Morris/Traditional English folk tunes

DRG

Member
Joined
Oct 1, 2013
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
Hi

I have been trying and failing to find Morris type tunes for the uke, I would broadly call these 'English traditional folk' but maybe I am using the wrong terms, I think Morris seems to capture what I after. I am talking about the Spires & Boden, Fay Heild type traditional tunes they adapt. I seem to be able to find standard music for this but not having the ability, cannot translate it to ukulele tab.

I found this thread, http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com/showthread.php?109180-Morris-on-uke but it doesn't seem to point to any specific tab.

I love this tune but sadly no tab, https://youtu.be/v0HY99XvYyc

If anyone is into this kind of music and wouldn't mind sharing that would be great. Celtic stuff seems pretty easy to get (I have the Campanella Irish tunes book)

Cheers in advance

DRG
 
Wish I could help, but I can bump it toward the top so those in the know will see it!
 
DRG, I think I know the kinds of tunes you are referring to - Old Swan Band and the like? I have worked out only a few tunes in the English tradition, but not many. Mainly just as campanella practice exercises. It is nice music, and I would be glad if someone would produce some uke arrangements. There is a book published by Colin Tribe that has some of this music, but I suspect you are looking for something that delves much deeper into the tradition.

http://www.schott-music.com/shop/1/show,316235.html

Let us know what you find. My advice is for you to learn to create your own arrangements, and share them with us!

Will
 
Cheers:) Will take a look. I think I may try writing to Raymond Gamble as from some brief references and nods to arrangements on YouTube he may have the material. However, I think you are right if I can work out how to do it the material is there it just needs translating to uke!
 
Might I suggest using this opportunity to learn to read musical notation, rather than ukulele-specific tab? There's a wealth of music in this genre arranged for the recorder and/or penny whistle that'll "sit" on the ukulele very nicely. Most of it is in one of two or three keys C, D or G (or their associated minor keys), so only a couple of sharps to worry about ;)
 
Hi

I have been trying and failing to find Morris type tunes for the uke, I would broadly call these 'English traditional folk' but maybe I am using the wrong terms, I think Morris seems to capture what I after. I am talking about the Spires & Boden, Fay Heild type traditional tunes they adapt. I seem to be able to find standard music for this but not having the ability, cannot translate it to ukulele tab.

I found this thread, http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com/showthread.php?109180-Morris-on-uke but it doesn't seem to point to any specific tab.

I love this tune but sadly no tab, https://youtu.be/v0HY99XvYyc

If anyone is into this kind of music and wouldn't mind sharing that would be great. Celtic stuff seems pretty easy to get (I have the Campanella Irish tunes book)

Cheers in advance

DRG

I think I remember a song called the foggy foggy dew. I only use c, f and g7 in it.
 
Cheers:) Will take a look. I think I may try writing to Raymond Gamble as from some brief references and nods to arrangements on YouTube he may have the material. However, I think you are right if I can work out how to do it the material is there it just needs translating to uke!

Ray Gamble is your man for traditional English Morris. He's recently published a collection of 20 Morris tunes arranged for fingerstyle Ukulele, available directly from him.

There are Cotswold and Border tunes, some very well known, others not so obvious. A lot of really fine tunes and very satisfying to play.

http://www.stuartlongridge.co.uk/Orby%20Publications.html
 
If you know the titles of the tunes you can find them in the ABC site in either ABC format or standard notation. I would second learning to read standard musical notation then you can work from books of traditional tunes. Many of them have chords written above so you can work out your own arrangements.

English Folk is almost entirely in D and G and their relative minors and modes. The range of notes is from D to b - an octave and a sixth. You can get that range on a 12 fret soprano tuned ADF#B or if you want to stick to GCEA, you will need a ukulele with at least 14 frets. Of course, many tunes have a range less than that I've quoted but that's what you need for the whole range.

English folk music is essentially melody driven. The addition of chords or harmonly lines is nice but not essential. The melodies stand on their own and it's OK just to play the melodies. There is a tradition of two part harmony in North East England based on Northumbrian pipe music. Morris is nowadays normally danced to a DG melodeon or Anglo Concertina but in the past the pipe and tabor or fiddle were the instruments used.
 
Hi all

Thanks for the replies! I think I am going to contact Ray in the short term and start learning to read music notation in the longer term. Are there any good resources for the latter?

Cheers
 
Here, here! I would say that this is not really true. Simple folk tunes played as just the melody are not very interesting. Played as chord melodies or (my favorite) campanella arrangements they are much more interesting. These types of arrangements are ukulele specific and take quite a bit of work to get right. So advising to just play the melody on the ukulele is a little bit disingenuous. You can worship at the alter of notation all you want, but it's not true that good ukulele arrangements can easily be had by stealing from music for another instrument.

sopher

Might I suggest using this opportunity to learn to read musical notation, rather than ukulele-specific tab? There's a wealth of music in this genre arranged for the recorder and/or penny whistle that'll "sit" on the ukulele very nicely. Most of it is in one of two or three keys C, D or G (or their associated minor keys), so only a couple of sharps to worry about ;)
 
Brimmer, the book looks really interesting thanks for the link. To Robin's point I think there is a definite desire for the English folk and it is interesting that there is so much more Irish tunes tabbed out. Both styles are great, I will see how I get on with this adventure.

Cheers
 
Sorry for the thread creep, DRG !
I can send a dropbox link to anyone, to the session book I put together for our Toronto session of English trad. music...all melody line pdf's.
English trad, music is very up-beat dancy stuff.
thanks
Robin
 
No worries, it has simply evolved. As we are on the topic do have you translated the enrico reel to uke?
 
Also, is this different than the link above. If so then yes please:)
 
Sorry for the thread creep, DRG !
I can send a dropbox link to anyone, to the session book I put together for our Toronto session of English trad. music...all melody line pdf's.
English trad, music is very up-beat dancy stuff.
thanks
Robin

Just a public note of thanks to Robin for his pdf's. Well over 60 tunes in ukulele-friendly keys with strum-along chord arrangements and not a tab in sight ;)
 
A good source of English tune books is Mally's Traditional Music Store. Dave Mallinson has written and produced many fascinating books of tunes in standard notation, many of which could be arranged for uke.

While a lot of the dance tunes can be stirring, there's also a plaintive, understated quality to English melodies and Morris tunes that suits the sound of the re-entrant tuned ukulele wonderfully.

http://www.mally.com/results.asp?CategoryID=34

http://www.mally.com/results.asp?CategoryID=2
 
Top Bottom