Tarantella of November

[Tom]

Anyanka, would it be too bold of me to propose the tarantella? There are a number of us wannabe Italians on here (and even one or two actual) that might post, I promise I would. And I would volunteer to moderate it for you. Plus I anticipate we might want to do Christmas tunes for December. What do you think?

 

[Anyanka]

Thank you for the suggestion! Please post the music and moderate away

 

[Tom]

Ok, thanks Anyanka. So, here is our chance to try the famous tarantella for tune of the month. If you like this sort of thing I hope you will consider posting a video, soundfile or link. If you dont like this sort of thing then I hope you will host tune of the month another time.

I have not made a tarantella video yet but I will before the month is over. For now I want to give you some resources for this fascinating dance music. There are, at last count, 47 different types of tarantellas . I will discuss two and let others provide additional resources.

Number one I broadly characterize as the Napoletana, Godfather or Wedding Tarantella, generally suited for piano accordion because accompanied by minor chords.

Here is a virtuoso rendition:



Here is an intersting how to video where it is a traditional gypsy tune:



Here is my favorite Napoletana tarantella sheet music:


http://www.wongawillicolonialdance.org.au/webfiles/fck/zumpaitaliantunebooksample.pdf

The other type is the traditional dance music played on the organetto or Italian button accordion (melodeon). In my broad characterization this includes the Calabrese, Abbruzzese, Lucana, etc.

Heres my favorite classic rendition:



And here is a modern one showing the traditional dance:



Here is some sheet music from organetto.net where you will also find many other simplified versions of various tarantellas:

http://www.organetto.net/index.php?...ownload&id=338:tarantella-calabrese&Itemid=69

And finally, here is a demonstration of the above:



Notice that it is really a collection of related phrases, repeated. Its up to you to find your own way to make and string together these phrases, or riffs.

Ok, thats a very simplified overview leaving out tons of stuff that I hope others will contribute to. But mainly I hope you find this interesting and will take the time to play one or two tarantellas and post if you so choose.

Thank you, Tom

 

[smdc66]

http://www.wongawillicolonialdance.org.au/webfiles/fck/zumpaitaliantunebooksample.pdf

oh no its that dreaded 6/8 time sig again :shock:

 

[Matt Butcher]

Wicked, vv Calabria.

I think Tom sums it up nicely and though I am obsessed with this stuff (I may have mentioned that, did I mention that) it hopefully could be fun for any player.

The Neapolitan ones might suit anyone who dislikes major keys (I am not one of these people).

There are out and out pop tarantellas too so feel free to whack on the drum machine and get the party started.

 

[Tom]

oh no its that dreaded 6/8 time sig again :shock:

Dont worry too much about that, Smdc, once you start following the music the rhythm will come right to you. You basically have two choices. The bass rhythm is bass, chord; bass, chord throughout. If you are going at a relaxed pace you can do 2 sets per measure. Bass on the quarter note, chord on the eighth note, bass on the first note of the triplet, chord on the third note of the triplet. (Measure three). If you are going super fast you can play bass on the quarter note, chord on the first note of the triplet. Hope that helps.

 

[smdc66]

http://www.organetto.net/index.php?opti ... &Itemid=69


wont open for me by clicking on this link

correction will now if i click on ths link that i have copied in this post :!: :?: :!:

looks like you have to complete some sort of registration though to view music

 

[Sarah]

smdc66 please try post your link without http://tinyurl.com/ )

 

[Tom]

Yes, the links at organetto.net are somewhat buried. If you go to the home page:

http://www.organetto.net

Tarantella Calabrese in pdf is now on the right side about half way down. I hesitate to copy and past someone elses file. Organetto.net is a wealth of information if you take a little time to figurs it out.

 

[jarvo]

Yes, the links at organetto.net are somewhat buried. If you go to the home page:

http://www.organetto.net

Tarantella Calabrese in pdf is now on the right side about half way down. I hesitate to copy and past someone elses file. Organetto.net is a wealth of information if you take a little time to figurs it out.

eh scusi ? en Italiano !?.....and that is the extent of mine ...despite watching Inspector Montalbano.... :b :ch

 

[Tom]

Si Catarella. Even though the webpage and books are in Italian, its pretty easy to figure out how to download what you want. And the sheet music is in English, Salvo.

Go here for all the sheet music (spartiti):

http://www.organetto.net/index.php?option=com_rokdownloads&view=folder&Itemid=69

And here for the introduction to Italian Organetto playing:

http://www.organetto.net/index.php?...le&Itemid=66&id=5:organetto-superfacile-vol-1

And here for a diagram of the notes on the organetto, to compare with your button box, melodeon, CBA or piano:

http://www.organetto.net/index.php?option=com_rokdownloads&view=folder&Itemid=70

In boca al lupo.......

 

[jarvo]

Cool site and thanks for the pointers...but why does it make me hungry ?

