Hummers

[Anne Beetem]

Dear Ralph,

>I'm delighted to learn of your interest in both the hummer and our 10th
>century music.
>You may also be pleased to note that this will entail no mention of an HT
>since we are working with only one diatonic scale.
>

A most reasonable solution.   Particularly simplifies tuning.


>The hummer played in only one key: F#! This was largely due to our
>natural bent for perversion. You must also realize that this period
>preceeded the Christian era in Ireland and that we were practicing
>Druids. You are probably already aware that Druidism was a religion quite
>similar to the Native American religions . That is, it was based on
>nature and overseen by mother earth. Thus, we borrowed only sounds from
>nature to arrive at our music

Well understood.   I have both Celtic and Native American blood.


>
>The bagpipe drone, punctuating the on beat by being played just slightly
>in advance of the on beat represented the deep moan of a cow in heat ( or
>season as we say).
>The bodhran represented the rather solid sound of a skull being hit with
>a foreign object during a mild disagreement.
>

Now, this all sounds like a story made up over a couple of pints, you know.


>The music produced by the upper levers or keys very nearly approximated
>the sounds heard on the next morning after imbibing in too much whiskey.
>The music form was the original jig played in a minor mode as a form of
>atonement for the previous evening's hell-raising.
>
>I hope I have painted an adequate mental picture of my fine, genteel,
>peace-loving
> ancestors and the profound thoughts that created the work of excellence
>called the Hummer.
>
>Some mornings I feel like a throw-back and can actually hear these jigs
>reverberating in my mind and I begin to hum them. I am, however,
>extremely displeased when some neighbors, oblivious to the fineries in
>life, call the police. They obviously have no cultural bent.
>


None whatsoever, no appreciation of the historic nature of the tunes, or
the spirit(s) and joy and sorrow of life within it.

Thanks, thanks, thanks Ralph.

Anne




Anne Beetem
Harpsichords & Historic Pianos
2070 Bingham Ct.
Reston, VA  20191
abeetem@wizard.net