I've heard classical players taking a stab at ITM (and that's what it almost always sounds like).
Wonder if there are any good recorded examples of trad. flutists/pipers/fiddlers playing some classically derived melodies as if they were traditional tunes? Somethinglike the Satie 'Gymnopedies' should sound great on Uillean pipes. (At least they did in last night's dream!)
Then, there's Carolan's Concerto, though not specifically a flute tune.
This anecdote from Oliver Goldsmith's essay on O'Carolan:
"Being once in the house of an Irish nobleman, where there was a musician present who was eminent in his profession,
Carolan immediately challenged him to a trial of skill. To carry the jest forward, his Lordship persuaded the musician to accept the challenge, and he accordingly played over on his fiddle the fifth concerto of Vivaldi.
Carolan immediately taking his harp, played the whole piece after him, without missing a note, though he had never heard it before; which produced some surprise; but their astonishment increased when he assured them he would make a concerto in the same taste himself, which he instantly composed, and that with such spirit and elegance, that it may compare (for we have it still) with the finest compositions of Italy."
I heard a fiddler named Gilles play a Bach piece as a jig once. I think he's quite accomplished as a regular classical violinist, though. But I've heard him play in a session, too, so I know he can do both.
Sean Maguire recorded Fritz Kreisler's Schön Rosmarin. Leo Rowsome liked to play In the Mood on the pipes, according to his son Liam. Popular tunes would be a bit of a bottomless well on this thread, though. Sligo/NYC fiddler James Morrison's manuscripts (issued last year in book form) have Paddy on the Turnpike and Melancholy Baby on subsequent pages, if you want a one stop resource.
Yes indeed take a listen to Jerry O Sullivan doing Bach. It's great, because in my opinion he hits it just right: being faithful to the music but at the same time remaining faithful to the sounds and techniques of the uilleann pipes (barking etc).
He's actually playing as part of a typical Baroque ensemble with harpsicord etc, with the uilleann pipes taking the oboe part as I recall.
There is a school of thought out there regarding the origins of the uilleann/union/pastoral pipes suggesting that they were designed in the 18th century to fit into Baroque ensembles. The union pipes design, which was similar to the pastoral pipes but didn't have the foot joint, may have been better at playing the Baroque pieces than the pastoral pipes. Which would explain, in part at least, why pastoral pipes died out while union/uilleann pipes survived.
This is all speculation, since the origin of the instrument is uncertain as best. However, it's clearly not out of place for them to play Baroque music, since 18th and 19th century collections of union pipe music have Baroque-type pieces in them, alongside jigs, reels, hornpipes, etc.
Irish flute/pipes takes on classical "tunes"
Irish flute/pipes takes on classical "tunes"
I've heard classical players taking a stab at ITM (and that's what it almost always sounds like).
Wonder if there are any good recorded examples of trad. flutists/pipers/fiddlers playing some classically derived melodies as if they were traditional tunes? Somethinglike the Satie 'Gymnopedies' should sound great on Uillean pipes. (At least they did in last night's dream!)
Niles H
# Posted on February 20th 2010 by Niles H
Re: Irish flute/pipes takes on classical "tunes"
I believe Eileen Ivers once did Pachelbel's "Canon in D"... Aside from that, I've no clue.
# Posted on February 20th 2010 by JosephC
Re: Irish flute/pipes takes on classical "tunes"
Frankie Gavin and Damien Mullane playing Bach: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWei3cEtkHM
And this is the authentic interpretation of the piece: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVxwuirUX-M Incidentally, the flautist is called Wilbert Hazelzet.
# Posted on February 20th 2010 by slainte
Re: Irish flute/pipes takes on classical "tunes"
"Pachabel's Frolics" is fairly widely played (isn't there a recording of P.J. Hayes playing it?), and De Danann did that whole Queen of Sheba thing.
An awful lot of the Chieftains stuff sounds like classical....
