I haven't covered much medievial music on my blog. Mostly I'm into celtic music. This man captured my attention because I like his rhythmical style of playing. He tunes his bouzouki in ADAD, which I think most players of medievial music do.
Hej, Sokoły! (AKA Na zielonej Ukrainie)
Slavic folk song
Originally music by Maciej Kamieński
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Drink Up, There's More!
Game: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (CD Project RED, 2015)
Originally music by Marcin Przybyłowicz, Mikołaj Stroiński and Percival
Lindsay has started her patreon page a few weeks ago. Now she released her first video on that platform. Her beautiful version of the well known song Wild Mountain Thyme. A lovely accompaniment with nice minor chords. On her patreon site you can download an audio version and a chordsheet. She also made a tab as far as I know. But you have to be a paid member. As far as I know this is her first content of bouzouki playing. Hope there will be lots more in the near future. But she also is a fantastic guitar player, so you might check her albums.
This video is 8 years old, but I just found it on youtube. Box and Greek Bouzouki at their finest. 19 minutes pure joy. If you know the names of the tunes please comment!
Three possibilities to fret the chords C,F, G. This might be useful if you have the capo on 2nd fret and the next tune is in D. It's always good to know chord shapes which are placed together near, so they are easy to fret. It also sounds better if the accompaniment does not contain such large leaps in pitch.
The other chords you might need are Am and Dm which are:
Another tune I tabbed some time ago and just found on my harddisk. Alan Murray is one of the bouzouki players that inspires me a lot. I really enjoy his accompaniments. I can't remember where I found the abc to the tune, it seems it's not on thesession. The video is part of Colin Farrell's Tune a Day 2022 and it's Day 308
Currently there are 3 handmade bouzoukis for sale on the German market. I don't know the luthiers who built them. If you know anything about them please comment.
Another Tab I found on my harddisk. I tried to tab the intro to the Song Sir Patrick Spence released on his album "It's cold by the door" released in 2021. I think he plays it on a greek bouzouki.
This is a list of the most viewed posts in Jan 24. If you have missed one... It seems that most visitors just look for the latest posts and don't click on the links on the right. Might be a mistake (?) There are lots of things to discover if you have the time to browse through the older ones.
Just found an old tab on my harddisk. Unfortunately I can't find a video or audio on the internet of the recording from Nuadan. So I had to upload it by myself. I uploaded it as unlisted, hope that's ok and Nuadan don't mind. This is from the first album by the band. It's not on spotify, apple music or bandcamp, so it might be difficult to get it, but it is definitely worth it.
I always loved the Toormore Slide. Now I tried to collect some chord possibilities and I found a lot of them. Some are obvious, some might sound a bit strange. If you want try them and tell me which are your favourites.
Lindsay is a folk singer, guitar and bouzouki player based in Boston. She has released two solo albums and one album with The Ivy Leaf. Here's a video of her singing the trad song Lurgy Stream.
When [G]to this [C]coun[G]try [C]I first [G]came, my [F]mind from [C]love being [G]free ‘Til the [C]beauty of a [G]female [D]fair it [C]so en[F]ticed [G]me Her [C]cheeks were like the [G]roses [D]red her [C]breath it [F]smelled per[G]fumed Her [G]golden [C]hair [G]waved [C]in the air, most [C]comely [F]to be [G]seen.
It being a Monday evening, my love I chanced to meet
I took her in my arms and gave her kisses sweet
I asked her if she would marry me or single would remain
And if she’d cross over the seas with me and leave sweet Lurgy Stream.
If I would cross over the seas with you, I might be much to blame
If I’d cross over the seas with you, and leave sweet Lurgy Stream
Young men are false and general, perhaps you are the same
You might leave me there to rue the day I left sweet Lurgy Stream.
Oh, that the sun it may withdraw, no more to show us light
And that the moon it may refrain, no more to rule the night
That the twinkling stars they may fall down and never more be seen
The day or the hour that I’d prove false when far from Lurgy Stream.
Farewell to Letterkenny, it’s a place of sport and fame
Likewise to Kilmacrennan that stands near Lurgy Stream
Farewell awhile to sweet Errigal, likewise to Swilly shore
Where I spent many’s a happy day, will I ever see you more?
By the way, here's another video of Lindsay playing "The bonny light horseman"
A reader of my blog, Robert Johnson, wrote to me that he was inspired by my arrangement of the Beautiful Goldfinch. When researching the net he found the version with Josh Dukes on bouzouki on youtube. He sent me a self written tab of his arrangement. Unfortunately I did not understand what he wrote down and he told he didn't understand either ;-). So kindly he sent me a recording of him playing to the video and I tried to tab this. So first here is his handwritten tab.
Here's the video on youtube:
This is what my tab looks like. First line accompaniment, second line melody from thesession. If you want the whole tab please write to me or comment. (Click on the right side on "about me" and you'll find a contact link.)
