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That was amazing BillyG !!! Well done. You seem really chilled out and calm when you were playing as well. Thanks for posting. I’ve got lucy Wolsey on while I type this !! It’s good interesting to hear about the Carols 😀
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Nicely done, @BillyG. Interesting concept and well executed! Bravo!
The old curmudgeon!
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Katie said
..... Well done. You seem really chilled out and calm when you were playing as well. Thanks for posting. I’ve got lucy Wolsey on while I type this !! It’s good interesting to hear about the Carols..
TYVM @Katie L - "chilled out and calm" is TRULY what it all about. Fluff a note? Sure we all do - so - go back and "correct it? " No, that's not the answer - FORGET it - play on. We are not perfect - even the BEST can fluff notes ( but they are good enough to maybe "hide it" with vibrato or a VERY quick corrective-slide - these pro players are so darned good! LOLOL ).
I really think the "calm" comes from simply NOT trying to be "perfect" (whatever that actually means on a fretless instrument) - and just "play it how you feel it"
Yes, that's easier said than done, I agree, especially when that little red "recording" light is on (although a few live-streamed sessions on StreetJelly will soon cure anyone of that).
The other side of "playing how you feel it" causes me a lot of issues - I regularly play by ear, and, yes, I will occasionally change tempo or expression to intentionally draw listeners' attention to a particular part of a tune - but - that can make the piece "deviate from some listeners' expectations" - and well - personally, I don't care about that - it becomes a unique-to-the-player interpretation.
So yes - there are "good points" ( well I believe so ) for the "playing as you feel it" - but downsides as well - specifically, for me, I have ALWAYS done that. Yes, when playing along with others, I can sort of "fall-in-to-step" - but it takes a while. Same goes for playing to a backing track for me - sometimes (especially if it is a piece I have heard before and "have it in my head" somehow) I STRUGGLE to match or synch into the "expected/required" timing....
I find these things really interesting....
Apologies for the verbose response, it was really a follow-up and expansion on the stuff I posted above, and why I did it.
And yes, I love Lucy Worsley's programs as well - always both interesting and entertaining at the same time - almost renewed my interest in history!!!!
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - 
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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JohnG said
Nicely done, @BillyG. Interesting concept and well executed! Bravo
TYVM @JohnG - yes - the clip of the Audacity trace at the end clearly shows visual differences between each of the takes I selected.
I'm pretty darned certain that is probably "close to normal" were anyone to take acoustically isolated recordings of 3 players, playing the same part in an ensemble / orchestra.
And as I say, that's just 3 playing the same part. Bring in other voices as well ( your Vln 2, 3 etc plus other strings- well you can see where my reasoning is going )
To the O.P. - not meaning to derail the topic - but it is so interesting I had to do it! Sorry !
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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Excellent stuff bill, and also a great idea, I am getting an 8 track so along with some music I am writing for other instruments I may give your idea a go. Sounds truly good.
Cant beat a sunny day
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@BillyG -
Outstanding "Adeste Fideles", Billy!
YES! I see exactly where you are coming from!
GREAT experiment - really enjoy listening.
Kickin' this Party up a notch. 🤗
THANK YOU!
- Emily
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By the way, did you ever hear the story about Heifetz hitting a bad note, it actually made headline news, cant remember the exact orchestra or were he was playing but its probably easily looked up, I read it in one of my violin books. Anyway he was half way through some soloing and hit the wrong note, the audience, conducter and orchestra were stunned, Heifetz stopped playing and without saying anything he walked to the side of the stage, where he then faced the wall and played slow scales for fifteen minutes, the hall in complete silence, he then stopped walked back to his place and carried on flawlessly from the same point to finish the concert.
You are correct everyone has intonation probs and hits bad notes.;)
Cant beat a sunny day
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very cool @billyg and sounds great! like what your doing there!
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BillyG
I concur sounds great,
Thanks,
Mark
Master the Frog and you have mastered the bow.
Albert Sammons
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Thanks for your kind words @BillyG @Katie L @stringy
@stringy Sorry the playback is not working right for you. I’ve got them all on my channel here (linked via the “globe”website in top right, too):
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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@stringy I like your A Merry Christmas, and your use of ornaments—you’ve inspired me to try a fiddle tune!
It’s ok to read—I do it all the time 
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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@BillyG Your Adeste Fideles sounded great! Interesting study with the three voices.
BillyG said
I really think the "calm" comes from simply NOT trying to be "perfect" (whatever that actually means on a fretless instrument) - and just "play it how you feel it"
I agree. I’ve learned the difference between “playing” & “practice”. Playing is accepting where you are and just doing it, flaws (a.k.a. “artistic variations”) & all
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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stringy said
By the way, did you ever hear the story about Heifetz hitting a bad note, it actually made headline news, cant remember the exact orchestra or were he was playing but its probably easily looked up, I read it in one of my violin books. Anyway he was half way through some soloing and hit the wrong note, the audience, conducter and orchestra were stunned, Heifetz stopped playing and without saying anything he walked to the side of the stage, where he then faced the wall and played slow scales for fifteen minutes, the hall in complete silence, he then stopped walked back to his place and carried on flawlessly from the same point to finish the concert.You are correct everyone has intonation probs and hits bad notes.;)
I guess Heifetz decided he needed to do his practice, right then, before he could finish his playing.
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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SharonC said
stringy said
By the way, did you ever hear the story about Heifetz hitting a bad note, it actually made headline news, cant remember the exact orchestra or were he was playing but its probably easily looked up, I read it in one of my violin books. Anyway he was half way through some soloing and hit the wrong note, the audience, conducter and orchestra were stunned, Heifetz stopped playing and without saying anything he walked to the side of the stage, where he then faced the wall and played slow scales for fifteen minutes, the hall in complete silence, he then stopped walked back to his place and carried on flawlessly from the same point to finish the concert.
You are correct everyone has intonation probs and hits bad notes.;)
I guess Heifetz decided he needed to do his practice, right then, before he could finish his playing.
Maybe it was for drama...like a guitarist smashing his axe. 
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TY @stringy (and lol at the Heifetz story!), @ELCBK , @ABitRusty , @Mark , @SharonC
Here's another one I recorded yesterday (but not given the same "3-violins" treatment) - Ding Dong Merrily on High - again by ear and "how I hear it in my head" so it may or may not follow the actual melody correctly.... LOL
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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I like the way you put your personality (aka expression) into it, Bill!
Andrew
Verified human - the ignominy!
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Gordon Shumway said
I like the way you put your personality (aka expression) into it, Bill!
TY Alf @Gordon Shumway !
Probably referring to facial expression there my friend! Hahaha!
You've got to smile, it's such a fun instrument to play, even in the awkward hands of myself!
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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I agree with Gordon . Really enjoying your videos they are fun to watch as well . I’ve been trying to play this one as well. You did really well. Got anymore??
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