Description
Welcome to the fascinating world of drone music, which is given a modern twist with “100 new melodies”. This collection brings a breath of fresh air to the folk music scene by presenting exclusively new compositions for hurdy-gurdy and bagpipes for the first time. Immerse yourself in a musical adventure that masterfully combines tradition and innovation.
Authentic sounds with deep roots
The pieces collected in this volume impress with their authenticity and strong connection to the Western European folk music tradition. Experience how the great popularity of drone instruments has inspired musicians to create compositions that are both worth listening to and playing.
Diversity and creativity
Some of the melodies in this collection come with a second voice or bass accompaniment, while with others the (G) key to success lies in your own creativity. All pieces are presented in their original key, but offer enough space for individual adaptations and interpretations.
The genesis: An appeal to the musician community
Find out how this unique collection came about: “Goe Vollek”, the magazine of the Flanders Folk Music Guild, called on musicians to send in melodies they had composed themselves. Herman Dewitt selected 100 pieces from the many submissions, which were prepared for printing by Wilfrid Moonen. This project is proof of the lively and creative community that still characterizes folk music today.
A toolbox of diversity
While the melodies are particularly suitable for drone instruments such as the bagpipes, hurdy-gurdy and the cimbalom, they can also be easily played on the harmonica, violin, flute, organ, guitar and many other instruments. This versatility makes the collection a valuable treasure for musicians of all styles.
Foreword
When we put out an appeal to our musicians in GoeVollek, the magazine of the Folk Music Guild, to send us new melodies of their own composition, nobody expected the harvest of sheet music to be so plentiful. Now these wise men are before you, all together! At folk music gatherings and other pleasant musical gatherings, the most appreciated pieces will certainly stand out by themselves. Instead of making a subjective choice, we hand over the agony of choice to “natural selection”.
Most of the music published here sounds very authentic and the connection to the Western European folk tradition is clearly recognizable. Many of them can be played well on bourdon instruments (bagpipes, hurdy-gurdy, log-board), but they are also suitable for harmonica, violin, flute, organ, guitar, etc.
Some melodies were even provided with a second voice or bass accompaniment by the composer. For everyone else, the key to success lies in their own creativity. In contrast to the previous edition, this time we have reproduced all the compositions in their original keys. You can of course use other keys that suit you better or are better suited to your instrument.
The fact that a number of these pithy, sometimes touching tunes will become part of the spontaneous repertoire of many of us will perhaps encourage you even more to be “immortalized” in this way. That’s why we’re making another appeal at this point: Have you written any of these pieces of music yourself, scribbled them down somewhere or do you still have them stored in your head? Whatever the case may be, don’t hesitate to send them immediately – written down or played on tape – to the address below.
There is therefore the possibility of a new edition appearing around 1997 or 98.
In the meantime, we wish you lots of musical fun with this collection.
Author:in
Herman Dewit
Herman Dewit is a Belgian author and musician who is best known for his work in the field of traditional music and instrument making. He collaborated with Jack Botermans and Hans Goddefroy on the publication “Making and Playing Musical Instruments”, a comprehensive work on the making and playing of musical instruments. This book, published in 1990 by the University of Washington Press, is considered an important resource for musicians and instrument makers interested in traditional musical instruments and their manufacture.
Dewit’s contribution to this field reflects his deep commitment to the preservation and promotion of traditional music and craftsmanship. His expertise and passion for musical instruments, especially in the context of self-building and musical education, make his work valuable resources for anyone interested in the practical application and understanding of musical traditions.
