Comments

best 'modern' tunes

best 'modern' tunes

I'm interested to hear others' opinions on the best modern tunes. Sometimes on this site you see folksbemoaning the quality of new tunes. Here's a challenge then, tell us which modern tunes - say in the last 30 years (is that too much time?) or 20 years, that you think are really great.
*Perhaps they perfectly fit into the tradition
*Maybe a tune you like does something a little different, but still regarded as fitting into a session without jarring (or something like that)

Tell us who discovered the tune and what it is about it that you particularly like.

Some that come to mind for me:

Muirrean's Jig - Niall Vallely - an amazing tune, 4 parts, complex in some ways, so simple in others

Lizzy in the Lowground - Liz Caroll, a very funky tune - I think that Liz Caroll took 'Billy' and made her own version. Could be wrong on that, anyway a great tune.

Old maids of galway - another Liz Caroll tune, I like the way she puts a whole lot of swing into it.

Drive the golden spike - Brian McNeill. Probably my favourite hornpipe. It's a bit different from lots of hornpipes - is that why I like it? Actually I do like lots of hornpipes, but this one just does something a little different..


I'd be interested to hear others' thoughts - it will give me ideas of other great tunes to learn.

cheers

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by Brown Creeper

Re: best 'modern' tunes

I could list reems of Liz carrol tunes. She's a bottomless pit of imagaination. Lost in the loop is a particularly good session tune.

Tommy Peoples' Black Pat has to be one of the best new tunes.

And I have a soft spot for Charlie MacKerron's tune, The 70th Year. I'm not generally a fan of a key change in the middle of a tune, but in this one it's done so very smoothly.

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by llig leahcim

Re: best 'modern' tunes

I'll second Lost in the Loop by Liz Carrol- one of my favorite tunes.

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by shanty

Re: best 'modern' tunes

I Also like Are you Ready Yet? by Tom Doorley of Danu.

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by shanty

Re: best 'modern' tunes

What do you mean by 'best'

The term's subjective, surely its a matter of personal opinion?

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by Mr Hippy

Re: best 'modern' tunes

"Are you Ready Yet? by Tom Doorley"

Isn't that really just Major Harrison's Fedora reinvented?

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by Phantom Button

Re: best 'modern' tunes

Duh ... that's why he opes the post with, "I'm interested to hear others' opinions."

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by llig leahcim

Re: best 'modern' tunes

Phantom, I learned them both the same week (weirdly) and definitely noticed their similarities, but at the same time found them to be distinctively different tunes.

Some of my favourite modern tunes:

The Ronan Boys -- Liz Carroll.

The Leading Role -- Liz Carroll

Wes and Maggie's Ceili Croft -- Leo McCann

The Dirty Bee -- Ross Ainslie

Fionn's -- Charlie McKerron

High Drive -- Gordon Duncan

The Famous Baravan -- Gordon Duncan (you could have reams of Gordon Duncan tunes)

The Singing Stream -- Niall and Cillian Vallely

The Salvation -- Simon Bradley

Flagstone of Memories -- Vincent Broderick

The Horse's Tail -- Zoe Conway (okay, I can't play this, but it's awesome)

Buntata's Sgadan -- Allan MacDonald

The Sleeping Tune -- Gordon Duncan

Bye Awhile -- Padraig Rynne

Trip to Pakistan -- Niall Kenny

And some really awesome local tunes:

The Bum Note -- Padraig O'Neill and Gillian Frame

Election 2006 -- Anna Kintner

There's Something about Kerry -- Padraig O'Neill

Susan's (I think? Ali, do you know for sure?) -- Simon McKerrell

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by DrSilverSpear

Re: best 'modern' tunes

'Isn't that really just Major Harrison's Fedora reinvented'
Don't know. I've always liked the tune. Liner notes from the first CD says that it was composed by Doorley.

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by shanty

Re: best 'modern' tunes

I'm 'way behind the pack in seconding Liz Carroll - Lizzy in the Lowground is great.

