The best reel in the world is the last one I came even vaguely close to playing half-decently. So they are rare beasts indeed. That's my last word in what is clearly going to be an utterly profound thread.
Is it what you think to be the way to learn the good tunes? There are no best tunes. Just the those you like.
I often play
Spike Island lasses, the Clare shout, The fairy
to play the game
Is the question which do think are best or what's the best you can play? There are some really great tunes I wish I could play yet, but for now will have go with Rolling in the Ryegrass, the Lilting Banshee, and Butterfly. I know these are actually pretty cool tunes, but you haven't heard me play them! ;)
Best ever? It's that magical one that occurs every so often when every musician in the pub locks in perfectly; the balance of instruments is perfect; the lift of the tune floats the room off the floorboards; the punters stop their jokes and arguments about football to listen in; time stops in its tracks until the set finishes and everybody leans back into their chairs and lifts their pints with unrestrained grins stretching their faces. Ya that's the one.
apart from the fact that i refuse to speak of the best tune ever, which might be a tune i can't play at the moment, a tune that will grow on me that i don't really like yet or a tune i still have to come a cross, what i play quite often right now would be:
Sporting Paddy
Old Hag You've Killed Me
Kid on the Mountain
But thats me and thats now, ask me in ten minutes and you'll get a different answer
So many of them. But for a big reel, with many parts, a grand tune and sustained momentum and interest, I'd give it to The Graf Spee.
The Cordal Jig is a favourite double jig: goes nicely on a DG melodeon.
Sir Simon The King is a very old English slip jig which I've heard played in several parts by the Durham band Horseplay. I haven't yet learned it but hope to. It's a brilliant tune, or I wouldn't have put it at the top of my slip jig list! It's a bit like The Sport Of The Chase, as recorded by John Doonan, but distinct enough.
reel- The Blood Behind The Goat Skin
jig- The Drunken Squid
hornpipe- The Horn of Rye With the Hole in the Bottom
slip jig- The Eel in the Hand
single jig- Do Ye Come Here Often
barndance- Watch Yer Step Paddy
I know hundreds of tunes but I can't play any of them. I just do notes. I hate them all. The more beautiful they are the more the bastards taunt me with their unplayability. It's either death or jazz.
Yes, you're mostly right Michael, but newer players should be allowed to express preferences as well. It's not exactly a high powered thread is it?
FWIW, right now when I've got a few spare seconds for practice, I've been revisiting some old tunes from way back...in my repertoire, that is.
Reel - The Connemara Stocking - not quite got it off yet though...
Slip Jigs - Give us a Drink of Water (The Paddy Glackin one)/My Mind Would Never Be Aisy/(not quite got) The Humours of Westmeath (off yet, either.)
Jig - Apples in Winter (still a bit unripe though).
Llig - your observations are probably true - but come now, there must be a few new tunes that inspire you these days? I for one would love to know what tunes you are working on - what reels or jigs you just sit down and meditate on - melodies that never seem to tire your ears or your bow.
JNE, I'll admit there are a handful of tunes I really don't care for much (Atholl Highlanders, Concertina Reel), but I'm happy to "sit down and meditate" on *any* of the thousands of other tunes. I've been playing Silver Spear for 30 years and it's still a well constructed, endlessly interesting tune.
Does that make Silver Spear the "best" reel ever? Why should it, when nearly any tune in the tradition is open to the same sort of exploration and surprise?
There's a lot of hype around so-called "big tunes" like the Bucks or the Gold Ring, but simpler tunes like Rolling in the Ryegrass often offer as much or more opportunities for playing around.
I don't even want to think about what criteria would go into determining what "best" means in regards to tunes.
Think of it this way--it's not about the tunes as stand-alones. It's about *playing* the tunes. And nearly all of them are wonderful things to play.
Ah, you call it your 'best' now, but will you still love it tomorrow? You fickle lovers you, always moving onto a new tune. What if you decide to move on? Doesn't that make for some awkward conversation?
"...uh, listen, I know we were really close back then, but things have changed, you know, people change..."
"Oh no! It's another reel, isn't it? You're playing another reel?!?"
Will CPT - I agree completely, I'm just trying to nudge Llig into divulging a couple of tunes he actually likes
SWFL, have you tried the "it's not you, it's me" line? I broke up with Maid Behind the Bar last week - It actually went better than I thought it would - apparently she was ready to move on too...
