How would a strummer strum chords to these tunes composed (arranged?) by
Gervaise in the 1550s?
http://www.pluckedturkeys.co.uk/Gervaise/
They are strong melodies (Poulenc arranged some Gervaise dances for
piano - but not these particular tunes). Maybe you just strum a chord
according to the bass line. It's easy enough to work out what each chord
would be. But playing at speed it would be formidably difficult to
actually play them unless you were a Freddy Green-type professional.
These Gervaise arrangements are in four parts and, as it stands, the
bass is very easy to play as a single note. But really not so easy at
all when the chords are changing very quickly.
But it's often said that strummers strummed in these, and even earlier,
times. And, if so, surely they would have strummed to accompany tunes
like this. Would they have strummed a chord for each note as dictated by
the rules of four part harmony? Or something simpler - but potentially
more rhythmic?
Stuart
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