I play in a newish band playing mainly Scottish traditional music (songs and instrumentals) and we need some more tunes to add to our current set. I play whistle and flute and there is a mando and guitar...We like to play fairly upbeat tunes but as we don't have sessions to go to get ideas, spend a lot of time trawling through youtube for inspiration.
We already play drowsy maggie, king of the faeries, cooley's, morrisons, toss the feathersx2, silver spear set and humours of tulla set.
Does anyone have any ideas of anything else we could add? I am trying out Tamlin and spootiskerry at the moment but would like other tunes to put them with. I also love catharsis but don't know if it would work on the whistle?
The other option is the Summer is coming up and the festivals begin in earnest starting with Girvan in a couple of weeks. Get yourself down and find some sessions. Plunder it for ideas and record some tunes.
Yeah your tune list does seem to be mostly Irish tunes; which is fine of course, but you might want to advertise that you do a mix of Irish and Scottish.
A Scottish set that I sometimes play is Flowers of Edinburgh / Miss McLeod's; both really standard tunes with lots of variations you can do (though I guess you can do lots of variations with any tune, really!).
Do you have a link to a recording of your music or anything like that?
Try putting 'Far from Home' in front of Tasia's set, and you'll have a nice little set of tunes. I downloaded this set, played by a band called PoitÃn, on one of my iTunes random buying sprees.
Brenda Stubbert's is from Cape Breton, though big in Scotland of course
Why don't you raid the Gordon Duncan catalogue like everyone else?
Don't forget march type tunes like Lochanside, Headlands and Linda MacFarlane
There's no mistaking them for anything but Scottish and your band will learn them quickly
You might do worse than get a Jimmy Shand album or two.
They lay down the characteristic dance rhythms very clearly. Also, plenty of tried-and-tested tunes - though in addition to these, a lot of tunes that are ephemeral and often pretty forgettable.
And, not being cutting-edge these days, JS albums can be come by fairly cheaply!
Some of my favorite Scottish tunes are McArthur Road, Barrowburn, Full Rigged Ship, New Rigged Ship, and St Kilda Wedding Reel. Another nice little tune is Mickie Ainsworth's, though it might be hard finding someone else who knows that one.
The piper Dr Angus MacDonald's album "A' Sireadh Spors" is a fantastic collection and source of good tunes. You could put together many a set from that collection alone.
We do say that we play scottish and irish music, but I would like us ultimately to be playing mostly scottish hence my request.
Islay rant is great but I struggle to find something to put it with. Calum's road is great too and has a lovely story to the tune which is good for introducing it.
I am trying to find really nice scottish tunes to put in that we can put our own slant on, going to sessions will no doubt be the best source so i'll get in touch with RonP as a starting point.
I am back playing after a few years break so your patience as ever is welcomed!
I guess Llig'll kill me for that one... (chuckle) but I just found a volume edited by Taigh na Teud, from Isle of Skye, called "scottish fiddlers' session tune book" (there's 3 volume...) sheet music of course, but with great tunes in it, and a lot I found everybody knew in the Edinburgh session I went to last week...
If you're doing Spootiskerry, Willafjord goes really well after it, then something like Flowers of Edinburgh or St Ann's reel -makes a really good fast set for the end of an evening!
Scottish sets...
Scottish sets...
Hi everyone,
I play in a newish band playing mainly Scottish traditional music (songs and instrumentals) and we need some more tunes to add to our current set. I play whistle and flute and there is a mando and guitar...We like to play fairly upbeat tunes but as we don't have sessions to go to get ideas, spend a lot of time trawling through youtube for inspiration.
We already play drowsy maggie, king of the faeries, cooley's, morrisons, toss the feathersx2, silver spear set and humours of tulla set.
Does anyone have any ideas of anything else we could add? I am trying out Tamlin and spootiskerry at the moment but would like other tunes to put them with. I also love catharsis but don't know if it would work on the whistle?
Any thoughts or ideas would be fantastic, thanks.
Louise.
# Posted on April 17th 2009 by kilmartinlou
Re: Scottish sets...
Catharsis would be a b*gger on the D whistle - at least in the original key of G minor and to be honest it is still difficult on an F whistle.
The list of tunes you have given seems very Irish for a band playing mostly Scottish music.
If you are based in Kilmartin then Ron P (http://www.thesession.org/members/display/10997) might be a good person to ask about sessions in your general area (even if that includes Oban).
The other option is the Summer is coming up and the festivals begin in earnest starting with Girvan in a couple of weeks. Get yourself down and find some sessions. Plunder it for ideas and record some tunes.
If nothing else it will be fun!
# Posted on April 17th 2009 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Scottish sets...
Yeah your tune list does seem to be mostly Irish tunes; which is fine of course, but you might want to advertise that you do a mix of Irish and Scottish.