Also "Ness o'soond" on Fiddlers' Bid's CD "Hamnataing"CD
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/8524

..and I like this one by Peter Ostroushko.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6841

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by domnull

Re: best 'modern' tunes

Emily re Simon's tune (Susan's?) do you mean Miss Norton's?

http://www.myspace.com/roughtides

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by No Cause For Alarm

Re: best 'modern' tunes

Yup, that one. Don't know where I got it in my head that it's name was Susan's.

Jaysus, we do it a lot faster at the session. LOL.

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by DrSilverSpear

Re: best 'modern' tunes

*its... grammar is overrated.

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by DrSilverSpear

Re: best 'modern' tunes

SilverSpear, I say they're more similar than different. I played the Fedora for many years before hearing Doorley's tune and was immediately struck by the similarity. And they both even have 3 parts. But that happens a lot. Josephine Marsh wrote a tune named after her mom's birthday that sounds like Touch Me if You Dare reinvented in F instead of G, but don't get me wrong--I still play it and love it. As for Doorley's tune; it's hard to keep it out of the Fedora tune and vice versa.

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by Phantom Button

Re: best 'modern' tunes

Aye, Phantom, but you know yourself there are lots of old tunes with similar issues. I'm perennially playing the Drunken Pigeon on the Landlady's Gate, for instance, or Kissing Sean Reid Behind the Barrel. :)

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by DrSilverSpear

Re: best 'modern' tunes

Yes. Simon wrote it as a slow air but Padraig likes to speed it up a little.

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by No Cause For Alarm

Re: best 'modern' tunes

http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/7993

by Vincent Broderick. A very sweet tune.

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by Henk Bos

Re: best 'modern' tunes

A nice dark tune titled Larmor Plage written by Kate O'Brien can be heard on Deanta's Ready for the storm, kicking off a set with Landsdowne Lass.

Larmor Plage seems to be a beach (plage) on the coast of Brittany.

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by Earl Cameron

Re: best 'modern' tunes

Liz Carrol's Road to Recovery is a good session tune. Two guys play it at our session and I am learning it but can't keep up, everyone else is either afraid or annoyed.

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by Earl Cameron

Re: best 'modern' tunes

L' Armor Plage is indeed a beach in Brittany. It's not far from Lorient. I tried to camp there one year. Went to have breakfast one morning and came back to find my tent had blown away. Luckily a windsurfer had spotted it and weighed it down with stones! Lovely place, when there's not a storm brewing.

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by Conán McDonnell

Re: best 'modern' tunes

Would Ed Reavy's tunes be considered 'modern' at all? If so... anything by Ed Reavy.

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by grego

Re: best 'modern' tunes

That's a good question. At which point, if there even is one, does a tune cease being a "modern" tune and become an "old" tune?

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by DrSilverSpear

Re: best 'modern' tunes

1977 - obvious really!

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by No Cause For Alarm

Re: best 'modern' tunes

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Dave Richardsons, ' Caliope House ' Bill Whelan dropped it from Riverdance when they found out it wasn't traditional and had to pay royalties on it.

Dave H

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by Dave Hanson

Re: best 'modern' tunes

The title of this thread alone makes it ripe for degeneration into a slagging thread. Anyway, I'm far from an expert on recoreded ITM, but the OP makes an interesting point, because I find myself gravitating toward the older artists/groups/recordings all the time, perhaps in part because I just don't have the time to delve into more recent recordings. Is there a lack of quality recordings of ITM in the last 20-30 years? I really don't know. I love Patrick Street, and they didn't form until the late 80's. That's within 20-30 years. Does that count? Then again, Andy Irvine, Kevin Burke, Jackie Daly, not exactly newer artists, just newer recordings. Not sure where they fit in in the topic.

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by Jimmy B

Re: best 'modern' tunes

I hate Calliope House. There I have said it.

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by No Cause For Alarm

Re: best 'modern' tunes

Compared to Martin Wynne's #2, I hate Calliope House.

Compared to The Kesh, I LOVE Calliope House.

;-)

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler

Re: best 'modern' tunes

Ok, I admit it is all a matter of degrees.

