I need to learn a few new slow airs and waltzes. What are your favorites?
I play for a full moon ritual every month (solo mostly, sometimes with drumming), as well as sabbats. We need some more reflective-type music to balance the jigs and reels that get everyone dancing. I think that I have just about done "The Shingly Beach" and "Sour Grass and Granite" to death.
Brian Pickell has written a whole bunch of waltzes. If you like Sourgrass and Granite you'll like the others as well.. Slow airs that I've heard played at sessions in my area include amongst others Bruach Na Carraige Baine, Na Connery's, An Roisin Dubh, An Mhaighdean Mhara, Marbh Luimni, Johnny Seoige and An Paistin Fionn all of which are very accessible tunes.
Mrs. Jameson's Favorite is a nice Scot air. Josephine's Waltz is a nice one too, I think it is originally Swedish, but has been played a lot on recent CDs. Both are on this site. My old favorite from the Irish tradition is Ned of the Hill.
A great book of 100 or so slow airs was published some time ago by Derry uilleann piper Tomás Ó Cannáin of Na Filí and Liverpool Céilí Band fame. More details are available on-line at http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/096634/details.html?kbid=1582. It has virtually all of the celebrated airs in it and my own particular favourite was Geaftaí Baile Buí which was also recorded by the Chieftans back in the sixties.
For that type of thing you could probably work up the grounds to some pibroch tunes (Highland piping) on the flute. It won't sound the same obviously but it can still be beautiful.
My laggan love, played by Desi Wilkinson, on WFO volume 2 is *amazing*
Cathryn, with you penchant for Scottish and Shetland tunes, get yourself a copy of Johnny Cunningham's "Fair Warning" album (if you don't have it already). Lots of haunting slow airs. Archibald MacDonald of Keppoch (http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6999) is one of my favorites. The Arran Boat Song (http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/986) comes a close second.
Well, I you are playing on shabbat, how about Ashokan Farwell by a nice Jewish boy from the Bronx. Not Irish, but I've heard it played at a session or two.
Also, Josephene's Dorpvals which is just beautiful. I also like Far Away.
Daffyd, why would you assume that I am Wiccan? I am not. By no means are all Pagans Wiccans. And since you do not have even this extremely basic knowledge, how is it that you are entitled to make any comment whatsoever on this spiritual persuasion?
Ms. Jamison's Favorite and Mist-Covered Mountain are other slow airs that I play frequently. This is a spectacular list, folks! I will be checking out each and every suggestion here. I also play The Butterfly, beautiful and familiar to many, frequently and also Roaring Water when I need something subdued; these can work well if played quietly. Some other ideas I had today are The Slockit Light, The Silver Bow, and Auchdon House.
Keep 'em coming, oh denizens of the mustard board!
I find that remark quite offensive Dafydd.You make yourself a legitimate target.Who are you to pass judgement on other peoples'
belief systems? The topic is slow airs.I think you are fooling yourself with your assumed superior wisdom and gratuitous insults.
The airs that, when I'm out playing uilleann pipes for a wedding or funeral, the older Irish folk always recognise, are:
Roisin Dubh
Carrickfergus
Women of Ireland
For Ireland I'd Not Tell Her Name/Ar Eirinn ni Neosfainn Ce Hi
My Lagan Love
and the ever-popular Fields of Athenry
These tap into two sources, the old "sean nos" airs from the Irish-language singing tradition, and the "folk" songs written in the 1960's etc.
Slow airs
Slow airs
I need to learn a few new slow airs and waltzes. What are your favorites?
I play for a full moon ritual every month (solo mostly, sometimes with drumming), as well as sabbats. We need some more reflective-type music to balance the jigs and reels that get everyone dancing. I think that I have just about done "The Shingly Beach" and "Sour Grass and Granite" to death.
Thanks for any help.
# Posted on November 5th 2007 by cathrynb
Re: Slow airs
One waltz you might like is The House in Rose Valley by Phil Cunningham.
Mary
# Posted on November 5th 2007 by Antikhntr
Re: Slow airs
You probably know Mist-Covered Mountains. "My Cape Breton Home" is a sweet tune too: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/3191
# Posted on November 5th 2007 by slainte
Re: Slow airs
Brian Pickell has written a whole bunch of waltzes. If you like Sourgrass and Granite you'll like the others as well.. Slow airs that I've heard played at sessions in my area include amongst others Bruach Na Carraige Baine, Na Connery's, An Roisin Dubh, An Mhaighdean Mhara, Marbh Luimni, Johnny Seoige and An Paistin Fionn all of which are very accessible tunes.
# Posted on November 5th 2007 by Patkiwi
Re: Slow airs
Mrs. Jameson's Favorite is a nice Scot air. Josephine's Waltz is a nice one too, I think it is originally Swedish, but has been played a lot on recent CDs. Both are on this site. My old favorite from the Irish tradition is Ned of the Hill.
# Posted on November 5th 2007 by AlBrown
Re: Slow airs
A great book of 100 or so slow airs was published some time ago by Derry uilleann piper Tomás Ó Cannáin of Na Filí and Liverpool Céilí Band fame. More details are available on-line at http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/096634/details.html?kbid=1582. It has virtually all of the celebrated airs in it and my own particular favourite was Geaftaí Baile Buí which was also recorded by the Chieftans back in the sixties.