A Scottish set that I sometimes play is Flowers of Edinburgh / Miss McLeod's; both really standard tunes with lots of variations you can do (though I guess you can do lots of variations with any tune, really!).
Do you have a link to a recording of your music or anything like that?
# Posted on April 17th 2009 by Glass of Beer
Re: Scottish sets...
Try putting 'Far from Home' in front of Tasia's set, and you'll have a nice little set of tunes. I downloaded this set, played by a band called PoitÃn, on one of my iTunes random buying sprees.
# Posted on April 17th 2009 by Pat Mustard
Re: Scottish sets...
A set I do from time to time is Spootiskerry/Brenda Stubbert's/The Otter's Holt. Brenda Stubbert's is a great reel (in my opinion).
# Posted on April 17th 2009 by Pat Mustard
Re: Scottish sets...
Islay Rant is a Scottish tune too isn't it?
# Posted on April 17th 2009 by steve...r
Re: Scottish sets...
I like Brenda Stubbert's too, but maybe I'm biased. That set sounds like I might give it a go since I like all three tunes.
# Posted on April 17th 2009 by Bredna
Re: Scottish sets...
Brenda Stubbert's is from Cape Breton, though big in Scotland of course
Why don't you raid the Gordon Duncan catalogue like everyone else?
Don't forget march type tunes like Lochanside, Headlands and Linda MacFarlane
There's no mistaking them for anything but Scottish and your band will learn them quickly
# Posted on April 17th 2009 by Bren
Re: Scottish sets...
You might do worse than get a Jimmy Shand album or two.
They lay down the characteristic dance rhythms very clearly. Also, plenty of tried-and-tested tunes - though in addition to these, a lot of tunes that are ephemeral and often pretty forgettable.
And, not being cutting-edge these days, JS albums can be come by fairly cheaply!
# Posted on April 17th 2009 by nicholas
Re: Scottish sets...
Calum's Road/Devil In The Kitchen.
Also, check your mail.
# Posted on April 17th 2009 by Mike Floorstand
Re: Scottish sets...
Some of my favorite Scottish tunes are McArthur Road, Barrowburn, Full Rigged Ship, New Rigged Ship, and St Kilda Wedding Reel. Another nice little tune is Mickie Ainsworth's, though it might be hard finding someone else who knows that one.
# Posted on April 17th 2009 by fuzzygreen
Re: Scottish sets...
The piper Dr Angus MacDonald's album "A' Sireadh Spors" is a fantastic collection and source of good tunes. You could put together many a set from that collection alone.
# Posted on April 17th 2009 by Solidmahog
Re: Scottish sets...
The Islay Ranter's Reel was written by Charlie McKerron of Capercaillie and Session A9 so yes it is a Scottish tune.
# Posted on April 17th 2009 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Scottish sets...
We do say that we play scottish and irish music, but I would like us ultimately to be playing mostly scottish hence my request.
Islay rant is great but I struggle to find something to put it with. Calum's road is great too and has a lovely story to the tune which is good for introducing it.
I am trying to find really nice scottish tunes to put in that we can put our own slant on, going to sessions will no doubt be the best source so i'll get in touch with RonP as a starting point.
I am back playing after a few years break so your patience as ever is welcomed!
Thanks for your help.
# Posted on April 17th 2009 by kilmartinlou
Re: Scottish sets...
I play lots of Scottish tunes on the mandolin and found Nigel Gatherer's site invaluable. It's a great resource, check it out here:
http://www.nigelgatherer.com/
# Posted on April 17th 2009 by donaidh
Re: Scottish sets...
I guess Llig'll kill me for that one... (chuckle) but I just found a volume edited by Taigh na Teud, from Isle of Skye, called "scottish fiddlers' session tune book" (there's 3 volume...) sheet music of course, but with great tunes in it, and a lot I found everybody knew in the Edinburgh session I went to last week...
# Posted on April 17th 2009 by Nikita Pfister
Re: Scottish sets...
Here are a couple of nice Scottish jigs
Hills of Glenorchy
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/842
Stool of Repentance
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1138
# Posted on April 17th 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Scottish sets...
Here is a really nice Scottish jig that I'm learning at the moment:
Lieutenant Maguire's
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1452
Alaisdair Fraser plays it in a nice set
Lieutenant Maguire's /The Curlews /Sleepy Maggie /Tail Toddle
# Posted on April 17th 2009 by Pat Mustard
Re: Scottish sets...
If you're doing Spootiskerry, Willafjord goes really well after it, then something like Flowers of Edinburgh or St Ann's reel -makes a really good fast set for the end of an evening!
# Posted on April 18th 2009 by Cathf