Mellotronists

Okay gang. I spent some time with Scott Paterson today and here's the 
birdseye lowdown on the recorders in "Stairway to Heaven" from one of 
Canada's finest players and teachers.

First thing Scott told me was that he heard it was all bass recorder! 
Upon further questioning from moi, it turns out that he had read the 
same article Mark first quoted. (Score one for the journalists.)

We sat down with good headphones and listened very carefully several 
times through. Scott's opinion is that the bottom voice is definitely 
bass recorder. (He demonstrated on one with a bit of a playalong.) You 
can hear it a lot on its own underneath the vocal in the first verse. 
The upper voice is probably soprano although it could be alto played in 
the second register. The middle voice is probably tenor recorder 
although it could be bass in the second register.

Now for that arrangement Mark sent the link to, it's very nice but it's 
not what's on the record. There are definitely only three voices. You 
can hear that quite clearly. We all agreed. (Scott kept the music.)

So, I humbly admit that I was wrong on several points, but thank God, 
not all! (I should have listened through headphones.) In recompense, 
when I get a chance, I will write out the parts (They're a pretty easy 
lift from the recording because they're very clear in the recording). 
Then you can all go out and buy a set of Scott's recorder that I did up 
for Streetly or the nice set that MA has and have a wonderful time with 
a Led Zep moment right in your own livingroom -- assuming you have a 
mellotron to play them on. By the way, Scott hadn't heard the results 
of his work so I turned him loose on my machine for awhile and we even 
did a run through of the "Stairway" arrangement. Scott seemed quite 
pleased with the sound of the tapes.

Rick (SFX 10030 -- I have all the sounds!)

thanks for the research Rick. I got that score from
the yahoo recorder list and two of those folks also
said that there were only 3 parts. Creative listening
on the transcriptionist's part I guess. It's close, as
you say, and fun to play along with.

As a side note, if you guys think THIS list has a lot
of sniping going on at times, you should sub to the
recorder list for a couple of days....that bunch are
homicidal maniacs compared to the mello list. Sweet
little recorder players just ripping each other a new
asshole ALL THE TIME!

best regards,
mark
--- Rick Blechta <rick@...> wrote:
> Okay gang. I spent some time with Scott Paterson
> today and here's the 
> birdseye lowdown on the recorders in "Stairway to
> Heaven" from one of 
> Canada's finest players and teachers.
> 
> First thing Scott told me was that he heard it was
> all bass recorder! 
> Upon further questioning from moi, it turns out that
> he had read the 
> same article Mark first quoted. (Score one for the
> journalists.)
> 
> We sat down with good headphones and listened very
> carefully several 
> times through. Scott's opinion is that the bottom
> voice is definitely 
> bass recorder. (He demonstrated on one with a bit of
> a playalong.) You 
> can hear it a lot on its own underneath the vocal in
> the first verse. 
> The upper voice is probably soprano although it
> could be alto played in 
> the second register. The middle voice is probably
> tenor recorder 
> although it could be bass in the second register.
> 
> Now for that arrangement Mark sent the link to, it's
> very nice but it's 
> not what's on the record. There are definitely only
> three voices. You 
> can hear that quite clearly. We all agreed. (Scott
> kept the music.)
> 
> So, I humbly admit that I was wrong on several
> points, but thank God, 
> not all! (I should have listened through
> headphones.) In recompense, 
> when I get a chance, I will write out the parts
> (They're a pretty easy 
> lift from the recording because they're very clear
> in the recording). 
> Then you can all go out and buy a set of Scott's
> recorder that I did up 
> for Streetly or the nice set that MA has and have a
> wonderful time with 
> a Led Zep moment right in your own livingroom --
> assuming you have a 
> mellotron to play them on. By the way, Scott hadn't
> heard the results 
> of his work so I turned him loose on my machine for
> awhile and we even 
> did a run through of the "Stairway" arrangement.
> Scott seemed quite 
> pleased with the sound of the tapes.
> 
> Rick (SFX 10030 -- I have all the sounds!)