 

[smdc66]

:ugeek:

my thoughts recently have been questioning what makes a tarantella a tarantella

my thoughts have answered in layman's terms a treble melody played quickly, with an upbeat tempo

my bass inexperience probably lets me down to comment much on bass

my limited theoretical knowlege tells me there is 3 beats to the bar

is that it ?

2 reasons for asking

1) would like to understand this genre more
2) one may like to compose their own tune (eg me, tho may need more time - i've been working on a melody but in waltz time but may transpose to tarantella time - i emphasize may as may sound rubbish (if so maybe could just post treble melody IF allowed))

:ugeek:

 

[Matt Butcher]

It is a 6/8 rhythm, 2 groups of 3 notes to the bar rather than 3 groups of 2 notes, if you say birmingham birmingham that gives the rhythmic feel, rather than london london london. Same number of notes and everything, just the emphasis is in a different place. birmingham birmingham.

On the basses Tom has summarised it quite well, long short long short is standard for the rhythm.

Other than that.... I don't know if there are rules. When people talk about it, they usually talk about places and styles, not so much musical rules. The different regional styles etc that Tom and Flavio have referred to can be quite a lot different from one another. Old recordings sound different from modern ones. Some of the old bagpipe recordings are just a short rhythmic pattern played over and over. Some tarantellas have clear repeating sections like a "normal" song or folk tune, some are one lick after another strung together to take you on a journey.... Usually it works in groups of 8 bars but that gets broken up at times. A lot are in major keys with no key changes but you get others that go from major to minor and back (like the one in the godfather).

You did one a while back which I thought fitted the bill very well - I thought it was good - but I wasn't sure how all of the rhythms fitted in at the time. (It may well have worked rhythmically and I just didn't get it at the time. My previous comment about whacking on a drum machine / keyboard rhythm in some kind of 6/8 rhythm (shuffle?) and playing along was not purely a joke, it is dance music after all.)

I don't know much at all, I just picked up some ideas from listening to recordings / YouTube, but one thing is it does seem to be a fun kind of music - the players obviously take it seriously, but it's music for dancing and enjoyment. I haven't had any rude comments yet about the rubbish I've posted on YouTube.

Some of the sheet music Tom has linked to is quite simple and possibly a good way in for readers.

 

[jarvo]

It may be that the Italians are so laid back that they 're not hide bound with festering rules and hang ups about how something "Should " be played.....

Instead they may apply the JFDI principle...or whatever that would translate to in Italiano.....and to be honest the speed at which these things seem to be played must involve some interesting accidents, overshoots and improvisations .....of a musical nature I hasten to add.....


Just a thought .........BTW Where can I hear a version of Tarrentella Scicilliano ?

On that funky Italian site ?

CJ

 

[Matt Butcher]

[Reposted lower down the thread with a link that works]

 

[jarvo]

Post early, post often, thats my motto.

Heres one: http://www.youtube.com/edit?video_id=carl4Tkfbps&video_referrer=watch&ns=1
Meant to be in a Calabrian style with licks from Salvatore Tripodi, Giovanni Mordini, Traditional and me fumbling around.
Now I know if I took my box to Gioia Tauro and played in a sloppy way like that they would not be impressed, and Im a bit worried that Mr Montesano might log on again.
But following Jarvos advice, here it is to get the ball rolling.
I should say that the video has the added feature of making me look like a total fool as I have my gob open. But its all good clean fun.

Ummm Matt, thanks for the plug and its made me look a fool cos I had my gob open as well....but I think that you may just have made a teensy little
mistakette with link ? :lol: :b :ch

 

[Tom]

Hey Matt, I think you might have a bad link there, seems to think Im trying to log in.....

Ok, heres an analogy that may or may not apply. Think of the term waltz. Well, its pretty hard to describe what a waltz is beyond the fact that it generally is in 3/4 time. But you know it when you hear it or when you see people dancing to it. I think in a certain sense that applies to the southern (not Napoletana) type. And I agree its generally played fast, but its kind of like some other types of folk music Ive seen where the older guys (and gals) get beyond that and just seem to be really enjoying the tunes played chilled and relaxed. For example, check this guy playing the Calabrese Tarantella....

 

[bocsa]

Tarantella Calabrese, Antonio Serra...... Anyone know which key it's played in ...and the keys of the two rows Please?

 

[Matt Butcher]

Post early, post often, thats my motto.

Heres one:
Meant to be in a Calabrian style with licks from Salvatore Tripodi, Giovanni Mordini, Traditional and me fumbling around.
Now I know if I took my box to Gioia Tauro and played in a sloppy way like that they would not be impressed, and Im a bit worried that Mr Montesano might log on again.
But following Jarvos advice, here it is to get the ball rolling.
I should say that the video has the added feature of making me look like a total fool as I have my gob open. But its all good clean fun.