What is 'SOUL'....?

[Walker]

I'm a great exponent of the delete button.* Sometimes I think I've deleted more than I've written. But there's something very soulful about the delete function. A chance to reshape ones words with greater precision and, with luck, reduce clumsy or hackneyed thoughts. I am rather good at those...

Still, you got to love the North Americans. Friendly, polite, articulate and steadfast in their ways.

Yes @losthobos, we are an ancient isle of musicians and poets inspired by life and lore, of battles won and lost, all washed down with a small dash of eccentricity.

*note: I will likely delete this post before the day is out.

 

[Tom]

I like the distinction between "soul" and "Soul." I think of "soul" as identified with expressing deep contemplative emotion, and as experiencing it.

Of course it's personal, like color. Red, for me, (the experience of light waves at 730 terraherz, let's say) is a lot different than for someone "color challenged." Same with "soul." A rapper, with music I would not consider "soul" at all, might be considered "soulful" due to the quality of the images or feelings evoked by the words spoken. It's complicated.

 

[JeffJetton]

What has also greatly amused me is that the island dwellers here have dived straight into the profound/metaphysical interpretations whilst our brothers across the pond have remained totally literal and factual in their responses...

I wonder how much of that is differences in culture/philosophy, and how much is just linguistics?

"Soul", like Jazz, Bluegrass, and high-speed pizza delivery, is a quintessentially American art form. So when the words "soul" and "music" come up, the idea of "Soul music" is going to be the first thing that pops into the head of most of us Yanks. It's not that we can't dive into the deeper aspects of the abstract concept of "soul" in music, it's just that the music category is the primary meaning over here.

I suppose if I started off a conversation about biscuits, and how much I like to put butter and honey on them and eat them with my eggs for breakfast, I'd cause just as much confusion the other way.

 

[saundersbp]

What has also greatly amused me is that the island dwellers here have dived straight into the profound/metaphysical interpretations whilst our brothers across the pond have remained totally literal and factual in their responses...

As an island dweller I'll stick to the safe transcendental ground then; you can't beat this for soul for Thursday of this week.

 

[lmschgo]

I suppose if I started off a conversation about biscuits, and how much I like to put butter and honey on them and eat them with my eggs for breakfast, I'd cause just as much confusion the other way

Covered with sausage gravy, another way to enjoy American biscuits for breakfast.

 

[hais1273]

What an interesting thread. Soul music as in American and maybe Marvin Gaye dosen't really do it for me, my wife regards me as a philistine. But the above choral music is stunning. We saw The Sixteen at Chichester Cathedral several years ago, the music was by Pallastrina, Tallis, Byrd and their contemporaries as you would expect the songs, motets maybe, were beautifully sung, but I remember that at the end of one the last note hung like a jewel in the air, a trick of the buildings acoustics no doubt. I can only guess at how Walker's peasant would have felt.

I guess soul in music is a deeply personal personal, I've had emotional musical moments listening to Status Quo, dancing a Hanter dro to perfect, perfect accomapniement and while watching Tina May singing Milord.

Biscuits and sausage gravy, hmm, I think I'm with the young man in the top right!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Prs_VByO4xU

 

[losthobos]

So another thing we've learned from this thread... breakfast is "Soul Food" ....

 

[Walker]

I've been reading through a lot of historic music from the British Isles recently and it's becoming a firm favourite for me. So rather than looking up to today's accordion 'stars' to be inspired, I'm more and more looking to the 'ground' (in more than one sense) to find inspiration. There have been so many magnificent composers on these islands, across the centuries, many of whom have been forgotten about by the general population. However, I have discovered that when we look beyond the accordion's cul-de-sac (to borrow a phrase from @saundersbp ) and silence (for a while) what is transmitted to us across the mainstream 'airwaves', I discover that there are many treasures that lie, preserved in the pages, long after those great writers 'shuffle off this mortal coil'.

And so, inevitably, with a little time, one composer leads to another, and another... I recently discovered the 'ground', a baroque style characterised by a perpetually moving, circular bass line known as 'ground bass' that forms a foundation for harmonies written above - sometimes with a little syncopation, and often a stunning variety of 'ornaments'. I'm about to start working on this piece next, called 'Ground' in C minor by the composer William Croft - and if this music isn't 'transcendent', then I don't know what is.



