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The Ultimate Tune Set

The Ultimate Tune Set

I'm trying to create an audition tape for a music school. I need something impressive, something that demonstrates both my accompanying and melody playing skills, I have a whistle player with me so I just need to put together something special and tape it and send it away,
any thoughts?

Phil

# Posted on August 21st 2005 by ecidralla

Re: The Ultimate Tune Set

Don't try to be impressive. Try to be solid. They want to see if your foundation is solid, not if your facade is flash.

KFG

# Posted on August 21st 2005 by KFG

Re: The Ultimate Tune Set

Put about 4 reels together-bright ones at the start and finish and minorish ones in the middle.My favourite set along these lines is;
The Wind that shakes the Barley/Drowsy Maggie/Cooley`s /The Wise maid.
get the whistle player to fade in and out so that he`s starting every tune with you for max. impact.

# Posted on August 21st 2005 by cos

Re: The Ultimate Tune Set

Try playing two jigs and two reels some thing with modern and trad tunes like The Roaring Barmaid/Slibha Russell/Drowsy Maggie/The Malbay Shuffle I have never tried that set but it might work I know the jigs will.

# Posted on August 21st 2005 by Why Bother?

Re: The Ultimate Tune Set

The tunes you feel most comfortable with. One of the best performances i ever heard was Mick Brown playing the 'Connachtman's Rambles' as a warm up. Perhaps, now I think of it, not the most helpful comment because everything Mick plays is perfect.

But it does not have to be flash. It just has to be good. I asked Josephine Keegan how you should play irish music. Her answer, which is definitively correct, was: "nicely!"

# Posted on August 23rd 2005 by Pól

Re: The Ultimate Tune Set

Throw in a show-offy tune like the Wizard's Walk or Catharsis. They're the kind of ones that make people sit up and listen. The only trouble is that I've never heard those tunes played in a set before. But maybe that's just because I haven't.

# Posted on September 4th 2005 by Joe CSS

Re: The Ultimate Tune Set

Andy Irvine told a workshop here that he doesn't think so much about backing as he does providing a counter-melody. If you want to show that you can both accompany and play melody, that might be partially the way to go. Listen to what players like Roger Landes, Andy Irvine, and Donal Lunny do (Lunny on the blarge on the seminal recording Doublin' with Paddy Keenan playing Jenny's Welcome to Charlie is fabulous) on recordings when they're doing just that.

Nothing wrong with just one tune if you play it well -- play it three times through if you have the variations and it's a satisfying demonstration of your skills.

# Posted on September 4th 2005 by Zina Lee

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