Wellerman (Soon May the Wellerman Come)

Traditionnel (Nouvelle-Zélande) · Level 2 (Beginner) · traditional · Piano

A New Zealand whaling song from the 1860s–1870s: the crew waits for the supply ship (the “Wellerman”) to bring sugar, tea and rum. An easy arrangement in A minor: the right hand plays the tune, the left hand holds open fifths (root and fifth of each chord).

▶ Play this piece with the interactive score

How to practise it

• Listen first: the site plays it while the score scrolls.
• Wait mode: the score waits for you at every note, at your own pace.
• Tempo challenge: play in time, with a score and a map of the bars you got right.
• Learn the tune alone by singing it, then the left hand alone: spot the chord changes before putting hands together in Wait mode, then at a reduced tempo.

Source : Arrangement Note after Note d’après le chant de marins traditionnel · Public Domain