I perform solo most of the time. I would like to pick up some of your favorite pieces. The O'Carolan pieces are nice but they don't meet my needs. List em anyway if they are your favorites.
I like to play the pieces that pull a few tears from the a mixed audience. Even the ones who - AHEM - want me to play the Devil Went.... I imagine you get the picture. It's hard for me to find the numbers that are not an aquired taste to the masses.
Save me please. I can't sport around my same old airs and Waltzes much longer. The audience might enjoy them but I am tired of em.
For this particular category of my performances, Scottish is OK, Irish is the most desirable.
The Fairy Queen (Carolan)
Sourgrass and Granite (here in the archives)
Far Away (Pete Jung, in the archives under another name, I forget what the other name is, but the search engine still brings it up as Far Away)
Lament For The Death Of Reverend Archie Beaton (in the archives)
Tola Custy and Mirella Murray do some lovely waltzes on their Three Sunsets CD - but some of them are Scandinavian.
My favourite air has to be Port na bPucai, as played by Ronan Browne on The Drones & the Chanters Vol 2. On pipes, of course... but Martin Hayes plays it as well, on Live in Seattle. It has such spooky stories connected with it, as well as the suggestion that it was inspired by the sound of humpback whale-song heard through the skin of a fisherman's coracle. Awesome... and quite plausible, I think.
If people want something they can recognise, I have to confess a weak spot for Danny Boy. A friend of mine played it beautifully on a whistle a while ago and it made me hear it afresh. It can really make your hair stand on end. Give it loads of double-stopping, go on...
Lol Helen - I perform Danny Boy one time a year or went a suitable piece of Green Paper gets passed my way. Thanks for all the suggestions. I really like Scandinavian airs and Valzes. I just don't find much opportunity to perform them.
The Fairy Queen is here too, first tune i ever posted!
Slow Airs: my current favourite is "Easter Snow", though it's been a little overdone. I can get you the ABCs if you want. I also like the "Lament for Staker Wallace", "Limerick Lamentation", and the "Wild Geese" (the air, not the reel). In there, probably should fit "Blackbird" too.
More good suggestions - you can that I am a little bereft of slower numbers by now. I'll check them all out.
I never would imagine the BlackBird as an air. None the less - I'll think about that one as a slow me down - rest the bow arm and fingers for a minute. I think an Irish Aficionado Audience would enjoy that.
The Blackbird is a song, an air, a traditional set (one of the perkier hornpipes) and there's more than one version of it floating about. I do think that all the versions are crooked, though.
A Stor ma Chroi. Everybody was playing it at the festival in London last October... it was almost the unofficial theme of Return to Camden Town. And Geraldine Cotter played it at Willie Clancy week, with a jig version stuck on the end, very neat!
It's also commonly sung, and most of it is in English, so you can hear and learn the original phrasing easily.
two of my favourites are: Paddy's Rambles Through the Park and the Ace and Deuce of Pipering.
there's also a haunting song called something like Ned of the Hill.
the Ace&Deuce is quite a perky tune but there's something of the 'other' about it too.
good luck!
I adore this recording of music I received as a gift. It played a large part in why I wanted to learn to play irish music on flute and whistle. It's all music composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by John Mock featuring him on tin whistle and low whistles. It's "Celtic Portraits", a Green Hill title.
Two pieces in particular give me chills. One piece is solo violin and just makes me want to weep uncontrollably. I don't know if it's the piece, or the way the violinist renders it, but the emotion in it is something. I believe it's "The Plassy Shipwreck". The other is "Twighlight at Dunguaire"...just so lovely.
Thanks Helen, Sounds Tantalizing - I'll look for it.
Appreciate the help Glauber!
Appreciate the list Big Dave. Interesting that I got a couple of votes for set dances. I was trying to think how I could pull off Blackbird with an Air Feel and you threw in the Ace. That one would take a bit more effort. What I have in my head on that one might keep me from setting it as an Air. I never know till I try.
No, there's an air version of The Blackbird, it's very different from the set dance. I know that Paddy League and Grey Larsen do it, but don't know if they've recorded it...
Mhaighdean Mhara...An Mhaighdean Mhara is my favourite air at the moment...It is a song about a sea maiden or mermaid, who marries a mere mortal. The husband knowing his wife cannot return to the sea without a cloak she wore as a mermaid,he hides it but he is left lamenting her when one of their offspring discovers it and his wife returns to the open sea from whence she came. The song is a conversation between the Mermaid and her daughter, Máire. The mermaid must leave her family and return to the sea now that she has found her magic cloak (or seal skin in some versions).
