This is a set of two waltzes from Northumbria, both from the repertoire of piper Jack Armstrong (1904-1978) and both recorded by Kathryn Tickell on her album "The Northumbria Collection". My recording on mandolin and tenor guitar is based on a transcription I found in a French collection of session tunes, previously posted here by Simon - Thanks again, Simon. I have previously recorded the second tune as a set with "Bonny At Morn", but in a different arrangement. Mid-Missouri M-0W mandolin Vintage Viaten tenor guitar Martin
Nice playing Martin, it is a pretty tune too.
You delivered a niece and peaceful rendition, Martin. I enjoyed that.
Nice set og waltzes, the Mid-Mo sounds fine for that purpose!
Thanks a lot! Northumbrian tunes are often very interesting and a bit different because of the competing English and Scottish influences. Plus, everything that Kathryn Tickell plays is gold anyway -- great player and great personality! Martin
Two tunes that go so well together, Martin. Well played, sir!
Great two tunes and fine playing again Martin. I was thinking that a lot of the tunes come from a time when mainland UK was huge with a great diversity of dialects if not languages too. I’m not that old, but I remember going to parts of Wales and Devon where it was like a foreign country, couldn’t understand a word they were saying, playing strange music, and drinking lots of cider.
Probably even greater diversity nowadays, Simon! Even in Scotland, my geographically tiny homeland, you will still find a big variety os dialects, though sadly Scottish Gaelic, in spite of great efforts by our devolved government, is barely holding its own. Its strongholds are in the Western Islands and parts of the Highlands which are roughly equivalent to the old crofting counties.
You play these ever so well. I can certainly hear the Scottish and English accents there. Even a bit of German on the second tune, actually!
Many thanks for those kind comments! Dennis: I can sort of see what you mean -- there is a bit of a German folksong feel to Whittingham Green Lane, although I suspect it's more of a generic 19th century parlour song influence. Simon: As a proud (though non-native) denizen of North Wales I feel obliged to point out that it is a foreign country for the English, and has its own very different native language which is in rather better health than Scottish Gaelic. Cider drinking is more for Devon, though. Martin
As the original site for the Tourne a l'Aube songbook is now down, I've just uploaded it to the Cafe (Link). "Rothbury Hills" and "Whittingham Green Lane" are tunes #429 & #430, on page 133. Martin
Martin, I have enjoyed the whole series of video's you have recently posted. They are all very well done. Great to see the link to the book.
