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Old Songs Re-Interpreted


BbAltered

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So a while back I joined the community jazz big band. This necessitated that I learn how to sight-read, so every day I spend an hour or so practicing sight-reading. I have this old hymnal I find is perfect for this practice. The songs are short, mostly one-page only. You have four-part harmonies spread across a bass and treble clef, mostly in simple keys with the less common foray into 4- and 5-flats. Perfect for practicing sight-reading.

 

What makes me laugh are the song title, which sound a little strange to my modern ear. I have recently sight-read my way thru "He touched me", "Jesus is coming again", "Jesus I came", "Heaven came down and glory filled my hole", and my favorite "I get a gay feeling when I think about Jesus". I guess at one time, none of this was remarkable, but today I cannot even say these titles without cracking a smile.

 

It makes me wonder what people will say about "Bohemian Rhapsody" 50 years from now.

J.S. Bach Well Tempered Klavier

The collected works of Scott Joplin

Ray Charles Genius plus Soul

Charlie Parker Omnibook

Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life

Weather Report Mr. Gone

 

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If you get tired practicing with the hymns, try Christmas songs. A lot of them are in the same style as hymns and unlike hymns Christmas is coming and you might be needing them.

 

Bob

Hammond SK1, Mojo 61, Kurzweil PC3, Korg Pa3x, Roland FA06, Band in a Box, Real Band, Studio One, too much stuff...
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If you get tired practicing with the hymns, try Christmas songs. A lot of them are in the same style as hymns and unlike hymns Christmas is coming and you might be needing them.

 

I noticed Sam's Club had all the Christmas stuff out in the seasonal aisle the other day. At least they waited until after Labor Day. :facepalm:

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If you get tired practicing with the hymns, try Christmas songs. A lot of them are in the same style as hymns and unlike hymns Christmas is coming and you might be needing them.

 

I noticed Sam's Club had all the Christmas stuff out in the seasonal aisle the other day. At least they waited until after Labor Day. :facepalm:

 

I was in CVS this past April looking for those little fake candles, which my daughter liked as nightlights at the time. I asked the blue-coat where I could find them. Blue Coat thinks and says, "Oh! I bet they're in the Christmas aisle. Try aisle 3."

 

A permanent aisle for Christmas. In April. Help me, Gsus.

Now out! "Mind the Gap," a 24-song album of new material.
www.joshweinstein.com

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Big band started up again last night after the August break. I was reminded (again) what a crappy sight-reader I am - there's nothing like doing it live in front of other musicians to show you where your weaknesses are. :(

 

I'm looking for better sight-reading practice material. I have the 350+ big band charts we play, and I do use them as sight-reading practice. It's a mixed bag: some charts are wonderfully detailed in their notation, others consist merely of chord symbols, and some have been copied so many times it is tough to see anything.

 

I'm making progress, just never as quickly as I want.

J.S. Bach Well Tempered Klavier

The collected works of Scott Joplin

Ray Charles Genius plus Soul

Charlie Parker Omnibook

Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life

Weather Report Mr. Gone

 

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If you get tired practicing with the hymns, try Christmas songs. A lot of them are in the same style as hymns and unlike hymns Christmas is coming and you might be needing them.

 

I noticed Sam's Club had all the Christmas stuff out in the seasonal aisle the other day. At least they waited until after Labor Day. :facepalm:

 

I was in CVS this past April looking for those little fake candles, which my daughter liked as nightlights at the time. I asked the blue-coat where I could find them. Blue Coat thinks and says, "Oh! I bet they're in the Christmas aisle. Try aisle 3."

 

A permanent aisle for Christmas. In April. Help me, Gsus.

 

Speaking of.. Was really nice of you to send me a Christmas card last year. Nice to put a face with a (screen) name. I still have it:

http://www.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/20121110/reg_1024.LYMI.XMasCards2.mh.121012.jpg

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Speaking of.. Was really nice of you to send me a Christmas card last year. Nice to put a face with a (screen) name. I still have it:

http://www.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/20121110/reg_1024.LYMI.XMasCards2.mh.121012.jpg

 

I still have those cats, Gilligan and Skipper Too. They are the only comfort I have now that Full House is no longer on TV.

Now out! "Mind the Gap," a 24-song album of new material.
www.joshweinstein.com

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