Is cosúil gur mheath tú nó gur thréig tú an greann
Tá an sneachta go frasach fá bhéal na trá
Do chúl buí daite is do bhéílín sámh
Siúd chugaibh Mary Chinidh is í i ndiaidh an Éirne shnámh
'A mháithrín mhilis' duirt Máire bhán
Fá bhruach an chladaigh is fá bhéal na trá
'Maighdean mhara mo mháithrín ard'
Siúd chugaibh Mary Chinidh is í i ndiaidh an Éirne shnámh
Tá mise tuirseach agus beidh go lá
Mo Mháire bhruinneall is mo Phádraig bán
Ar bharr na dtonnta is fá bhéal na trá
Siúd chugaibh Mary Chinidh is í i ndiaidh an Éirne shnámh
Tá an oíche seo dorcha is tá an ghaoth i ndroch aird
Tá an tseisreach 'na seasamh is na spéarthaí go hard
Ach ar bharr na dtonnta is fá bhéal na trá
Siúd chugaibh Mary Chinidh is í i ndiaidh an Éirne shnámh
The Mermaid
It seems that you have faded away and abandoned the love of life
The snow is spread about at the mouth of the sea
Your yellow flowing hair and little gentle mouth
We give you Mary Chinidh to swim forever in the Erne
'My dear mother,' said blonde Mary
By the edge of the shore and the mouth of the sea
'A mermaid is my noble mother'
We give you Mary Chinidh to swim forever in the Erne
I am tired and will be forever
My fair Mary and my blond Patrick
On top of the waves and by the mouth of the sea
We give you Mary Chinidh to swim forever in the Erne
The night is dark and the wind is high
The Plough can be seen high in the sky
But on top of the waves and by the mouth of the sea
We give you Mary Chinidh to swim forever in the Erne
It is a lovely lament for his *lost wet wife*
Also Roisin Dubh, Eamon Na Chnuic,Sean O Duibhir An Ghleanna, and if can be drunkenly persuaded and accompanied The Coulin.
Crested Hens, which, I think, is here in the archieves. Although I have heard it was a type of French dance, and is typically played much faster than a waltz would usualy be played. It actually sounds quite nice at a faster pace-it kinda grows on ya.....
1) Hector the Hero (I combine it with #2 below)
2) Neil Gow's Lament for the death of his second wife
3) Valse pour les petits jeune filles
4) Mrs. Kinney's
5) Rosemary Brown
6) The Shakin's o' the Pocky
7) Tommy Bhetty's
8) Give me your hand
i've just remembered Lament for Glencoe which the Glackin bros play on their Northern Lights album,that's a good one!
there's yet another Blackbird on Arty McGlynn's album 'McGlynn's Fancy' which might well take your fancy as it did mine.
by the way,i've come across the Ace&Deuce going into the Blackbird (set dance version) which is a nice pairing,i think
I appreciate all the help. You all are great. ScottC - I would love to have those ABCs. Katie - If they give you the Chills, That's EXACTLY what I want. Glauber - I'm going to order that CD Pronto. I'm a sucker for statements like "one of the best ITM albums ever". You are over the top GreenWiggle - Appreciate the words. 290 - you hit the nail on the head but that's one of those I'm trying to replace. It's just one of those great that I can really grab the audience. It is French and Solas said who cares when they recorded it. Thanks again Dave. I have some great homework from you all. I'm sure I'll find some grand slam winners in this lot.
This may be really pushing the envelope, and I'm not even sure if the tune I'm about to suggest is an air, but it is slow and lovely, and was composed by a wild man. Ashley MacIsaac plays a tune called MacDougall's Pride (not sure what key he plays it in) on his "Hi, how are you today," album, and it almost always brings tears to my eyes, and I don't get very emotional. This suggestion may be the furthest thing from what you're looking for, but I thought I'd toss it out there anyway.
ScottC - we also do Tom Bhetty's; and there's that French Canadian Waltz (that's what they had as its title) that The Boys of The Lough did on Good Friends ...Good Music.
Also I try & play a french waltz (don't know its name) that Heritage did on Tell Tae Me.
I agree with Glauber about A Tribute to Michael Coleman being a classic recording which I would recommend to everyone. For slow airs I would recommend Matt Cranitch's album "éistigh seal" which consists entirely of slow airs beautifully played in a very austere style. My favourite from this album is probably "An Raibh tú ag an gCarraig". I would also recommend anyone interested in learning slow airs to listen a lot to sean nos singers such as Séan Mac Donnchada. Matt Molloy has of course recorded some beautiful slow airs, in particular "the Parting of Friends" and "Ó’Ráthaille’s Grave" on the "Stoney Steps" album never fail to send a shiver down my spine.
Mark, that's scary. I hope you like the CD. It was recommended to me by Will Harmon, and i have never tired of listening to it.
