I'm entering the Fleadh again this year and I was wondering if anyone knew any particularly nice tunes for the flute/whistle. Im just going into the senior category this year so I'm a bit scared! Any suggestions?
There's a great flute tune called "Larry get out of the bin" by Brian Finnegan and Sara Allen on the Wooden Flute Obsession #2, Disc 1. Also there's a great jig called "The Woodcock" which is coupled with "The Kerfunten Jig". The set is called "Hammy's Jigs". If your flute has a good bottom end, both tunes are made for it.
If you're looking for one of the old, "Big Tunes" for flute, you can't go wrong with Trim the Velvet. Played it tonight. A masterpiece, encompasses all there is in Irish music and there is still scope for your own minute "variations".
Just going on from jtrout's comment:
Hammy Hamilton, flute maker, player and expert, wrote both those jigs, hence the set name. I've heard the Kerfunten played in D, but the recording I have of Hammy playing it is in G.
Many tunes are very nice, it's a matter of taste. My two recent personal favourites on the flute are "The Old Maids of Galway" and the "Where the World would Be Without Women" http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1376
Easier to stick to tunes that don't have more than 2 parts, less likely to make a mistake, or the whole thing will be over sooner. However, the tunes should be complex enough to show off some versitility and also sound traditional.
Best thing is get fleadh tunes off someone who used to compete years ago and preferably won with. There is a repertoire of fleadh tunes that are tried and tested. I know people who have cassettes from competitions recorded on walkmans from years ago secretly stashed away that they raid from time to time to get tunes for pupils. It's a dark art.
The Humours of Swanlinbar is a nice reel and a wee bit different - sure to catch the ear. Most of the competitions I attended featured jigs and reels with more than two parts.
Agree and disagree Conan. Yes, it's a great tune, and a wee bit different, but it goes below "D". I have heard of flute adjudicators deducting marks for playing a tune "not suited to the instrument" - crap, I know, but they need to look for excuses to deduct marks. I wouldn't recommend it for the All-Ireland. Stick to tunes within the range of the flute.
My advice would be as follows :
as Conan says, play at least one tune with 3 or 4 parts. Make sure your tunes are not all in the same key. Work hard on the slow-air, because quite often that's the deciding factor. Play the tune "straight" the first time, and introduce a few variations the second time round. Don't go for a "trendy" new tune, stick to the old tried and tested tunes, or one that at least sounds as if it's a hundred years old. This is Comhaltas, remember.
From the above suggestions, "Trim The Velvet" is worth considering, as is "Farewell To Gurteen", and any of Josie McDermott's compositions. Either of Hammy's jigs would do too.
Lastly, win or lose, go for a pint and a few tunes with the other competitors after the competition - and good luck.
You know I don't really have any tunes for you to learn, but I suppose I could teach you The Curlew. Bev tought it me and you said you liked it. It's pretty hard but I don't know if it's hard enough for the fleadh.
How's University right now? What have you been doing?
The suggestion 'Trim the Velvet' is a good one. I've heard of it before, but i don't know it. I might learn it!
My earlier reply said I didn't know The Curlew was hard enough for the fleadh. What I meant was, I didn't think it was hard enough for your age group in the fleadh.
Yes Kenny! The Bev mentioned is Bev Whelan- everyone seems to know her. She lives in Lancaster now, but lived in Leicester for a while- i have to say it was a bit weird when I came to uni here (leicester) and everyone knew her and even knew the sets she'd taught me. Funny little world.....
Thanks for the good advice earlier! To everyone else- keep it coming tis all good and very helpful.
Oh yes, i forgot a minute ago to mention this. Ive found a tune that I really enjoy playing "The Rolling Waves" which has a nice rhythmic sound, but Im not sure if its too simple. Any ideas? http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/88
Besides Josie McDermott tunes, Vincent Broderick's compositions are also nice flute tunes and so are some of Paddy O'Brien's. "Coming of Spring" is a really nice 3-part jig, and not difficult on the flute. http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2403 And my all-time favourite reel on the flute is this: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/3434/comments#comment167832 As for "The Rolling Waves" I don't think it's too simple. It sounds nice in Dmix, with C naturals.
