September 2020 – L'Accordeonaire

Mazurka de Lapleau & Les Filles de Saint Nicolas

Published on September 29, 2020 by Gary ChapinLeave a comment

A mazurka and then a 2 beat bourrée because why not? These are tunes 169 and 133 in the Bal Folk Tune Book.

Les Toits de Paris (by Trevor Upham)

Published on September 20, 2020 by Gary ChapinLeave a comment

Tune 97 of the Bal Folk Tune Book Project is a waltz by Trevor Upham.

The Strudel Set (Cochonchine and Pas d’Été)

Published on September 7, 2020 by Gary ChapinLeave a comment

I made strudel and played some tunes.

These two tunes — #212 and #214 from the Bal Folk Tune Book — are both from the “others” section. They are their own sort of set dances, i.e., dances linked to a particular locale with a specific dance associated with them. And they seem like two of the “old fashioned” tunes. The kind of tunes that folks call “the good old old ones.” The dance for Pas d’Été can be seen here.

The dancing is always fun til someone loses an eye!

And the dance for Cochonchine can be seen here.

Sweet dance.

Pas d’Été has this fingering sequence on the second half that should be VERY easy, but I find it so challenging to stay in time with it. Essentially, sequences where you have quick (but not VERY quick) notes in the same direction, with a sort of repetitive arpeggio vibe … I have a hard time keeping an even pace. It’s very weird.