Playing hornpipes in Irish sessions - the Telegraph at the top of Brixton Hill particularly- was good speed practice. But you don't have to worry about closed fingering on a flute! The main difficulty there was finding a beat long enough to snatch a breath....
Still panting, 20 years later. John -----Original Message----- From: lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu [mailto:lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu] On Behalf Of Anthony Robb Sent: 30 June 2011 11:51 To: NSP group Subject: [NSP] Re: Tune of the Month, July, "Roxborough Castle" -- On Thu, 30/6/11, Francis Wood <oatenp...@googlemail.com> wrote: It's a lot easier to play Roxborough Castle in dotted rhythm, as is done here. I prefer it played absolutely straight, which is really very challenging. A commonly played tune which is rarely played well. I quite like this rendition here . . . seems to have been videoed during a casual session by a bystander. Hello Francis I think that might be an oversimpification. Stewart Hardy with his years of top notch tuition experience would say that all things (especially speed) being equal dotted rhythms are harder. What we have here is a reduction of speed from the typical rant speed of 96 bpm to a hornpipe at 76 bpm. As you say it is OK but even at that speed he loses his rhythm when it comes to the top As which should be dotted quavers but come out as quick flicks. My first realisation that rants were almost as dotted as hornpipes but 25% faster came at Archie Bertram's when they all played Roxburgh and Hesleyside with almost hornpipe lilt but at a speed which left me floundering. It wasn't the normal straight reel speed of 106 bpm which isn't easy but for me certainly a bit easier that the rant rhythm at 96 bpm. I wondering if other players on the list find the rant speed & rhythm a challenge? As for other comments I think you are spot on. Warmest & best Anthony -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