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by No Cause For Alarm

Re: best 'modern' tunes

in random order

Drive the Golden Spike (Brian McNeill)
Hamish Henderson's Refusal (dto)
Splendid Isolation (Brendan McGlinchey)
Lawries (dto)
Wissahickon Drive (Liz Carroll)
Islay Rant (Charlie McKerron)
The Fyrish Reel (David Gordon)
Ormond Sound (Paddy O'Brien (or is he too old a geezer?))
anything by Ed Reavy
Black Pat's (Tommy Peoples)
La Cosa Mulligan (dto)
The Quiet Glen (dto, both slow air & jig)
Feileacan na Fuascailte (Siobhan Peoples)
The Sweetness of Mary (Joan MacDonald Boes)
Mulhaire's #9 (Martin Mulhaire)
Carmel Mahoney Mulhaire (dto)

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by Jürgen

Re: best 'modern' tunes

HA! You're right though No Cause, it's a bit of a nagging tune.

Did you ever come across that bizarre Missouri version of it where they play the B part first? They'll all swear that you're playing it wrong, too.

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler

Re: best 'modern' tunes

http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/8750

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by Kenny

Re: best 'modern' tunes

Ok - I am not planning any trips to Missouri at present but if I ever do 'cross the pond' I will watch out for it.

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by No Cause For Alarm

Re: best 'modern' tunes

I have a confession to make to all you guys *sob*

I... actually... like... the Kesh Jig. *sob*

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by DrSilverSpear

Re: best 'modern' tunes

@swfl fiddler, who are you calling bizarre? We like to think we are pretty cool in Missouri and are proud to have been the first to play C. House backwards.................and in E, the original key.

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by rogfox

Re: best 'modern' tunes

Since Ed Reavy has been mentioned, I'll throw in The Way to Shercock. A mighty tune.

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by rogfox

Re: best 'modern' tunes

lol rogfox

"...They'll all swear that you're playing it wrong, too..."

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler

Re: best 'modern' tunes

"Hi my name is The Silver Spear and I like The Kesh."

"Hi The Silver Spear."

"Hi, my name is SWFL Fiddler, and I like John Ryan's polka."

"OH MY GOD! KILL HIM WITH FIRE!"

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler

Re: best 'modern' tunes

I'm not telling. Once a tune is pegged as *the* tune it gets overplayed.
the (not-so random) taciturn whistler

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by Ben Steen

Re: best 'modern' tunes

It's OK, Silver. It's OK. Lots of us like The Kesh. No shame. Is the major qualification for "Best new tune," that it evokes lab rats in mazes? There are plenty of new tunes which can do that.

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by Atahualpa Quigley

Re: best 'modern' tunes

Surprised no-one has even mentioned Josephine Keegan yet. Or Josie McDermott for that matter. Charlie Lennon. And so on.

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by Rudall the time

Re: best 'modern' tunes

Come on lads... Farewell to Whalley Range!

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by Pere

Re: best 'modern' tunes

Thank you Pere! As I was reading through this discussion, I was thinking the very same.
Also by Mike McGoldrick, The Trip to Hervé's: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1026
Loophead Lighthouse, by Kevin Crawford: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1026
The Donegal Lass, by Brian Finnegan: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1497 (Brian has also written a ton of other awesome tunes, but this is probably the most played)
Paper Bird, by Diarmaid Moynihan: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2510
The Roaring Barmaid, by Anthony Sullivan: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/91
Tolka Polka, by Dónal Lunny: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1251


That's a few awesome tunes to be getting on with. Maybe I'll make a list of all the Scottish, Northumbrian, Breton, Canadian etc tunes later...

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by Joe CSS

Re: best 'modern' tunes

coals to newcastle, but 'Grainne's Jig', by TommyP.

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by 'tinamatt

Re: best 'modern' tunes

I think the title of this thread should have been: FAVORITE 'modern' tunes

# Posted on November 19th 2009 by Phantom Button

Re: best 'modern' tunes

or FAVOURITE ;-)

# Posted on November 20th 2009 by Phantom Button

Re: best 'modern' tunes

I haven't learned it yet, but I have always been partial to the reel by John McCusker called Frank's Reel.

