Specific instruments for dance tunes

John Chambers

Message 35586 · 18 Jun 2003 15:18:48 · Fixed-width font · Whole thread

Etienne Ozorak writes:
| One could specify instrumentation, but that would have the potential of
| limiting the performance options.

Nah; I don't think it would limit the musicians at all, at least not
any that I regularly play with. You just wouldn't always hear it on
the suggested instrument.

There are a lot of SCD tunes that are universally considered "pipe
tunes". This doesn't deter any musicians from playing them. It does
mean that a lot of people will do what much bagpipe styling they can
manage on their instrument. Thus, if I'm playing accordion and have
piano or drum backup, I'll often play just a drone and no chords for
one round of a pipe tune.

Which does bring to mind an accordion joke:

Q: What's worse than having an accordion or bagpipe in your band?

A: An accordions player pretending to play a bagpipe.

Anyway, there's no harm in suggesting a preferred instrument for a
tune. If it's really a good tune for that instrument, the musicians
may realize this anyway, and will likely give a solo or two to the
instrument.