Boulder on the Tracks

 

Boulder on the Tracks (mp3) (pdf)

Back in August of 2014 (I think) we indulged in sleeper accommodations on the Amtrak Cardinal for a trip out East to visit some of the kids. Not long after entering the scenic New River Gorge portion of the route our train came to surprise halt, luckily not the kind of emergency braking where everyone goes flying. Our friendly attendant explained that there had been a mudslide ahead and there was a boulder blocking our way. (Our rock was not as large as the one pictured above, maybe half that size, but it wasn't something you would want to drive your train into.)

This was the start of a Grand Adventure involving backing up carefully, waiting hours for engines to come from Charleston, WV to bring us back, boarding buses, having our bus break down in the mountains on the interstate highway, waiting hours for a replacement, driving through the night and, finally, being deposited in Charlottesville, VA around 4 a.m., where we rented a motel room to sleep for four hours until our connecting train would arrive the next morning. The ride had been very pleasant until the unplanned stop and we had an uneventful return on the Capitol Limited a few days later.

This tune may have started around that time but I know for sure that it appears in a 2017 notebook. I made a number of changes to it this year and finally recorded it today. Just the melody three times through; first on mandolin, then with octave mandolin added, finally with guitar playing the tune also on the third time. I took it at a relaxed tempo but it can go really fast if you prefer that approach.

Yew Sunday - CMSA 2020 - Telemann

 

Yew Sunday (mp3) (pdf)

Telemann - Con Tenerezza - TWV 41:D3 (mp3) (pdf)

It's been a busy few weeks, despite the ongoing 2020 Troubles.

Last weekend was the amazingly inspiring online version of our annual Classical Mandolin Society of America convention. This all volunteer organization put together an impressive program of workshops, concerts, meetings and Zoom hangouts that convincingly simulated the real thing. I got to visit with old friends without catching anything or infecting anyone. I learned quite a bit and played a lot of mandolin.

I was especially honored that CMSA chose my mandolin orchestra piece "Heavens On Earth" as the material for this year's virtual en masse orchestra. We all practiced in advance, had a sectional workshop on Sunday and then "performed" the piece together in real time by playing along with a video. Even though we weren't in the same physical space it sure felt to me like we were playing together. The plan is for everyone to submit videos of themselves playing along, post-convention, and a technical wizard will compile these into one of the giant Zoom videos that you see online.

One of the highlights of any CMSA convention are the open mic performances. This year people video recorded themselves, or their groups, and we all got to watch the concert from the comfort of our homes. I was able to be a part of two open mic performances: 

My friends in the Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra invited me to join them in a recording of "Epilogue", a beautiful piece by Enrique Granados, arranged for mandolin orchestra by MMO conductor Lon Hendricks. I was especially happy to see that my old friend Marilynn Mair was also a guest member of the group for this video.

In addition I was invited to join in with my old friends, and regular open mic favorites, the Mandobabes in creating a video performance of my own piece "Halfway Home." Everyone played beautifully and made my piece look and sound great. All in all a wonderful convention experience.

I finally made some time this morning to do a little recording. First I recorded a short piece from Telemann's sonata no. 4 of his Sonate Metodiche collection. This is a great bunch of music and I have a nice, sturdy hardcover book of the whole set. This particular piece doesn't appear in either of my Mel Bay published Telemann collections (there is so much great Telemann music to choose from) but I've been playing this almost every day for the last month. I created a 2nd mandolin part from the original bass line of the piece.

I recorded "Yew Sunday" back in the spring in a video but here I am finally getting around to re-recording it with guitar backup. In fact, just for fun, I used two guitars playing basically the same thing. As always, I hope you enjoy the music!

October Snow

 

October Snow (mp3) (pdf)

Snow in October is not uncommon around here. You can see from the photo above, taken on October 26, that we only had a light dusting this year. Up in the Twin Cities, however, they had some serious snow around the same time.

In any event, this prompted me to write a simple jig in F. Hope you enjoy it.

