Duo Flying Solo
We're playing the Medway dance this saturday.
This will be our first time at the Medway dance. Thanks to Rob Rudin for hooking us up with the organizers of that dance.
We had a solid rehearsal sunday putting together some arrangements for this gig. Dusted off some of our "standards" and put together some new stuff - like taking Star of Muster into Minor Swing.
The other "first" of this gig is that it's our first dance gig playing just as a duo - no other instruments joining in. When we first started playing contra dances, we were lucky enough to have more experienced dance musicians join us and lend guidance. Flying solo now (or "Flying duo?").
Playing as a duo presents some unique dynamics. First of all, we each have to work harder; there's no sitting back & letting someone else carry the tune. I'm all the melody and Jonathan is all the harmony & rhythm. I expect us each to feel worn out by the end of the night.
Any contra dance band tries to create different moods or textures over the course of the dance. The most common way to do this is by using different combinations of instruments - i.e. "Just fiddles & accordions on this verse..." That device isn't really available in a duo. Either we're both playing, or I can carry the occasional verse solo on vibes. And that's it for instrument combinations. That means that our range of textures has to be more internal, coming from *how* we play. We need to challenge ourselves to create variety within the duo.
The really fun thing about Apple Crisp-with-no-condiments is that we can hit grooves together that just can't happen with other people in the band. Jonathan & I know each others' playing far better than we know anyone else's. We can go at our own speed, speak our own musical shorthand, even predict each others' mistakes, and get each others' musical jokes without having to explain to the other musicians.
This will be our first time at the Medway dance. Thanks to Rob Rudin for hooking us up with the organizers of that dance.
We had a solid rehearsal sunday putting together some arrangements for this gig. Dusted off some of our "standards" and put together some new stuff - like taking Star of Muster into Minor Swing.
The other "first" of this gig is that it's our first dance gig playing just as a duo - no other instruments joining in. When we first started playing contra dances, we were lucky enough to have more experienced dance musicians join us and lend guidance. Flying solo now (or "Flying duo?").
Playing as a duo presents some unique dynamics. First of all, we each have to work harder; there's no sitting back & letting someone else carry the tune. I'm all the melody and Jonathan is all the harmony & rhythm. I expect us each to feel worn out by the end of the night.
Any contra dance band tries to create different moods or textures over the course of the dance. The most common way to do this is by using different combinations of instruments - i.e. "Just fiddles & accordions on this verse..." That device isn't really available in a duo. Either we're both playing, or I can carry the occasional verse solo on vibes. And that's it for instrument combinations. That means that our range of textures has to be more internal, coming from *how* we play. We need to challenge ourselves to create variety within the duo.
The really fun thing about Apple Crisp-with-no-condiments is that we can hit grooves together that just can't happen with other people in the band. Jonathan & I know each others' playing far better than we know anyone else's. We can go at our own speed, speak our own musical shorthand, even predict each others' mistakes, and get each others' musical jokes without having to explain to the other musicians.
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