Arran Boat Song

  1. Martin Jonas
    Martin Jonas
    This is a well-known Scottish slow air, which I have played with a barcarolle-like feeling in 6/8 time, based on a lovely quartet arrangement by Evelyn Tiffany-Castiglioni from "Evelyn's Big Book for Mandolins for the Year 2015" (available from Amazon, NFI).

    Played on two mandolins and two tenor guitars.

    1921 Gibson Ajr mandolin
    Mid-Missouri M-0W mandolin
    Vintage Viaten tenor guitar
    Ozark tenor guitar



    Martin
  2. Bertram Henze
    Bertram Henze
    Lovely rendition with a waltzy feeling. Good choice of pictures.
  3. James Rankine
    James Rankine
    Beautiful Martin.
    I already know this tune so I've recorded a quick version on my Tom Buchanan Mandola tuned CGDG.
    I had a few audio visual syncing problems with this one.

  4. Gelsenbury
    Gelsenbury
    Very nice videos! I like the sound of that mandola.
  5. John Kelly
    John Kelly
    Two fine versions, gents. Great sound from that mandola, James.

    From my home on the Firth of Clyde I can look south to the Isle of Arran, Martin, and I loved you pictures. James. is that a picture of Lochranza Castle in the north of Arran you have included too?
  6. Jill McAuley
    Jill McAuley
    Lovely versions the both of them!

    Martin - which mandolin are you using for the main melody of the air - your Ajr? Whatever one it is it sounds great!

    James - this air really sits well on your mandola, gorgeous sound from your Buchanan and beautifully played!
  7. James Rankine
    James Rankine
    Thanks for the kind comments folks.

    Yes John that is the castle, though it's not my own photograph. I haven't been to Arran for 30+ years since I went there on a school trip. They let us hire bikes and two of us set out to cycle all the way round the Island. We had to be rescued when we didn't show up at the allotted time after my school chum hit a sheep (neither seriously injured). It's the sort of jape that no longer happens on school trips because of health/safety/risk assessments - but you'll know all about that John. You're very fortunate to live in such a beautiful part of the country.
  8. Martin Jonas
    Martin Jonas
    Thanks a lot, all!

    James -- great sound on the mandola and the crosspicking arrangement is very effective!

    Jill -- I'm playing the tune three times. First and third time it's the Ajr on the main melody, second time it's the Viaten tenor on lead one octave down.

    Martin
  9. Gelsenbury
    Gelsenbury
    Happy Burns Night everyone! Unfortunately work has kept me too busy today to record something for the occasion (sighs of relief from everyone), but a late-night whisky (Bowmore Islay single malt) and some nice Scots music from the Mandolin Cafe will do nicely for now.
  10. Bertram Henze
    Bertram Henze
    That is great picking James, and the bouzoukish tuning makes a warm bouzoukish sound.

    Dennis, I hope you enjoyed your Bowmore. Good choice!
  11. David Hansen
    David Hansen
    James your playing inspired me, I'm playing this on my new mandola but in the key of Am with some backup on my octave tuned AEAE. I went to a folk festival on the Isle of Arran back in 1993. Lots of fun and beautiful scenery.

  12. James Rankine
    James Rankine
    Fine job David. I love the octave backing with the ringing drone strings. Sweet concertina as usual - just perfect for this lovely tune.
  13. woodenfingers
    woodenfingers
    Very well played everyone. Lovely sounding mandola James. This tune is going on my to do list. Thanks
  14. Jill McAuley
    Jill McAuley
    Lovely stuff David!
  15. dustyamps
    dustyamps
    Great recordings by everyone. Beautiful tune.
  16. Gelsenbury
    Gelsenbury
    I've done one too, at last!



    PS: Bertram, I miss your old avatar already.
  17. John Kelly
    John Kelly
    It's really a fine tune and all of the versions on offer here give it something of each player's personality. It's always interesting to hear how much an individual can put into a tune to make it his/her own, as have all the players in this posting.

    My version is on mandolin and octave, with guitar backing. Pictures are of the area around the River Echaig and Loch Eck, out of which the river flows; only about ten minutes drive from my home, and not too far from Isle of Arran as the crow flies!

  18. Bertram Henze
    Bertram Henze
    Dennis, that old avatar was missing in action after a Cafe accident with an e-mail address and a coffee underflow. I decided to take it as life's hint to consider a more understated approach...
  19. Gelsenbury
    Gelsenbury
    It's interesting what you say about players' personalities, John. I, too, always enjoy the same tune being played in unique yet respectfully traditional ways by different people. This is how the Song-a-week group is helping me learn about things such as phrasing, ornamentation and the various ways to interpret a melody and arrange a recording.

    Your own version is different and pleasant again. You have to be a Scot to get that snap just right.
  20. Martin Jonas
    Martin Jonas
    Seeing all the wonderful recordings in this thread, this one is probably overdue for "promotion" to offical song of the week!

    Evelyn's arrangement that I recorded back in 2016 has been very popular at our weekly gatherings ever since. As part of my lockdown recordings, I have shot a new video.

    1921 Gibson Ajr mandolin (x2)
    Suzuki MC-815 mandocello
    Vintage Viaten tenor guitar



    Martin
  21. John Kelly
    John Kelly
    Had not realised it was over four years since this thread was first posted. It remains a fine tune in all its forms, as you say, Martin.
  22. John Kelly
    John Kelly
    I am taking a leaf out of Martin's book and revisiting an old tune. I was out with the camera getting shots of the seashore and thought they would go with the tune, so I re-recorded this version - dull grey skies and more turbulence in the water compared to my original posting of a few years ago. Mandolin, octave and guitar used for this one.

