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Tag: accordian

Eleanor Rigby (Father McKenzie’s Jig)

Eleanor Rigby (Father McKenzie’s Jig)

Published July 11, 2021

A version of Eleanor Rigby (the Beatles song, of course), but learned from De Dannan’s fantastic interpretation on their 2000 album, ‘Welcome to the Hotel Connemara’ – so it’s rather different. I’m playing it rather slower than the breakneck speed De Dannan play it at; it’s quite nice slower I think… but go listen to their version, because it’s great. It took me a little while to figure out why they also call it ‘Fr McKenzie’s’… until I remembered the Beatles lyrics. Doh!

Played on a Castagnari Giasco I in D/G for melodeon.net’s theme of the month for July 2021; ‘Alphabet Soup – E’

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The Dream

The Dream

Published June 5, 2021

A fantastic waltz by English gurdy player Cliff Stapleton, also known as The Dream Waltz. Not a tune I usually play solo; I used to play it in bands a bit, but tried it the other day on the Van der Aa in G/C, and it came out quite nicely. Played for the melodeon.net theme of the month for July 2021.

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Machynlleth

Machynlleth

Published June 5, 2021

This month’s tune of the month at melodeon.net, Machynlleth – a Welsh 4 part polka. Fairly straightforward to play; my biggest problem with learning this one was confusing the 2nd and 4th parts.

Played on a G/C Kay Albrecht converted Hohner Liliput.

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Dashing White Sergeant

Dashing White Sergeant

Published May 8, 2021

A classic Scottish tune, typically played for a classic Scottish dance of the same name. Always known the tune but never played it before I had to learn it for the Pamplemousse ceilidh band I play in; we can do quite a number of Scottish dances in our set.

Played on a Hohner C/F melodeon (in C, so not a session friendly key, sorry) – part of the Melodeon.net theme of the month for May 2021.

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Chestnut / Dove’s Vagary / Dove’s Figary

Chestnut / Dove’s Vagary / Dove’s Figary

Published May 8, 2021

A playford tune, half of which I remember learning as a child! I’m playing this rather faster than you’d normally hear it (normally it would be march/procession speed, and quite merrily missing out that accidental in the first part) – I quite like it at this pace. Am playing on a C/F Hohner Club I, so we’re in D minor.

Melodeon.net tune of the month for May 2021.

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Hunt the Squirrel

Hunt the Squirrel

Published December 8, 2019

Melodeon.net’s tune of the month for Dec 2019 is this classic 32 bar jig; always a favourite of mine. Here played in C on a G/C Hohner Liliput converted by Kay Albrecht.

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Paddy Carey’s

Paddy Carey’s

Published February 10, 2019

This is melodeon.net’s tune of the month for February 2019. A 48 bar jig in G, here played a bit more slowly than I would normally for dance.

Played on a Castagnari Mory in D/G.

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Adieu Les Filles de Mon Pays

Adieu Les Filles de Mon Pays

Published November 3, 2018

Very appropriately, the tune to this french anti-war song is tune of the month at melodeon.net for November 2018. Played on a Castagnari Giasco I in D/G in the key of D (in fact entirely on the D row).

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Chassepain / Baudemic

Chassepain / Baudemic

Published September 8, 2018

This month’s tune of the month from Melodeon.net is Gilles Chabenat’s wonderful 2 time bourree, Chassepain. Here I’m playing it with the other tune commonly played with it, Baudemic (also by Gilles Chabenatt). Used to play these years ago when I played a lot of french music, but they’ve kind of dropped out of the repertoire. Nice to learn them back up again.

Played on a Castagnari Mory in D/G, in the key of D (which is what it’s typically played in sessions)

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Camdence

Camdence

Published April 22, 2018

A mazurka written by Gregory Jolivet of Blowzabella, and learned from their latest album “Two Score”. Fits on melodeon really quite nicely, needing a small accidental note at the end of the B music, but that’s about it.

Melodeon.net’s theme of the month is mazurkas; this video is part of that. Played on a restored 1920’s Hohner in G/C

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