# Posted on November 5th 2007 by Bannerman
Re: Slow airs
Haaa...Boulavogue played by Noel Hill. I could listen to it for ever.
# Posted on November 5th 2007 by pennhorse
Re: Slow airs
Sabbats? You play on the Jewish day of rest?
# Posted on November 5th 2007 by dafydd
Re: Slow airs
Q.How many witches does it take to change a light bulb?
A.What do you want it changed into?
# Posted on November 5th 2007 by dafydd
Re: Slow airs
For that type of thing you could probably work up the grounds to some pibroch tunes (Highland piping) on the flute. It won't sound the same obviously but it can still be beautiful.
My laggan love, played by Desi Wilkinson, on WFO volume 2 is *amazing*
# Posted on November 5th 2007 by wormdiet
Re: Slow airs
Cathryn, with you penchant for Scottish and Shetland tunes, get yourself a copy of Johnny Cunningham's "Fair Warning" album (if you don't have it already). Lots of haunting slow airs. Archibald MacDonald of Keppoch (http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6999) is one of my favorites. The Arran Boat Song (http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/986) comes a close second.
Crested Hens (http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/562) would sound terrific under a full moon, as would Poor But Happy at 53 (http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/314) and also the Morning Star (played as slow reels).
Slowed way down (a la Martin Hayes), the hornpipe Poll Ha'penny (http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/841) makes a terrific air.
# Posted on November 5th 2007 by Will Harmon
Re: Slow airs
For waltzes:
Well, I you are playing on shabbat, how about Ashokan Farwell by a nice Jewish boy from the Bronx. Not Irish, but I've heard it played at a session or two.
Also, Josephene's Dorpvals which is just beautiful. I also like Far Away.
# Posted on November 5th 2007 by grumblingoldwoman
Re: Slow airs
I love Turas go Tir na nÒg or the Lea Rig there all i can think of at the moment.
# Posted on November 5th 2007 by Lollypoll
Re: Slow airs
jemsmom93 - is that a joke? As in: "please play Far Away"
# Posted on November 5th 2007 by grego
Re: Slow airs
Grego,
LOL, but no. Its in one the Waltz Books that I have and it's a slow, lovely tune called Far Away.
We play it at one of our sessions fairly regularly. A friend of mine who plays with Daisy Mayhem also has played it on stage.
# Posted on November 5th 2007 by grumblingoldwoman
Re: Slow airs
I love slow airs.
Far Away is a waltz by Peter Jung.
I tend to play this waltz at a 'brisk' pace.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/187
# Posted on November 5th 2007 by Ben Steen
Re: Slow airs
Correction:
Josefin's Dorpvals
# Posted on November 5th 2007 by grumblingoldwoman
Re: Slow airs
Wow! Glad I asked!
These are Pagans' sabbats, BTW.
# Posted on November 5th 2007 by cathrynb
Re: Slow airs
Sabbat is the day of rest for the Jewish people.A sabat is a meeting of a coven for those who are daft enough to believe in that sort of thing.
# Posted on November 6th 2007 by dafydd
Re: Slow airs
"Wicca" derived from the Old English for "basket case"
# Posted on November 6th 2007 by dafydd
Re: Slow airs
Daffyd, why would you assume that I am Wiccan? I am not. By no means are all Pagans Wiccans. And since you do not have even this extremely basic knowledge, how is it that you are entitled to make any comment whatsoever on this spiritual persuasion?
Ms. Jamison's Favorite and Mist-Covered Mountain are other slow airs that I play frequently. This is a spectacular list, folks! I will be checking out each and every suggestion here. I also play The Butterfly, beautiful and familiar to many, frequently and also Roaring Water when I need something subdued; these can work well if played quietly. Some other ideas I had today are The Slockit Light, The Silver Bow, and Auchdon House.
Keep 'em coming, oh denizens of the mustard board!
# Posted on November 6th 2007 by cathrynb
Re: Slow airs
I love "Starry Night in Shetland". Its on this site as The Starry Nights in/of Shetland".
# Posted on November 6th 2007 by Caraaz
Re: Slow airs
They're fooling no-one but themselves.Legitamate targets.
# Posted on November 6th 2007 by dafydd
Re: Slow airs
I find that remark quite offensive Dafydd.You make yourself a legitimate target.Who are you to pass judgement on other peoples'
belief systems? The topic is slow airs.I think you are fooling yourself with your assumed superior wisdom and gratuitous insults.
# Posted on November 6th 2007 by wolfbird
Re: Slow airs
The airs that, when I'm out playing uilleann pipes for a wedding or funeral, the older Irish folk always recognise, are:
Roisin Dubh
Carrickfergus
Women of Ireland
For Ireland I'd Not Tell Her Name/Ar Eirinn ni Neosfainn Ce Hi
My Lagan Love
and the ever-popular Fields of Athenry
These tap into two sources, the old "sean nos" airs from the Irish-language singing tradition, and the "folk" songs written in the 1960's etc.
# Posted on November 6th 2007 by Richard D Cook
Re: Slow airs
I play the waltz 'Far Away' too. Love it. A nice lament is 'Lament of the First Generation'. A Liz Carroll tune.
Another one of my favorite waltzes is 'Crested Hens'. Oh that's beautiful!
-paige
# Posted on November 6th 2007 by PaigeN