Planxty Irwin - Tremolo Lesson 14

The previous lesson introduced 3/4 or waltz time, where each bar has 3 beats. Some of the most beautiful tunes have this rhythm. This lesson teaches one of these tunes, "Planxty Irwin" by the 18th centruy Irish composer O'Carolan.

We learn some new rhythms for this tune. Clap in time to the rhythm below, then play a 1 (C) note with each beat.

The notation is

Notice the dash after the first note in each bar. This doubles the length of the note. The rhythm is in 3/4 time, or 3 beats per bar. So, the first note in each bar is two beats long, the second note 1 beat, the total being three beats.

If the mathematics is too much, then just listen to the rhythm a few times. You'll soon be able to recognise it.

Now clap in time to this rhythm, then play a 1 (C) note with each beat.

The notation is

Notice the dot after the first note in each bar. This increase the length of the note by 50%. So the first note in the bar is one and a half beats, the second note is a quaver (eighth note) or a half beat. So, the first two notes have a combined length of two beats. The third note is one beat, making up the three beats per bar needed for the 3/4 time signature.

Again, if the mathematics is beyond you just listen to the rhythm. It is very common, appears in many tunes, and is important to know.

Finally, a note will sometimes last for three beats, or an entire bar in 3/4 time. The notation for a 3 beat note is

Now we use these rhythms in the tune Planxty Irwin. This tune is in 3/4 time. Listen to it a few times. Can you hear the 3/4 rhythm?

Here is the score

Listen to the tune a few times, while following the score. Notice the first note, a 5, which comes in on the second beat of the lead in bar, after which the tune starts.

Note also that after 8 bars, the tune starts again from the first bar, but missing the initial 5 note. This "repeat" is indicated by a pair of double bar lines, like this

The second half of the tune repeats as well. A tune with the first half (part A) played twice, then the second half (part B) played twice is called an AABB tune. We will learn many AABB tunes.

When you can follow the score, then play just the first four bars. Then the next 4 bars. These 8 bars repeat (more or less), completing the first half of the tune.

Then try the first 4 bars of the second half. Then the next 4 bars. The remainder of the second half just repeats from the first half.

So. Many parts of Planxty Irwin repeat, making the tune easier to learn. New tunes are more easily learnt if repeating parts are identified.

When you can play the tune, then try it with the accompaniment only.

This lesson is longer than most. Don't be surprised if the tune takes a while to master. Learn it line by line, take your time. The tune has around for 300 years, it will wait for you.

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