Are there any? Northern Fiddler I know about. What the hell happened to my copy? Only $500 to replace it...I notice Cairdeas na bhFidleiri had three books, 64 tunes in one and 133 in the other, dunno about Vol. 1. Those still available?
Seems like a good idea what with all the fans of Altan etc. Ceol Rince had the odd tune from Doherty or Peoples of course but it's mostly the Highlands I'm interested in and did Breandan include any of those?
I've found many "rare" collections from lenders in North America, for under $20, given their availability it's usually only for insurance. Ideally get a card from a local lender with both RLIN and OCLC. Have a university nearby?
If you're on the cheap like I am, then the xeroxes will cost a fraction of a replacement. You can just take what you want. The lending period is usually truncated by transit time and fines are heavy, at the discretion of your lender so that aspect varies.
Sometimes places have a book but won't lend it long-distance. One might make the copies for you, at your expense of course.
Not sure if this would be something you're looking for, but Liz Doherty published a book called "Dinny McLaughlin: From Barefoot Days: A Life of Music, Song, and Dance in Inishowen". It includes a bunch of tunes written by Dinny McLaughlin, a fairly well-known fiddler from Donegal. I believe his website is http://www.dinnymclaughlin.ie.
Hey, I was off the mark slightly for the prices on the N.F. - only $342.45 w/coupon! Some copies are going for about $1,200 for some reason.
I've done the ILL thing before, O'Neill's Waifs and Strays for instance. Horrible chore. Last time I bothered was with Riley's Flute Melodies of 1814, which is in Portland's Reserve section - no check out - spent about 6 bucks in dimes and kept mucking pages up...I'd rather do it at home with my scanner in the case of a book like the N.F., which has very nice photos - the transcriptions were savaged in various reviews, too - they had "Untitled" for the Langstrom Pony, for instance.
The "Northern Fiddler" contains a great many misidentified tunes. I understand that the subjects of the book really did'nt like the way they or their music was portrayed in the book and felt like the authors had exploited them to make quick buck.
However there are many fine recordings available of Donegal and Ulster fiddlers.
"The Roche Collection of Traditional Irish Music", 1927 originally ~ Francis/Frank Roche ~ (reprinted nad distributed by Ossian & Oak/Music Sales) and while you'll see it also being advertised for rediculous prices, you can get it for usual money... This is one that was prized and found in the possession of musicians all over Ulster... It has some unusual tunes in it. It is here in part in ABCs:
Oh, I bought the Roche book years ago, recently I snapped up all the Kerr's books, which Caoihmin MacAoidh said were more popular in Donegal than O'Neill's, having heaps of strathspeys and schottisches (=flings).
I'm pretty good at learning by ear, but books make the going easier and it's nice to have a title as well. I've a few private recordings of Johnny Doherty and Vince Campbell and there's quite a few mystery tunes in there.
Have you been to http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/6402, ceolachan? Index of tunes to books, very handy.
I happen to have a copy of "The Northern Fiddler" by Allen Feldman & Eamonn O'Doherty that I purchased here in Toronto many years ago.
Hard to believe that the price has gone up so drastically.
If it's Donegal material you're after have a look out for the book of Packie Byrne's repertoire. Yes, he's a whistle player, but a lot of good music in it, I believe. I'm sure someone can provide a reference - Brother Steve, where are you ?
Donegal Fiddle tune books?
Donegal Fiddle tune books?
Are there any? Northern Fiddler I know about. What the hell happened to my copy? Only $500 to replace it...I notice Cairdeas na bhFidleiri had three books, 64 tunes in one and 133 in the other, dunno about Vol. 1. Those still available?
Seems like a good idea what with all the fans of Altan etc. Ceol Rince had the odd tune from Doherty or Peoples of course but it's mostly the Highlands I'm interested in and did Breandan include any of those?
# Posted on January 7th 2007 by Kevin Rietmann
Re: Donegal Fiddle tune books?
"...only $500 to replace it...."
Interlibrary loan.
I've found many "rare" collections from lenders in North America, for under $20, given their availability it's usually only for insurance. Ideally get a card from a local lender with both RLIN and OCLC. Have a university nearby?