Someone mentioned Hector the Hero, and i second it, that's a nice song too (Scottish). Sounds very nice with flute and geetar. It shows up in the first Bothy Band CD. http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display.php/293
There's already, a somewhat funky transcription here in thesession (with written out ornaments) http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/1292
so i'll add a simpler ABC in there, in the "comments" section.
It's very important to listen to people who know what they're doing, to learn how to play this kind of music. Here are some suggestions for the ones i like:
Fairy Queen - Chris Norman (Man With The Wooden Flute)
Easter Snow - Eamonn Cotter (Eamon Cotter)
Easter Snow - Seamus Tansey (Easter Snow)
Staky Wallis - Matt Molloy (Matt Molloy (black album))
Stacky Wallis - Seamus Tansey (Easter Snow)
Limerick Lamentation, Parting of Friends, Wild Geese - Chieftains (Celtic Harp)
Hector the Hero - Bothy Band (the first album)
It's cool to compare how Matt Molloy and Seamus Tansey do Stacker Wallace. I don't like Seamus' "Easter Snow" CD very much, but the Easter Snow and Staker Wallace tracks are worthy a listen. I love the steel-strung harp accompaniment on Easter Snow. But i still prefer the way Eamonn & Geraldine Cotter do Easter Snow.
No problem, Staceybythegatey, but just don't forget that the humble jigs and reels are really the foundation of (instrumental) Irish music. These airs and songs are pretty, and also very hard to play right, because we're disconnected from the tradition; most of us haven't grown up listening to our mothers singing these songs.
The way i understand it, the "point" of playing songs or airs is to convey lots of emotion, within the vocabulary of the instrument and the tradition. For example, if you use any vibrato at all, be subtle. It's better to use finger vibrato instead of throat vibrato, and that just on a few chosen notes.
It's interesting to listen to "sean-nos" (i.e.: old-style) unaccompanied singing too, since that's where slow airs come from. I don't have enough experience with that to recommend anything, but there's a Web site: http://www.cic.ie, which especializes on this stuff. I recently got a CD by an old guy named Dara Bán Mac Donnchadha from them, which i liked.
BTW, i have the same kind of flute that you have (M&E); i like it a lot.
As an embryonic piper of nearly 3 years, I'd humbly suggest THE BRIGHT LADY. I've heard Willie Clancy, Pádraic MacMathúna, and Ronan Browne play this air. It's very beautiful, and my favorite version is the one MacMathúna plays on his recording BLAS NA MEALA.
As an addendum, I'd also second Port na bPúcaí as a wonderful air. I've heard Ronan Browne, Davy Spillane, and a few others play it. Beautiful! Also lends itself very nicely to the regulators. And, also, now that I'm thinking of it, The Wounded Hussar is a very moving air to me. I've heard Dicky Deegan, Séamus Ennis, Tim Birtton, and others play it.
to answer carr muse's question, crested hens "Les Poules huppées" was written by a French hurdy-gurdy-man called Gilles Chabenat . You can hear it on Solas first CD.
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz--off-topic...Glauber's irish flute & piccolo
Heya, Glauber...got nosey about your flute and looked to see if it were in your pics. Is yours keyed? Which keys did you get and why? I wasn't sure if I should go that route or not and saw that the M & E could be retro-fitted if I changed my mind. I've not played irish flute enough to know if it's needed or not. What is your experience?
Also, I noticed your piccolo has a wood head joint. I considered doing the same for my Boehm before I went ahead with the M & E. Did it really make that much of a dif. in the tone for you?
i have 2 M&Es. The one i use all the time is not keyed. I also have another one with 5 keys (D#, long and shortf, G#, Bb). I also have a wooden flute with 6 keys (all keys except for low C/C#) made by Eamonn Cotter which is my main flute now, also a lovely instrument.
In short, the keyed M&E is good, as far as the keys are concerned. The keys in these flutes are nowhere as comfortable as the Boehm system. The Cotter is a better flute, but the keys on the M&E are less painful than the keys on the Cotter.
Do you need keys? This is one of the old religious debates in ITM. I think if you're interested in playing Irish flute music, you don't. I like having them so i can play the odd tune in G minor, and also for playing Classical and other non-Irish things. The down side of having keys is that the instrument becomes more fragile (but it's less at risk of rolling off the table, har har). So i have this fancy wooden flute with keys, and my trusted keyless M&E that i can take anywhere and it won't break.
I have wooden headjoints for my metal Boehm flute and also for my wooden Boehm piccolo. I like the sound that these headjoints make very much. For the flute, i have a 'joint made by Mark Hoza (http://www.woodenflutemaker.com). I love it. It made a huge difference in the tone (darker, richer), but it doesn't make it sound like an Irish flute. It's still a different beast. I just happen to like the sound of the wood. Getting a handmade 'joint, be it wood or metal, is the cheapest way to make a big difference in a cheap flute's sound.
