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Oct 4, 2024 - 12:30:46 AM
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1383 posts since 1/30/2019

It's my turn to present a TOTW again. It's always hard to know what to choose and that list is ever growing....
So here's a fiddle tune that comes from the Shetland fiddle tune tradition. It's called "Spootiskerry", a wonderful name which apparently comes from a spot on the Shetland coast (Shetland is mostly coast of course, but this is about a spot right on edge of the rocky cliffs)
Spoot is Scots for "spout" and skerry / kerry comes from a Gaelic word for rock or coastal reef.
Spootiskerry is the name of the farm where the composer lived. And so perhaps Spootiskerry is a "blow hole" where waves undercut a rocky platform and then spout through a hole like a geyser - but as cold as the 60 deg North latitude would suggest!
Other translations of the name suggest a spoot is a type of shellfish (which presumably spouts water out of the sand - razor clam?? Gaper clam?)

I learned this at a Scottish trad workshop in Helensburgh, designed for guitar bouzouki and other accompanying instruments.

Anyway, to the tune. It is a modern tune, written by Ian Burns (1980s??)
Here is the tune arch page tunearch.org/wiki/Annotation:Spootiskerry
which includes sheet music.

I have attached a tab below.

There are lots of fiddle versions out there, but I can't find a clawhammer banjo version anywhere. Spootiskerry appears on Cape Breton tune lists, so I checked Ken Perlman's output to see if he had done it - but no.....

There are plenty of GDAE versions, some mandolin, two 3 finger style, but no clawhammer that I can find.

The fiddle version by Patti Kusturok which I played along with is here:

youtu.be/ag7Lm9q9ykM?si=wJEdfrzwoha9V_F-

And a lovely trio here:

youtu.be/TC8sB0EQSSU?si=JhQeZXGInZp7ei7v


Two 3 finger style versions here:

youtu.be/NpqWF-9dDhU?si=wqR5t1xBbfdXoPdc

youtu.be/GtExZrC0als?si=A78_QemkxEhmzBsA

And a tenor banjo.....:

youtu.be/GhTiT1GpzrY?si=nWzqrsW_SbHNmy29

So the clawhammer arrangement in the tab is mine - I hope you like it and I hope you play it.

Please have a go and please upload your versions. I would love to hear them!


Edited by - Andyrhydycreuau on 10/04/2024 00:36:06

Oct 4, 2024 - 4:25:05 AM
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11430 posts since 4/23/2004

Never heard of it...fine tune! I'll be giving it a go this afternoon. The tab looks good. Your walk thru and play videos are well done!

Oct 4, 2024 - 5:45:54 AM

lapsteel

Canada

1025 posts since 8/13/2015

In North America, the clam that burrows into the coastal sands on the Pacific side is called the Pacific geoduck.

Oct 4, 2024 - 6:11:42 AM

1383 posts since 1/30/2019

quote:
Originally posted by trapdoor2

Never heard of it...fine tune! I'll be giving it a go this afternoon. The tab looks good. Your walk thru and play videos are well done!


Thanks Marc, glad you like it. Do share your version if you can record it.

Oct 4, 2024 - 6:13:11 AM

1383 posts since 1/30/2019

quote:
Originally posted by lapsteel

In North America, the clam that burrows into the coastal sands on the Pacific side is called the Pacific geoduck.


I think that's what over here might be called a gaper. Common, but most people don't even know they exist.....

Why geoduck I wonder?

Oct 4, 2024 - 6:20 AM
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lapsteel

Canada

1025 posts since 8/13/2015

They squirt water at you if you walk over sandy areas .
“Fiddlehed” teaches his version of the tune on YouTube.

Oct 4, 2024 - 7:03:52 AM

1383 posts since 1/30/2019

quote:
Originally posted by lapsteel

They squirt water at you if you walk over sandy areas .
“Fiddlehed” teaches his version of the tune on YouTube.


Yes, I've found it now - https://youtu.be/BedqxkwoanI?si=TpbxjqBQR4MeaTd-

This is good to play along with, nice pace, not too fast.

Thanks for the tip!

Oct 4, 2024 - 10:42:36 AM

11430 posts since 4/23/2004

quote:
Originally posted by Andyrhydycreuau
quote:
Originally posted by trapdoor2

Never heard of it...fine tune! I'll be giving it a go this afternoon. The tab looks good. Your walk thru and play videos are well done!


Thanks Marc, glad you like it. Do share your version if you can record it.


I've been working on it for an hour or two. I sent the dots over to our jam's fiddler, he's ready to give it a go at the next jam.

Of course, I had to make it work for me. I liked 2-4 slides on the G string and I tend to use more 5th string. I also simplified the chords for our jam group...as they tend to be confused by 7ths and slash chords. wink

See attached.


Oct 4, 2024 - 12:26:44 PM

1383 posts since 1/30/2019

quote:
Originally posted by trapdoor2
quote:
Originally posted by Andyrhydycreuau
quote:
Originally posted by trapdoor2

Never heard of it...fine tune! I'll be giving it a go this afternoon. The tab looks good. Your walk thru and play videos are well done!


Thanks Marc, glad you like it. Do share your version if you can record it.


I've been working on it for an hour or two. I sent the dots over to our jam's fiddler, he's ready to give it a go at the next jam.

Of course, I had to make it work for me. I liked 2-4 slides on the G string and I tend to use more 5th string. I also simplified the chords for our jam group...as they tend to be confused by 7ths and slash chords. wink

See attached.


Tab looks good to me. I like those 3rd string slides, good stuff. Good luck with your jam group!

Oct 4, 2024 - 8:52:16 PM

John D

USA

452 posts since 11/3/2004

It's a great tune. Enjoyed all the versions. I posted a CH version on the BHO in 2014:

banjohangout.org/myhangout/med...archived=

John D

Oct 5, 2024 - 3:32:36 AM

1383 posts since 1/30/2019

quote:
Originally posted by John D

It's a great tune. Enjoyed all the versions. I posted a CH version on the BHO in 2014:

banjohangout.org/myhangout/med...archived=

John D


Thanks John, 

That's a lovely version, thanks for sharing. I like your lower B part especially. 

Oct 5, 2024 - 9:02:24 AM
Players Union Member

dbrooks

USA

4771 posts since 3/11/2004

We have played this tune for Monday night contra dances for years. It's a fun tune to play. 
 

David

Oct 5, 2024 - 10:33:10 AM

1383 posts since 1/30/2019

quote:
Originally posted by dbrooks

We have played this tune for Monday night contra dances for years. It's a fun tune to play. 
 

David


Thanks David, 

I thought it must be popular with the number of fiddle versions out there. Odd there are so few recordings with clawhammer though. 

Oct 5, 2024 - 11:30:01 AM

7195 posts since 6/27/2009

You consistently choose good tunes, Andy, and offer substantial help in getting to know and learn them. I liked the slide in the second and fourth measures and use it the second time through. My tab is similar to others here, but I added a Galax lick in the sixth to seventh measures and have a few more ASPOs. The title does have a "spooky, scary" sound, but the tune is delightful!


Oct 5, 2024 - 12:10:24 PM
likes this

1383 posts since 1/30/2019

quote:
Originally posted by JanetB

You consistently choose good tunes, Andy, and offer substantial help in getting to know and learn them. I liked the slide in the second and fourth measures and use it the second time through. My tab is similar to others here, but I added a Galax lick in the sixth to seventh measures and have a few more ASPOs. The title does have a "spooky, scary" sound, but the tune is delightful!


It is a lovely tune Janet, and your playing on this is really lovely. Thanks for chipping in with your version. 

I hope we get a few more!

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