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Here are two cakewalks I arranged, Freaks of Blackville and At A Georgia Camp Meeting.
Here’s the first excerpt from the By A Route Obscure concert.
Greetings. First of all, check out these two clips:
Toirdhealbhach Ó Cearbhalláin, 1670 – 1738
William Billings (b. Boston, October 7, 1746 – d. Boston, September 26, 1800)
Colloquially now, O’Carolan, the blind harpist contemporary of J.S. Bach, and Billings, the quintessential New England composer who lived before and after Mozart’s earthly sojourn, have been united for a four tune set that will be performed during the By A Route Obscure concert later this month. For me, these tunes provide intriquing evidence of much what was the rage throughout Europe during the classical style’s emergence from the baroque. The added enchantment is when the epiphany occurs in one’s mind about the brillance of O’Carolan’s melodies. I’ve always imagined that Johann and Turlough could have met by chance at a bar and shared some tunes and spoke of melody. Unlikely, but an interesting notion nevertheless. And Billings? Of course my first recollection of knowing who he was was tied to learning the tune/hymn Chester which was cool because of it being my home town. Anyway, when you happen to check out more of what William Billings wrote, it is pretty cool to close your eyes and imagine the context for these works during the earliest days of our nation.
So, on February 28, 2009 at The Company of Fifers and Drummers in Ivoryton, Connecticut, Ó Cearbhalláin & Billings will provide the inspiration for fife quartet and rudimental drums. Come check it out.
One of the pieces we will be playing at The Company of Fifers and Drummers on February 28 for the By A Route Obscure concert will be an arrangement of a 14th century Italian dance called Saltarello. It is fairly famous in the early music scene. A really great version of this was recorded by the band Dead Can Dance. Here’s a clip:
After a few rehearsals, some of us have already put this catchy tune into our heads, whistling and humming it away.
Saltarello will actually start our concert revealing our mixed ensemble including fifes with winds and percussion. Back in my UConn days, I had the fortune of playing with the Storrs Collegium Musicum. Recorders, crumhorns, the rauschpfeife, and racketts were among some of the instruments that captured my intrigue along with the mystique of playing the wonderful music from middle ages and the renaissance. I always felt that these instruments would combine well with the fife.
Sadly, I am no longer associated with a group of this caliber (and even more sadly, the use of amazing and expensive instruments), but I have always imagined that an early music band could be simulated with a mix of modern day instruments and….the fife. I look forward to performing this in February.
Whether you are newcomer or past visitor of jigtheobscure.com, I would like to extend my greetings. It’s always good to know who has been checking out the music. My plan is to use this medium as a means for sharing some background on tunes that I have composed and to foster dialogue on traditional music, past, present, and future. So enjoy, sign the Guestbook, and visit often. Thanks.
