Led by Shaye Cohn, Tuba Skinny play 'Maple Leaf Rag'.
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- Опубликовано: 30 сен 2024
- The book 'Tuba Skinny and Shaye Cohn', updated for 2024, written by Pops Coffee, is available from Amazon, both as a paperback and as an eBook.
On 18 April 2015 Tuba Skinny gave a concert at The Dew Drop Hall in Louisiana - the oldest surviving jazz venue in the world. My late friend David Wiseman from England was there and made this video of the band playing Scott Joplin's 'Maple Leaf Rag', composed in 1899. Like most bands, Tuba Skinny play only the first two themes (both in F) and the third theme (in B flat). All themes are 16 bars in length.
00:16 Theme 1 : Note those F diminished chords taken as a break on Bars 7 and 8.
00:38 Theme 2 : (starting on the chord of C7).
01:00 Theme 1 again.
01:23 Theme 3 - the main theme - in B flat but starting on the chord of F7.
01:45 Theme 3 again.
02:07 Theme 3 this time as a solo by Jonathan.
02:29 Theme 3 this time as a solo by Barnabus.
02:51 Theme 3 this time as a solo by Craig.
03:13 Theme 3 this time as a solo by Todd.
03:33 Theme 3 as ensemble - long notes emphasizing the chords.
03:55 Theme 3 ensemble again.
04:17 Theme 3 final ensemble, ending without a Coda.
I have no idea how this works technically, but I rejoice in the sheer joy of the band playing Joplin. Thanks for letting us see/hear it.
Ì do not play any instrument, nor can l read music, however this group and the sound they bring forth must count as of the best in any genre. They blend faultlessly under Shaye's guidance and their repetoire is immense and varied. Every member is a vertuoso.
Thanks for this video, of the spectacular Tuba Skinny, with the bonus Pops Coffee's description of song segments. The suoerb skill of each band member requires this be called Maple Tree Rag when they play it. Thanks Pops!
THEY ALL LOOK SO YOUNG . THIS WAS RECORDED MORE THAN 9 YEARS AGO . THE BAND MEMBERS ARE ALL THE SAME , EXCEPT FOR THE SAX PLAYER AND THE BANJOGUITAR PLAYER . BARNABUS' DOG DIED NOT LONG AFTER THIS . ALWAYS A GREAT BAND NO MATTER WHO WAS IN IT
That song really calls for dancing!!!!
The venue deserves this excellent performance. Thank you!
Thanks Pop, greetings from Argentina 👍
Maybe it was the camera angle, but I saw everyone except the Tuba player. Was he too skinny?
I love it.
Tuba Skinny in full flight ❤ Is there anything better to see and hear ❓❓
Pops we love you!!!!
Dear Pops, as a multi-year subscriber to your channel, I want to thank you for your many commentaries on the music of the great jazz band Tuba Skinny. Like you, I have been an ardent fan of Tuba Skinny for many years.
You have helped me understand the structure of many of their pieces, but I’m confused about the process of creating musical compositions and orchestral arrangements. For example, when Scott Joplin wrote the “Maple Leaf Rag” at the end of the 19th century, was he putting notes on paper based on a creative personal inspiration, in the same way that an artist might apply paint to a canvas? Or was he thinking something like “this phrase really needs a diminished D 7th chord"- because that’s the appropriate next chord in an established musical progression formula?
Similarly, if Shaye Cohn has Todd play a few bars on his Sousaphone while Robin plays a supporting syncopated beat on the washboard, is she thinking like an engineer, building a bridge,making certain calculations under a musical formula? Or is she thinking more like a cook, adding onions and salt to a stew so that it will taste right to her?
I’ve always thought music was an art form. But you make it seem more like engineering, applying established rules and principles. Can you help your subscribers understand more about what is really involved in the process of creating music.
Thanks again for all your insights.
Thank you for the kind words and for taking such trouble. My limited knowledge comes from observing and self-teaching, with help from books. I have no academic music qualifications. I became interested in traditional jazz in 1988 when I was already 50 years old and even more so in 2013, when I first watched digitalalexa's Tuba Skinny videos. I think that, in all forms of art and all cultures, creators build on the work of those who went before. Between 1890 and 1930, popular composers in America built on such established conventions as major and minor scales, tune structures (12 bars, 16 bars and 32 bars dominated) and chord progressions (it's worth looking up 'The Circle of Fifths'). Some melodic and rhythmic patterns were commonplace, especially in ragtime. I suppose these were the 'established rules and principles' to which you refer. When Tuba Skinny play, most of them don't have the music on paper in front of them, but they have taken the trouble to get it into their heads. It's essential that they all know where they are in the piece at any given time. So 'engineering' accounts for much. But you are right: Shaye is also a clever musical 'cook'. For example, she so often adds to the beauty of Middle Eights by having herself (sometimes plus clarinet and trombone) quietly playing long notes from the chords behind the soloist. My health has declined recently; and I lost my beloved wife - an event that has broken my heart. We were married for 62 years. I intend soon to phase out my RUclips activity.
@@PopsCoffee Thank you also for taking the time to respond to my question. Interpreting your response, it seems that you are analyzing the music after it has been written. However, when writing a musical composition, the composer, or arranger, creates something that sounds right, based upon his or her talent and experience in that particular musical genre. When the piece is finished, others may see that it follows a progression, or pattern, that can be explained by a series of rules - as you have done. In other words, the composition is not created by applying the rules, but it sounds good to our ears because it follows the rules. Did I get that right?
My thoughts are with you on the passing of your soulmate and your declining health. As a fellow octogenarian, I’m not planning too much for the future. I am not sad, however, because I appreciate that each new day is a gift. And I relish the things that come my way - like the beautiful music of Tuba Skinny. And I will enjoy your RUclips videos as long as you are able to do them and I am able to view them.
@@poppamichael2197 Thanks for your further thoughts. I think those who wrote the music Tuba Skinny play may have started with an idea - for example a musical phrase or two. But as they developed it, they conformed (wittingly for the most part) to the established conventions. For example, music had to be delivered in 4-bar chunks (which is why 12-bar, 16-bar and 32-bar themes [frequently with 'middle eights'] were commonplace). Simple pieces would stay in one key. (Those with more than one theme - such as 'Maple Leaf Rag' - would change for a new theme into a related key.) The most common chords would be used to provide the harmonies. However, with the passage of time, some writers of popular songs (e.g. Vernon Duke) started to challenge and push against these conventions, though they still tended to deliver music in multiples of four bars. Not surprisingly, traditional jazz players prefer to stick with the 'older' style of composition. Yes, we octogenarians must keep plodding on, though I am personally finding it very difficult. My latest musical interest is listening to Haydn Symphonies. They help.
Excellent.
👏👏👍😉
I miss them having two clarinet or sax players. A bit more of an orchestra then.