My name is Fredrik, and I'm from Sweden. I've been playing the violin for 10 years, mainly classical, but also alot of folk music. Recently I became a member of this wonderful website, and I just love it. I've been reading many discussions and so on.
Anyway, since I'm living in Sweden, most of my folkmusic experiences have been Swedish, although I happily learn music from whereever. Since I found this site I've been playing lots of celtic music, and some questions have come up in my head, and here they are:
What is the difference between Scottish, English, Irish, Shettlandish, and any other celtic music? The only thing that I have come to think of is that Irish music seems a bit more ornamented than for example Scottish music. Is that correct? It might aswell be totaly wrong... But I would love to know everything about any diffrences that there might be.
Also I began playing the silver flute two weeks ago. If there are two of the same notes in a row, in celtic music, am I supposed to separate them by a hit or a cut? Is it whatever I feel to do, or is there any "rule"?
I have search the forum, and had many good hits, but many of the discussions didn't stay very long around the subject, and I didn't really get any good answeres. And forgive my bad English, I hope that you can understand my questions.
Also, if anybody is interested, my youtube channel is http://www.youtube.com/user/cubeguitarist. I have a few videos with me playing both guitar, bass, drums, violin and mandolin. Mostly folk music or rock. The recordings aren't very good... But at least they are something.
"many of the discussions didn't stay very long around the subject" -- how true!
A person could probably write a book about the differences between the different "Celtic" styles--maybe somebody has, I don't know. To oversimplify (and I am certain to be corrected on this):
Scottish: influenced by Continental classical music
Shetland: a blend of Scandinavian and Scottish
Welsh: Older, more like medieval music I think
English: not "Celtic"
Galician, Asturian: Celtic, but with a distinct Spanish flavor
Ireland: The Really Good Stuff. I'm still trying to figure out exactly why that is true.
Wow, thanks for all the answeres. I hope to see some more, but only this was very informative, since I basicly know nothing about the music what so ever. Is Cornish music included to the "Celtic" music or the "English" music?
I was bored now in the evening, and I wanted to practice some flute and hear what I sounded like, so I made I record of my self. I think that it is quite good, keeping in mind that I have only two weeks worth of practice. If you want to, please let me know what you think. I posted it on youtube. Also, let me know if there is any exercises that you can do to improve the breathing technique.
Pretty good considering you have only been playing for two weeks. However, you probably should think about playing the tune slowly and steadily and focusing on rhythm, rhythm, rhythm and on making your ornamentation really clear. You shouldn't be trying to play fast after a few weeks, or years to be honest, because you'll pick up bad habits. Develop a strong sense of rhythm as early as possible.
Secondly, lose the accompaniment. It isn't doing you any good.
Forrest, as I have often suspected, but until now not confirmed, you really have not got a clue, despite the fact that you have been on this site for quite a while.
Scottish music is very diverse, Irish probably more so since regional styles had been preserved as we all except FT know, Shetland similarly, Welsh music is a complex little box of frogs, but English music as it stands has strongly influenced and is influenced by, Irish, Scottish French and Welsh musics and English music, were it given a chance to breath and revive itself properly, would flower into a beautiful richness of diverse county styles, unaided by the trappings of Morris but all the way from
Oh, give me a break. It was just grist for the mill, something to start the discussion. I know that all of these musics are quite diverse, and lovely in their own ways. And that any one of them is worthy of a lifetime of study.
But thank you for at least bothering to provide some information for people who are trying to learn more about it--unlike those who would rather indulge in bathroom humor, etc.
I'm waiting for someone more knowledgeable and articulate than me to explain the difference between Scottish, Irish, Cape Breton et al. At the end of the day, you know it when you hear it once you have been listening to enough stuff for a while.
Fredrik,
Welcome to this site. You will soon learn a great deal of information. One of our site members, Al Brown, has written a wonderful introduction for new members, and you can find it here:
Many of your questions about styles, technique, and history will be answered. There are also tunes and exercises, and a couple of helpful CDs included.
A great thanks to everyone! Really, this helped me out alot, and that book by Grey Larsen seems PERFECT for me, as it includes both about the music and about the instrument. I hope that I can be able to adapt this to my violin as well, which I think will be easier.
