JanetB - Posted - 01/01/2013:  15:03:24

One of the other titles of this more than 200 year old song is God Speed the Plow.  I first heard Dave Hum, then Adam Hurt, then listened to Henry Reed recordings and came up with this one to wish us a happy, health new year.

Here's a link if you want to know more about the history of Speed the Plough:   ibiblio.org/fiddlers/speed.htm

Speed the Plough

g3zdm - Posted - 01/01/2013:  16:07:21

There are a few tunes called Speed the Plough; the one I play (especially at English morris dance sessions) is totally different. I liked what you played - but it was totally unfamiliar to me. I notice you spelt it plough though- not the lazy American "plow" :-) .

Chris Muriel, Manchester, UK

Speed The Plough

JanetB - Posted - 01/01/2013:  17:02:38

Good observation, Chris.  The middle section of my MP3 resembles Henry Reed's version as presented in the Slippery Hill website and notated in the Milliner-Koken of American Fiddle Tunes.  slippery-hill.com/M-K/GDAE/G/SpeedPlow.mp3  The first part of Mr. Reed's fiddling is very similar to your notated PDF above. 

The first and last parts of my version resemble Adam Hurt's recording which he says is based on the playing of the Beers Family.  The link (above) to the Fiddlers Companion references the Beers, but I haven't been able to listen to that one.  I've been listening to Adam's new CD "Fine Time at our House" and his beautiful rendition inspired me to learn it.  But, as you observed, that one isn't like the traditional Speed the Plough as you know it.  Feel free to post your version of it.

One thing I like about the song is its underlying wishes for blessings, as stated in the Fiddlers Companion description:  "It turns out that the name Speed the Plow touches an ancient archetype in British Isles folk tradition, one that would probably resonate in any agrarian setting. The phrase ‘God speed the plough’ is derived from a wish for success and prosperity in some undertaking, and is many centuries old, stemming from Medieval times."  

Edited by - JanetB on 01/01/2013 17:17:17

val - Posted - 01/01/2013:  17:25:38

Janet, Nice arrangement and nicely done. And thanks for musically wishing us all into this New Year!

Edited by - val on 01/01/2013 17:26:17

g3zdm - Posted - 01/01/2013:  17:59:05

Thanks, Janet. You're better on the history of some of these English tunes than I am  

I'll see if I can find time to post both my major and minor versions; in a local band we usually play 2 x major then 2 minor then finish off with major version again. 

Minor version:

Chris Muriel  

Spped the Plough Minor Key

g3zdm - Posted - 01/02/2013:  06:03:24

OK, both major and minor versions included in my MP3; can't find PC microphone so had to use comms/VoIP headset but doesn't sound too bad (either audio quality or my errors)

Now hoping the "add attachment" facility doesn't crash on my like it did earlier.

Chris Muriel, Manchester, UK

Speed the Plough- major and minor versions

JanetB - Posted - 01/02/2013:  07:23:30

Thanks for posting both versions, Chris.  You're certainly right about the first version of my Speed the Plough--it doesn't sound anything like yours, but my second A part (Henry Reed's) does.  The minor take you did on it is different, too.  You made a nice transition back to the major key. In the Henry Reed rendition the second part sounds a bit like Devil's Dream.  This is certainly a tune with an evolving history.

Listen to Dave Hum's cheerful, lively recording on his video homepage, below.  He plays all the instrumental parts--what a pro.  We certainly miss him.  His is the one I first heard that piqued my curiosity and it's on a CD I bought from him, still available.  

banjohangout.org/myhangout/vid...erID=7869  Look for the date July 19, 2012 to see Dave busking and playing Speed the Plough.

For anyone else who plays this one, join in!

Edited by - JanetB on 01/02/2013 07:36:10

UncleClawhammer - Posted - 01/02/2013:  10:14:12

Sounds great.

vrteach - Posted - 01/02/2013:  15:27:01

Happy New Year! And a fine tune that I've never looked up. I don't recall having played it solo before, but I must have played along with someone. Here is a version of what I think I've done before, particularly after hearing Dave Hum's version.

