Nothing

[Al Smitley]

Nothing compelling here. 

Just thought I'd break the silence before it reached the 24 hour mark!

[Strumelia]

[Al Smitley]

Geez!  I really didn't mean to start something.  Next, I suppose someone will post a video of them sitting quietly with a banjo and not playing!

[Barbara Mullin]

The mid-summer pause...................

Made any recordings lately, Al?  Tune of the Month? 

I'm trying to get past the 'thinking about it' stage..;o}

[Wes Merchant]

Al, I played through a couple of five step waltzes today at can you get Tim hooked up with one and do it duet?

[Al Smitley]

Well, I don't know.  I've never discussed it with him but he's on this site.

I learned the 2nd one (I think) that I sent but it's not easy.

I think I'll try the first one out when I have a chance.  I have the same recording that the dancers were using.  I thought it might be in Foster's Social Orchestra book (1854) but I didn't find it.  Did you like any of the ones you found?  If so give me a source.

[Al Smitley]

[Al Smitley]

Al Smitley said:

Did I post this twice?  If so, sorry.  Wes, here is the 5-step waltz I've heard most often.

It was published in 'F'.  I transposed it to 'C' to keep it within the 5th position but it's still not easy.

[Al Smitley]

The other one I have in audio is simpler and a good tune but there are so many parts/variations that I am reluctant to tackle putting it into MuseScore.

[Strumelia]

They change key three times as well as being in 5/4 ?   lol

[Al Smitley]

Three key changes is not unusual for mid-19th C dance music.  Some of them, such as Jenny Lind Polka, Detroit Schottische (Flop-Eared Mule), etc., that have remained in today's fiddler's repertoire, have been reduced to two parts and often a single key.  But when you listen to the originals, I think the key changes really enhance the tune.

[Wes Merchant]

Nice, it looks like the third part could be played down an octave too.

[Al Smitley]

The first part is memorable.  The 2nd part takes some concentration.  The 3rd part is also memorable but jumps to the 5th position, but you're probably right.  It could be an octave lower.

So......out of 'Nothing" comes 5-step waltzes!