it helps to listen to the speed they do them at the session, then woodshed up to that by consequent tailoring of the melody down to what is needed for recognition, replacing fast ornaments and difficult little turns by what the large instrument is good at: sustain.
David's backing me up on his lovely Santa Cruz guitar. Very nicely fingerstyle arrangement, too. This has been a favorite tune of mine for a long time, though I usually don't get to play melody on it. Playing harmony over David's melody was a treat. I'm playing my almost-completed (assembled in the white) octave fanned-fret 5-string Mandonator.
Listening and watching is OUR treat! Lovely arrangement, lovely playing!
What Barbara said! I've been meaning to learn this tune for some time and all these versions are a real inspiration.
That was beautiful guys. I have really enjoyed your video's. Topher. You were kind enough to spend some time with me this last Winter and let me play your wife's mandonator. I'm glad you didn't have that octave there. That thing is way cool. John Reischman had just picked up one of your five strings. It was fun watching him jam on that. Gary
Outstanding version, outstanding performance. Expectations busted.
Thank you all! DAvid and I look forward to making more videos together. John Reischsman playing jazz on the 5-string was AMAZING! Hope to see you at the Wintercamp again next year - whenever it is, now that the management has changed.
Was sitting around tonight, trying to remember tunes for the Robert Burns Dinner Saturday after next, and dredged this out of the ol' mental peat bog. Don't know how I missed posting back in Week 54. There's been a lot of tunes under the bridge since then.