# Posted on November 20th 2009 by AlBrown

Re: best 'modern' tunes

Paddy Fahey's still alive - put all of his tunes on the list

# Posted on November 20th 2009 by Hup

Re: best 'modern' tunes

I'm pretty Ptarmigan wrote a reel called " The Shadow". You can hear an mp3 on the Pay The Reckoning site. It's well worth a listen.

# Posted on November 20th 2009 by sechan

Re: best 'modern' tunes

Add " sure"n the appropeiate place. Sorry!

# Posted on November 20th 2009 by sechan

Re: best 'modern' tunes

There are tons of great modern tunes, of all sorts and flavors, and coming from diverse locations around the world. Here are some of my favorites:

Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh: The Red Crow
Samuel Ian Rothmar Burns: Spootiskerry
Jerry Holland: Brenda Stubbert's
Joan MacDonald Boes: The Sweetness of Mary
Phil Cunningham: The Hut on Staffin Island
Gordon Duncan: Pressed for Time
John Harling: Dusty Windowsills


# Posted on November 20th 2009 by apack

Re: best 'modern' tunes

Sorry Guys, but Best Modern tunes
has to be this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEZ2d4cYw4A&feature=PlayList&p=0AD286C187A0E495&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=55
by a mile
McGolrick written and played

# Posted on November 20th 2009 by ronoco

Re: best 'modern' tunes

He composed the jig and reel
The Full Set

# Posted on November 20th 2009 by ronoco

Re: best 'modern' tunes

Modern tunes? Do you mean "recent" compositions?

# Posted on November 20th 2009 by slainte

Re: best 'modern' tunes

OK, here goes...

Scottish:
Superfly http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/9942
The Rabbit http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/9077
Road to Errogie http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/5270
Frank's Reel http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/646
Ramnee Ceilidh http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2639
Rory Gallagher's http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2526
Myra's Jig http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/4464

Northumbrian:
The Road to the North http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6889
Peter Man http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/7809
The Flaming Drones http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/7201
Dog Leap Stairs http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1240
Vänkärin Polska (okay, so it was adopted and named by the Finns, but it was originally Northumbrian!) http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/7962
Balls to Hall http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6279

English:
Waiting For Janet http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/3425
Horizonto http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6839
Tanteeka http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2904
Flatworld http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/7859

# Posted on November 20th 2009 by Joe CSS

Re: best 'modern' tunes

I also used to play Calliope House in E (the original key) and with the parts in the other order. I think twas the flute/whistle players that changed the key (for ease of playing), and also possible the order of parts(for sheer badness).

I still get confused when CH comes up in a session

- chris

# Posted on November 20th 2009 by ramblingpitchfork

Re: best 'modern' tunes

http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1641

# Posted on November 20th 2009 by Kenny

Re: best 'modern' tunes

Miss Rowan Davies by Phil Cunningham is a lovely tune which shows that great music doesn't have to be stuffed with notes. :-)

# Posted on November 20th 2009 by Steve Shaw

Re: best 'modern' tunes

I'm another fan of Phil C.'s compositions. And Donald Shaw as well. It's amazing what those guys can do with just a few notes.

I don't know if they will become session favorites, but Shooglenifty has recorded a bunch of great tunes. Their first cd has several, but the later ones all have a couple of tunes that are really interesting.

# Posted on November 20th 2009 by Gzeg

Re: best 'modern' tunes

I too really like The Roaring Barmaid. Unfortunately it puts off any guitarist who tries to play along, due to the feeling of going from jig to slip jip in the second section.

# Posted on November 22nd 2009 by Bredna

Re: best 'modern' tunes

Most tunes by:
Gordon Duncan
Fred Morrison
Alan mMacDonald
Anna Massie
Mairearad Green
Ross Ainslie

# Posted on November 26th 2009 by Alasdair Paul

Favourite 'modern' tunes

"The Smiling Bride" ~ Charlie Lennon
March 8th 2005 by Dow.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/4290

# Posted on November 27th 2009 by Ben Steen

Re: best 'modern' tunes

Does anyone have an ABC for Bye a While?

# Posted on December 25th 2009 by Paudy

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