Who can suggest some trad tunes that sound good slow? I don't mean Airs that are meant to be played slowly, rather jigs or reels that have good melodies. I'll start the ball rolling with "My darling is asleep" and "The Shandon Bells".
The Rolling Wave is rather nice, as well as Banish Misfortune. I think that jigs are better tune to play like this. Reels don't trip my trigger in this fashion.
You could slow the Kesh down to Frere Jaques.
Lunasa do a good slow version of The Killarney Boys of Pleasure.
I think you could also do a nice slow version on The Boy on the Hill. What about Eddie Kelly's as well?
Actually, I think reels are better suited to slowing down - provided they have a flowing rather than staccatto type melody IMHO.
Palmer's Gate/Glountane School is a pair of reels that Sliabh Notes play much more slowly than at the usual reel speeds. I like it. Lord Inchiquin is nice played at a much slower pace than usual.
Hey rob, have you ever played The Singing Kettle. Thats a lovely reel even when played slowly.
as for jigs, i think charlie hunters 1+2 sound nice at any pace.
foxhunters reel, its nice swung as a slow hornpipe or you can play it straight even slower.
St. Annes reel becomes a whole new tune if you play it very slowly
The Old Favourite (which I loathe when played at 90bpm, but quite enjoy at a leisurely pace)
Master Crowley's (wunderkid Tania Elizabeth did this slowly and brilliantly on a CD she recorded when she was 13 or so - she then followed it with the usual driving version, and it sounds like two different tunes)
Star Above the Garter
Brenda Stubbert's (a friend described another friend's beautiful, slow fiddle rendition of this one as "sleazy", thereby utterly ruining the tune for me)
The Wise Maid (downright melancholy when played at half speed)
King of the Fairies (which I enjoy both at 120bpm and 40bpm;
Donnell Leahy plays it at the latter pace, and it's absolutely heartbreaking)
Lately I've been playing The Silver Spear as a lazy hornpipe, replete with slides, which cracks me up. Whether or not the resulting tune sounds good, or just amusing, is open to debate.
Many of my favorites are good played slowly (and not just because that's the only way I can play them!) Almost anything in a minor (or minor-sounding) key is lovely slowed down.
Reels: Bang Your Frog on the Sofa, Tommy's Tarbukas, Farewell to Chernobyl, She's in the Attic, Toss the Salad, Humours of Tullycrine, Speed the Pretzel, Sergeant Early's Dream, Da Slokit Light, The Glasgow, Namibe, Damascus Drum (I can see this one starting out very slowly, then picking up speed, going from meditative melancholy to despair-tinged joy)
Hornpipes: Caisle�n Na N�r, Chief O'Neill's Favorite, Pride of Petravore, Rights of Man, King of the Fairies, Humours of Tullycrine, Sins of the Fathers
Jigs: Coleraine, Strayaway Child, Gigue à Méo, Atholl Highlanders Balkan Version, Drummond Castle, Creel of Turf (Up Sligo), Mist on the Mountain, The Carraroe,Trip to Durrow
Polkas: I'll Buy Boots for Maggie, The Listowel, After the Battle of Aughrim (although I wouldn't call it a polka, myself; that's how it's listed here), Enkronaspolskan
Alright "Bang Your Frog on the Sofa" piqued my curiosity, cpc. So I checked it out and, damn, it's a nice tune. Congrats to Will CPT, well done. I'll start sharing it around home. Love this site for new tunes!
BTW, WIll CPT, if your listening, as a (bass) fiddler I know what the frog is, but I'm not familiar with the term "sofa"?
I play all tunes slowly, generally speaking; you can't really get your head around the tune unless you don't, I think. Play a tune end over end, slow and sure, for ten or fifteen minutes, then you might have that tune in you.
Depends how slow you mean, but Teada plays a lovely relatively slow version of the Humours of Lissadell. Palm Sunday, as mentioned , is also nice slow. So is the Mountain Road. I was playing it slow for a while to teach it to a student, and it was so nice I almost don't want to speed it up again!
I feel pressure a lot of the time (from audiences mostly) to play fast at sessions and gigs. The music is lost and it becomes a racket. Playing tunes slowly is a really good way of understanding the true beauty in them.
I've never played that one Session Savage. I just looked it up and it is a fine tune. Another one that I kinda like slow is Farewell To Erin. Its cracking when played fast, but the slow version is lovely too.
This thread really annoys me. A tune is a tune for fecks sake. Play it any speed you want. If it's agood tune you will enhance your understanding of it by exploring the range.
Cathal Hayden does a fantastic slow Homeruler hornpipe, I learned his version slow while I was in Ireland and then later heard it fast. I don't think I will ever play it fast, that would totally ruin the tune for me.
Tunes that sound good played slowly
Tunes that sound good played slowly
Who can suggest some trad tunes that sound good slow? I don't mean Airs that are meant to be played slowly, rather jigs or reels that have good melodies. I'll start the ball rolling with "My darling is asleep" and "The Shandon Bells".
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by Fiddle Fancier
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
The Kesh isn't bad as a slow waltz!
