Beginner Simple Music Suggestions Please

[kevgermany]

My teacher has insisted that I play in his recital in mid March.

Audience is a captive one - families of all the performers (mostly schoolkids)... Including too many that know me from the village.

Before he sets me soemthing I hate, any suggestions for something slow, simple and melodic to play on tenor - preferably in C or G or F, maybe even A or Eb. If needed, I'll get my wife to accompany me on piano (or possibly guitar).

Doesn't need to be long, but I don't want to be doing Alouette, Oh when the Saints or something like that. Not too high, either, I get squeaky atbove B+Octave.

Was thinking of the Swan from Carnival of the animals, but it's a touch beyond me at the moment. I don't want to inflict murder on the innocent victims, especially as my wife and kids will be there as well (and 2 of the kids will also be playing - clarinet and cello...).


tia

 

[Mamos]

What about something from the ABRSM tenor sax book

They are simple but not childish and come with a piano suppliment

mamos

 

[old git]

"My Funny Valentine" in tenor sax F. Read the words, listen to Chet Baker and see if you can get the same feeling.

Postscript:-It is his playing not his singing that is recommended.
Dots pm me.

 

[DaveW]

"My Funny Valentine" in tenor sax F. Read the words, listen to Chet Baker and see if you can get the same feeling.

Postscript:-It is his playing not his singing that is recommended.
Dots pm me.

OG, Nice rendition on Spotify with Chet and Gerry Mulligan but I wouldn't suggest trying to emulate that one for a beginner :shocked:

 

[kevgermany]

Thanks for the ideas so far. Have ordered the first ABRSM book. Listining to My Funny Valentine - nice, but beyond me for now. Although it's slow, there are a lot of quick notes in it...

 

[kevgermany]

Am going to play Boolavogue (imagine how that name will sound when a German pronounces it...). Have transposed it up from D to G (went down to A). Still has a couple of notes in my foghorn range, but it's managable. Could take it up higher, but the next key I'm comfortable in is C - and the high notes will be quite squeaky 🙁

Can play it at a pace I'm comfortable with 🙂

The other nice thing about it is that no-one there is likely to know what it's supposed to sound like, so no-one will recognise my mistakes excepts my wife and kids 🙂)) Let's hope there aren't any German leprechauns around to report back and organise revenge. ;}

 

[old git]

Kev,
Rebel songs?

Don't worry, Tommy and the Clancey Bros dragged it out on the last verse. Just remember you might kick off more German submarines landing arms for the Republicans. 🙂

You'll give a great performance. :welldone

 

[kevgermany]

lol Bill, you're right.

As you've probably guessed, it's not the politics, just that I love the tune. Heard it sung in bars in Ireland and, like so many Irish tunes, it grabs the heart. Maybe I should have picked Bannastrand...

But... since living in SA for 15 years, I've become very anti the european countries colonial pasts. For what it did - and the way well run colonies were left to rot afterwards. Yes, it was the local populations' wish, but I can't help feeling that a better, more graceful transition would have been better. All that's happened in most countries is that a functioning, if not fair governent has been replaced by non-functional unfair and often brutal ones. Ireland is just one example of the mess following colonial rule, even if now they have good, functional governments.

And as for rebels. One only has to consider the resistance movements in WWII and our strong support for them. I'm really glad Hitler was defeated. But from a German viewpoint, they were the rebels. Just a matter of perspective, I suppose. I hope that if I'd been French in WWII, that I'd have had the balls to be a part of the resistance, and not a Petain supporter.

Did you ever read Puckoon by Spike Milligan? Or anything by Flann O'Brien?

 

[old git]

Great songs. Did them around the folk clubs but no politics.

History is written by the victor and quite a large proportion of the problems are caused by unnatural borders. It is easy for the occupier to draw straight lines or ignore the natural geographic and ethnic boundaries because "We are bringing them civilisation", that is to learn the ability to easily kill more than you could before. Of course at no time did the colonial powers make any profit from the lands to which they bought civilisation.

Did stick together a small group tune that we called "The Swinging Punter from Garryowen" and posted it on a traditional Irish music board. When they realised it was a jazz version of "Sean South" aka "Roddy McCorley", instant ban. ;}

 

[kevgermany]

History is written by the victor and quite a large proportion of the problems are caused by unnatural borders. It is easy for the occupier to draw straight lines or ignore the natural geographic and ethnic boundaries because "We are bringing them civilisation", that is to learn the ability to easily kill more than you could before. Of course at no time did the colonial powers make any profit from the lands to which they bought civilisation.

Too true - especially groupings of non compatible ethnic groups

Did stick together a small group tune that we called "The Swinging Punter from Garryowen" and posted it on a traditional Irish music board. When they realised it was a jazz version of "Sean South" aka "Roddy McCorley", instant ban. ;}

🙂)) Bet you loved fooling them and were wondering just how long it'd take them to cotton on....

 

[Andante cantabile]

Kev

I am glad you have found something suitable. Now, I have no idea what you can and can't do, but Gerald Finzi's "Carol" on page 61 in Peter Wastall's Learn as You Play Saxophone is a most attractive piece consisting of 26 bars. And it is in C.

Best of luck.

 

[Rogerb]

"Love Me Tender" is very easy(based on an American Civil War song), and if you've been in SA you must know "Sarie Marais" a popular Afrikaans folk-song, also easy.

 

[kevgermany]

Thanks for the ideas!

I think my wife would kill me if I suggested Sarie Marais..... Esecially if I asked her to accompany me. She's South African and it's not one of her favourites.... Maybe I'll bounce the idea off her for a laugh - will have to time it right, or I'll be in the dog box for a week...

Finzi's an interesting idea, seems to be about my level...

 

[kevgermany]

Yup, scratch Sarie Marais. Nice try, though.