Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.fiddlehangout.com/archive/4792
Percy - Posted - 09/10/2008: 19:46:13
Here's another waltz by Jay Ungar from the "Relax Your Mind" CD...
I seem to play it okay when I'm playing along with Jay, but as soon as I get to the part where I have to play it by myself, it kept fall apart. I finally made it through -- but you can hear I'm a bit stiff as I was thinking ahead to the parts I was having trouble with -- but I made it through! Yeah! So I figured I'd share it to celebrate...
Carol (Percy)
Get busy living, or get busy dying.
schoochie - Posted - 09/10/2008: 20:16:42
I love waltzes and I thought you played this one nicely. Congratulations on "making it through".
I have found it is easier to play with someone than to play by yourself. Part of it is that I am more relaxed if I am not playing by myself. Unfortunately, I no longer have anyone to play fiddle with since I lost my teacher. Guess I will have to learn from you and play along with the cd.
Schoochie
Twelvefret - Posted - 09/11/2008: 02:33:27
Thanks for posting your beautiful recording. I am a big fan of Jay and Mollie's music. Ever tried Lover's Waltz?
chuck
Percy - Posted - 09/11/2008: 03:15:30
Thanks for the compliments... If I get a smoother version recorded, I'll replace this one... I can hear where I stiffened up! But at least I got through that "snake-bit" part so hopefully it will go better now!
Schoochie -- there are VERY few people to play with around here. But I'm moving to a bigger town in a few weeks and I may get lucky and discover some more players. Having said that, I probably would have given up months ago if I hadn't been playing along with CDs.
The really great thing about playing along with Jay is that you also learn the "feel" of the music. I don't get that from memorizing notation. But do be careful about playing along with some of the junk learning CD's out there. The last one I bought had someone playing with poor intonation and less-than-great timing. I think it's better to play with artists like Jay.
Chuck-- yes Lover's Waltz has been on my favorites list for a long time. In fact, I did post a version I played awhile ago. I may have to give it a go again (now that I've had some lightbulb moments) and see if I've improved!
Carol (Percy)
Get busy living, or get busy dying.
nallycat - Posted - 09/11/2008: 04:34:30
Percy I left this post somewhere else for you, can't remember where, but I think you should purchase Jays Unger and Molly Mason's
learning CD.
Waltzes Airs and Haunting Melodies
You will really enjoy this cd great waltzes Jay's teaching is excellent, No notation problems like your last training cd.
Beati illi qui in circulum circumeunt, fient enim magnae rotae
Percy - Posted - 09/11/2008: 04:45:21
That's the next thing on my purchase list -- after I buy a better microphone. I'm just using the built-in mic on my Mac. It's okay -- but certainly has limitations -- for one, I can't work with placement at all... it just is where it is!
I really do love the slow pretty stuff. So many of the other tunes just seem to focus on speed (not my strength yet) and the melodies just get lost.
Irish Washerwoman is a great example -- slow that thing down, and it's really beautiful... but it's normally played so fast that you'd never know it!
I think I may be a closet violinist after all!
Carol (Percy)
Get busy living, or get busy dying.
Twelvefret - Posted - 09/11/2008: 04:45:23
quote:
Chuck-- yes Lover's Waltz has been on my favorites list for a long time. In fact, I did post a version I played awhile ago. I may have to give it a go again (now that I've had some lightbulb moments) and see if I've improved!
This is a favorite video for Lover's Waltz.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0xYp_xnhwIIt looks like the one fellow on Jay's right shfts forward on one part but Jay does not. What do you think?
chuck
Dick Hauser - Posted - 09/11/2008: 07:05:20
The "fellow" to the right of Jay Unger is Aly Bain, the great Scottish fiddler. He is originally from the Shetland Islands and has played fiddle all his life. He was an original member of the great Scottish band "Boys of the Lough". Aly said that he lives for two things - his daughters and playing his fiddle. He served as host of those Transatlantic Session for television.
gulfguy
DougD - Posted - 09/11/2008: 07:30:14
"It looks like the one fellow on Jay's right shfts forward on one part but Jay does not. What do you think?"
I think Aly is playing harmony, so he needs to shift. Thats a very nice video. Everyone seems to be really enjoying the music, and each other's playing.
Edited by - DougD on 09/11/2008 07:30:43
John Gent - Posted - 09/11/2008: 14:29:29
Nice job Carol. I still haven't gotten that CD, but I will.
Here's another really nice rendition of The Lovers' Waltz:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRwaUSdbo1k
And Jay, if you're reading this. When you're here in Eugene in March, I'll be front row center! I can't wait.
- John
Eugene, Oregon, USA
schoochie - Posted - 09/11/2008: 17:58:43
Carol--decided I had to have Blue River and Lovers Waltz so I just sent my order into cyberspace. I also love the slow stuff for my fiddle--the fast stuff is for my hammered dulcimer! 
But I think it is more difficult to play the slow ones well. I believe you must concentrate on proper intonation and bowing more on slow pieces. What do you think?
nallycat--you talked me into it. While I was on Jay's site, I ordered the instructional DVD you mentioned. No teacher so I need all the help I can get. Any fiddle teachers in South Arkansas out there? Any just passing through?
Schoochie
Percy - Posted - 09/11/2008: 19:11:28
It's a bit strange... I've been concentrating on playing the slow, beautiful waltzes... intonation, bowing, timing... and just in the last few days I've started to really try some faster tunes -- and I'm finding them easier than I thought. I don't have to worry so much about intonation, bowing and timing -- that has become almost second nature... so it's just in the speed. I would think it would be harder if I had started with fast tunes -- and then tried to do the slow stuff!
And Jay is really wonderful to learn with. I'm not sure where he stands in the fiddling world -- but no one can deny the feeling he has in his music... it's not enough to play the notes -- even if you play them perfectly. Music is more than that -- and Jay shows you how to express emotion in the music... something Mel Bay CDs just don't do...
Carol (Percy)
Get busy living, or get busy dying.
nallycat - Posted - 09/11/2008: 20:05:53
schoochie the dvd is very good I even turned it into mp3 so I could listen to the lessons in the car when I drive to work, I have added all those songs to my play list I really like ashokan farewell, can't do all the double stops yet, practice practice practice. I have been playing at a seniors home, even though I have only been playing for one year this December, they like waltzes airs and slow tunes the best si bheag, si mhor is well liked as is Southwind, and Tennessee waltz.
Beati illi qui in circulum circumeunt, fient enim magnae rotae
Percy - Posted - 09/13/2008: 02:07:32
Funny: peerke112 commented on my music page that he likes my vibrato! Heck, that's not vibrato (really) it's my bow shaking -- I always get nervous when I record!
Carol (Percy)
Get busy living, or get busy dying.
'The Coleraine jig' 1 day
'Woodchoppers reel' 2 days