The piccolo, obviously already had a wooden head, but getting a new head custom made by Eldred Spell (http://www.eldredspellflutes.com) transformed it from a mediocre instrument into something wonderful. This guy is the best headjoint maker in the world, but he specializes in piccolos.
You all continue to amaze with your generosity and thoughtfulness. It's not hard to understand why I am such a fan of this site. Thank you all very much! Lot's and lots of homework.
I'm not too keen on waltzes generally, especially in sessions, (we get too many locally), but agree to "Tommy Bhetty's" and "Mrs. Kenny's" which I think is the same tune as "Mrs. Crotty's". I would also add "Aggie's Waltz" from Seamus Egan's first recording. I think the tune came from Newfoundland.
Slow airs - I would add "Lament For Oliver Goldsmith", composed by Seamus Shannon and recorded by Seamus Creagh. Best piece of slow-air playing I ever heard was Finbar Furey playing this on whistle several years ago.
Also "Tir Na Nog", recorded by Jackie Daly and Brian Hughes, and "Sean O'Duibhir a Ghleanna" is a great song as well as air.
One slow air which is currently very popular is "Sliabh Geal gCua" which has been recorded in the past year or so by Harry Bradley, Kevin Crawford and Tony McManus.
The slow air version of the "Blackbird" is on the 3rd "Bothy Band " album, and also Finbar Furey recorded an unusual combination of the air and set-dance on the LP "Dawning Of The Day".
Inisheer - it is Irish contemporary written in a trad style. You can get the music from thesession.com tune list.
Arran Boat Song (Scottish... beautiful)
I recommend listening to some of the old songs to learn airs. You can find tapes/CD's of sean nos singers at: http://www.ulstersongs.com
Look for
60-160 Elizabeth Cronin the most quoted and least heard of the great singers of the past -
recorded c 1952
60-161 Sarah Makem/Anne-Jane Kelly
A French Canadian waltz that is being played at several Chicago sessions these days is "Un Canadien Errant". It's a beautiful melody. I don't "ABC" so I'm not sure where you could get the tune. The tune is simple enough so perhaps I'll try and learn enough "ABC" to post it.
I'd have to add Liz Donaldson's Larksinam Jig, The Alewoman from O'Neill's, and Breton #6 in G. Tho I could use suggestions
from everyone what to play with them...
I love "Memories of St. Paul Island", written by Paul Cranford. Puirt a Baroque does a lovely rendition of this tune on their CD "Return of the Wanderer"
Here's one that's not been mentioned, Mark ... The Swan LK243 written by Catriona Mackay (Fiddlers Bid), Dundee. It's an absolutely beautiful slow air about an old fishing vessel that was launched in Lerwick in 1900. The inspiration for the tune apparently came about when the band was aboard the boat during the Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race in 1999. You'll hear a pin drop ... !!
What's your favorite Air or Waltz
What's your favorite Air or Waltz
I perform solo most of the time. I would like to pick up some of your favorite pieces. The O'Carolan pieces are nice but they don't meet my needs. List em anyway if they are your favorites.
I like to play the pieces that pull a few tears from the a mixed audience. Even the ones who - AHEM - want me to play the Devil Went.... I imagine you get the picture. It's hard for me to find the numbers that are not an aquired taste to the masses.
Save me please. I can't sport around my same old airs and Waltzes much longer. The audience might enjoy them but I am tired of em.
For this particular category of my performances, Scottish is OK, Irish is the most desirable.
help....
Mark
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by Mark Cordova
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
The Fairy Queen (Carolan)
Sourgrass and Granite (here in the archives)
Far Away (Pete Jung, in the archives under another name, I forget what the other name is, but the search engine still brings it up as Far Away)
Lament For The Death Of Reverend Archie Beaton (in the archives)
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
Zina - you are fast - thanks!
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by Mark Cordova
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
Anything to not be working, Mark...
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
Tola Custy and Mirella Murray do some lovely waltzes on their Three Sunsets CD - but some of them are Scandinavian.
My favourite air has to be Port na bPucai, as played by Ronan Browne on The Drones & the Chanters Vol 2. On pipes, of course... but Martin Hayes plays it as well, on Live in Seattle. It has such spooky stories connected with it, as well as the suggestion that it was inspired by the sound of humpback whale-song heard through the skin of a fisherman's coracle. Awesome... and quite plausible, I think.
If people want something they can recognise, I have to confess a weak spot for Danny Boy. A friend of mine played it beautifully on a whistle a while ago and it made me hear it afresh. It can really make your hair stand on end. Give it loads of double-stopping, go on...