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On Apr 5, 2005, at 10:01 PM, mark kasian wrote:

> thanks for the research Rick. I got that score from
> the yahoo recorder list and two of those folks also
> said that there were only 3 parts. Creative listening
> on the transcriptionist's part I guess. It's close, as
> you say, and fun to play along with.
>
> As a side note, if you guys think THIS list has a lot
> of sniping going on at times, you should sub to the
> recorder list for a couple of days....that bunch are
> homicidal maniacs compared to the mello list. Sweet
> little recorder players just ripping each other a new
> asshole ALL THE TIME!
>
> best regards,
> mark

But wait! I'm not through eating crow (there seems to be an 
overabundance of that carrion-eating poultry in Tronto these days)...

When my darling wife came home this evening (she of the golden ears), 
HER opinion was "definitely four parts, you idiot!" (She actually 
didn't use the word 'idiot'. I think she was a sailor in a past life. 
Don't let the fact that she plays a wimpy instrument like flute fool 
you.)

Out come the flutes (she owns a bass and alto) and she starts playing 
the quartet arrangement with the recording, sure enough, she's right 
(damn the bad luck!). Back on the phone to Scott. He agrees, and thinks 
JPJ was probably using soprano, alto, tenor and bass, being the clever 
lad he is (and also a trained church organist).

So my feeling is at this point, I give up. I'm going to do an 
arrangement for jug band and be done with it!

Mark, why don't you let the recorder list have a go at this? Tell them 
you heard it's four ocarinas or something. If they're like you say, it 
should be even more fun than letting this group loose on "Watcher of 
the Skies"! We can all lurk and feel all right and proper about 
ourselves.

Rick

For a good laugh, you must perform "Stairway" hillbilly style!  The 
recorder part could be done on a fiddle, the drums on a washboard, the 
guitar on a banjo, and the bass on a broom w/plucked twine.  (any good 
tron sounds here?)
Come to think of it, that would turn ANY Zep song into a "good laugh"!

Weird Al, eat your heart out!

Brad

Actually, I did that first, Rick. It was interesting
to hear them go at it over what they heard vs. the
transcription. One thing that was very interesting is
how they all doubted that JPJ *could* have played
it...they got pretty precious about how much control
it would take for a "dilatante" to come up with that
performance. 

Funny that JPJ only mentions playing the BASS recorder
in that interview. I wonder who played the other
parts? Maybe it was Richard Harvey (he's a hero on
that list) and another guy said that he heard that it
was Viv Stanshall (Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band). Oh
well.....it was a fun dig...and I am looking forward
to getting some recorder tapes in my tron. That should
be pretty sweet indeed.

Best,
Mark.


> Mark, why don't you let the recorder list have a go
> at this? Tell them 
> you heard it's four ocarinas or something. If
> they're like you say, it 
> should be even more fun than letting this group
> loose on "Watcher of 
> the Skies"! We can all lurk and feel all right and
> proper about 
> ourselves.
> 
> Rick
> 
> 


		
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....and just for yucks, here's a sample post from the
Recorder list-

This should be of some interest.

  An ordinaryish Aulos Soprano arrives today as a part
of a job lot.

  It plays weakly so I guess that the windway is
partially blocked. 

There is also the peculiarity that one particular
note, the first C 
up (usually one of the easier notes) is all but
missing, distinctly 
weaker than all the rest, even the C# and B right next
to it, and on 
that account I am not optimistic. Any sign of damage?
Bore messed up? 
No. Everything visible is normal enough.

Then when the windway is immersed for ten seconds in
boiling water, 
hey presto, a small piece of detritus comes forth,
easily fished out 
with a cocktail stick.

The wonder is then that not only is the overall tone
full and fresh 
again, as expected. The peculuarity of the missing C
is also 
eliminated. What happens in the windway is not just
important to the 
chiff and the air pressure; it may well affect
particular 
frequencies. Everything is resonant and everything
affects everything 
else.

The Old Grey Whistle Tester, London, UK



		
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Man, you are right. Recorder players are some weird fuckers. Thank God  
people on this list are so different.
 
Frank