# Posted on February 20th 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: Irish flute/pipes takes on classical "tunes"
Simon Mayor makes a fair stab here at Sheba.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPDnfZDUs7c
# Posted on February 20th 2010 by gam
Re: Irish flute/pipes takes on classical "tunes"
http://www.myspace.com/kitus4
1mn30 into "Adèle blanc sec", they transition into the badinerie, played as a "scottish" (somewhat similar to schottisches and barndances)
# Posted on February 20th 2010 by Tirno
Re: Irish flute/pipes takes on classical "tunes"
Then, there's Carolan's Concerto, though not specifically a flute tune.
This anecdote from Oliver Goldsmith's essay on O'Carolan:
"Being once in the house of an Irish nobleman, where there was a musician present who was eminent in his profession,
Carolan immediately challenged him to a trial of skill. To carry the jest forward, his Lordship persuaded the musician to accept the challenge, and he accordingly played over on his fiddle the fifth concerto of Vivaldi.
Carolan immediately taking his harp, played the whole piece after him, without missing a note, though he had never heard it before; which produced some surprise; but their astonishment increased when he assured them he would make a concerto in the same taste himself, which he instantly composed, and that with such spirit and elegance, that it may compare (for we have it still) with the finest compositions of Italy."
# Posted on February 20th 2010 by sara505sings
Re: Irish flute/pipes takes on classical "tunes"
On his album "The Gift," Jerry O'Sullivan plays Gavottes, Bourree, and Gigue from Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 3 on the uilleann pipes.
# Posted on February 20th 2010 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Irish flute/pipes takes on classical "tunes"
What about Conal O'Grada playing Carnival of Venice on Top of Coom?
# Posted on February 20th 2010 by Crackpot
Re: Irish flute/pipes takes on classical "tunes"
I heard a fiddler named Gilles play a Bach piece as a jig once. I think he's quite accomplished as a regular classical violinist, though. But I've heard him play in a session, too, so I know he can do both.
# Posted on February 21st 2010 by sbhikes
Re: Irish flute/pipes takes on classical "tunes"
Oh yes, and Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring (J.S.Bach) is something I have heard as a slip jig from quite a few people.
# Posted on February 21st 2010 by Crackpot
Re: Irish flute/pipes takes on classical "tunes"
Do you count Seán Keane playing 'Heartbreak Hotel'?
The piper Ronan Browne's wedding repertoire includes a number of classical pieces which can be heard here - http://www.irishmusicweddings.com/.
# Posted on February 21st 2010 by MacCruiskeen
Re: Irish flute/pipes takes on classical "tunes"
Mairtin O'Connor playing Paganini'ŝ perpetuum mobile and the Carnival of Venice...
# Posted on February 21st 2010 by Nikita Pfister
Re: Irish flute/pipes takes on classical "tunes"
Sean Maguire recorded Fritz Kreisler's Schön Rosmarin. Leo Rowsome liked to play In the Mood on the pipes, according to his son Liam. Popular tunes would be a bit of a bottomless well on this thread, though. Sligo/NYC fiddler James Morrison's manuscripts (issued last year in book form) have Paddy on the Turnpike and Melancholy Baby on subsequent pages, if you want a one stop resource.
# Posted on February 21st 2010 by KLR
Re: Irish flute/pipes takes on classical "tunes"
Yes indeed take a listen to Jerry O Sullivan doing Bach. It's great, because in my opinion he hits it just right: being faithful to the music but at the same time remaining faithful to the sounds and techniques of the uilleann pipes (barking etc).
He's actually playing as part of a typical Baroque ensemble with harpsicord etc, with the uilleann pipes taking the oboe part as I recall.
# Posted on February 24th 2010 by Richard D Cook
Re: Irish flute/pipes takes on classical "tunes"
There is a school of thought out there regarding the origins of the uilleann/union/pastoral pipes suggesting that they were designed in the 18th century to fit into Baroque ensembles. The union pipes design, which was similar to the pastoral pipes but didn't have the foot joint, may have been better at playing the Baroque pieces than the pastoral pipes. Which would explain, in part at least, why pastoral pipes died out while union/uilleann pipes survived.
This is all speculation, since the origin of the instrument is uncertain as best. However, it's clearly not out of place for them to play Baroque music, since 18th and 19th century collections of union pipe music have Baroque-type pieces in them, alongside jigs, reels, hornpipes, etc.
# Posted on February 24th 2010 by DrSilverSpear