The Wizard’s Walk reel

Here you go, Alastair.
This is out of the "Portland Book", a collection put together by some Stumptown contra folk. Hope I got it all in there right, it’s a tricky one.
As someone said, it’s by Jay Ungar.

There’s a "C" field in ABC where you can put the composer. It’s too good a tune to let it’s creator lose credit for it.

What’s far more personal than any field in the ABC notation, is to give the credit here in the comments section.

That’s what Jon has done. The creator has in no way "lost credit for it".

I have made a similar suggestion before about the composer and I respect Jeremy’s right to not include this field in the abc of the tune. But please make sure you (everyone) tries hard to include this in the comments so that credit may be given where due. I would be interested to know if anyone knows any other tunes by Jay Ungar - apart from Ashokan’s Farewell.
Cheers
Donough

Among other things, Jay Ungar has The Wizard’s Walk under copyright protection, and so you shouldn’t record it without negotiating royalties with him. So keeping his name connected with the tune is a good idea. (Mechanical licenses are at http://www.jayandmolly.com/mechlicreq.shtml)

Jay Ungar is a prolific writer and recording artist — he started writing his own tunes around age ten or so. You can find his sheet music and recordings at http://www.jayandmolly.com. Besides Far Away and Ashokan Farewell (Ashokan is the name of the place where Jay and Molly hold their music camp), I don’t believe that I play any of his other tunes personally (Ungar is an old-time fiddler, mainly), but it’s hard to tell as he’s written so many tunes, I’m sure credit’s been lost on some of them.

Zina

Jay Ungar also has a video tutor on playing waltzes, airs and "haunting melodies" at Homespun, http://www.homespuntapes.com/prodpg/prodpg.asp?prodID=472&prodType=

We played a few Ungar tunes in the Portland mandolin orchestra. If I remember right, he had one called the Lovers’ Waltz that was pretty nice. I’ll try to dig it up.

Is this a reel???

Yep, its a reel. Its most fun played at a lighting fast speed…Until your brain fries.

The waltz, "Far Away", was written by Peter Jung (a member of Jay Ungar’s Fiddle Fever group in the ‘80’s). I believe "The Lover’s Waltz" was written by Jay’s partner, Molly Mason.

This tune is minging.

This tune, Dow, is ROCKing!

Sounds more like some kind of classical piece or foreign tune than an Irish reel. Would be interesting to see the response should I start it in a session…but I’m not going to be the one to find that out.

Have to agree with Dow, definitely minging…….Sounds like Vivaldi with a hangover.

The nature of the beast? ( ‘contra dancing’ ~ etc… )

It’s in no way minging if you’re enthusiastic about it and play like you mean it - although a bit of classical training certainly helps you with the tricky final section. Irish trad it ain’t, but that shouldn’t rule it out…right?

Well, to be honest, I think it is minging too! I would have to hear it played properly - the midi file does not count - but I am not going to rush out to do this because I feel it will just confirm my opinion of its undoubted mingingness.

BTW I hate Ashokan Farewell too!

You’re all just bitter cos you can’t play it

It’s easy enough. Like arpeggio practice. But why would you bother?

The composer of this tune is innocent. But any ignorant participant in sessions who tries to play this tune should be persecuted.

‘Tis a great tune- it’s those who dis it who should be persecuted! :-p

Terrible reel, if that’s what it’s meant to be.

Sounds like an Yngwie Malmsteen frivolity

Closest thing to classical I’ve ever played … hehe
Great but strange tune. Crowds LOVE it; it’s pretty impressive when you play it well (and fast.)

i LOVE this tune!!! it may not sound irish (isit irish?!?) but it still ROCKS!!! go WIZARDS WALK!!!

X: 1
T: The Wizard’s Hop?
M: 3/2
L: 1/8
R: three-two
K: Emin
e2 dc dcBA BAGF | G2 A2 F2 G2 E2 B2 | e3 f gfaf gfef | g2 a2 f2 g2 e4 | a2 gf edcB cBAB | c2 d2 B2 c2 A2 E2 | A3 B cBdB cBAB | c2 d2 B2 c2 A4 | BBfB BfBB fBBf | gccg ccgc acgc | BBfB BfBB fBBf | gccg ccgc acgc | f2 BB B2 f2 g2 e2 | f2 BB B2 f2 g2 e2 | [fB]B^cc ^ddee ffgg | aaff ggaa b4 ||: eg b2 bgeg b2 ge | ^df b2 bfdf b2 f2 | df a2 afdf a2 fd | ^ce a2 aece aecA | ce g2 geaf gece | Be g2 geaf geBe | _Be g2 geaf geBe | B2 e2 g2 e2 fe ^d2 :||

Happy birthday Dow!! (I’ve got a 1/365 chance of being right, you never know…)
I thought you might enjoy it.
I wonder how it would sound in 9/4?? But I think that’s for you to try. I look forward to hearing it!

Joe

wat does dat coda ting mean at the end??!

I can’t belive that the die-hard traditionalists didn’t fry you for putting up this tune. It’s a great tune, but a very var leap from traditional.

I love this piece! Does anyone know any good pieces to go in a set with it?

"I love this piece! Does anyone know any good pieces to go in a set with it?"

How about Tamlin, Music for a Found Harmonium, and Farewell to Cherynobl?

(Sorry, couldn’t resist)

Funny, that last quip from fiddlercjp!
I’ve just been introduced to this piece, unfortunately. 🙁 I watched/listened to several YT renditions. My immediate thoughts were, "Oh gawd, it’s the same sort of thing as Tam Lin - an awfully obvious chord progression unsuccesfully in search of a tune." I can quite see that certain types of fiddler would enjoy the technicalities and that, as with Tam Lin, certain types of audience could go wild for it, well presented. The bariolage is impressive. Yes, I know there are many very simple tunes based on boring chord progressions, a lot of which really well work as *tunes*, but this ain’t one of ‘em. Regardless of genre or tradition, as a "tune" this is a total bypass.