Someone here recommended 4-cd and book set: 121 Favorite Irish Session Tunes. It seems to be nice, but it's so expensive that I want to be sure...
Are the tunes played in "real" Irish style, or does they have something that I call "American accent" in them? How slow is slow, and how fast is fast (bpm)? Do you know or have any alternative items?
The tunes are played slowly and pretty simply. There isn't a lot in the way of decoration. I don't know the bpm but I would say the tempos are slow and even slower. Actually the main thing I like about it is the guitar work of Nancy Conescu. She plays DADGAD but you can figure out some of her stuff in dropped D. Her guitar is a killer with big fat luscious bass notes. It's hard for me to turn off the whistle track and play the whistle along with her accompaniment though because her syncopated style throws me off.
I bought this a year ago and learned a few tunes from it. His style is not the style I'm currently studying and striving for but I like having it around. Since I'm new to this music, I like to use it to familiarize myself with the melodies of tunes. So I just pop in the CD's occasionally to listen to while cleaning the kitchen or whatever. I like having the book to just flip through and browse every once in a while. Is it worth the $45 bucks? For me, yes......
I personally have noticed that his settings are different than the Mally books and the sessions up in Vermont. But I did learn Castle Kelly and Humours of Ballyconnell and am very happy with these settings. Well, that's my 2 cents worth.
Here is a cut & paste of LE McCullough's bio, with more at http://feadaniste.tripod.com/... I didn't know most of this stuff, but it's pretty cool.
Trained as a youth in classical piano and jazz saxophone, the Indianapolis native took up the study of Irish traditional
music on the flute and tinwhistle in July, 1972; after living in Ireland for a year and studying at the School of Irish Studies in
Dublin, where he received a solid grounding in the music's scholarship from renowned folklorists Brendan Breathnach, Tom
Munnelly, Hugh Shields, Sean
One of the tunes from "St Patrick was a Cajun" can be got here with the sheet music and an mp3 or Real Audio file http://fingertrip.net/whistle/index.html
Played by Mick Woodruff on the whistle.
The name of the tune is "La Polverita Fiera" or "The Savage Powderpuff" which you must agree is a great name for a tune!
121 Favorite Irish Session Tunes
121 Favorite Irish Session Tunes
Someone here recommended 4-cd and book set: 121 Favorite Irish Session Tunes. It seems to be nice, but it's so expensive that I want to be sure...
Are the tunes played in "real" Irish style, or does they have something that I call "American accent" in them? How slow is slow, and how fast is fast (bpm)? Do you know or have any alternative items?
# Posted on November 19th 2002 by Jani
Re: 121 Favorite Irish Session Tunes
The tunes are played slowly and pretty simply. There isn't a lot in the way of decoration. I don't know the bpm but I would say the tempos are slow and even slower. Actually the main thing I like about it is the guitar work of Nancy Conescu. She plays DADGAD but you can figure out some of her stuff in dropped D. Her guitar is a killer with big fat luscious bass notes. It's hard for me to turn off the whistle track and play the whistle along with her accompaniment though because her syncopated style throws me off.
Steve
# Posted on November 19th 2002 by SteveKendall
Re: 121 Favorite Irish Session Tunes
Where is it available?
# Posted on November 20th 2002 by cuchulain54
Re: 121 Favorite Irish Session Tunes
Homespun tapes.
http://www.homespuntapes.com/
Look under Celtic.
Steve
# Posted on November 20th 2002 by SteveKendall
Re: 121 Favorite Irish Session Tunes
I bought this a year ago and learned a few tunes from it. His style is not the style I'm currently studying and striving for but I like having it around. Since I'm new to this music, I like to use it to familiarize myself with the melodies of tunes. So I just pop in the CD's occasionally to listen to while cleaning the kitchen or whatever. I like having the book to just flip through and browse every once in a while. Is it worth the $45 bucks? For me, yes......
I personally have noticed that his settings are different than the Mally books and the sessions up in Vermont. But I did learn Castle Kelly and Humours of Ballyconnell and am very happy with these settings. Well, that's my 2 cents worth.
Joyce
# Posted on November 20th 2002 by JMH
Re: 121 Favorite Irish Session Tunes
Jani,
For some more opinions on this book and the like try the chiffandfipple whistle message board http://chiffboard.mati.ca/
Dave.
# Posted on November 20th 2002 by Twiz
Re: 121 Favorite Irish Session Tunes
Here is a cut & paste of LE McCullough's bio, with more at http://feadaniste.tripod.com/... I didn't know most of this stuff, but it's pretty cool.
Trained as a youth in classical piano and jazz saxophone, the Indianapolis native took up the study of Irish traditional
music on the flute and tinwhistle in July, 1972; after living in Ireland for a year and studying at the School of Irish Studies in
Dublin, where he received a solid grounding in the music's scholarship from renowned folklorists Brendan Breathnach, Tom
Munnelly, Hugh Shields, Sean
# Posted on November 20th 2002 by emily_bmore
Re: 121 Favorite Irish Session Tunes
One of the tunes from "St Patrick was a Cajun" can be got here with the sheet music and an mp3 or Real Audio file http://fingertrip.net/whistle/index.html
Played by Mick Woodruff on the whistle.
The name of the tune is "La Polverita Fiera" or "The Savage Powderpuff" which you must agree is a great name for a tune!
Dave.
# Posted on November 20th 2002 by Twiz
Re: 121 Favorite Irish Session Tunes
Lot of good information. Thanks to everyone!
# Posted on November 21st 2002 by Jani