As an older contributor (!) I’ve always wanted to play this tune which some (most?) of you will be familiar with?
If you were raised with a radio always on (rather than a TV always on!) - then you will likey be familiar with the BBC radio’s comedy programme called the Navy Lark.
For me, to play it on the harmonica - its natural ‘home’ instrument - is as apposite as trying to play ‘Baker Street’ on the sax!
It formed the theme tune for the Navy Lark and has kept its familiarity with the British Public for decades - and even now you can catch the comedy on Radio 4x where it is quite regularly scheduled.
You probably know this - apologies if you do. The theme tune is played by Thomas Rundle Reilly MBE (August 21, 1919 – September 25, 2000) who was a Canadian-born harmonica player, predominantly based in England. Larry Adler admired him immensely and said that there “wasn’t even a second” to Thomas - presumably including himself.
It’s a great folk (seafaring) tune and although it is in the Key of C in the recording - needs a chromatic harmonica to play it - which Thomas does at quite a lick! This is classical music harmonica playing and Thomas worked with many composers in the UK - where he raised the profile of the harmonica as a serious orchestral instrument - even if he was proficient on the fiddle/violin.
I’ve ‘captured’ it - almost! And have committed it to Sibelius to make for easier practice. It has three ‘octave’ jumps in succession in the ‘B’ part which is a bit challenging!
At the moment I’m having trouble with the last third - it’s played so fast that even slowed down it’s difficult to tie down! (Please don’t suggest I just buy a copy of the sheet music - it’s all part of musical development!)
Has anyone ‘cracked’ it completely?
I’d be interested in your observations!