strathspey@strathspey.org:11692

Ron.Mackey

Re: Dancing to pipes - or not!

April 21, 1998, 12:46 a.m. (Message 11692, in reply to message 11677)

> Date:          Sun, 19 Apr 98 19:07:17 GMT
> From:          x.xxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xx.xx (Malcolm & Helen Brown (York UK))
  
 
> The point about playing endless rolls which bear little relation to the
> music is well made. One thing that would help the drumming to
> 
> On endless rolls however, please remember we drummers can only play two
> fundamental sounds; the tap and the buzz, and just playing on the beat will
> send not only the drummer, but also the dancers to sleep! Would you really
> like to dance to the tick of a metronome? IMHO a crescendo roll for a few
> bars just before a tune change can be most effective.
> 
> Duncan 
Hi, Duncan
Is Dad letting you play with his toys?
He's getting very trusting!

On the drumming, I'm not technically equipped to make any suggestions 
as to how or what drummers can contribute but many of them do 
enhance a band and give a solid rythm, which I understand, and can 
hear, is a main function of the rythm section. (I'm quite bright on 
my day!)  
The main quibble is that instead of being a backing and support, 
sometimes on tapes and live, bands allow the drums to overpower the 
tune, especially strathspeys.
Many Strathspeys are so beautiful and well played that they can 
dispense with the drums altogether (heresy?) and allow the dancers to 
float on the melody.
See you at StA? All the best Duncan, nice to hear from you.
Cheers,  Ron   :)

 < 0   Ron Mackey, 
  'O>  Mottingham, 
  /#\  London. UK.
   l>