Back in 2012 I posted a Soundcloud version of this 6/8 march in the Tenor Guitar section of the forum. My Soundcloud page is long ago closed, but I have recently been playing this tune with some of my live session fellows and thought I would record a new version, on octave and guitar.
I didn't know, 6/8 marches existed, but you make it plausible John. Fine playing of a nice arrangement.
So that’s a jig march? I love it. Fine playing John. Like a jig with swing and something else.
The version John’s playing doesn’t appear to be on thesession...
I'm partial to 6/8 marches; they are even more strident and forceful than their 4/4 comrades. There appears to be the good old highly repetitive 4-part structure at work that makes you get lost in the piece if you don't stay alert.
A lively and lovely rendition of this march. I always love the sound of your octave, John !! It is nice to hear you getting out with real people. I haven't seen my kid or my dad since before Christmas..I can't even get my hair done and my husband looks like a hippie...
Thanks, all. 6/8 marches are among my very favourite tunes. (You may have noticed I like playing them standing up, so that I can get the feel of the march)! In pipe marches, Christian, there are various time signatures, the most common being 2/4, 4/4, 3/4 (yes - same as waltz time but used a lot in retreat marches) and 6/8. Simon, the tune is probably not on the Session, and if it were, it would be labelled as a jig. My notation came from a pipe score and I transposed it to standard notation; I added the chords by ear while recording the backing. Bertram, you know the pipe tune structures well with your observations: four parts and a lot of repetition in this one, the same 4-bar phrase being used in parts 1, 2 and 4. The advantage is that there is less to learn but it is so easy to get mixed up in the parts! Ginny, the octave in this video is my "other" one. It has a slightly shorter scale length of 512mm as against my usual octave which has a 520mm scale. I was given some lovely Canadian maple hardwood flooring strips by a friend and decided to use some for the fingerboard and with the length I had I needed to make the scale shorter! The back and sides are mahogany rather than the rosewood on my main octave.
Actually John, they have two different listings for this tune on thesession with different versions but the problem is that the melody of the one here that you play, and the way you’ve played it is far superior! -and quite different.
Well played, John! It sounds as if the tune wanted to be played just like that. Very natural and flowing.
Thanks, Dennis. Simon, the two tunes I see on The Session are a jig and a reel both composed by Pipe Major Peter R MacLeod, who is no relation of PM Donald MacLeod as far as I am aware. I have posted the standard notation I transcribed over on the Thread for Social Group MP3 section, and here, I hope, is the link: https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=194489&d=1622587290
John your link is not working, it come up as invalid. Alcluith
I believe this is the main thread, https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...up-MP3-posting
Drew, Thanks for the heads-up. I uploaded the file last night, previewed it then must have forgotten to post it! I am not a midnight person and had just been out on my bicycle for an evening pedal. Hope this one works now. For chord suggestions I used Am, G, Em and D(7). Others may well wish to used their own choices. When you click on the link it should download the pdf. https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/a...7&d=1622622381
Thanks John, much appreciated, now I can practice this great tune -great, my work for today is sorted!
Very enjoyable indeed - lovely playing John!
Thanks again John. Great tune. Here’s the .abc version. (Nb. This will get you the tab, but if you play it in an .abc player it will mess up your jig march rhythm) X:1 T:Pipe Major Donald MacLean of Lewis L: 1/8 M:6/8 K: D P:A |e|:A3/2B/G A3|e3/2d/g e3/2d/B| A3/2B/A G2B|d2e e3/2d/B |A3/2B/G A3|e3/2d/g e3/2d/B |G3/2B/g e3/2d/B|1A3 A2e:|2A3 A2g| P:B |:a2e e2g|a3/2e/e e3/2d/B| A3/2B/A G2 B|d2e e3/2d/B|1a2e e2g|a3/2e/e e3/2d/B| G3/2B/g e3/2d/B| A3 A2g:|2A3/2B/G A3|e3/2d/g e3/2d/B|G3/2B/g e3/2d/B|A3 A2e| P:C |:A3/2e/e d3/2e/e|A3/2e/e e3/2d/B| A3/2B/A G3/2G/G | B/d3/2e e3/2d/B| A3/2e/e d3/2e/e|A3/2e/e e3/2d/B|G3/2B/g e3/2d/B|1A3A2e:|2A3A2e| P:D |:A2a a3/2g/a|g3/2e/e e3/2d/B|A3/2B/A G2B|d2e e3/2d/B|1G2a a3/2g/a|g3/2e/e e3/2d/B| G3/2B/g e3/2d/B|A3 A2:|2A3/2B/G A3|e3/2d/g e3/2d/B |G3/2B/g e3/2d/B |A3 A2||
Thanks, Jill and Simon. Simon, a fine job of creating .abc file from the notation. Your caveat about NOT playing the .abc in an .abc player is a very important one. A 6/8 march is NOT played as a jig. A strong defining feature of the pipe marches is the combination of notes the pipers call "Dot and Cut", a dotted quaver followed by a semi-quaver, seen throughout this tune. The triplets are not played as three equal-value notes (as tends to be the case in Irish jigs) but with the stress on the first of the 3 followed by the shortened 2nd then the "standard" 3rd note of the triplet. Scottish jigs follow this pattern, but again are played faster than the 6/8 march would be played. Jigs are dances and marches are, well, marches. The famous "Scotch Snap" so beloved of Scottish fiddlers reverses the Dot and Cut pattern. Don't let it be said that we Scots are not without our quirks.
Almost missed your very nice recording. Thanks, John.
Nice bounce, and upbeat.
Thanks again, Frithjof and Simon.
Thanks John, I did try to learn this great 6/8 march, maybe sometime soon.