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by Nell
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
Lol Helen - I perform Danny Boy one time a year or went a suitable piece of Green Paper gets passed my way. Thanks for all the suggestions. I really like Scandinavian airs and Valzes. I just don't find much opportunity to perform them.
Mark
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by Mark Cordova
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
The Fairy Queen is here too, first tune i ever posted!
Slow Airs: my current favourite is "Easter Snow", though it's been a little overdone. I can get you the ABCs if you want. I also like the "Lament for Staker Wallace", "Limerick Lamentation", and the "Wild Geese" (the air, not the reel). In there, probably should fit "Blackbird" too.
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by glauber
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
More good suggestions - you can that I am a little bereft of slower numbers by now. I'll check them all out.
I never would imagine the BlackBird as an air. None the less - I'll think about that one as a slow me down - rest the bow arm and fingers for a minute. I think an Irish Aficionado Audience would enjoy that.
Thanks
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by Mark Cordova
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
The Blackbird is a song, an air, a traditional set (one of the perkier hornpipes) and there's more than one version of it floating about. I do think that all the versions are crooked, though.
zls
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by Zina Lee
Oh yes
I would really like to see those ABC's Glauber. Thanks.
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by Mark Cordova
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
A Stor ma Chroi. Everybody was playing it at the festival in London last October... it was almost the unofficial theme of Return to Camden Town. And Geraldine Cotter played it at Willie Clancy week, with a jig version stuck on the end, very neat!
It's also commonly sung, and most of it is in English, so you can hear and learn the original phrasing easily.
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by Nell
ABCs
Mark,
i sent the ABCs to your email as defined in your member profile. If it doesn't work, send me an email (through my profile).
g
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by glauber
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
two of my favourites are: Paddy's Rambles Through the Park and the Ace and Deuce of Pipering.
there's also a haunting song called something like Ned of the Hill.
the Ace&Deuce is quite a perky tune but there's something of the 'other' about it too.
good luck!
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by biggus dave
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
I adore this recording of music I received as a gift. It played a large part in why I wanted to learn to play irish music on flute and whistle. It's all music composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by John Mock featuring him on tin whistle and low whistles. It's "Celtic Portraits", a Green Hill title.
Two pieces in particular give me chills. One piece is solo violin and just makes me want to weep uncontrollably. I don't know if it's the piece, or the way the violinist renders it, but the emotion in it is something. I believe it's "The Plassy Shipwreck". The other is "Twighlight at Dunguaire"...just so lovely.
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by katiebythegate
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
http://www.greenhilldirect.com/artists/Mock.asp, if you're interested.
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by katiebythegate
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
Thanks Helen, Sounds Tantalizing - I'll look for it.
Appreciate the help Glauber!
Appreciate the list Big Dave. Interesting that I got a couple of votes for set dances. I was trying to think how I could pull off Blackbird with an Air Feel and you threw in the Ace. That one would take a bit more effort. What I have in my head on that one might keep me from setting it as an Air. I never know till I try.
Mark
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by Mark Cordova
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
No, there's an air version of The Blackbird, it's very different from the set dance. I know that Paddy League and Grey Larsen do it, but don't know if they've recorded it...
zls
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by Zina Lee
Bird
There's a version of it in the Tribute to Michael Coleman album (which is, btw, one of the best ITM albums ever):
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display.php/47
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by glauber
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
Mhaighdean Mhara...An Mhaighdean Mhara is my favourite air at the moment...It is a song about a sea maiden or mermaid, who marries a mere mortal. The husband knowing his wife cannot return to the sea without a cloak she wore as a mermaid,he hides it but he is left lamenting her when one of their offspring discovers it and his wife returns to the open sea from whence she came. The song is a conversation between the Mermaid and her daughter, Máire. The mermaid must leave her family and return to the sea now that she has found her magic cloak (or seal skin in some versions).
