I am super proud of this one. This is a tune I wrote over twenty years ago, for my nephew Doriel’s birth. A quick mazurka, originally called “Allez! Allez!” — but then we never actually called it that. So, it’s, “Mazurka Vite!”
The trio playing is my beloved, Le Bon Truc, with Steve Gruverman and Barb Truex — both of whom are amazing. I’ve been learning video recording and mixing since the pandemic shut us down, and I think this is my best work, yet. Here’s the sheet music.
Enjoy!
This is the THIRD recording by the Free Reed Liberation Orchestra and our first Breton offering. This project has been a blast and something that would never have happened without the pandemic or me being laid off, so that says … something. I’m not sure what!
“War Hent Kerrigouarch” (The Road to Kerrigouarch) is a Breton tune that I first heard on the Kornog album, Premiere. Later, Alisdair Fraser did it with cellist Natalie Haas as part of their Derriére Les Carreaux set. Jamie McMenemy (of Kornog) recorded it on his own first album in 1981. I have no idea if its trad or if McMenemy wrote it. The F.R.L.O (nov 2020) is Anahata, Matthew Bampton, Gary Chapin, Margaret cox, Steve Gruverman, Benjamin Hemmendinger, Eric W. Johnson, Little Eggy, Janneke Slagter, Greg Smith, Barbara Truex.
My son, Max (living in Japan) brought this tune to my attention when he transcribed Alistair Fraser’s set for my band (Le Bon Truc) to play. We may still do that, COVID willing, but in the meantime, I hope this pleases him.
Three Bourrées from the Bal Folk Tune Book (#81, 77, 82) with Lou Diziou be Pierrou in the middle. Also, footage of fire. Decided to play these as melody only because … sometimes that’s a good test of your playing. Can you keep the rhythm without accompaniment? These are all great melodies.
From the Bal Folk Tune Book. Leave a tip for the accordionist if you enjoy!
Good thing I recorded this earlier in the week because I’m not feeling especially delightful today and this is a delightful polka. Photos by Sunshine Perlis. This is tune #193 in the Bal Folk Tune book, I my have doubled the third part, once. It took everything I had not to double it every time.
