Violin Forum/Message Board

[Ode to Tragedy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ji0EGq_qAc

http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/858

Can someone confirm that this is the correct sheet music for what the guy is playing as I was finding it hard to follow along.

Also what confused me was that now and then he plays what seems to be two strings at once- is this an additional optional flourish as I don't see anything on the sheet music that would correspond to it...I have also heard another person playing it with the same two string bow- what is this called and where would it correspond on the sheet music if it does at all?

[Lemuel]

He is not following the sheet music, but must be playing another variation of the theme.

Those two notes played at the same time are called "double stops". Try playing the open G and open D string at the same time without any fingers, which is a type of double stop (stopped by the violin nut near the scroll).

[Ode to Tragedy]

Yes the double stop seems simple enough but I wouldn't know when to do it.

I don't want to necessarily play his version (though I will if I find it)...it's just confusing that with these irish tunes they seem to have their many 'ye back of beyond regional variation' so it makes it harder to learn- very cliquey . All the versions of that piece I've heard on youtube do play that same version so far though...so I'd like to find the sheet music so I can learn it from the videos too.

I've been downloading a few jigs since learning irish washer women, I was thinking they are great for learning dexterity but these things are just SO fast!

I am liking the airs though since they seem to fit my initial criteria of slow romantic/melancholic music but it's nice to find similar in a different genre to classical (please give me recommendations of yet more genres which have similar equivalents).

So what does the sheet music I gave you sound like- is it close to what he's playing or way off? I really suck at playing it so far so am unable to say. I am thinking it might be better to try and find their version if I can to help me learn from the vids

[Lemuel]

The Sevcik exercise book I mentioned in another thread will definitely help to make your fingers develop dexterity. For me, it truly made music that I wanted to play much easier, especially the faster pieces.

Sevcik School of Technic for violin, Op.1, Part 1 - Exercises in the 1st position, Carl Fischer Music Library #L282

They are boring, but what a workout it gives.

The music score that is on the net for the jig, I am wondering if it is a different piece of music. This music score is minor throughout (G minor). The player on youtube goes into a major key part way through the song.

The two pieces I like which you may want to give a shot at are:

Adoration, by Felix Borowski, for violin and piano, Carl Fischer Music B3358

and

Meditation from Thais, by Jules Massenet, Carl Fischer Music, B2642

However they require higher hand positions. By the way, did you ever manage to find a teacher or group class.