abcusers  

[abcusers] Scan's No2/Double Hornpipes/Jack on the Green......

Bryancreer
Fri, 25 Aug 2000 04:03:51 -0700

Given the variety of answers on the key or keys for Scan Tester's No 2, I 
rest my case.

Richard Robinson says -

> I've found myself tending to play,
> particularly, Go to Berwick with a 1&3 beat.

I think we probably mean the same thing here, I was just being a bit sloppy 
in the way I described it.  I meant 123412 to represent six beats in a 3/2 
bar so if the bar is 1&2&3& it would have strong beats on 1 and 3.  That's 
certainly how I play the first part of Go to Berwick although I think the 
second part has a more 6/4 feel, 1&&4&&.  That's what makes these tunes fun; 
you can play around and vary them each time.

I think Jack in the Green is an altenative title to The College Hornpipe (aka 
The Sailor's Hornpipe of The Last Night of the Proms)  whether there is any 
relationship to the Cheshire variety I haven't had time to investigate.

John Chambers says -

> the confusion  between  "This  is  how this music works" and "This is how
> music works".  Classical musical education  typically  instills  both
> knowledge  and  a  prejudice that this is the Way It Should Be.

I can't help feeling I've seen a certain amount of that attitude in the 
"modes are the only truth" camp as well. (WE like it the way it is!)

Also whether abc should try and convey information that is not contained in 
conventional notation; I think there is potential but it should be handled 
with care.  Anything that actually contradicts the tadpole style (which has 
been around a very long time) will cause confusion.  Anything that adds to 
the information must be careful not to confuse fact with opinion.  I think 
Scan's No 2 demonstrates that some things aren't all that certain and things 
like applying church modes to pentatonic scales are a bit weird.  (Or a bit 
Zen.  What is the pitch of a note that doesn't sound?)
Whatever, none of it is any use if it isn't understood.  abc is useless if it 
isn't a common tongue.  There is no point in developing a beautifully elegant 
way of expressing you meaning if nobody else understands what you are on 
about.

Talking of which - 

Jack Campin says -

> "Annoy Bryan" time.

A bit difficult to annoy me if I haven't got a clue what you are talking 
about.  If you are suggesting that there should be some sort of rhythm mode 
in abc, fair enough but please don't put it in the K: command.  If you want 
the spacing within the notation to be significant then I think it is the 
other developers who might have something to say.  If you want to develop abc 
to give a performance level of subtlety of pitch and rhythm, good luck to 
you; you'll need it.

I'm off to Towersey Folk Festival.  Have fun without me.

Bryan

To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
  • [abcusers] Scan's No2/Double Hornpipes/Jack on the Green...... Bryancreer