Harpers Ferry Station

 

Harpers Ferry Station (mp3) (pdf) (pdf harmony)

There are many lovely, professional photos available online of the picturesque train station at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The photo above is not one of those. I took this photo on March 2, 2020 from my roomette window (or maybe from the observation car) while riding the Amtrak Capitol Limited, returning to Iowa after a great weekend playing music in the Washington DC area with my Contratopia friends. Passing through Harpers Ferry is always one of the highlights of the Capitol Limited trip because of the panoramic views you see as the train crosses the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers.

(You can see a few photos from our visit to Glen Echo Park at this post on our Contratopia blog.)

You may recall that the first weekend in March came shortly before the world of all performing musicians was turned upside down. Now it's nearly November and there is still no clear path forward on the horizon. This train trip seems somehow more significant than it should.

The tune that I'm presenting here today was actually written in 2013 as part of a larger piece that I composed for Louisville Mandolin Orchestra in recognition of the LMO's 25th anniversary. As an original member of the group I was honored that they would commission a piece from me and I titled it "Schroeder's Idea" in recognition of Mike Schroeder who founded the orchestra back in 1988.

I remember as I was writing the middle section that features this tune thinking that it would be a fine, stand alone waltz. I made a mental note to come back and extract it some day. That note popped up again in my aging memory this week and I finally retrieved the tune and turned it into a simple dance piece with the title "Harpers Ferry Station." It appears in the key of F sharp minor in "Schroeder's Idea" but I've cast in E minor here. I hope you'll enjoy it.

One for the Team

 

One for the Team (mp3) (pdf)

Today's tune title is meant to be a statement of appreciation and admiration for those folks who, for whatever reason, act in ways that benefit all of us. People who give more than they take. 

The truth is that we all (with rare exceptions, you can make your own list) behave this way from time to time. Usually we think "I should do this more often" but, for me at least, that's a hard lesson to learn. Maybe when I play this tune it will help me remember my better angels.

Winter is making an early appearance here this week, cloudy and cold. Brighter days to come.

Summer Suite, August, 2020 (for Octave Mandolin or Mandocello)

 

Summer Suite, August, 2020 (for Octave Mandolin or Mandocello)

(Octave Mandolin version pdf) (mandocello version pdf)

1. Queen Anne's Lace (mp3)

2. The Morning Glory (mp3)

3. Dame's Rocket (mp3)

4. The Sunflower (mp3)

5. Prince's Feather (mp3)

By chance, it was exactly one year ago today when I posted the announcement of my Spring Suite for Octave Mandolin or Mandocello. This followed the earlier Winter Suite and today's publication leaves me with the expectation that I will produce a Fall Suite (Autumn Suite?) soon.

Not a cutting edge naming convention but then the music I'm writing for these instruments is not wild and crazy either. I am definitely looking backwards for my inspiration here and my intent is to provide nice tunes for my friends who love to play the big mandolins.

While the first two Suites consist mostly of new music written particularly for these instruments this Suite (and I expect the Fall Suite as well) involves me re-working already existing short pieces taken from my Postcards From the Crater collection. Re-purposing earlier work is a time-honored tradition among composers but I have always tended to think of it as a kind of cheating.

However, while reading Christoph Wolff's recent book, Bach's Musical Universe, a light bulb went off in my head when he started describing in some detail Bach's own re-use of some of his older music (some of it now lost) in new ways. I knew Bach had done this sort of thing but Wolff's writing gave me the idea to use the same approach for this suite.

So I took five of my favorite sections from the Postcards and played around with them on my octave mandolin. I added short introductions to a couple of the pieces, I changed keys a couple of times and I added drones here and there.

The first piece, here titled "Queen Anne's Lace", has appeared in more than a couple of my other mandolin pieces. It's simply one of my favorite tunes and always reminds me of the great James Oswald. I've set it here in a different key with quite a few double stops and drones and even some brief division-like variations. It doesn't need to go too fast.