Is cosúil gur mheath tú nó gur thréig tú an greann
Tá an sneachta go frasach fá bhéal na trá
Do chúl buí daite is do bhéílín sámh
Siúd chugaibh Mary Chinidh is í i ndiaidh an Éirne shnámh
'A mháithrín mhilis' duirt Máire bhán
Fá bhruach an chladaigh is fá bhéal na trá
'Maighdean mhara mo mháithrín ard'
Siúd chugaibh Mary Chinidh is í i ndiaidh an Éirne shnámh
Tá mise tuirseach agus beidh go lá
Mo Mháire bhruinneall is mo Phádraig bán
Ar bharr na dtonnta is fá bhéal na trá
Siúd chugaibh Mary Chinidh is í i ndiaidh an Éirne shnámh
Tá an oíche seo dorcha is tá an ghaoth i ndroch aird
Tá an tseisreach 'na seasamh is na spéarthaí go hard
Ach ar bharr na dtonnta is fá bhéal na trá
Siúd chugaibh Mary Chinidh is í i ndiaidh an Éirne shnámh
The Mermaid
It seems that you have faded away and abandoned the love of life
The snow is spread about at the mouth of the sea
Your yellow flowing hair and little gentle mouth
We give you Mary Chinidh to swim forever in the Erne
'My dear mother,' said blonde Mary
By the edge of the shore and the mouth of the sea
'A mermaid is my noble mother'
We give you Mary Chinidh to swim forever in the Erne
I am tired and will be forever
My fair Mary and my blond Patrick
On top of the waves and by the mouth of the sea
We give you Mary Chinidh to swim forever in the Erne
The night is dark and the wind is high
The Plough can be seen high in the sky
But on top of the waves and by the mouth of the sea
We give you Mary Chinidh to swim forever in the Erne
It is a lovely lament for his *lost wet wife*
Also Roisin Dubh, Eamon Na Chnuic,Sean O Duibhir An Ghleanna, and if can be drunkenly persuaded and accompanied The Coulin.
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by Greenwiggle
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
Crested Hens, which, I think, is here in the archieves. Although I have heard it was a type of French dance, and is typically played much faster than a waltz would usualy be played. It actually sounds quite nice at a faster pace-it kinda grows on ya.....
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by Kallie
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
1) Hector the Hero (I combine it with #2 below)
2) Neil Gow's Lament for the death of his second wife
3) Valse pour les petits jeune filles
4) Mrs. Kinney's
5) Rosemary Brown
6) The Shakin's o' the Pocky
7) Tommy Bhetty's
8) Give me your hand
I have ABC's for all if you've any interest.
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by ScottC
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
i've just remembered Lament for Glencoe which the Glackin bros play on their Northern Lights album,that's a good one!
there's yet another Blackbird on Arty McGlynn's album 'McGlynn's Fancy' which might well take your fancy as it did mine.
by the way,i've come across the Ace&Deuce going into the Blackbird (set dance version) which is a nice pairing,i think
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by biggus dave
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
I appreciate all the help. You all are great. ScottC - I would love to have those ABCs. Katie - If they give you the Chills, That's EXACTLY what I want. Glauber - I'm going to order that CD Pronto. I'm a sucker for statements like "one of the best ITM albums ever". You are over the top GreenWiggle - Appreciate the words. 290 - you hit the nail on the head but that's one of those I'm trying to replace. It's just one of those great that I can really grab the audience. It is French and Solas said who cares when they recorded it. Thanks again Dave. I have some great homework from you all. I'm sure I'll find some grand slam winners in this lot.
Mark
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by Mark Cordova
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
Does making all the dogs in the neighborhood howl earn extra points, Mark? I've finally accomplished it! (My kids were impressed.)
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by katiebythegate
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
Ive been playing Crested Hens recently. The tune section comments indicate it is French? Does anyone have more info?
Thanks
Joe
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by Carrmuse
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
This may be really pushing the envelope, and I'm not even sure if the tune I'm about to suggest is an air, but it is slow and lovely, and was composed by a wild man. Ashley MacIsaac plays a tune called MacDougall's Pride (not sure what key he plays it in) on his "Hi, how are you today," album, and it almost always brings tears to my eyes, and I don't get very emotional. This suggestion may be the furthest thing from what you're looking for, but I thought I'd toss it out there anyway.
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by Jason G
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
Scott and glauber...I'd like the ABC's you mention for those tunes. Would you email them my way too?
Thanks!
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by katiebythegate
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
ScottC - we also do Tom Bhetty's; and there's that French Canadian Waltz (that's what they had as its title) that The Boys of The Lough did on Good Friends ...Good Music.
Also I try & play a french waltz (don't know its name) that Heritage did on Tell Tae Me.
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by Nick Splease
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
I agree with Glauber about A Tribute to Michael Coleman being a classic recording which I would recommend to everyone. For slow airs I would recommend Matt Cranitch's album "éistigh seal" which consists entirely of slow airs beautifully played in a very austere style. My favourite from this album is probably "An Raibh tú ag an gCarraig". I would also recommend anyone interested in learning slow airs to listen a lot to sean nos singers such as Séan Mac Donnchada. Matt Molloy has of course recorded some beautiful slow airs, in particular "the Parting of Friends" and "Ó’Ráthaille’s Grave" on the "Stoney Steps" album never fail to send a shiver down my spine.
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by milesnagopaleen
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
Mark, that's scary. I hope you like the CD. It was recommended to me by Will Harmon, and i have never tired of listening to it.