There's a jig called Sport which is tickling my fancy at the moment. Peoples' Black Pat is one I seem to whistle a lot as I'm strolling about. Played it in G for the first time in ages the other day - two flute players in - and really enjoyed it. It's a very clever tune. There's three or four more that I learned this and last week in the pub but don't have names for. And I'm steadily working my way through Liz Carroll's back catalogue
As far as tunes I've known for 20 years go, the spike Island lasses is just exceptional. And the bucks of course. And many many many many more. Far too numerous to mention, even if I did know their names.
Anything composed by Tommy Peoples (Green Fields of Glentown has already been mentioned and Grainne's Jig and Jocelyn Tree are another two great ones but there are plenty more). Maurice Lennon has also turned out some great tunes like Stone of Destiny, Road to Garrison and the Master's Daughter; and what about the Trip to London jigs where he collaborated with Kieran Hanrahan. I didn't mean to concentrate on "newly composeds" and in any case there will never be a better tune than Devanney's Goat!
Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
Personally I like farewell to Ireland as best reel and the Humours of Ennistymon as best double jig. Kid on the Mountain best Slip Jig
What would be on top of your list just the top one or two
Regards
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by Shylock
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
Thank christ I will never have to choose
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
Lord Gordon`s reel
The Old Grey Goose Jig
The Butterfly slip-jig
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by cos
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
The best reel in the world is the last one I came even vaguely close to playing half-decently. So they are rare beasts indeed. That's my last word in what is clearly going to be an utterly profound thread.
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by Steve Shaw
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
Is it what you think to be the way to learn the good tunes? There are no best tunes. Just the those you like.
I often play
Spike Island lasses, the Clare shout, The fairy
to play the game
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by protz
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
Is the question which do think are best or what's the best you can play? There are some really great tunes I wish I could play yet, but for now will have go with Rolling in the Ryegrass, the Lilting Banshee, and Butterfly. I know these are actually pretty cool tunes, but you haven't heard me play them! ;)
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by PatrickJWK
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
Best ever? It's that magical one that occurs every so often when every musician in the pub locks in perfectly; the balance of instruments is perfect; the lift of the tune floats the room off the floorboards; the punters stop their jokes and arguments about football to listen in; time stops in its tracks until the set finishes and everybody leans back into their chairs and lifts their pints with unrestrained grins stretching their faces. Ya that's the one.
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
Rather than ranking the tunes as "good, better, best," why not get to know and appreciate each of them for what they really are?
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
The Old Copper Plate
Banish Misfortune
Drops of Brandy
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by padre
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
Reel= Green Fields Of Glentown
Double jig = Doctor O'neills
Slip-jig= Ride a Mile
jim,,,
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by FIDDLE4
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
fave reel: maid of montcisco
fave jig: monaghan jig/cats meow
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by person
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
Whatever Michelle O'Brien's playing at any given moment.
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by ethical blend
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
apart from the fact that i refuse to speak of the best tune ever, which might be a tune i can't play at the moment, a tune that will grow on me that i don't really like yet or a tune i still have to come a cross, what i play quite often right now would be:
Sporting Paddy
Old Hag You've Killed Me
Kid on the Mountain
But thats me and thats now, ask me in ten minutes and you'll get a different answer
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by TMB
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
So many of them. But for a big reel, with many parts, a grand tune and sustained momentum and interest, I'd give it to The Graf Spee.
The Cordal Jig is a favourite double jig: goes nicely on a DG melodeon.
Sir Simon The King is a very old English slip jig which I've heard played in several parts by the Durham band Horseplay. I haven't yet learned it but hope to. It's a brilliant tune, or I wouldn't have put it at the top of my slip jig list! It's a bit like The Sport Of The Chase, as recorded by John Doonan, but distinct enough.
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by nicholas
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
It depends
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
... the ones i wrote myself.
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by skin&bow
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
For me it has to be
reel;the sally gardens
Jig;Pay the reckoning
Hornpipe;the plains of Boyle
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by Allissa
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
reel- The Blood Behind The Goat Skin
jig- The Drunken Squid
hornpipe- The Horn of Rye With the Hole in the Bottom
slip jig- The Eel in the Hand
single jig- Do Ye Come Here Often
barndance- Watch Yer Step Paddy
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by The Merry Highlander
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
Nice set of names, Sean!
