crisscross - Posted - 02/17/2016:  12:28:53

I think, two tunes a month are enough to keep most banjoists busy. At the Mandolincafe's SAW they kind of ran out of well known tunes and have to dig deep into unknown territory. I kind of lost interest in these strange tunes. I also like to have some time to work on a tune.

I re-recorded the Butterfly at a slightly faster tempo. I still cannot keep pace with the Bothy Band but the tempo gets closer to a decent jig. To keep it all Nylgut, I used my mando-tuned ukulele for the repetition...

youtube.com/watch?v=fKKvwDSl0M...=youtu.be

prooftheory - Posted - 02/17/2016:  12:46:50

How about a Jig of the Month and a Reel of the Month?

Tom Hanway - Posted - 02/17/2016:  13:59:52

quote:

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Originally posted by benhockenberry

 

quote:

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Originally posted by mikeyes

Maybe we could go to a twice a month offering for the official tune and be able to dissect it and add to that while others can just show favorite tunes. The banjo is suited for a lot of tunes and surprises us on others. It would be good to get as many tunes out there are possible.

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I agree.  I imagined, in a not too distant future, inertia would lead to a tune of the week.  With one a month, it would take nearly two years to get through the top 20 tunes on thesession.org -- which many of us know already!  Want to start a second tune next week?  People can continue to post their versions of The Butterfly to this thread whenever they like.

I've continued to receive votes through the poll I started last week.  Here are the votes that have been entered for a next tune, so far:

• Banish Misfortune (3 votes)


• Maid Behind the Bar (2 votes)


• The Banshee (1 vote)


• Cooley's (1 vote)


• Drowsy Maggie (1 vote)


• Morrison's (1 vote)


• Silver Spear (1 vote)

We could start one of them (or another tune, like Mason's Apron, which was suggested under separate header) next week, if others are okay with Mike's suggestion.

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'Varnish Meforeskin' leads the poll, a great introductory tune if ever there was!  I really love 'MacMahon's' ('The Banshee').

Okay, I consolidated my weird versions for a decidedly crooked version of 'The Butterfly'. (That was after I had deconstructed it and took on board some 4-string ideas.)

I play it as an air here, though I would play it differently for dancers, keeping it absolutely straight. I hold some notes longer than usual (making it crooked), and added a bit of rubato. I have another even weirder (re-harmonized) version, but I'm saving that one for another recording (maybe).  

The Butterfly (played as an Irish air - mp3)

Hope you like it, it was fun messing around with it.  I played along with everyone's versions and learned a lot of cool phrasing here, so thank you everybody. You guys rock!

Best ~ Tom 

Edited by - Tom Hanway on 02/17/2016 14:03:04

benhockenberry - Posted - 02/17/2016:  14:23:12

Cool.  Interesting place for that held-out note -- it really builds the tension to hang in the middle of a phrase like that!

 

DSmoke - Posted - 02/17/2016:  19:09:11

Tom, thanks posting the Bothy Band version.  I really like this tune at a slower pace, and didn't really "feel" the beginning part of the Bothy Band recording, BUT as the other instruments and accompaniment came in the tune really came to life.   This gives me a few ideas.

Tom Hanway - Posted - 02/17/2016:  20:16:21

quote:

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Originally posted by DSmoke

 

Tom, thanks posting The Bothy Band version.  I really like this tune at a slower pace, and didn't really "feel" the beginning part of The Bothy Band recording, BUT as the other instruments and accompaniment came in the tune really came to life.  This gives me a few ideas.

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Yes!  It's the one that broke the tune.



THE BUTTERFLY

Enjoy! 



Tom

Tom Hanway - Posted - 02/17/2016:  20:42:41

Tunes, just tunes, and they're for everybody!



It hardly matters that banjo is not included.



How does it go?



THE BOTHY BAND





 

Edited by - Tom Hanway on 02/17/2016 20:44:15

ruraltradpunk - Posted - 02/19/2016:  20:49:32

Here's my attempt:  The Butterfly (slip jig)

captbanjo - Posted - 02/19/2016:  20:58:42

Outstanding!

Wayne

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Originally posted by ruraltradpunk

 

Here's my attempt:  The Butterfly (slip jig)

 

 

 

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Edited by - captbanjo on 02/19/2016 20:59:19

Tom Hanway - Posted - 02/19/2016:  21:53:07

quote:

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Originally posted by ruraltradpunk

 

Here's my attempt:  The Butterfly (slip jig)

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Cool! 

benhockenberry - Posted - 02/20/2016:  03:31:24

Awesome, Jill.

ruraltradpunk - Posted - 02/20/2016:  12:22:07

Cheers lads, you're too kind!

mikeyes - Posted - 02/20/2016:  13:52:52

Jill,

I love your work, as usual, good to hear from you again.

Mike

Tom Hanway - Posted - 02/20/2016:  19:15:48

quote:

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Originally posted by ruraltradpunk

 

Here's my attempt:  The Butterfly (slip jig)

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That's spot-on, lovely stuff, Jill!

Best ~ Tom

LakeMonster - Posted - 02/21/2016:  06:47:00

Here's mine:

soundcloud.com/monsterbanjo/butterfly

I'm getting some weird echo from my built in laptop mic that makes it sound a little like I added a phaser or something, not sure why. I need to get a USB interface so I can hook up a mic. Oh well, you get the idea anyway.

Excited for tune of the month!

captbanjo - Posted - 02/21/2016:  07:57:43

Nice job Matt...and you added George Brabazon and more as a bonus!

Wayne

ruraltradpunk - Posted - 02/21/2016:  11:40:29

Nice one Matt!

benhockenberry - Posted - 02/23/2016:  03:16:38

quote:

---

Originally posted by LakeMonster

I'm getting some weird echo from my built in laptop mic that makes it sound a little like I added a phaser or something, not sure why. I need to get a USB interface so I can hook up a mic. Oh well, you get the idea anyway.

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Not too obtrusive of an echo -- sounds like a natural banjo ring.  Nice job!

benhockenberry - Posted - 02/23/2016:  03:22:05

The two tunes a month timing is going to get weird.  We only have one week left of February.  I like Frank's suggestion of a jig and a reel each month, and in deference to the "High B" thread that's proven quite interesting, I think we should do Maid Behind the Bar for a Reel of the Month, and do Banish Misfortune in March.  I'll record and post shortly.

DSmoke - Posted - 02/23/2016:  10:50:39

Here is my recording for the The Butterfly, learned by ear from the original recording of Ben's.  #1 is comfortable for me, #3 was me trying to play it faster.  Sorry if the sound isn't great I used my laptop.  I will have to go get something better now that I plan to participate in the ITM TOTM.  Or maybe we call it TIM TOM, Traditional Irish Music Tune Of (the) Month.

The Butterfly TOTM3

The Butterfly TOTM1