You know, I once wrote in a discussion here with another member, my friend Saundersbp, that I couldn't care less about historic musical instruments (like the harpsichord or spinet etc). I've since come to realise that I was totally wrong about that (I'm quite good at getting stuff wrong). These instruments and composers that wrote for them, gift us with some of the most extraordinary music ever written, and I'm very grateful for that.​

 

[saundersbp]

I'm about to start working on this piece next, called 'Ground' in C minor by the composer William Croft - and if this music isn't 'transcendent', then I don't know what is.

Whether its by Purcell or Croft, it's a lovely piece and as the LH just repeats all the way through it should help learning.

I might have a go too but it will be many months before I can get it to sound like this!

 

[Tom]

Very cool music guys!

 

[Walker]

Whether its by Purcell or Croft, it's a lovely piece and as the LH just repeats all the way through it should help learning.

I might have a go too but it will be many months before I can get it to sound like this!

Thanks for sharing Vlatko's version of the piece - it's excellent on accordion.

Another equally good tune is the work 'A New Ground' (this one was definitely written by Purcell) - it's a really nice tune to work on and a shorter piece, so quick to get through. I'm even beginning to make sense of the ornamentation of the day, like the 'shake', 'beat' and 'plain note and shake'.​

 

[saundersbp]

t's a really nice tune to work on and a shorter piece, so quick to get through. I'm even beginning to make sense of the ornamentation of the day, like the 'shake', 'beat' and 'plain note and shake'.

I have to say its the fastest piece I've ever learnt - something simple but rewarding makes for the best music sometimes. In case anyone else wants to learn it on God's own accordion system with fingering......

 

[Walker]

Thanks for sharing the music! It's simply a brilliant piece. I'm pleased to see you credit William Croft with it... I've got to say, this Ground is so good, it would give even the great Purcell a run for his money!

 

[John M]

Thanks for the sheet music. I know you've told us before, but I forgot what the red notes signify.

 

[saundersbp]

what the red notes signify.

Red notes are the repeater rows. I don't like the circle notation for fingering so came up with my own!

 

[John M]

Red notes are the repeater rows. I don't like the circle notation for fingering so came up with my own!

Thanks!

 

[Walker]

something simple but rewarding makes for the best music sometimes.

I couldn't agree more! And you sure know how to pick them too...

Over on the link below is another piece that is simple, logical and beautiful... perfect for free bass accordion.

Schumann puts the sole into music...

Post in thread 'Let's hear it from the PA!🙂👍'

Apr 19, 2022

That's the thing, it's like a piano, those keys - elegant, antique, universal. For me, 41 piano keys, were just right - both moderate and versatile. With a style echoing the ages and a connection to a greater world of keyboard instruments, past and present.

How nice to find oneself lost in eventide reverie. These all but ethereal musings put me in mind of Schumann's Scenes from Childhood 'Kinderszenen'. The first one is 'Of Foreign Lands and Peoples' (Von fremden Ländern und Menschen). I learnt this as a boy on the piano and it feels equally natural in my...

• saundersbp

• 

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[saundersbp]

I'm about to start working on this piece next, called 'Ground' in C minor by the composer William Croft - and if this music isn't 'transcendent', then I don't know what is.

Well here is my first attempt - hence deathly face of concentration. I can just about get from one end to the other after a couple of days practicing - hope to nail it by the spring and make a proper video.............
Please don't suggest any other pieces because your suggestions are so good and I always feel compelled to start learning them!

 

[Tom]

Wow, that looks tough, good work!

 

[Walker]

Well here is my first attempt - hence deathly face of concentration. I can just about get from one end to the other after a couple of days practicing - hope to nail it by the spring and make a proper video.............
Please don't suggest any other pieces because your suggestions are so good and I always feel compelled to start learning them!

Congratulations Ben - that sounds superb! Better still, I feel this piece is going to grow, more and more, with every hour spent tending it. It's part of a baroque heritage that seems, to me, to be something particular to this place, these islands. The music is hardy and vigorous, like the ivy that traverses the gable of a great house. I've got to say, even though I'm a Scandalli fan, your Bugari sounds not half bad. Very good even!

I've got some collections of keyboard works of Blow, Clarke, Purcell and others, but I'll not suggest any pieces!

With a bit of luck, I'm hoping Croft's Ground in C minor becomes the new Toccata & Fugue in D minor, because I'm weary of that old chestnut being trotted out night and day. Time to break new Ground!​