I have chosen not to present this Suite as an "album" on Bandcamp, mostly because it takes a while to put together. I may do something later though.

I've used wildflowers for titles, as Oswald might have done. The photo above is another shot taken on the trail that leads from Phelps Park out towards highway 52.

Three to Get Ready

 

Three to Get Ready (mp3) (pdf)

"Well, it's one for the money, two for the show ..."

Last week I had a dream and this verse from Carl Perkins' immortal "Blue Suede Shoes" popped up. There was no reference to the song in the dream, just the first three lines of the nursery rhyme with an emphasis on the "three to get ready." When I recalled the dream I figured I had a good title for a tune.

I wrote most of this tune the next morning, still without Blue Suede Shoes intruding, and did a little tinkering the next day or two. I had an unusual amount of trouble getting a recording I can live with but I like what I'm sharing here. I hope you enjoy it.

The photo comes from a walk near Decorah's Phelps Park taken earlier this week. There is a trail that runs above the Dug Road Trail which features several classic WPA style bridges, steps and markers. Many thanks to the young workers from so long ago who created this path and to the men and women who have maintained it all these years for our public use. Our tax dollars at work.

Safe Travels, Safe Return

 

Safe Travels, Safe Return (mp3) (pdf)

Today's tune began back in 2017 but was left unfinished. Last week I spent some more time with it and, now, here it is. I like the major to minor bit at the start and in general how the tune wanders around. I realize that a certain percentage of excellent musicians will be put off by the half-diminished (minor 7, flat 5) chord in the A section. If it helps, you can think about it as an A9 chord with a C# in the bass. I also know this is two waltzes in a row. I'll try and not make it three next time.

The photo comes from my window on the Capitol Limited while going through the mountains on my way to D.C. on Feb. 28 of this year. Contratopia was able to have one final weekend of fun playing for dancers just before we began to realize that we probably wouldn't be playing together again anytime soon. Our travels, and returns, were safe and I'm looking forward to another train ride in better times.

O'Loughlin's Waltz in G, no. 2

 

O'Loughlin's Waltz in G, no. 2 (mp3) (pdf)

Contratopia band mate and friend Patrick O'Loughlin has recently created a new dobro/slide guitar-style instrument. He posted some photos on Facebook. It was tuned to open G when I first saw it and Pat requested a waltz. Here's the second one I wrote, the first isn't quite right yet. (I guess that implies that this one is "right" but you'll have to decide for yourself.)

The photo above was taken a couple of weeks ago while climbing up the back side of the Ice Cave ridge. I don't go up there as much as I used to but it's worth the climb.

St. Feriole Island Jig

 

St. Feriole Island Jig (mp3) (pdf)

As threatened last time, here is a new tune named after lovely St. Feriole Island, part of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. This island on the Mississippi River has a rich history and is a great place to visit and stretch your legs. We stop there often.

The tune itself offers an opportunity to practice some arpeggios in the key of D minor and is fun to play. See what you think.

St. Francis Walks at Night

 

St. Francis Walks at Night (mp3) (pdf)

Another in a series of St. Francis tunes. This one is recently composed. The photo was taken a few days ago on St. Feriole Island, part of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, at the entrance to a garden. There's a St. Feriole Island Jig coming up before too long also.

Despite my usual careful planning (just kidding) today's tune is the second blog entry in a row that is in the key of B minor and whose title ends in the words "at night." Further proof of my creative genius (kdding again). I promise the next tune I post will not be in B minor. I hope you enjoy this one though.

Snow at Night

 

Snow at Night (mp3) (pdf)

"Snow's gonna come and the frost's gonna bite, my old car froze up last night."

A beautiful summer's day here in Decorah found me digging through old music notebooks. On the first page of the book marked "January 27, 2005-July 25, 2005" I found the original version of today's tune. Back in 2005 I created a lead sheet for the tune, titled January 27, 2005, and probably shared it with Contratopia. I don't recall ever playing that early version but it's possible that we did. I've now altered the C section of the tune, changed the form a bit and given it a proper title.