Someone mentioned Hector the Hero, and i second it, that's a nice song too (Scottish). Sounds very nice with flute and geetar. It shows up in the first Bothy Band CD.
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display.php/293
There's already, a somewhat funky transcription here in thesession (with written out ornaments)
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/1292
so i'll add a simpler ABC in there, in the "comments" section.
g
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by glauber
Listening
It's very important to listen to people who know what they're doing, to learn how to play this kind of music. Here are some suggestions for the ones i like:
Fairy Queen - Chris Norman (Man With The Wooden Flute)
Easter Snow - Eamonn Cotter (Eamon Cotter)
Easter Snow - Seamus Tansey (Easter Snow)
Staky Wallis - Matt Molloy (Matt Molloy (black album))
Stacky Wallis - Seamus Tansey (Easter Snow)
Limerick Lamentation, Parting of Friends, Wild Geese - Chieftains (Celtic Harp)
Hector the Hero - Bothy Band (the first album)
It's cool to compare how Matt Molloy and Seamus Tansey do Stacker Wallace. I don't like Seamus' "Easter Snow" CD very much, but the Easter Snow and Staker Wallace tracks are worthy a listen. I love the steel-strung harp accompaniment on Easter Snow. But i still prefer the way Eamonn & Geraldine Cotter do Easter Snow.
g
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by glauber
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
Glauber...many thanks for the ABC's and the source information.
--Stace
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by katiebythegate
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
No problem, Staceybythegatey, but just don't forget that the humble jigs and reels are really the foundation of (instrumental) Irish music. These airs and songs are pretty, and also very hard to play right, because we're disconnected from the tradition; most of us haven't grown up listening to our mothers singing these songs.
The way i understand it, the "point" of playing songs or airs is to convey lots of emotion, within the vocabulary of the instrument and the tradition. For example, if you use any vibrato at all, be subtle. It's better to use finger vibrato instead of throat vibrato, and that just on a few chosen notes.
It's interesting to listen to "sean-nos" (i.e.: old-style) unaccompanied singing too, since that's where slow airs come from. I don't have enough experience with that to recommend anything, but there's a Web site: http://www.cic.ie, which especializes on this stuff. I recently got a CD by an old guy named Dara Bán Mac Donnchadha from them, which i liked.
BTW, i have the same kind of flute that you have (M&E); i like it a lot.
g
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by glauber
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
Cape Clear, The Parting of Friends, May Morning Dew, Brauch Na Carrige Baine. those are a few of my favorites at the moment.
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by Brendan
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
As an embryonic piper of nearly 3 years, I'd humbly suggest THE BRIGHT LADY. I've heard Willie Clancy, Pádraic MacMathúna, and Ronan Browne play this air. It's very beautiful, and my favorite version is the one MacMathúna plays on his recording BLAS NA MEALA.
*Jonathan*
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by j.hohl.kennedy
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
As an addendum, I'd also second Port na bPúcaí as a wonderful air. I've heard Ronan Browne, Davy Spillane, and a few others play it. Beautiful! Also lends itself very nicely to the regulators. And, also, now that I'm thinking of it, The Wounded Hussar is a very moving air to me. I've heard Dicky Deegan, Séamus Ennis, Tim Birtton, and others play it.
*Jonathan*
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by j.hohl.kennedy
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
The Wounded Hussar is also in Chris Norman's MWTWF. Beautiful tune.
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by glauber
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
to answer carr muse's question, crested hens "Les Poules huppées" was written by a French hurdy-gurdy-man called Gilles Chabenat . You can hear it on Solas first CD.
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by paul95
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz--off-topic...Glauber's irish flute & piccolo
Heya, Glauber...got nosey about your flute and looked to see if it were in your pics. Is yours keyed? Which keys did you get and why? I wasn't sure if I should go that route or not and saw that the M & E could be retro-fitted if I changed my mind. I've not played irish flute enough to know if it's needed or not. What is your experience?
Also, I noticed your piccolo has a wood head joint. I considered doing the same for my Boehm before I went ahead with the M & E. Did it really make that much of a dif. in the tone for you?
Thanks for the info.
Stace
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by katiebythegate
Flutes, etc
Stace,
i have 2 M&Es. The one i use all the time is not keyed. I also have another one with 5 keys (D#, long and shortf, G#, Bb). I also have a wooden flute with 6 keys (all keys except for low C/C#) made by Eamonn Cotter which is my main flute now, also a lovely instrument.
In short, the keyed M&E is good, as far as the keys are concerned. The keys in these flutes are nowhere as comfortable as the Boehm system. The Cotter is a better flute, but the keys on the M&E are less painful than the keys on the Cotter.