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by nicholas
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
The Rolling Wave is rather nice, as well as Banish Misfortune. I think that jigs are better tune to play like this. Reels don't trip my trigger in this fashion.
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by rob_handel
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
I agree on the rolling wave.Listen to Tony MacMahon playing it.
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by dinn2
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
You could slow the Kesh down to Frere Jaques.
Lunasa do a good slow version of The Killarney Boys of Pleasure.
I think you could also do a nice slow version on The Boy on the Hill. What about Eddie Kelly's as well?
Actually, I think reels are better suited to slowing down - provided they have a flowing rather than staccatto type melody IMHO.
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by Rudall the time
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Porthole of the Kelp.
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by Henk Bos
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Over the Moor to Maggie
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by TomB-R
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Martin Wynne's #2 is great as a slow air.
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by rogfox
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Palmer's Gate/Glountane School is a pair of reels that Sliabh Notes play much more slowly than at the usual reel speeds. I like it. Lord Inchiquin is nice played at a much slower pace than usual.
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by Steve Shaw
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
at?
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by Steve Shaw
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
- Poll Ha' Penny (I particularly like Desi Wilkinson rendition of the tune iin Shady Woods.)
- Her Black Long Hair. I've found a variety of names for this reel. You can listen to McGoldrick's slow and amazing version in Bb
- Kerry reel (Kevin Crawford slow version)
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by sylvester
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Robin Bullock recorded a slow version of "Green Fields of America" a few years back. It sounds really nice that way.
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by Steve L
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Hey rob, have you ever played The Singing Kettle. Thats a lovely reel even when played slowly.
as for jigs, i think charlie hunters 1+2 sound nice at any pace.
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by session savage
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Liz Knowles does a very beautiful slow version of Sgt. Early's Dream.
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by Jiml
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Matt Molloy playing the Templehouse.
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by kuec
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Is that this, savage?
http://www.singingkettle.com/
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by Rudall the time
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
The Banshee
Old Copperplate
Kitty's Rambles
Cliffs of Moher
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by GaryAMartin
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Maids of Mitchelstown
Garret Barry's
Dunmore Lassies
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by cferrie
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Ha ha ha danny, verry funny
thats not quite it..... good tune though
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by session savage
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/7710
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by session savage
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Palm Sunday from Lunasa. I do like their version of Killarney Boys of Pleasure as well.
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by I_Fel
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Here is A reel I always Thought was better slowly - E.s.p. on
an Tenor Banjo,, jim,,,
X:1
T:Sweeneys Buttermilk
C:Brendan McGlinchey
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Bm
FB~B2 FB~B2|dcBc AE~E2|FB~B2 ABce|afec Ba^ga|
f2ec fecf |ecBc BAFE |FB~B2 ABce|1 afec B4:|2 faec B2BA||
FBdc BF~F2|EAcB AE~E2|FBdc(3Bcd fb|afec dDcD|
Bcde fBB^g|afec ABce |fe(3fga bafb|afec B2BA:||
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by FIDDLE4
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
the girl that broke my heart?
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by BanjoBongo
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
whoa cferrie! you're a mind reader. I was gonna put down the exact same three tunes! I would like to add Heathery Breeze to that list as well.
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Cooley's Reel.
Brendan Power does a great version on 'New Irish Harmonica' , played slowly the first time, then again at full whack. Luvverly.
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by bc_box_player
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Baby, I like to play them all slow, if you know what I'm saying. What's the big rush? Aw yeah... [boom chicka wow wow]
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Dunmore Lassies
Out on the ocean (in A)
The Humours of Tullycrine
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by Pete Stephenson
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
pipes and fiddle playing the gold ring slowly, its almost trance-like you can really get lost in that tune, try it!
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by fishtyfiddle
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
foxhunters reel, its nice swung as a slow hornpipe or you can play it straight even slower.
St. Annes reel becomes a whole new tune if you play it very slowly
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by thorsdog
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
We could also discuss
"Tunes that sound good played at a reasonable speed or NOT TOO fast"
Of course, this is a matter of opinion about what "fast" means.
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by John J.
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Playing at a reasonable speed is better than playing half-fast.
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by GaryAMartin
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Father Kelly's
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by pennhorse
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Gerry Commane's in D; and the three Ballydesmond Polkas in Am ending on the sixth
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by vonnieestes
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
the Scholar (the Poor Scholar) Reel
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
I like to play Return from Fingal slower.
Also second the Killarney Boys teamed with Mayor Harrison's Fedora
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by daddae
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Gallagher's Frolics
The Old Favourite (which I loathe when played at 90bpm, but quite enjoy at a leisurely pace)
Master Crowley's (wunderkid Tania Elizabeth did this slowly and brilliantly on a CD she recorded when she was 13 or so - she then followed it with the usual driving version, and it sounds like two different tunes)
Star Above the Garter
Brenda Stubbert's (a friend described another friend's beautiful, slow fiddle rendition of this one as "sleazy", thereby utterly ruining the tune for me)
The Wise Maid (downright melancholy when played at half speed)
King of the Fairies (which I enjoy both at 120bpm and 40bpm;
Donnell Leahy plays it at the latter pace, and it's absolutely heartbreaking)
Lately I've been playing The Silver Spear as a lazy hornpipe, replete with slides, which cracks me up. Whether or not the resulting tune sounds good, or just amusing, is open to debate.
