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Topic: The Hawaiian War Chant |
David Matzenik
From:
Cairns, on the Coral Sea
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Posted 24 Oct 2014 8:02 pm |
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The Hawaiian War Chant is a number I have been meaning to study for some time. It is a 145 tune- 20 bar verse and chorus, but bands often drop into the minor key which is a very effective hook. The version I am looking at is by Billy Hew Len and Barney Isaacs on the Steel Guitar Magic LP/CD. Unfortunately I am unable to rip the track for your educational purposes.
The interesting thing about this arrangement is that instead of dropping into G minor key Billy and Barney create an 18 bar bridge which I think goes like this. While they kick off on Gm it appears they are playing in Bb. Can anyone verify my chord analysis?
Gm / / /
F F6 F Bb
D7 Gm / Gdim
D7 F G F
G D7 Then back into G major verse and chorus.
Here a couple of influential versions:
Tommy Dorsey:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMy-NivwrJA
Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvKbyMCG3Jk
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Don't go in the water after lunch. You'll get a cramp and drown. - Mother. |
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Matthew Dawson
From:
Portland Oregon, USA
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Posted 24 Oct 2014 8:15 pm
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| I think the late great Cumquat Records had a whole disc of nothing but popular versions of this tune. I love the Bob Wills version with the McKinney Sisters. |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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David Matzenik
From:
Cairns, on the Coral Sea
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Posted 25 Oct 2014 12:11 am
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Gettin' some seriously funky tone out of that Stella bOb.  I think the minor shift was probably Tommy Dorsey's idea. At least I have not heard any earlier example.
Matthew, I mourn the loss of Cumquat too. The Bob Wills version; western swing goes Hawaiian, kinda like the best of both worlds! Ah Haa!
_________________
Don't go in the water after lunch. You'll get a cramp and drown. - Mother. |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 25 Oct 2014 7:12 am
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Really what is happening in that section that sounds like minor is that they modulate to another key--so, in Bob's chart, instead of Em6, you would play A9, then D9, etc. In every recorded example I have, the bass plays the roots of those 9th chords. You can hear it clearly on the Allstar Hawaiian Band's recording.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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David Matzenik
From:
Cairns, on the Coral Sea
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Posted 25 Oct 2014 1:00 pm
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Very interesting, Mike. I will study the recordings in a different light. Have you listened to Billy and Barney's bridge?
_________________
Don't go in the water after lunch. You'll get a cramp and drown. - Mother. |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 25 Oct 2014 3:00 pm Re: The Hawaiian War Chant
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| David Matzenik wrote: |
Gm / / /
F F6 F Bb
D7 Gm / Gdim
D7 F G F
G D7 Then back into G major verse and chorus.
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David, here is my interpretation of what they are plaing:
C9 / / /
F9 Bb F9 Bb
D7
C9 / / /
F9 Bb F9 Bb
D7
G etc.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Jim Bates
From:
Alvin, Texas, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2014 4:24 pm
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I used the Spike Jones version, and played it in key of A.
Did the minor run in A min. It worked fine for all our luaus that featured dancers.
Make up your own.
Thanx,
Jim |
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David Matzenik
From:
Cairns, on the Coral Sea
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Posted 25 Oct 2014 5:00 pm
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Thanks Mike, I see where I would have heard workable pitches. Love those 9ths.
Jim, those standard arrangements like Spike's are fun, but I really like they way Billy and Barney mess with the tune. For most arrangements I play, I need a point of departure. This is the one for me.
_________________
Don't go in the water after lunch. You'll get a cramp and drown. - Mother. |
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