Thanks slainte. Ive got a version of Kevin Crawford playing the rolling waves in Dmix, so ive got a slightly diff version to the one here but i sound snice on the flute. Shall look up those links too.
Fleadh tunes for the flute
Fleadh tunes for the flute
Hi all
I'm entering the Fleadh again this year and I was wondering if anyone knew any particularly nice tunes for the flute/whistle. Im just going into the senior category this year so I'm a bit scared! Any suggestions?
# Posted on February 14th 2007 by RoisinB
Re: Fleadh tunes for the flute
I just learned "Boil the Breakfast Early," and it is a great reel, but not that difficult to learn.
# Posted on February 14th 2007 by Ailin
Re: Fleadh tunes for the flute
There's a great flute tune called "Larry get out of the bin" by Brian Finnegan and Sara Allen on the Wooden Flute Obsession #2, Disc 1. Also there's a great jig called "The Woodcock" which is coupled with "The Kerfunten Jig". The set is called "Hammy's Jigs". If your flute has a good bottom end, both tunes are made for it.
# Posted on February 14th 2007 by jtrout
Re: Fleadh tunes for the flute
If you're looking for one of the old, "Big Tunes" for flute, you can't go wrong with Trim the Velvet. Played it tonight. A masterpiece, encompasses all there is in Irish music and there is still scope for your own minute "variations".
# Posted on February 14th 2007 by Rudall the time
Re: Fleadh tunes for the flute
Just going on from jtrout's comment:
Hammy Hamilton, flute maker, player and expert, wrote both those jigs, hence the set name. I've heard the Kerfunten played in D, but the recording I have of Hammy playing it is in G.
# Posted on February 14th 2007 by Linsey Doyle
Re: Fleadh tunes for the flute
Many tunes are very nice, it's a matter of taste. My two recent personal favourites on the flute are "The Old Maids of Galway" and the "Where the World would Be Without Women" http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1376
# Posted on February 14th 2007 by Janek
Re: Fleadh tunes for the flute
Easier to stick to tunes that don't have more than 2 parts, less likely to make a mistake, or the whole thing will be over sooner. However, the tunes should be complex enough to show off some versitility and also sound traditional.
Best thing is get fleadh tunes off someone who used to compete years ago and preferably won with. There is a repertoire of fleadh tunes that are tried and tested. I know people who have cassettes from competitions recorded on walkmans from years ago secretly stashed away that they raid from time to time to get tunes for pupils. It's a dark art.
# Posted on February 14th 2007 by Fiddlebabe
Re: Fleadh tunes for the flute
Anything from Josie McDermott.
# Posted on February 14th 2007 by 52Paddy
Re: Fleadh tunes for the flute
i like the jig" farewell to gurteen"
# Posted on February 14th 2007 by molloy
Re: Fleadh tunes for the flute
The Humours of Swanlinbar is a nice reel and a wee bit different - sure to catch the ear. Most of the competitions I attended featured jigs and reels with more than two parts.
# Posted on February 15th 2007 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Fleadh tunes for the flute
Agree and disagree Conan. Yes, it's a great tune, and a wee bit different, but it goes below "D". I have heard of flute adjudicators deducting marks for playing a tune "not suited to the instrument" - crap, I know, but they need to look for excuses to deduct marks. I wouldn't recommend it for the All-Ireland. Stick to tunes within the range of the flute.
My advice would be as follows :
as Conan says, play at least one tune with 3 or 4 parts. Make sure your tunes are not all in the same key. Work hard on the slow-air, because quite often that's the deciding factor. Play the tune "straight" the first time, and introduce a few variations the second time round. Don't go for a "trendy" new tune, stick to the old tried and tested tunes, or one that at least sounds as if it's a hundred years old. This is Comhaltas, remember.
