Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Friends and Nemeses (and Emma)


I could mention that I did *try* to do a typecast version of the index card note, since you're likely getting sick of trying to decipher my handwriting, but my typewriters don't care much for these cards and after a certain amount of arguing with them, I gave up.

OK, some of you asked for mandolin samples.  This will teach you to be careful what you ask for.  Here are a coupla tunes:

1. Emma's Waltz, with a friend playing chords.  It's a little too slow.  Also, because I'm petrified, there are no dynamics or variations or that.  I do love this tune, though.  It's purty.

2. Lark in the Morning.  This second tune is one I've been fighting with tooth and nail: a four part Irish jig they play at the local Irish session pretty much every week.  I took an instant dislike to it and it became a nemesis of sorts: every time I tried to learn it, my brain put up an instant barrier.  "Uh-uh.  Not letting THAT THING in here.  No sir!"  But this past weekend I decided to put aside past differences and try to make friends with it.  It's rather growing on me now, though there may be a certain amount of Stockholm Syndrome coming into play.  This is an imperfect take, but it was also about take fifteen.  Good 'nough, I guess.  You get the idea.  Keep in mind that at a session, I'd be just one of a dozen instruments playing it...kinda boring with just mando, and you hear every stinkin' flaw.

I've gotten to practice a bit today, since I'm currently snowed in, and could potentially be so again tomorrow.  Pretty stuff, though!


4 comments:

Bill M said...

Nice playing! Don't worry about your speed. Get your technique and noted down correctly and then bring your music up to tempo. Just my 2 cents worth. I play trumpet and mess around on keyboards. Nice snow. I miss winter and and all the fun in the snow.

Elizabeth H. said...

Oh, it isn't that I *can't* play that one faster...I meant that it was recorded at too slow a tempo, so I was struggling to play it well that slowly. But agreed--for working on faster tunes, nothing beats starting slow and getting all the notes down first.

Iced in with no power today! Got my phone while it lasts, but looks like another practice day...in the dark and cold. :/

Mike Speegle said...

Nice, LFP! I envy your manual dexterity.

Keep safe in the blizzard!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting the audio, although it makes me envious. And you are just getting started with them. If I wasn't 3,000 miles away I would enjoy listening to that group. I bet it would be a fun and melodious time.

Good luck with the weather and utilities. Time to light a candle, put on a sweater and think of Spring.

Jeff The Bear