A "Note" above the "Rest"
...Fine music from around the globe
What's New:
- "Westphalia Waltz" is the new Song of the Month for September.
- A new page, 'To Do Song List' has been added. These are song requests that I received in the email.
- More updates will be posted throughout the month, be sure to check back!
Coming Next Month:
- The old-time fiddle/banjo tune "Ebeneezer" is scheduled for October's Song of the Month.
-
Up-coming
releases will be announced here.
Feedback:
- From time to time, I receive some nice 'success stories' of how many are learning from the music posted here. With your permission, I will be posting these under the 'Feedback' section to the right. Your question(s) may also be on the mind of others visiting this web. If you would rather me not post your question, let me know in your email.
- If you're seeing improvement in your playing or have something constructive that you think others visiting this web may enjoy/benefit, let me know!
What's new for September, 2010?
Thank you for your many compliments to the new web site and updates! Your support is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
This new web format is designed for expansion and growth. For optimum viewing and performance, you will want to have the latest Java script installed on your computer. This is a free download at the Java web site. Several new features have been added and more are planed for your convenience and surfing enjoyment.
The majority of questions that have come in are, "How can I get a copy of 'Faded Love' on the mp3 player?' or, "Who's singing and playing in 'the band'?"
The mp3 player (top, left corner of the page) is streaming audio. The songs that I'm posting there are mainly new songs for up-coming releases. The player is somewhat like a 'radio' to showcase new music. The location of the song is labeled on the player. So, for example, preceding the title, 'Faded Love', you'll see 'Fiddle Volume 11'. This song is included in that project. Of course, Volume 11 isn't finished yet but will be released soon. For now, the mp3 player will give you an idea of what's coming.
Also, other music, such as the Song of the Month will be highlight and other music. These songs will rotate each month with fresh material.
You can turn off or pause the player at anytime by clicking on the 'stop' and 'pause' button.
You will want to check the Frequently Asked Questions page for details (photos, etc) about 'who's playing and singing' on these recordings.
At the left of this page, I will be posting future releases, songs and publications song to-be released.
From time to time, I receive email of success stories from those that have been using the music posted on this web. With your permission, I will be posting these links here under, 'Feedback'. It's encouraging to see your progress!
New release for September!
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 |
Dobro Unit 2 Video Tutorial
is now complete! This 4 hour, 14 minute program is a wonderful compliment to the book of the same title. It is available as a digital download or 4 DVD set. The program is the same for both. Click on the photos at the left to learn more. Look for the  gif. |
| Download version |
4 DVD set version |
Feedback
This link came in from Gerald Torres from California. Thanks for the link Gerald and encouraging others to keep playing their fiddles!
September, 2010 'Song of the Month'
"Westphalia Waltz"
I've had many requests for this song. The melody of the Westphalia Waltz comes from a Polish folk song, "Pytala Sie Pani," which means in Polish, "Why are You Sad, Lady?"
| In the late 1930’s and early 1940’s Cotton Collins, a fiddler from Waco,
Texas, heard the tune in nearby Bremond, then the largest Polish settlement in
Texas. Collins, influenced by the Texas fiddle tradition, heard “Pytala Sie Pani,”
and re-worked it into a Texas Style fiddle waltz. Collins performed with the Lone Star Playboys, a popular radio and touring band that frequently played nearby Westphalia, TX, 35 miles south of Waco. Natives there suggested to Collins that he name the piece the “Westphalia Waltz.” The tune soon became a regional hit, owing to the prevalence in central Texas of Polish, German, Czech, and Bohemian communities, with their generations - long appreciation of waltzes and polkas. Another Waco native, and a friend of Cotton, Hank Thompson, was riding atop the post-war boom in country music, and released the tune on Capitol Records in 1955 ensuring that country music fans and fiddlers around the United States would hear the tune. |
This tune is more than just a pretty melody; it lends itself very well for improvisation with the chord progression and melody line.
For this arrangement, I'm highlighting the Guitar version. It's not as straight as the tablature shows. I got creative when recording it; in particular, the backup. I've included some of the chord diagrams on the guitar pdf that I used in the recording. The middle section is based on the famous finger style guitar intro from 'Stairway to Heaven' by Jimmy Page. I'm cross picking the chords on the mp3 at measures 42 to 45 (The tablature doesn't detail this with this posting, but will later when I re-arrange it for re-release).
The melody also plays nicely as a duet. The Mandolin arrangement is presented as a mandolin duet. I will be arranging more duets on the more popular songs. A tasteful harmony part is always a nice compliment.
This song also sounds wonderful on the Dobro. I've included an interesting bar slant and pedal steel style string bend at measures 44 and 59.
The Bass line gives the song it's danceable quality. Measures 7 and 23 have an effective chromatic bass run that gives the arrangement 'acceleration' and drive. It's based on the G# diminished chord. The 'why' and how' the diminished chord fits in and is so effective will be explained in Unit 5 of the Essential Music Theory Series.
Stephen Bennett makes good use of these bass walks and the diminished chords in his performance (YouTube, above) with the harp guitar. (I bet that thing is tough to keep tuned!)
The Banjo arrangement is straightforward and closely follows the melody line. This is a good song to practice the G Major Scale melodic style. It can also be played with roll patterns. Another arrangement with rolls for the Banjo will be released later.
The sheet music and tabs below are close to the recordings, however, as I created the actual audio tracks, I drifted from my original score and just 'let it flow' then decided to keep the recordings as they are. When I write/arrange these songs, I create them first in my mind, then compose sheet music and tablature on the computer, THEN I start recording the parts one at a time, layering the instruments. With each pass, if I'm not reading the score, the arrangement changes. When the recording sounds its best, I then go back and adjust the score to match the recording so they will be a perfect match.
I am re-arranging this song (recordings and scores) with more detail to expand it's timeless melody and chord potential.
Enjoy experimenting!
Sheet Music & Tablature:
westphalia_waltz_fiddle_tablature.pdf
westphalia_waltz_fiddle_twin.pdf
westphalia_waltz_mandolin_1.pdf
westphalia_waltz_mandolin_2.pdf
Play-along mp3 tracks (Right click and select "Save target as" or "Save link as" depending on your OS):
Westphalia Waltz - Mandolin 1 and 2.mp3
Westphalia Waltz - Mandolin 1.mp3
Westphalia Waltz - Mandolin 2.mp3
Westphalia Waltz - No Bass.mp3
Westphalia Waltz - Rhythm Backup.mp3
August, 2010 'Song of the Month'
"Kesh Jig"
This happy sounding Scottish jig in 6/8 time plays nicely as a duet. I've included the harmony parts for the Mandolins and recordings for both, the Mandolin and Fiddles as a duet.
In the future, I will be adding more arrangements for a harmony part, especially the more popular jamming songs.
Sheet Music & Tablature:
Play-along mp3 tracks (Right click and select "Save target as" or "Save link as" depending on your OS)
A "Note" above the "Rest"
