My wife and I are in a group that has gotten some inquiries from folks who are interested in music for Scottish events. We know a number of Scottish songs, but my research shows me that most of the tunes we know are Irish in origin. We have a lot of Scottish music on CDs, but I sometimes find that the most popular tunes are not represented on CDs. And we have some Scottish tune books, but they have no indication regarding what are the most popular tunes in the books.
What are the most popular Scottish session tunes and sets?
Thanks!
Ptarmy, Thanks for the web link, nice site there.
And slainte, thanks for the discussion link.
One thing I have noticed is that many tunes appear in both the Scot and Irish repetoires. And origins are often cloudy. So I am guessing that some of our Irish favorites that appear to be accepted parts of the Scottish repetoire could be played at a Scottish event without ruffling any feathers.
You'll definitely have no problem with Miss McCleod's Reel or the Atholl Gathering; many Irish players also have tunes like the Dashing White Sergeant or Petronella in their repertoire.
As long as we play the Scot version of Miss McCleods! I learned that tune early on from an American tunebook, suggested it at the local session, and was stunned when everyone launched into a similar, but strikingly different tune--I later found that the version I learned from my book is a setting played in Scotland, which is not what is played around here in Irish sessions.
Silver Spear, The Wind that Shakes the Barley, Drowsy Maggie, and Harvest Homes have been starndards in both traditions for long, I believe. The Tarbolton is definitely Scottish.
Scottish dance bands tend to play each tune through just once, as opposed to twice as is normal in Ireland, so if you want to reproduce that particular sound you might need to learn twice as many new tunes as you expected to!
Thanks, Nicholas, I had noticed that when doing Scottish country dancing. I also noticed that they sometimes come back to a tune from early in the set to end things off. You are right, not repeating will help us fit the mold for Scottish dance music.
This is the kind of info I am looking for--the little nuances that set the one tradition off from another.
Another thing I learned recently is that there is a little routine or ceremony that goes along with singing Auld Lang Sine at the end of a dancing event, joining hands, singing particular verses, etc.
Unfortunately, while you can't swing a dead cat without hitting an Irish pub, and many have Irish sessions, Scottish musical events (at least those not involving pipes and marching) are rather thin on the ground in my state. So even though I am more Scot than Irish, I have to work a little harder to expose myself to the Scottish heritage.
I'm not sure if the dance band i play in is unusual but we certainly play each tune twice for some dances we've even played the B part three times through. I can't say the reason for this i trust and respect the band leader and do as i'm told after all he's been playing for dancing since about 1960 and has played all over these isles.
What are good Scottish tunes and sets?
What are good Scottish tunes and sets?
My wife and I are in a group that has gotten some inquiries from folks who are interested in music for Scottish events. We know a number of Scottish songs, but my research shows me that most of the tunes we know are Irish in origin. We have a lot of Scottish music on CDs, but I sometimes find that the most popular tunes are not represented on CDs. And we have some Scottish tune books, but they have no indication regarding what are the most popular tunes in the books.
What are the most popular Scottish session tunes and sets?
Thanks!
# Posted on October 5th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: What are good Scottish tunes and sets?
Hey Al, here's a good place to start:
http://www.nigelgatherer.com/tunes/tab/tab1.html
Good Luck.
# Posted on October 5th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: What are good Scottish tunes and sets?
Have a look at this list: http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/4239
# Posted on October 5th 2006 by slainte
Re: What are good Scottish tunes and sets?
Ptarmy, Thanks for the web link, nice site there.
And slainte, thanks for the discussion link.
One thing I have noticed is that many tunes appear in both the Scot and Irish repetoires. And origins are often cloudy. So I am guessing that some of our Irish favorites that appear to be accepted parts of the Scottish repetoire could be played at a Scottish event without ruffling any feathers.
# Posted on October 5th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: What are good Scottish tunes and sets?
You'll definitely have no problem with Miss McCleod's Reel or the Atholl Gathering; many Irish players also have tunes like the Dashing White Sergeant or Petronella in their repertoire.
# Posted on October 5th 2006 by Bannerman
Re: What are good Scottish tunes and sets?
As long as we play the Scot version of Miss McCleods! I learned that tune early on from an American tunebook, suggested it at the local session, and was stunned when everyone launched into a similar, but strikingly different tune--I later found that the version I learned from my book is a setting played in Scotland, which is not what is played around here in Irish sessions.
# Posted on October 5th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: What are good Scottish tunes and sets?
http://www.mcowen.net/fiddlezone/photos/SSSTunes.pdf#search=%22smashing%20scottish%20session%20tunes%22
# Posted on October 5th 2006 by Sunnybear
Re: What are good Scottish tunes and sets?
Silver Spear, The Wind that Shakes the Barley, Drowsy Maggie, and Harvest Homes have been starndards in both traditions for long, I believe. The Tarbolton is definitely Scottish.
# Posted on October 5th 2006 by slainte
Re: What are good Scottish tunes and sets?
Flowers of Edinburgh
Battle of Waterloo
most strathspeys
I have a theory that a lot of A mix tunes were originally from the GHB repertoire.
# Posted on October 5th 2006 by wormdiet
Re: What are good Scottish tunes and sets?
Scottish dance bands tend to play each tune through just once, as opposed to twice as is normal in Ireland, so if you want to reproduce that particular sound you might need to learn twice as many new tunes as you expected to!
# Posted on October 5th 2006 by nicholas
Re: What are good Scottish tunes and sets?
Thanks, Nicholas, I had noticed that when doing Scottish country dancing. I also noticed that they sometimes come back to a tune from early in the set to end things off. You are right, not repeating will help us fit the mold for Scottish dance music.
This is the kind of info I am looking for--the little nuances that set the one tradition off from another.
Another thing I learned recently is that there is a little routine or ceremony that goes along with singing Auld Lang Sine at the end of a dancing event, joining hands, singing particular verses, etc.
Unfortunately, while you can't swing a dead cat without hitting an Irish pub, and many have Irish sessions, Scottish musical events (at least those not involving pipes and marching) are rather thin on the ground in my state. So even though I am more Scot than Irish, I have to work a little harder to expose myself to the Scottish heritage.
# Posted on October 5th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: What are good Scottish tunes and sets?
I'm not sure if the dance band i play in is unusual but we certainly play each tune twice for some dances we've even played the B part three times through. I can't say the reason for this i trust and respect the band leader and do as i'm told after all he's been playing for dancing since about 1960 and has played all over these isles.
# Posted on October 6th 2006 by iain beag
Re: What are good Scottish tunes and sets?
if you are talking SCD, then the tune (more than likely the title tune for the dance set) that starts the set will end it also
# Posted on October 7th 2006 by Sunnybear