I'm thinking of those nights when the snow is coming down after dark and everything in our neighborhood is very quiet. I don't remember if I started writing this tune at night but I could have. In any event, here it is in August, 15 years later.

I didn't even bother with a harmony part for this one, just a simple melody with chords.

The photo is from January 2020, looking out on our back yard. Of course when January 2021 arrives I'll be wishing it were August again.

How Many Moons

 

How Many Moons (mp3) (pdf)

How many indeed? I found this title in an old notebook with a few notes below it and turned it into a finished tune recently.

The photo above was taken near St. Luke's Church on the edge of Eitzen, MN a few days ago. I nearly stumbled on it while admiring the little park next to the church parking lot. I think it is an NGS survey marker.

Also a few days ago our Contratopia buddies Pat O'Loughlin and Margie visited Decorah while on a short camping trip. Erik Sessions and I met up with them in nearby Palisades Park and we played some tunes. Here's a video of us playing my tune "Palisades" that appears on Contratopia's first recording, Hands Four. The groove wanders a bit (this is what happens when Patrice Pakiz is not keeping us in line) but you can see it was a nice day in a lovely place.

Wendy's Fancy

Wendy's Fancy (mp3) (pdf)

This tune goes back at least a couple of decades. It was likely first written in the late 20th century. A version for two mandolins appears in my Midwestern Mandolin Duos book. As far as I can tell it hasn't appeared in this blog and I can't remember ever actually recording it before.

To my mind Wendy's Fancy (named after a dear, departed feline companion) is an early example of my fascination with the work of James Oswald. In this case I probably was responding to some of his work in his 1742 publication "Collection of Curious Scots Tunes" which often features a basic tune followed by a variation or two and, occasionally, a transition into a jig version of the tune as well.

The photo is from this morning's walk, trying to capture some of the lovely wildflowers near our house before the mowers come to cut them all down.

Morning Shade

Morning Shade (mp3) (pdf)

We've had, as we should, some warm weather here the last couple of weeks. I find that when I walk in the morning I tend to move from one patch of shade to another. Every January I long for these days. Every July I wish for October.

Ruby and Gold

Ruby and Gold (mp3) (pdf)

Several months ago, before the plague, I received a commission from my good mandolin friend, Barbara Conrad. She was looking for a waltz to help celebrate two special anniversaries in her life, one a 40th and one a 50th. Today's tune was the eventual result.

I finished the tune in late March and sent Barbara a recording and the sheet music. Something about the original recording (I still can't put my finger on it) bothered me so I finally got around to re-recording it yesterday.

The "pdf" link above takes you to a package of three pages; one for the melody with chord symbols, one with a harmony part and the third with an "accompaniment" part that is meant to be a second part when played by two mandolins when no chordal instrument is involved. Of course you can feel free to use any part in any way you choose. In fact I chose to play the harmony part down an octave last night because I decided to play the melody on guitar the first time through, instead of on mandolin.

In any event I hope you enjoy listening and/or playing the tune. You don't need to wait for an anniversary.

Fine Times on Fess

Fine Times on Fess (mp3) (pdf)

In January of 1972 I moved for the first time to Bloomington, Indiana and took up residence in an apartment in a house in the 500 block of N. Fess Avenue, just a couple of blocks north of the IU student union and Dunn Meadow. I shared the space with Tony and Malcolm, one old friend and one more recent. We have remained great friends over the decades despite often being out of touch with each other for years at a time. Father's Day last weekend reminded me how strange it is that each of us have now become fathers ourselves.

Recently a couple of photos emerged from that time and place and I was delighted when those photos gave me the idea for the title for this tune. "Fine Times at Our House" is a classic old-time fiddle tune and this tune bears no resemblance to it but I love the title.

The photo above was taken a few days ago while walking in Decorah's Palisades Park. Just a painted rock and a stick on a picnic table but a beautiful reminder that it's never too late to be kind.