Speed the Plough

goose - Posted - 01/02/2013:  16:19:33

Wow janet theres alot going on in this song, complex beautiful..

g3zdm - Posted - 01/02/2013:  16:35:38

That was excellent, vrteach; nice to hear a clawhammer version of this for the 1st time.

Chris Muriel, Manchester, UK.

Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 01/02/2013:  16:38:38

Ah Janet - your scholarship and musicianship are two treasures that you keep sharing with us. What a delight!

I'm pretty sure there's nothing I've ever heard of yours that caused me to think "That must be one of her lesser efforts." There are no lesser efforts with you!

And the diversity of versions in this thread makes for some interesting listening!

Edited by - Marc Nerenberg on 01/02/2013 16:39:30

JanetB - Posted - 01/02/2013:  18:19:12

Glad to hear another post, Erich.  Thanks.  And thanks for all the pats on the back--one doesn't tire from that.  By the way, Chris, my post is all clawhammer. 

g3zdm - Posted - 01/03/2013:  03:27:55

Sorry, of course yours is CH - I should have written "nice to hear another clawhammer version of this" or similar comment...

Chris

banjukebox - Posted - 01/03/2013:  08:26:24

Great version, Janet. Sounds unfamiliar to me, too. Here's my take: similar to others posted here. Thanks for your post.
Pat


youtube.com/watch?v=scAtz11uLPg

JanetB - Posted - 01/03/2013:  08:49:40

Nice, Pat, with fancy flourishes.  Here's a more direct link to your video:  youtube.com/watch?v=scAtz11uLPg  One thing I keep noticing is Henry Reed's fiddle version in the middle of my recording resembles the traditional tune I hear you and others playing. 

I've noticed that Adam Hurt, who play exquisite, interesting clawhammer, often comes up with unique versions of tunes.  In this case I remain curious about the Beers family version he'd heard that inspired his Speed the Plough on the new CD "Fine Times at our House."  I'm really enjoying this CD, but he has some esoteric sources when I try to trace them. 

vrteach - Posted - 01/03/2013:  09:20:29

Nice one, banjukebox!

SCclawman - Posted - 01/03/2013:  13:14:02

Janet,

Great tune! Great playing! Thanks for sharing it. Happy New Year!

Fishrrman - Posted - 01/03/2013:  17:47:51

quote:

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Originally posted by JanetB

 

---

Either those horses are awfully big, or that ploughman is awfully small!

Or both!

JanetB - Posted - 01/03/2013:  18:05:13

quote:

---

Originally posted by Fishrrman

quote:

---

Originally posted by JanetB

 

---

Either those horses are awfully big, or that ploughman is awfully small!

Or both!

---

 It's kind of like having a top tension Gibson RB7--it's a big, heavy resonating banjo, too heavy for a small person like me, but, boy, could it produce sound and get the job done!

Paul Roberts - Posted - 01/04/2013:  13:01:13

Well, I put this under my microscope and it came out an A-plus!

_PauL

Bill H - Posted - 01/05/2013:  05:14:35

Absolutely beautiful. You always have such perfect control of a tune.

JanetB - Posted - 01/05/2013:  09:07:19

quote:

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Originally posted by Paul Roberts

Well, I put this under my microscope and it came out an A-plus!

_PauL

---

 Thanks Paul, and Bill, too.  Students are grateful for easy graders like you and me.     (My first graders only get graded work with stars  , happy faces  or sad faces .  Forgive my corniness--I live much of my life in a 6-year old's world.)  Actually the middle section is tough to do.  When I slow down a fiddle tune like Henry Reed's it can get very complex and it takes me more time to get to know it enough to simplify it for banjo.  I'm still looking forward to simplifying it.

Paul Roberts - Posted - 01/05/2013:  10:21:08

You're definitely getting in there and bringing out the nuances of a very advanced melodic clawhammer style with great technique and tone. No easy grade for that!

PauL

g3zdm - Posted - 01/06/2013:  02:31:05

 Interesting very English morris dance version - major and minor + variations) here : youtube.com/watch?v=5jLhgyU8r8o

(no banjos though in this quintissentially English version).

Chris Muriel, Manchester, UK