  23. Christian DP
    Christian DP
    Two geat new recordings of this beautiful tune.
    Martin's version sounds a bit like a mandolin orchestra, while John's is a little more subdued, but both sound fine!
  24. Michael Romkey
    Michael Romkey
    Very tasty, Martin and John. I might try to do this with my friends when we get together in March for more videos.
  25. Frithjof
    Frithjof
    Tasty version of a beautiful slow air. Well performed, John! But that’s true for the versions above, too.
  26. Martin Jonas
    Martin Jonas
    Very nice new version, John -- interesting how different your phrasing is from how Evelyn has notated it. Thanks to Christian and Mike for the nice words about my not-quite-as-new recording. That one was from last summer when lockdown was still all new and exciting, eight months ago now.

    Martin
  27. Ginny Aitchison
    Ginny Aitchison
    A beautiful tune to help us through the days...and nights. So many nice and slightly different versions.
  28. Michael Romkey
    Michael Romkey
    I couldn't get this out of my ear so I just gave it a go. And I spelled the title incorrectly! Ha ha. My trademark.

  29. John Kelly
    John Kelly
    Mike, a really beautiful arrangement and performance and I enjoyed your improvised ornamentations too. Oh, Fine pictures too - this video-making has really got you hooked!
  30. Michael Romkey
    Michael Romkey
    Yeah, John, the production end of this really has its hooks in me — both the audio and video. I’ve hooked up with a producer in California who is going to help me get better at mixing. I’m making a study of it.
  31. Bertram Henze
    Bertram Henze
    wow, Mike, just wow. Orchestral and ethereal, with a scent of synth. I can hear how this comes straight from the heart.
  32. Frithjof
    Frithjof
    I watched your video yesterday, Mike, and thought: wow, just wow. Now I see I’m not the only one. But Bertram found the right additional words to describe his impressions.
    And I learn what a man with much musical skills and experiences may be able to achieve if he decides to explore new avenues…
  33. Martin Jonas
    Martin Jonas
    Great playing, Mike, and such a compelling arrangement with lots of variation between the verses and interplay between the instruments. As John said, the improvised ornamentations work beautifully!

    Martin
  34. Christian DP
    Christian DP
    Great and very elaborated rendition of this simple tune, it never gets boring in three and a half minutes.
  35. Gelsenbury
    Gelsenbury
    The combination of video and still images works very well in this video. It's such a beautiful tune. I must play it again sometime. Isn't it terrible how one forgets these melodies ... or at least I do.
  36. John W.
    John W.


    Some members of the group have already seen this either on YT or on a thread with the tune title.

    I’m just copying the link to the video to the SAW group…

    At the time , it was my first posting for around 3 months…as I had been occupied with other things…including preparing for and taking part in a ‘mountain marathon’ on the Isle of Arran. If anyone is interested in such events click the following link

    http://kongmountainmarathon.org.uk/

    Visiting the island enabled me to do a bit of kayaking AND take some photos of ‘Arran Boats’ (before visiting the distillery!).

    The harmony in parts 2 & 3 is based loosely on the harmony provided by Evelyn Tiffany-Castiglioni (Evelyn’s Big Book for Mandolins 2015 - which I am grateful for Martin Jonas for introducing me to).

    I’ve played it with more of a waltz feel…

    Fylde Signature Touchstone Mandolin
    Phil Davidson Mandolin
    Faith Parlour Guitar
  37. Bertram Henze
    Bertram Henze
    I like those waves at the start of the video, making exactly the onomatopoetic sound of "sluaisreadh" (Gaelic for the sound of waves washing ashore).
    And that distillery makes a top notch 10-year-old, not to be missed!
  38. Frithjof
    Frithjof
    A great addition to this thread, John. Your own pictures make the video authentic too.
  39. Simon DS
    Simon DS
    Very nice John, lovely two part playing. I like the waves at the beginning too.
  40. John W.
    John W.
    Many thanks Bertram, Frithjof and Simon.

    Bertram - I had to look up onomatopoetic…after which I thankfully understood that part of your comment. As for the 10 YO single malt…I can confirm it wasn’t missed!

    Frithjof - Glad you like the addition…and it was pleasing for me to be able to take some pics and video clips to specifically use in the video.

    Simon - Glad you like to the sections with the OM and Mando doubling up on the melody…Is it the visual and audio of the waves combined or just the sluaisreadh?
  41. Gelsenbury
    Gelsenbury
    Oh, I haven't tried the Arran whisky yet! This is a lovely rendition of this evocative tune, John. The lead voice rings like a bell - you obviously have good taste in mandolins!
  42. John W.
    John W.
    Thanks, Dennis…I thinking ‘ringing like a bell’ is a defining characteristic of the Fylde mando…do you hear yours in that way? The Arran 10 YO single malt is definitely worth having in the ‘drinks cabinet’…
  43. Gelsenbury
    Gelsenbury
    I do think mine sounds similar, John. Those Fylde mandolins have more sustain than most, I think. The Signature and Single Malt models were too expensive for me, the standard Touchstone would be better than mine for cutting through at sessions ... But I mostly play alone, and I was attracted by the mellow sound of the Walnut model. Sometimes I try to sound lively and danceable, but I always seem to fall back into mellow. And the bell-like sound helps with that as well.
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