Saturday Social

Saturday Social (mp3) (pdf) (pdf harmony)

The enormous tragedy surrounding the COVID19 pandemic puts something like this blog into a new perspective. I haven't been sharing music online as often since March but I've been playing and writing quite of bit. Today's tune is one example.

I played my last public gig, with Erik Sessions, on March 11 at Toppling Goliath Brewery here in Decorah. We knew we were pushing the envelope and that we might not get to play in public again for a long time. We had a great turnout and, as far as we know, no one passed any virus on to anyone that night.

Exactly two months later, on May 11, Erik and I played in our local bookstore (Dragonfly Books, a first rate shop) to an audience of two who were recording us for Bookstock 2020, a fund raising event to benefit small, local bookstores, and musicians, around the country. This time Erik and I stood 6 feet apart and wore masks. Playing six feet apart from someone who normally stands right next to you was harder than you might think. Further complicating that gig was the fact that I was suffering from a hearing issue that had only recently cropped up, I had been to local ENT that afternoon.

The Bookstock event  was streamed/broadcast the weekend of  May 15-17. You can view our set (warts and all), broadcast on Sunday morning, here. We had the unexpected honor of being grouped in the same "Act" with the phenomenal Rushad Eggleston. His one minute performance is not to be missed.

"Saturday Social" is the result of another online gig. Tapestry Folkdance Center is an amazing place for dancing in Minneapolis and I have played there regularly (most often with our band Contratopia) over the last 20 years. Dancing at Tapestry temporarily came to a halt in March but the resilient contra dance regulars at Tapestry have instituted a Saturday Social Hour using Zoom as a tool to allow people to get together and socialize on Saturday nights when they would normally be dancing together.

Each Saturday one (or more) of the many musicians who play for dances at Tapestry are invited to play a 15 minute live set as part of the fun. I was honored to be invited to add some music to the May 9th social and I wrote this tune to play in my set.

The vast majority of time I write a tune and then spend a long time trying to think of a title that fits. This was a rare case of me having the title first and writing the tune to fit the occasion. I finally got around to writing a harmony part and recording the tune yesterday. I hope you enjoy it.

The photo was taken near the end of May during a walk along the Upper Iowa River.

Birthday Bagatelle

Birthday Bagatelle (mp3) (pdf) (pdf harmony)

It's been several weeks and while Lord knows I've been at home most of the time I've been doing lots of other stuff. Plus I had an equipment failure in my little toy studio and things take longer to get through the post these days.

In any event here's what is intended to be a pleasant piece titled after some recent birthdays.

Rather than write a long essay about my musical life in time of plague (which has been surprisingly active) I'll just keep it short this time.

Stay safe and help others when possible. Find joy and hope where you can.

The photo above was taken about an hour ago on Ice Cave Road in Decorah. There are some pretty flowers up there.

Riverside Gardens

Riverside Gardens (mp3) (pdf) (pdf harmony)

The Riverside International Friendship Gardens are a small collection of beautiful and lovingly tended gardens located at the point where the La Crosse River empties into the Mississippi in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It doesn't take all day to see them all and it always adds a little beauty to my day when I visit. They are well worth a few minutes of your time.

This tune is another one expanded from a fragment in an old notebook and recently finished. A pretty melody with a simple accompaniment part seems to fit with the title.

This marks the first appearance in So Many Tunes of a recently acquired, century-old Gibson mandolin. It began life around 1912 or 1913 but has see many alterations since then. Often that makes an old Gibson less desirable but I like the sound of this one. Many thanks to Greg and the folks at Greg Boyd's House of Fine Instruments for working with me on this acquisition.

Try to stay safe, stay home if you can, wear your mask if you have one. I would especially appreciate it (if you are under 60 with no medical issues) if you can try and avoid picking up a piece of the virus and passing it on to someone else who might eventually pass it on to an old guy like me. (Insert your favorite John Prine quote here ...)