ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT
Traditional, with lyrics from 1852 and melody from 1881
|
Button Accordion Notation
|
HEADS UP!!!
If this melody is familiar, but this discussion is confusing, then ignore the discussion and play the melody focusing on the button numbers and drawing on your familiarity with the song.
Originally, I had not planned to use this melody until a later, more advanced, button-accordion mini-course, perhaps BA2 or BA3 (if they are ever offered).
The reason is that this children's song is both similar and different in beat-interval timing compared with all the melodies that have preceded it in Units 3 to 5. (If you have studied music, you may be aware that it has a compound time signature (6/8) instead of the simple time signatures (3/4 & 4/4) of the melodies so far.)
If this melody is familiar, but this discussion is confusing, then ignore the discussion and play the melody focusing on the button numbers and drawing on your familiarity with the song.
Originally, I had not planned to use this melody until a later, more advanced, button-accordion mini-course, perhaps BA2 or BA3 (if they are ever offered).
The reason is that this children's song is both similar and different in beat-interval timing compared with all the melodies that have preceded it in Units 3 to 5. (If you have studied music, you may be aware that it has a compound time signature (6/8) instead of the simple time signatures (3/4 & 4/4) of the melodies so far.)
|
MELODY:
|
Verse 1
;3 ;3 .3 "3* ;4 Row, row, row your boat .4* "3* .4 "4* ;5~ Gent-ly down the stream "6 "6 "6 "5 "5 "5 "4 "4 "4 "3 "3 "3 Mer - ri - ly, mer - ri - ly, mer - ri - ly, mer - ri - ly .5 "4* .4 "3* ;3~ Life is but a dream (~ hold for an extra ( ; ) at end of lines 2 & 4 |
Similar because: This notation uses the same timing symbols (double-quotes, periods, semi-
colons, etc.) that have been used in previous melodies in this mini-course.
Different because: The beat interval in this melody is not represented by the period (or dot) as in
the previous melodies, but instead is represented by the semi-colon.
Why is this useful? Because this simple change in "what represents a beat interval" allows us to
divide the beat interval into thirds without having to introduce any new symbols.
For example, in the second line above, "down" is held for 2/3 of a beat interval,
and "the" is held for 1/3 of a beat interval.
Of course: If you are very familiar with the melody, you can break the beat interval into thirds
without ever having to think about it. As frequently stated, for very familiar melodies
you can ignore the notation, trust your musical brain, and just play the melody. And
that is perfectly OK.
colons, etc.) that have been used in previous melodies in this mini-course.
Different because: The beat interval in this melody is not represented by the period (or dot) as in
the previous melodies, but instead is represented by the semi-colon.
Why is this useful? Because this simple change in "what represents a beat interval" allows us to
divide the beat interval into thirds without having to introduce any new symbols.
For example, in the second line above, "down" is held for 2/3 of a beat interval,
and "the" is held for 1/3 of a beat interval.
Of course: If you are very familiar with the melody, you can break the beat interval into thirds
without ever having to think about it. As frequently stated, for very familiar melodies
you can ignore the notation, trust your musical brain, and just play the melody. And
that is perfectly OK.
Embedded youTUBE VIDEOS
Click to set custom HTML
Six videos in the keys: A=1 C=3 D=1 G=1
Some videos differ from the notation above, either in lyrics or rhythm (or both).
|
Key: A
Singer: ? Posted by: Little Baby Bum - Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs |
|
|
Key: C
Choir: Fairfield County Children's Choir Director: Lisa Bettke Posted by: Fairfield County Children's Choir A popular song-melody for "rounds". |
|
|
Key: C
Singers: Leah Hays & Matt Stamm Posted by: Super Simple Songs - Kids Songs |
|
|
Key: C
Group: The Wiggles: Posted by: The Wiggles |
|
|
Key: D
Singer: ? Posted by: Morphle vs Orphle - Kids Cartoons |
|
|
Key: G
Singer: ? Posted by: Turtle Interactive |
|
Background Materials, Information & Links
|
Lyrics:
|
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily Life is but a dream Row, row, row your boat, Gently down the stream. If you see a crocodile, Don't forget to scream. and many other verses ... |
|
Background Links:
|