Dear Ralph, >I'm delighted to learn of your interest in both the hummer and our 10th >century music. >You may also be pleased to note that this will entail no mention of an HT >since we are working with only one diatonic scale. > A most reasonable solution. Particularly simplifies tuning. >The hummer played in only one key: F#! This was largely due to our >natural bent for perversion. You must also realize that this period >preceeded the Christian era in Ireland and that we were practicing >Druids. You are probably already aware that Druidism was a religion quite >similar to the Native American religions . That is, it was based on >nature and overseen by mother earth. Thus, we borrowed only sounds from >nature to arrive at our music Well understood. I have both Celtic and Native American blood. > >The bagpipe drone, punctuating the on beat by being played just slightly >in advance of the on beat represented the deep moan of a cow in heat ( or >season as we say). >The bodhran represented the rather solid sound of a skull being hit with >a foreign object during a mild disagreement. > Now, this all sounds like a story made up over a couple of pints, you know. >The music produced by the upper levers or keys very nearly approximated >the sounds heard on the next morning after imbibing in too much whiskey. >The music form was the original jig played in a minor mode as a form of >atonement for the previous evening's hell-raising. > >I hope I have painted an adequate mental picture of my fine, genteel, >peace-loving > ancestors and the profound thoughts that created the work of excellence >called the Hummer. > >Some mornings I feel like a throw-back and can actually hear these jigs >reverberating in my mind and I begin to hum them. I am, however, >extremely displeased when some neighbors, oblivious to the fineries in >life, call the police. They obviously have no cultural bent. > None whatsoever, no appreciation of the historic nature of the tunes, or the spirit(s) and joy and sorrow of life within it. Thanks, thanks, thanks Ralph. Anne Anne Beetem Harpsichords & Historic Pianos 2070 Bingham Ct. Reston, VA 20191 abeetem@wizard.net
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