The Waltz Lesson (for mandolin orchestra)

The Waltz Lesson (pdf score)

I received the link to this live video of the Fretful Federation Mandolin Orchestra performing my mandolin orchestra arrangement of "The Waltz Lesson" at St. George's Church, Kemptown as part of the Brighton Festival recently. You can read a little more about the piece here:
http://www.contratopia.com/mtopia/WaltzLesson.htm.

The Fretfuls have been very kind in performing some of my pieces and they always play them beautifully. I strongly encourage you to check out more of their videos on YouTube. Or, if you are in the neighborhood of Brighton, you might want to check their website and go and hear them in person.

Jefferson Lives/Leadfoot/Go Figure

Jefferson Lives/Leadfoot/Go Figure (mp3)(pdf1)(pdf2)

Three reels that I recorded a couple of years ago as a demo for my Contratopia bandmates. We actually played a couple of these tunes for a while but they're no longer in the setlist. I mixed the recording in mono because, at the time, I was enjoying listening to the mono versions of the early Capitol Beatles albums. I still like the feel of this recording, plus I like the tunes. So here they are.

31 Waltzes

Easter Waltz (mp3)(pdf)

In some parts of North America flowers are blooming and Spring has sprung. Here in northeast Iowa things are looking up, but we had some snow yesterday. Friday, however, we were in southern Indiana at New Harmony. The photo above is of a plaque that stands outside the door of the Chapel of the Little Portion. Even though the feast of St. Francis is celebrated in October his words are especially appropriate at the beginning of the growing season.

Our first tune for 2009 (after a nearly 3 month layoff) comes from a recording that Erik Sessions and I made at Patrice Pakiz's house back in February. Easter Waltz is a few years old now and Erik and I have played it a few times, both with Contratopia and without, in different keys and arrangements.

The version we play here is how the tune appears in the new 31 Waltzes tunebook that I recently finished putting together. You can click on the link above to learn a little more about the book. If you would like a copy you can follow the Paypal links from the book's webpage to order either a PDF version or a printed copy from me. A number of the waltzes in the book have appeared in this blog but the majority have not. If you enjoy playing waltzes I think you might find several of these tunes to be interesting and fun. With luck you might even discover some "spiritual gladness" hidden within.

December 2008

Snow Drifter (mp3)(pdf)
Pocket Change (mp3)(pdf)
Waitin' On the Julia Belle (mp3)(pdf)

This entry marks the end of the second year of So Many Tunes. I've chosen three tunes from my 2005 backlog to round off the year and a quick count of the entries at the alphabetical listing page tells me that I've managed to record 60 tunes in that time.

Back in January 2007 when I started this project I imagined that I would add a tune or two every week or so. That quickly became more work than I expected and the pace has slowed since those first few months. What began as a fun idea has sometimes become a chore as I try and find the time to record and edit tunes and printed music according to a self-imposed timetable.

So, beginning in 2009 I declare myself (to myself) free of any obligation to add tunes to this blog with any regularity. When I feel like adding something (and I find the time) I will do so. It might be next week, it might be next summer. We'll see what develops.

"Snow Drifter" is a waltz that languished in the key of Am for years before finding new life in a new key. I know a lot of fine guitar players who are a little intimidated by the half-diminished or m7b5 chord but it's really a very useful chord once you get to know it. Nothing else quite like it.

"Pocket Change" is a fun slip jig and feels good to play once you get it under your fingers (at least on the mandolin).

"Waitin' On the Julia Belle" is another of those tunes inspired by the brilliant compositions of Norman and Nancy Blake. I was delighted when we moved to Iowa to discover that the Julia Belle Swain makes its home in nearby La Crosse, Wisconsin. I always looked forward to seeing it during the Great Steamboat Race every year in Louisville, just before Kentucky Derby weekend, but I only thought of it as a boat somewhere on the Mississippi. Now I see it several times a year and can take a short cruise during the season if I want. It's easy to picture John Hartford in his prime just by seeing her on the water.

Happy New Year, more tunes to come.

November 2008

Canny Crow (mp3)(pdf)
Why Not Here, Why Not Now / Share the Road (mp3)
(Why Not pdf)(Share the Road pdf)

Maybe these are old-time tunes, maybe not. We have lots of crows here in Decorah and they have lots of personality. I don't remember what clever act inspired this tune's title but it was only one of many I have seen.

The road above and below, in Palisades Park, is one that I have "shared" many times with walkers, runners, dogs, bicyclists and the inhabitants of large, sometimes speeding, motorized vehicles. The June 2008 flood and torrential rains caused a stretch of this road to collapse and rendered it impassable for automobiles.



The city road crews had higher priorities for repair work which kept the road closed all summer and fall. This was great for pedestrians but a disappointment to those who were unable to drive up the steep road to enjoy the view. I expect that next spring (the road is always closed in the winter to motorized traffic) the road will be repaired and I'll once again be on the lookout for my four-wheeled friends as I walk along.

The Beautiful Days

The Beautiful Days (mp3)(pdf)
1837 Turnpike Road (mp3)(pdf)
A Fresh Start (mp3)(pdf)

A season has passed since the last post to this blog. In northeast Iowa the beautiful days of autumn are gone. The photo above was taken during a stroll on October 8th in Decorah's lovely Palisades Park. The Beautiful Days waltz was written on September 17th and recorded (along with the other tunes in this post) a couple of weeks ago.

Back in August we were lucky to spend a day and a night at Shakertown, Pleasant Hill, Kentucky. In the afternoon I had the chance take a short hike that included a stretch along the 1837 Turnpike Road on the village grounds. I was listening to Norman and Nancy Blake on my mp3 player and wrote this four part tune not long after.

A Fresh Start was written early in the morning (well, early for me at least) on the first day of the fall term at Luther College. I should have been getting ready for work but this friendly schottische insisted that summer wasn't yet over.

Winter won't be long in coming now. Winter tunes will follow.

July 2008

St. Anthony and the Fishes (mp3)(pdf)
Woodhaven (mp3)(pdf)

I came across a reference to St. Anthony and his sermon to the fishes in Alberto Manguel's wonderful book The Library at Night (p.216) during the time that this four part tune was looking for a title. The mention of Anthony reminded me of my "St. Francis and the Birds" tune which has a similar form. This is another of those tunes that I almost didn't write down because much of it is so clearly derivative of other, better, tunes. In spite of that, I did pick up the pen and then I enjoyed playing it over and over. So here it is.

I think of Woodhaven as a medieval tune, a ductia maybe? In any event I've had it around a long time. I think it would also work nicely as an S/A recorder duet if the alto player transposes the bottom line.