From the above suggestions, "Trim The Velvet" is worth considering, as is "Farewell To Gurteen", and any of Josie McDermott's compositions. Either of Hammy's jigs would do too.
Lastly, win or lose, go for a pint and a few tunes with the other competitors after the competition - and good luck.
# Posted on February 15th 2007 by Kenny
Re: Fleadh tunes for the flute
Hi Roisin! It's Niamh! Your little sister.
You know I don't really have any tunes for you to learn, but I suppose I could teach you The Curlew. Bev tought it me and you said you liked it. It's pretty hard but I don't know if it's hard enough for the fleadh.
How's University right now? What have you been doing?
The suggestion 'Trim the Velvet' is a good one. I've heard of it before, but i don't know it. I might learn it!
# Posted on February 15th 2007 by NiamhB
Re: Fleadh tunes for the flute
Hi!
My earlier reply said I didn't know The Curlew was hard enough for the fleadh. What I meant was, I didn't think it was hard enough for your age group in the fleadh.
# Posted on February 15th 2007 by NiamhB
Re: Fleadh tunes for the flute
Hmmm... flutes in Lancashire. "Bev" wouldn't be Bev Whelan, would it ?
# Posted on February 15th 2007 by Kenny
Re: Fleadh tunes for the flute
Yes Kenny! The Bev mentioned is Bev Whelan- everyone seems to know her. She lives in Lancaster now, but lived in Leicester for a while- i have to say it was a bit weird when I came to uni here (leicester) and everyone knew her and even knew the sets she'd taught me. Funny little world.....
Thanks for the good advice earlier! To everyone else- keep it coming tis all good and very helpful.
Ta
# Posted on February 15th 2007 by RoisinB
Re: Fleadh tunes for the flute
Oh yes, i forgot a minute ago to mention this. Ive found a tune that I really enjoy playing "The Rolling Waves" which has a nice rhythmic sound, but Im not sure if its too simple. Any ideas?
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/88
Thanks again
# Posted on February 15th 2007 by RoisinB
Re: Fleadh tunes for the flute
I looked at the regional fleadh results, and found your name, Roisin.
You can listen to U-15 All-Irealnd flute champions play their tunes.
2004: http://www.rte.ie/radio1/ceilihouse/rams/28august.ram (starts around 19:00, that's Colonel Fraser, I believe)
2005: http://www.rte.ie/radio1/ceilihouse/rams/27august.smil (starts around 41:00)
Besides Josie McDermott tunes, Vincent Broderick's compositions are also nice flute tunes and so are some of Paddy O'Brien's. "Coming of Spring" is a really nice 3-part jig, and not difficult on the flute. http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2403 And my all-time favourite reel on the flute is this: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/3434/comments#comment167832 As for "The Rolling Waves" I don't think it's too simple. It sounds nice in Dmix, with C naturals.
# Posted on February 15th 2007 by slainte
Re: Fleadh tunes for the flute
Thanks slainte. Ive got a version of Kevin Crawford playing the rolling waves in Dmix, so ive got a slightly diff version to the one here but i sound snice on the flute. Shall look up those links too.
Keep it coming!
# Posted on February 15th 2007 by RoisinB
Re: Fleadh tunes for the flute
mmmm liking "the coming of spring" very nice
# Posted on February 15th 2007 by RoisinB
Re: Fleadh tunes for the flute
Hi Roisin. A couple of nice reels on the new Comhaltas site at http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/programme_181_segment_8_eoin_conway/ might be worth considering.
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by Bannerman
Re: Fleadh tunes for the flute
They are Aughacashel and the Abbey Reel. The first one was written by a fiddler but a gorgeous tune on the flute too.
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by slainte
Re: Fleadh tunes for the flute
Go raibh maith agat, Slainte
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by Bannerman