Leatherwing Bat on the Ocarina

I haven't played the ocarina in over a week, mainly because I'm concentrating on guitar lessons this month. One of my favorite folk songs is "Leatherwing Bat," and I hope to be able to figure out the accompaniment to this cheerfully mournful song by the end of the year. In the meantime, I can play it on the ocarina. I didn't find ocarina tablature on the web for "Leatherwing Bat," so I transcribed my own. Here is a link to the traditional lyrics (though like many folk-songs, they vary.) For Lucia's bedtime, I often just sing the first and last verses. I tweaked the lyrics for my own use because as we all know, fickleness, heartbreak, and longing are equal opportunity experiences.

Ironically, I like to sing "Leatherwing Bat" only when I'm in a good mood. It's like an ABBA song in that way.



"I," said the little leatherwing bat
"I'll tell you the reason that
The reason that I fly by night
Is because I lost my heart's delight."

Refrain:
Howdy dowdy diddle-dum day
Howdy dowdy diddle-dum day
Howdy dowdy diddle-dum day
Hey le lee-lee lie-lee low

"I" said the blackbird sitting on a bench
"Once I courted a handsome wretch.
He proved fickle and turned his back
And ever since then I've dressed in black."

(Refrain)

"I" said the red-bird sitting on a fence
"I fancied a lad and he fancied me.
He got scared and from me fled
And ever since then my head's been red."

(Refrain)

"I" said the owl with a head so white
"A lonesome day and a lonesome night,
Thought I heard some pretty-boy say
She'd court all night and sleep all day."

(Refrain)

"I" said the little turtle dove,
"I'll tell you how to win your love,
Court him night and court him day
Never give him time to say you nay!”

(Refrain)

Ode to Bede

Bede is a good guy. Bede is a great husband. I stayed up late last night writing, got up early this morning to write, and then slept in from 8-10 am while Bede hung out with Lucia. Then, Bede went out for his morning coffee, and came back with a 3/4 sized steel-string guitar he found at a yard sale. He paid $10.00 USD. I've been struggling to tune it, but ultimately will have to wait for Ulric's assistance. Perhaps by the time I take lessons in October, I'll have progressed beyond "Smoke on the Water" (played on one string!) and other Forbidden Guitar Shop Tunes™. I have ambitions. Perhaps I'll never rock 'n' roll, but before you know it, I will be Alkelda of the Key of G. As soon as I get it together, I will compose a song and sing his praises. In the meantime, I need to work on a story involving the word "toast," as per ABCGirl's request.

Update: I came home from running errands to find a box on the front porch. Although it was addressed to Bede, it was for me. Behold my new ocarina:



I then called my father to play it for him over the phone. My father said he himself had been planning to go to a music store to find a larger-sized ocarina for me.

Now, I need to make some choices for the rest of the day:

1) scrub out the fridge or play my ocarina
2) vaccuum and do laundry or work on a story
3) mow the lawn or strum my guitar

I am grateful for my life.

Addendum: the guitar neck was warped, and I gave it away to someone else's toddler to wail on while his father's guitar remained safe from harm.

"Pavane for the Nursery" (ocarina tablature)

Sometimes I don't know when to quit. I struggled with this tablature for "A Pavane for the Nursery" (you may find the poem in the original post for Three Songs of Stars and Fire), but finally came up with something I can live with... for now. Fear not, this blog is not going to become Ocarina Central. I just want the music to be available. I want people to know it exists.

I just received a copy of the album "Simon Sisters Sing for Children". The album is a 33 1/3 rpm record that I bought for $4.00 on Ebay. The next step is to get help in transferring the music to compact disc.* At that time, the Simon Sisters' music for "A Pavane for the Nursery" will once more be available for Lucia's listening pleasure.

*Note to the record companies: if you think this is piracy, then please rerelease the album on compact disc. Rest assured, I will buy it. Until that momentous event occurs, don't give me any guff.

Song in the Air (ocarina tablature)

A month ago, I posted lyrics to Three Songs of Stars and Fire, but expressed regret that I had no sound files to offer. Instead of a sound file, I'm offering you the chance to listen to the tune of "There's a Song in the Air" by way of ocarina tablature. I downloaded a free ocarina font and figured out the notations for the tune.

At this point, my high notes are still a little painful to listen to, as the pitch is evocative of a piccolo, but my friends gallantly tell me that I'll get much better with practice. However, I wish for a tenor ocarina now. I want something with similar tones to the oboe without the long-term commitment the oboe requires. Hmmm...

My 33 1/2 birthday is coming up next month. I'll mention it to Bede.

Little Goose*

One of the items in Martha the hippo's purse from Attack of the Combs is a round, earthenware flute called an ocarina. Last week, Lucia and I visited the Pike Place Market specifically to find an ocarina at the Clayzeness Whistleworks table. Originally, the ocarina was supposed to be for her, but after I saw the price-tag, I thought, "Lucia has a guitar and a harmonica and a variety of percussion instruments. Perhaps it is her Mama who needs the ocarina." Although I am not generally a fan of plastic, perhaps a recycled plastic ocarina will be good for Lucia, at least in the beginning. Bede can paint it.**

Meanwhile, I have been tootling on the ocarina and finding lots of free tablature on the internet. As a person who never did well with musical instruments, the ocarina is a boost to my self-esteem. To be sure, Bede doesn't yet recognize all of the songs I'm trying to play, but I've got dreams! I'm even starting to think of how I can incorporate the ocarina into my storytelling. I'll keep you apprised of any developments. In the meantime, check out the free ocarina tablature and audio samples:

Tablature
More Tablature
Zelda, the Ocarina of Time
Blackadder and more
Many thanks to the troubadour Nancy Stewart for introducing us to the ocarina.


*Translated from the Italian, the word ocarina means "little goose."

**No, this is not sneaky advertising. I just want you to have easy access to resources that might interest you.