If you're on the cheap like I am, then the xeroxes will cost a fraction of a replacement. You can just take what you want. The lending period is usually truncated by transit time and fines are heavy, at the discretion of your lender so that aspect varies.
Sometimes places have a book but won't lend it long-distance. One might make the copies for you, at your expense of course.
http://www.bc.edu/libraries/centers/burns/services/irishmusic/namedcoll/
'might find something here.
# Posted on January 7th 2007 by gravelwalks
Re: Donegal Fiddle tune books?
Not sure if this would be something you're looking for, but Liz Doherty published a book called "Dinny McLaughlin: From Barefoot Days: A Life of Music, Song, and Dance in Inishowen". It includes a bunch of tunes written by Dinny McLaughlin, a fairly well-known fiddler from Donegal. I believe his website is http://www.dinnymclaughlin.ie.
# Posted on January 7th 2007 by Jason G
Re: Donegal Fiddle tune books?
Hey, I was off the mark slightly for the prices on the N.F. - only $342.45 w/coupon! Some copies are going for about $1,200 for some reason.
I've done the ILL thing before, O'Neill's Waifs and Strays for instance. Horrible chore. Last time I bothered was with Riley's Flute Melodies of 1814, which is in Portland's Reserve section - no check out - spent about 6 bucks in dimes and kept mucking pages up...I'd rather do it at home with my scanner in the case of a book like the N.F., which has very nice photos - the transcriptions were savaged in various reviews, too - they had "Untitled" for the Langstrom Pony, for instance.
# Posted on January 7th 2007 by Kevin Rietmann
Re: Donegal Fiddle tune books?
The "Northern Fiddler" contains a great many misidentified tunes. I understand that the subjects of the book really did'nt like the way they or their music was portrayed in the book and felt like the authors had exploited them to make quick buck.
However there are many fine recordings available of Donegal and Ulster fiddlers.
# Posted on January 7th 2007 by Murph
Re: Donegal Fiddle tune books?
"The Roche Collection of Traditional Irish Music", 1927 originally ~ Francis/Frank Roche ~ (reprinted nad distributed by Ossian & Oak/Music Sales) and while you'll see it also being advertised for rediculous prices, you can get it for usual money... This is one that was prized and found in the possession of musicians all over Ulster... It has some unusual tunes in it. It is here in part in ABCs:
http://www.qmcorp.net/webabc/bigfolder/roche.abc
& a search will bring it up elsewhere... Use this:
ISBN: 09460-0505-2 & try it on http://www.addall.com/
Amazon.com has it...
# Posted on January 8th 2007 by ceolachan
I'm with Murph ~ always go with your ears first... There are a number of great recordings listed here on site...
# Posted on January 8th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Donegal Fiddle tune books?
Oh, I bought the Roche book years ago, recently I snapped up all the Kerr's books, which Caoihmin MacAoidh said were more popular in Donegal than O'Neill's, having heaps of strathspeys and schottisches (=flings).
I'm pretty good at learning by ear, but books make the going easier and it's nice to have a title as well. I've a few private recordings of Johnny Doherty and Vince Campbell and there's quite a few mystery tunes in there.
Have you been to http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/6402, ceolachan? Index of tunes to books, very handy.
# Posted on January 8th 2007 by Kevin Rietmann
Re: Donegal Fiddle tune books?
I happen to have a copy of "The Northern Fiddler" by Allen Feldman & Eamonn O'Doherty that I purchased here in Toronto many years ago.
Hard to believe that the price has gone up so drastically.
# Posted on January 8th 2007 by Kong
Re: Donegal Fiddle tune books?
If it's Donegal material you're after have a look out for the book of Packie Byrne's repertoire. Yes, he's a whistle player, but a lot of good music in it, I believe. I'm sure someone can provide a reference - Brother Steve, where are you ?
# Posted on January 8th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Donegal Fiddle tune books?
I found it at the Roger Millington site easy enough, thanks.
# Posted on January 9th 2007 by Kevin Rietmann