Do you need keys? This is one of the old religious debates in ITM. I think if you're interested in playing Irish flute music, you don't. I like having them so i can play the odd tune in G minor, and also for playing Classical and other non-Irish things. The down side of having keys is that the instrument becomes more fragile (but it's less at risk of rolling off the table, har har). So i have this fancy wooden flute with keys, and my trusted keyless M&E that i can take anywhere and it won't break.
Non-Irish content follows, parental discretion advised:
I have wooden headjoints for my metal Boehm flute and also for my wooden Boehm piccolo. I like the sound that these headjoints make very much. For the flute, i have a 'joint made by Mark Hoza (http://www.woodenflutemaker.com). I love it. It made a huge difference in the tone (darker, richer), but it doesn't make it sound like an Irish flute. It's still a different beast. I just happen to like the sound of the wood. Getting a handmade 'joint, be it wood or metal, is the cheapest way to make a big difference in a cheap flute's sound.
The piccolo, obviously already had a wooden head, but getting a new head custom made by Eldred Spell (http://www.eldredspellflutes.com) transformed it from a mediocre instrument into something wonderful. This guy is the best headjoint maker in the world, but he specializes in piccolos.
I hope this helps.
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by glauber
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
You all continue to amaze with your generosity and thoughtfulness. It's not hard to understand why I am such a fan of this site. Thank you all very much! Lot's and lots of homework.
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by Mark Cordova
Ahh Yes
Scott And Glauber - thanks so much for the emails.
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by Mark Cordova
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
also coilsfield house is a nice one- it's on her new live album....
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by Kallie
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
I'm not too keen on waltzes generally, especially in sessions, (we get too many locally), but agree to "Tommy Bhetty's" and "Mrs. Kenny's" which I think is the same tune as "Mrs. Crotty's". I would also add "Aggie's Waltz" from Seamus Egan's first recording. I think the tune came from Newfoundland.
Slow airs - I would add "Lament For Oliver Goldsmith", composed by Seamus Shannon and recorded by Seamus Creagh. Best piece of slow-air playing I ever heard was Finbar Furey playing this on whistle several years ago.
Also "Tir Na Nog", recorded by Jackie Daly and Brian Hughes, and "Sean O'Duibhir a Ghleanna" is a great song as well as air.
One slow air which is currently very popular is "Sliabh Geal gCua" which has been recorded in the past year or so by Harry Bradley, Kevin Crawford and Tony McManus.
The slow air version of the "Blackbird" is on the 3rd "Bothy Band " album, and also Finbar Furey recorded an unusual combination of the air and set-dance on the LP "Dawning Of The Day".
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by Kenny
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
The beautiful tune Josefin's Waltz or Josephine's Christening by the Swedish group Vasen as played by Dervish.
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by Seasider
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
Is Limerick Lamentation the same air as Lament for Limerick as performed by Martin Hayes?
# Posted on January 23rd 2003 by Robby B.
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
Yes
# Posted on January 23rd 2003 by Kenny
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
Inisheer - it is Irish contemporary written in a trad style. You can get the music from thesession.com tune list.
Arran Boat Song (Scottish... beautiful)
I recommend listening to some of the old songs to learn airs. You can find tapes/CD's of sean nos singers at:
http://www.ulstersongs.com
Look for
60-160 Elizabeth Cronin the most quoted and least heard of the great singers of the past -
recorded c 1952
60-161 Sarah Makem/Anne-Jane Kelly
# Posted on January 24th 2003 by aliceflynn
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
A French Canadian waltz that is being played at several Chicago sessions these days is "Un Canadien Errant". It's a beautiful melody. I don't "ABC" so I'm not sure where you could get the tune. The tune is simple enough so perhaps I'll try and learn enough "ABC" to post it.
Also, don't forget Margaret's Waltz.
# Posted on January 25th 2003 by Tusong200
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
I'd have to add Liz Donaldson's Larksinam Jig, The Alewoman from O'Neill's, and Breton #6 in G. Tho I could use suggestions
from everyone what to play with them...
# Posted on January 27th 2003 by Fsnockhart
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
I love "Memories of St. Paul Island", written by Paul Cranford. Puirt a Baroque does a lovely rendition of this tune on their CD "Return of the Wanderer"
# Posted on January 27th 2003 by IJ Shelton
Re: What's your favorite Air or Waltz
Here's one that's not been mentioned, Mark ... The Swan LK243 written by Catriona Mackay (Fiddlers Bid), Dundee. It's an absolutely beautiful slow air about an old fishing vessel that was launched in Lerwick in 1900. The inspiration for the tune apparently came about when the band was aboard the boat during the Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race in 1999. You'll hear a pin drop ... !!
# Posted on February 5th 2003 by rusky