About the practice, yes, I DO practice slowly, and I try to practice rolls and hits and cuts everyday, just doing it on a scale up and down, often with metronome. I just wanted to make the video as a sort of a diary, to be able to see my progresses.
I'm going to Finland now, and I'll be back by tuesday, so I'll check out the forum then. And I found the book really cheap in a Swedish online shop, so I ordered it from there straight away. I will have it in my mail sometime next week.
There is also a book from Mel Bay "Complete Irish Flute Book" dedicated to playing Irish music on the Boehm (silver) flute. Worth a look if you want to stick with the silver flute option.
New to celtic and the silver flute
New to celtic and the silver flute
My name is Fredrik, and I'm from Sweden. I've been playing the violin for 10 years, mainly classical, but also alot of folk music. Recently I became a member of this wonderful website, and I just love it. I've been reading many discussions and so on.
Anyway, since I'm living in Sweden, most of my folkmusic experiences have been Swedish, although I happily learn music from whereever. Since I found this site I've been playing lots of celtic music, and some questions have come up in my head, and here they are:
What is the difference between Scottish, English, Irish, Shettlandish, and any other celtic music? The only thing that I have come to think of is that Irish music seems a bit more ornamented than for example Scottish music. Is that correct? It might aswell be totaly wrong... But I would love to know everything about any diffrences that there might be.
Also I began playing the silver flute two weeks ago. If there are two of the same notes in a row, in celtic music, am I supposed to separate them by a hit or a cut? Is it whatever I feel to do, or is there any "rule"?
I have search the forum, and had many good hits, but many of the discussions didn't stay very long around the subject, and I didn't really get any good answeres. And forgive my bad English, I hope that you can understand my questions.
Also, if anybody is interested, my youtube channel is http://www.youtube.com/user/cubeguitarist. I have a few videos with me playing both guitar, bass, drums, violin and mandolin. Mostly folk music or rock. The recordings aren't very good... But at least they are something.
# Posted on October 24th 2009 by Fredrik
Re: New to celtic and the silver flute
Welcome, I enjoyed your 'california' clip. Lovely.
# Posted on October 24th 2009 by piobagusfidil
Re: New to celtic and the silver flute
"many of the discussions didn't stay very long around the subject" -- how true!
A person could probably write a book about the differences between the different "Celtic" styles--maybe somebody has, I don't know. To oversimplify (and I am certain to be corrected on this):
Scottish: influenced by Continental classical music
Shetland: a blend of Scandinavian and Scottish
Welsh: Older, more like medieval music I think
English: not "Celtic"
Galician, Asturian: Celtic, but with a distinct Spanish flavor
Ireland: The Really Good Stuff. I'm still trying to figure out exactly why that is true.
# Posted on October 24th 2009 by John Galt
Re: New to celtic and the silver flute
Hi Fredrik,
You'll find a lot more flute-related information on the flute forum of Chiff & Fipple. http://forums.chiffandfipple.com/viewforum.php?f=27
# Posted on October 24th 2009 by Ceolmhar
Re: New to celtic and the silver flute
"Scottish: influenced by Continental classical music"
wow - sweeping the diverse styles of a country you don't understand with one statement.
Ok then, if that's the case - Ireland: country and western.
more knowledge required.
# Posted on October 24th 2009 by bogman
Re: New to celtic and the silver flute
Bogman, untwist your knickers. That's way I qualified the whole thing with "to oversimplify."
# Posted on October 24th 2009 by John Galt
Re: New to celtic and the silver flute
that's *why*
I expected some constructive, educational refinements from others... they say it's good to have a dream.
# Posted on October 24th 2009 by John Galt
Re: New to celtic and the silver flute
Wow, thanks for all the answeres. I hope to see some more, but only this was very informative, since I basicly know nothing about the music what so ever. Is Cornish music included to the "Celtic" music or the "English" music?
# Posted on October 24th 2009 by Fredrik
Re: New to celtic and the silver flute
I learned my lesson, I'm not touching that one.
