European Folk and Dance Tunes

SKU: GI.G-10795

ISBN 9781574635164.

Fiddle Tunes for Marimba is a collection of old-time American, Scottish, Irish, and English fiddle tunes transcribed for two-mallet marimba or xylophone with four-mallet marimba accompaniment. The fiddle tunes included in the collection were selected to introduce percussionists and mallet players to the rich traditions of American and European folk-dance music. The challenging two-mallet tune melodies work well as technical studies that are fun to play. The following fiddle tunes are included in this volume: Arkansas Traveler Billy in the Lowground Blackberry Blossom Bonaparte Crossing the Rocky Mountains Chicken Reel Devil’s Dream East Tennessee Blues Garry Owen Hills of Glenorchy Irish Washerwoman June Apple Liberty Maggie Brown’s Favorite Mary Walker Red Haired Boy Sailor’s Hornpipe Salt Creek Sligo Maid Soldier’s Joy Stronsay Waltz Swallow Tail Jig Whiskey before Breakfast.

SKU: CF.CPS264F

ISBN 9781491161746. UPC: 680160920433.

Some of the first music I remember hearing as a child was folk dance music from around the world. My parents were avid folk dancers, and they used to host weekly folk dance evenings in our basement. Some nights, when I was supposed to be in bed, I would stand with my ear to the door, listening to this fascinating music that drifted up the stairs. I didn't know what each piece was, but the melodies have stayed with me. Tropanka is one of those tunes. Tropanka (pronounced tro-PAHN-kuh) is a folk dance from Bulgaria, and the title means stomping dance. One can hear two repeated notes at the end of each phrase - this is where the dancers stomp. Patsh Tantz (pronounced PAHTSH tahnts) is a classic example of Klezmer, which is East European Jewish folk music. The title is Yiddish for clapping dance, and all the players get the chance to clap at certain points in their individual part. Klezmer music is often quite exciting, and this arrangement includes the characteristic accelerando, building excitement as the piece drives to the end. Both movements should be played rhythmically, and as it is folk music that would be danced to by untrained dancers, often wearing boots or other flat-soled shoes, adding weight to many of the downbeats will help bring out the earthy character of the music. Since my parents met while folk dancing, I made these arrangements (originally in a version for string quartet) as a gift in celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary.
Some of the first music I remember hearing as a child was folk dance music from around the world. My parents were avid folk dancers, and they used to host weekly folk dance evenings in our basement.  Some nights, when I was supposed to be in bed, I would stand with my ear to the door, listening to this fascinating music that drifted up the stairs. I didn’t know what each piece was, but the melodies have stayed with me. Tropanka is one of those tunes. Tropanka (pronounced “tro-PAHN-kuh”) is a folk dance from Bulgaria, and the title means “stomping dance”. One can hear two repeated notes at the end of each phrase – this is where the dancers stomp. Patsh Tantz (pronounced “PAHTSH tahnts”) is a classic example of Klezmer, which is East European Jewish folk music. The title is Yiddish for “clapping dance”, and all the players get the chance to clap at certain points in their individual part. Klezmer music is often quite exciting, and this arrangement includes the characteristic accelerando, building excitement as the piece drives to the end.Both movements should be played rhythmically, and as it is folk music that would be danced to by untrained dancers, often wearing boots or other flat-soled shoes, adding weight to many of the downbeats will help bring out the “earthy” character of the music. Since my parents met while folk dancing, I made these arrangements (originally in a version for string quartet) as a gift in celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary.

SKU: MB.97210

ISBN 9780786648009. UPC: 796279062350. 8.75 x 11.75 inches.

An extensive collection of reels, jigs, hornpipes and polkas from the French Canadian, Cape Breton, Scottish, Shetland, New England, and Southern Old-Time Traditions arranged for the piano accordion. Written with the beginner as well as the advanced player in mind, the arrangements are complete with ornamentation, fingering, left-hand notation and chord symbols. Appropriate for any G clef instrument.