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by nicholas
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
Reel: "Cooley's reel" (the best in this world!!)
Jig: I dunno, I still don't have a favorite
Slip Jig: "Kid On The Mountain", I agree with this!
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by Bothrops
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
The choice of tunes picked so far merely exposes the people who don't know many tunes
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
I know hundreds of tunes but I can't play any of them. I just do notes. I hate them all. The more beautiful they are the more the bastards taunt me with their unplayability. It's either death or jazz.
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by Steve Shaw
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
Yes, you're mostly right Michael, but newer players should be allowed to express preferences as well. It's not exactly a high powered thread is it?
FWIW, right now when I've got a few spare seconds for practice, I've been revisiting some old tunes from way back...in my repertoire, that is.
Reel - The Connemara Stocking - not quite got it off yet though...
Slip Jigs - Give us a Drink of Water (The Paddy Glackin one)/My Mind Would Never Be Aisy/(not quite got) The Humours of Westmeath (off yet, either.)
Jig - Apples in Winter (still a bit unripe though).
# Posted on April 17th 2008 by Rudall the time
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
Llig - your observations are probably true - but come now, there must be a few new tunes that inspire you these days? I for one would love to know what tunes you are working on - what reels or jigs you just sit down and meditate on - melodies that never seem to tire your ears or your bow.
# Posted on April 17th 2008 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
JNE, I'll admit there are a handful of tunes I really don't care for much (Atholl Highlanders, Concertina Reel), but I'm happy to "sit down and meditate" on *any* of the thousands of other tunes. I've been playing Silver Spear for 30 years and it's still a well constructed, endlessly interesting tune.
Does that make Silver Spear the "best" reel ever? Why should it, when nearly any tune in the tradition is open to the same sort of exploration and surprise?
There's a lot of hype around so-called "big tunes" like the Bucks or the Gold Ring, but simpler tunes like Rolling in the Ryegrass often offer as much or more opportunities for playing around.
I don't even want to think about what criteria would go into determining what "best" means in regards to tunes.
Think of it this way--it's not about the tunes as stand-alones. It's about *playing* the tunes. And nearly all of them are wonderful things to play.
# Posted on April 17th 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
Ah, you call it your 'best' now, but will you still love it tomorrow? You fickle lovers you, always moving onto a new tune. What if you decide to move on? Doesn't that make for some awkward conversation?
"...uh, listen, I know we were really close back then, but things have changed, you know, people change..."
"Oh no! It's another reel, isn't it? You're playing another reel?!?"
# Posted on April 17th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
Will CPT - I agree completely, I'm just trying to nudge Llig into divulging a couple of tunes he actually likes
SWFL, have you tried the "it's not you, it's me" line? I broke up with Maid Behind the Bar last week - It actually went better than I thought it would - apparently she was ready to move on too...
# Posted on April 17th 2008 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
Michael has high regard for the Bucks.
'Nuff said.
# Posted on April 17th 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
Good picks Person. And I'd add the Butterfly for my best slip.
# Posted on April 17th 2008 by Whiddler
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
There's a jig called Sport which is tickling my fancy at the moment. Peoples' Black Pat is one I seem to whistle a lot as I'm strolling about. Played it in G for the first time in ages the other day - two flute players in - and really enjoyed it. It's a very clever tune. There's three or four more that I learned this and last week in the pub but don't have names for. And I'm steadily working my way through Liz Carroll's back catalogue
As far as tunes I've known for 20 years go, the spike Island lasses is just exceptional. And the bucks of course. And many many many many more. Far too numerous to mention, even if I did know their names.
# Posted on April 17th 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
Anything composed by Tommy Peoples (Green Fields of Glentown has already been mentioned and Grainne's Jig and Jocelyn Tree are another two great ones but there are plenty more). Maurice Lennon has also turned out some great tunes like Stone of Destiny, Road to Garrison and the Master's Daughter; and what about the Trip to London jigs where he collaborated with Kieran Hanrahan. I didn't mean to concentrate on "newly composeds" and in any case there will never be a better tune than Devanney's Goat!
# Posted on April 17th 2008 by Bannerman
Re: Best Reel/double Jig/Slip Jig ever?
For the slip jigs...I have a warm spot for Wheels of the World and Fig for a Kiss.
Nice rhythms.
# Posted on April 17th 2008 by zippydw