There's a new course on OAIM: Bouzouki Skills. Tutor Alan Reid teaches a lot of right hand techniqes. Yesterday I subscibed again and in the next weeks I'm going to watch the movies. Seems to be very interesting.
So if you are looking for some new input have a look at the free video introduction and subscribe to watch the course in total. You'll also have access to all the other courses as well, so come on, why don't you do it?
These are the most watched post in the last month. Have a look an be inspired. Maybe look at the keywords on the right side to find more interesting posts. And keep commenting!
Someone named Cruel Folk compares a Fylde and a Sobell bouzouki. Can't tell what my favourite is. I only once played on a Sobell. I'd really like a comparism of these two with my Foley. Or better not, cause I love my Foley.
A few days ago Daoiri Farrell posted a new video of him singing Blackwater Side, also known as "The Bonny Irish Maid". This is a lovely video in a fantastic landscape. Unfortunately I couldn't find exactly the words he sings.
Now I tried to tab the intro and first verse of the song. If you want it in printable form please write an email and comment here.
As I roved out one morning fair, so early I strayed, It being all in the month of June the birds sang in the shade. The sun shone down right merrily and billowing with pride Where primroses and daisies grow down the Blackwater-side.
I had no gone but half a mile when there by chance I spied Two lovers talking as they walked down by the Blackwater-side. And as he held her in his arms these words to her did say: 'When I am in Amerikay I'll be true to my Irish maid.'
'This when you are in Amerikay those Yankee girls you'll find, And you'll have sweethearts all your own more pleasing to your mind. Do not forget the promises and the vows to me you made, Oh stay at home, love, and do not roam from your bonny Irish maid.'
'This when I'm in Amerikay those Yankee girl I'll see But they have to be very handsome to remind my love of thee, There's not a bloom in yonder grove nor a leaf in cry My love's gone to Amerikay and quite forsaken me.
I went on the church last Sunday, my love he passed me by, I knew his mind was changing by the roving of his eye. I knew his mind was altering to a girl of high degree, Oh Willie lovely Willie, your love has wounded me
Last night I lay in my bed, so sick and sad was I, I called all for a napkin around my head to tie. Was he as much in love as I, then perhaps I'd mend again, O love it is a killing thing, did you ever feel the pain?
I wish I was a butterfly, I'd fly to my love's nest, I wish I was a linnet, I would sing my love to rest. And I wish I was a nightingale, I would sing my song so clear, I would sing it all for you, false love, whom once I loved so dear.
I'm a big fan of Alan Murray's bouzouki playing. Here's a full concert of him and the Fiddler Andrew Finn Magill. Wonderful playing here. Check out their CD at bandcamp
Now he posted a video where he practices some songs. Well, practice? It sounds fantastic to me. Have a look:
00:00 Mary and the Soldier
02:57 My Paddle / Land of Silver Birch / En Fork i Sin...
06:10 Welcome Poor Paddy Home
09:08 Nu Är Det Synd Om Det Döda
11:14 Om Du Ville Människa Heta
Just found this video of Donal Lunny and Mary Custy playing two Jigs. Unfortunately they don't remember the name of the first tune. The second one is Bucks of Oranmore. I like the intro Donal plays, so I tried to tab it.
Eamon Coughlan posted a video how to accompany a reel in D. As example he uses the Merry Blacksmith. First you can learn the melody, he implemented a tab for the tune.
And if you're looking for chords like most of the people that visit my blog (is this really so important for you guys?) look here. Chords or here Chord Charts
What a wonderful version of the old Planxty classic. On vocals is Salla Rimmi. They are from Finland and play in a band called Greenrose Faire. You can find them on bandcamp:
Here are some bouzouki tutorials in Russian by Роман Стансков. Maybe it helps if you turn on translation. But tbh the translation into German is really shit.
Just found some bouzouki lessons on youtube by Роман Стансков. First you see him play, afterwards he plays the tunes slowly and you can see the tab. Some of the tunes sound somewhat medieval.
In this video Fernando shows several possibilities to accompany the Reel Tam Lin. It's all about the right hand. Very interesting video! He starts with accents in different places and moves on to things like dampening and arpeggio.
By the way, check out his album on spotify and his channel on youtube.
Following the passing of our great friend John Dwyer this past August, this concert will celebrate the man and his music. The entire concert will feature tunes from the repertoire of John himself and will be performed by a selection of musicians who are based in the South East.
Jimmy O’Brien Moran - MC. Macdara, Pax agus Cárthach Ó Faoláin (bouzouki, fiddle, accordion) Caoimhín & Seán Ó Fearghail agus Paddy Tutty (Flute, uilleann pipes, fiddle, bouzouki) Edel Fox & Neill Byrne with Lia Byrne (concertina & fiddles).
So there's lots of fantastic bouzouki playing in this video!
And here he is together with Robbie Marion on guitar, fiddle and Mandola. Kingsfield Courtiers Session #2 - "The Millstream/The Pearl Wedding (Reels) | The Jolly Beggarman"
