Sunday 31 October 2010
Tune of the Day: The Ghost of John
A traditional Halloween song, playable as a round
This folk tune appears to be of American origin. The lyrics are well-known:
Have you seen the ghost of John?
Long white bones and the flesh all gone?
Ooh, ooh, ooh, oo-ooh ooh ooh ooh!
Wouldn’t it be chilly with no skin on?
The best thing about this tune is that it can be played as a round, that is, it can be played by up to four players, all playing the same exact melody but at two bars' distance. The resulting harmony creates a very scary atmosphere! To make it even creepier, try introducing sudden changes in dynamics (playing softer/louder) and tempo (playing slower/faster).