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by Tall, Dark, and Mysterious
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Many of my favorites are good played slowly (and not just because that's the only way I can play them!) Almost anything in a minor (or minor-sounding) key is lovely slowed down.
Reels: Bang Your Frog on the Sofa, Tommy's Tarbukas, Farewell to Chernobyl, She's in the Attic, Toss the Salad, Humours of Tullycrine, Speed the Pretzel, Sergeant Early's Dream, Da Slokit Light, The Glasgow, Namibe, Damascus Drum (I can see this one starting out very slowly, then picking up speed, going from meditative melancholy to despair-tinged joy)
Hornpipes: Caisle�n Na N�r, Chief O'Neill's Favorite, Pride of Petravore, Rights of Man, King of the Fairies, Humours of Tullycrine, Sins of the Fathers
Jigs: Coleraine, Strayaway Child, Gigue à Méo, Atholl Highlanders Balkan Version, Drummond Castle, Creel of Turf (Up Sligo), Mist on the Mountain, The Carraroe,Trip to Durrow
Polkas: I'll Buy Boots for Maggie, The Listowel, After the Battle of Aughrim (although I wouldn't call it a polka, myself; that's how it's listed here), Enkronaspolskan
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by cpc
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
All of them! (if played well.)
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by jwvansteenwyk
Bang Your Frog?
Alright "Bang Your Frog on the Sofa" piqued my curiosity, cpc. So I checked it out and, damn, it's a nice tune. Congrats to Will CPT, well done. I'll start sharing it around home. Love this site for new tunes!
BTW, WIll CPT, if your listening, as a (bass) fiddler I know what the frog is, but I'm not familiar with the term "sofa"?
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by daddae
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Da Slockit Light, cpc? I've never heard it played anything but slow. Tongadale Reel is another that's better slow than fast
Bonaparte's Retreat as done slowly by Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas is great
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by Bren
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
I play all tunes slowly, generally speaking; you can't really get your head around the tune unless you don't, I think. Play a tune end over end, slow and sure, for ten or fifteen minutes, then you might have that tune in you.
--DtM
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by Dan the Man
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Dr McPhail's is a nice slow reel (a la Capercaillie)
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
The Exile of Erin
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by Buck
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Depends how slow you mean, but Teada plays a lovely relatively slow version of the Humours of Lissadell. Palm Sunday, as mentioned , is also nice slow. So is the Mountain Road. I was playing it slow for a while to teach it to a student, and it was so nice I almost don't want to speed it up again!
# Posted on March 19th 2008 by jasonb
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Well thanks a lot folks. That should keep me busy for a while!
# Posted on March 20th 2008 by Fiddle Fancier
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
I play the Mason's Apron slowly - but that's because it's all I can manage so far .. lol - but I'm getting there!
# Posted on March 20th 2008 by jamascc
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
I feel pressure a lot of the time (from audiences mostly) to play fast at sessions and gigs. The music is lost and it becomes a racket. Playing tunes slowly is a really good way of understanding the true beauty in them.
# Posted on March 20th 2008 by Fiddle Fancier
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
I've never played that one Session Savage. I just looked it up and it is a fine tune. Another one that I kinda like slow is Farewell To Erin. Its cracking when played fast, but the slow version is lovely too.
# Posted on March 20th 2008 by rob_handel
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
This thread really annoys me. A tune is a tune for fecks sake. Play it any speed you want. If it's agood tune you will enhance your understanding of it by exploring the range.
# Posted on March 20th 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Any tune which I cannot play up to speed sounds good played slow.
However I cannot not always convince my session mates of the same.
# Posted on March 20th 2008 by Ben Steen
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
I've always felt like playing Drowsey Maggie slowly was a nice way to shake up the tune.
# Posted on March 20th 2008 by dannym
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Morrison's Jig sounds nice played slowly too
# Posted on March 20th 2008 by dannym
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Flight of the bumble bee as a slow air.
# Posted on March 20th 2008 by Pete Stephenson
Bang your frog on the sofa
daddae, a sofa is a couch, settee, lounge suite... whatever you call it in the US.
# Posted on March 20th 2008 by buttons 'n' whistles
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
The Snowy Path...like Altan did it on Harvest storm.
# Posted on March 21st 2008 by samiam590
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
a beautiful jig which immediately feels like an air when played slowly but also sounds nice as a slowly played jig: the lark in the morning
# Posted on March 24th 2008 by alexweger
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
Cathal Hayden does a fantastic slow Homeruler hornpipe, I learned his version slow while I was in Ireland and then later heard it fast. I don't think I will ever play it fast, that would totally ruin the tune for me.
# Posted on March 24th 2008 by girlwiththegreenfiddle
Re: Tunes that sound good played slowly
all o' them
# Posted on November 3rd 2008 by justabloke