# Posted on October 24th 2009 by John Galt
Re: New to celtic and the silver flute
I was bored now in the evening, and I wanted to practice some flute and hear what I sounded like, so I made I record of my self. I think that it is quite good, keeping in mind that I have only two weeks worth of practice. If you want to, please let me know what you think. I posted it on youtube. Also, let me know if there is any exercises that you can do to improve the breathing technique.
http://www.youtube.com/user/cubeguitarist#p/a/u/0/f1KBkuai638
# Posted on October 24th 2009 by Fredrik
Re: New to celtic and the silver flute
Hi Fredrik,
Pretty good considering you have only been playing for two weeks. However, you probably should think about playing the tune slowly and steadily and focusing on rhythm, rhythm, rhythm and on making your ornamentation really clear. You shouldn't be trying to play fast after a few weeks, or years to be honest, because you'll pick up bad habits. Develop a strong sense of rhythm as early as possible.
Secondly, lose the accompaniment. It isn't doing you any good.
# Posted on October 25th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: New to celtic and the silver flute
Forrest, as I have often suspected, but until now not confirmed, you really have not got a clue, despite the fact that you have been on this site for quite a while.
Scottish music is very diverse, Irish probably more so since regional styles had been preserved as we all except FT know, Shetland similarly, Welsh music is a complex little box of frogs, but English music as it stands has strongly influenced and is influenced by, Irish, Scottish French and Welsh musics and English music, were it given a chance to breath and revive itself properly, would flower into a beautiful richness of diverse county styles, unaided by the trappings of Morris but all the way from
# Posted on October 25th 2009 by Rudall the time
Re: New to celtic and the silver flute
Oh, give me a break. It was just grist for the mill, something to start the discussion. I know that all of these musics are quite diverse, and lovely in their own ways. And that any one of them is worthy of a lifetime of study.
But thank you for at least bothering to provide some information for people who are trying to learn more about it--unlike those who would rather indulge in bathroom humor, etc.
# Posted on October 25th 2009 by John Galt
Re: New to celtic and the silver flute
They originate from different nations for one
# Posted on October 25th 2009 by Earl Cameron
Re: New to celtic and the silver flute
I thought Forrest's post was somewhat tongue in cheek myself.
# Posted on October 25th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: New to celtic and the silver flute
Yeah, that--and as kind of a "tethered goat" intended to provoke some more useful discussion.
I should have known better, I suppose.
# Posted on October 25th 2009 by John Galt
Re: New to celtic and the silver flute
I think the goat got eaten by a lion pretty quick. These things happen.
# Posted on October 25th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: New to celtic and the silver flute
I'm waiting for someone more knowledgeable and articulate than me to explain the difference between Scottish, Irish, Cape Breton et al. At the end of the day, you know it when you hear it once you have been listening to enough stuff for a while.
# Posted on October 25th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: New to celtic and the silver flute
Fredrik,
Welcome to this site. You will soon learn a great deal of information. One of our site members, Al Brown, has written a wonderful introduction for new members, and you can find it here:
http://www.thesession.org/members/display/7960
# Posted on October 25th 2009 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: New to celtic and the silver flute
To learn a lot more about your instruments and how to approach them in this form of music, get this book:
http://www.greylarsen.com/store/books.php
Many of your questions about styles, technique, and history will be answered. There are also tunes and exercises, and a couple of helpful CDs included.
Best of luck!
# Posted on October 25th 2009 by Toppish
Re: New to celtic and the silver flute
A great thanks to everyone! Really, this helped me out alot, and that book by Grey Larsen seems PERFECT for me, as it includes both about the music and about the instrument. I hope that I can be able to adapt this to my violin as well, which I think will be easier.
About the practice, yes, I DO practice slowly, and I try to practice rolls and hits and cuts everyday, just doing it on a scale up and down, often with metronome. I just wanted to make the video as a sort of a diary, to be able to see my progresses.
I'm going to Finland now, and I'll be back by tuesday, so I'll check out the forum then. And I found the book really cheap in a Swedish online shop, so I ordered it from there straight away. I will have it in my mail sometime next week.
Thanks!
# Posted on October 25th 2009 by Fredrik
Re: New to celtic and the silver flute
Hi and welcome! Get in touch if you're ever close to Uppsala...
# Posted on October 25th 2009 by Pontus Adefjord
Re: New to celtic and the silver flute
There is also a book from Mel Bay "Complete Irish Flute Book" dedicated to playing Irish music on the Boehm (silver) flute. Worth a look if you want to stick with the silver flute option.
Chris.
# Posted on October 26th 2009 by Crackpot