On May 12th I will be competing in the Mayo county Fleadh.
I will competing in the 12-15 button accordion competition.
The proplem is I dont now what amount or what type of tunes to play.I read the rules at http://www.comhaltas.ie/images/press_rooms/FleadhRules.pdf
but cant unterstand them fully.Can someone PLEASE explain it to me in plain English.All help would be greatly appreciated.
cant member if its 2 or 3 pieces to play but if its 2 play a jig and a reel. people sometimes play a different combination but jig and reel is preferred especially in box comp. if its 3 pieces then a hornpipe or barndance is a good choice but id edge more towards hornpipe
Mayo has some great tunes, and if you can give attribution, someone you learned them from, that would be good too. Represent where you're from. Judges are like the lottery, you never know for sure what you're facing, and each has their way and preferences. I can only tell you what made me mark things as important to support, though I am completely against competitions now, but don't let that influence you. Go for it and good luck...
I don't want to give the where, who or what, and I think the basics of my decision on one point will at least give my way with it, not necessarily shared by others. I had the teens in this one. There was a family who I was later told ALWAYS took first, in all their competitions. After listening to them all I was down to two who were impressive, and one of them was from that family. Just a quick note on them, learned later, they had no history of music, which is OK, but basically parents who pushed their children, several, into music and competitions, and they had walls and tables covered with them.
I'm just making the comparison for the top two. Their child played, and it was flash, full of the influences of the latest recordings out of Dublin, this was back in the early 80s. Technically he was very impressive, but there was nothing that took hold of me. I listened intently but my feet weren't moving, nor my heart. The other was another matter, not overly ornate, not full of ornaments in other words, and beautifully rhythmic playing, and my feet were going, and my heart, and I got goose bumps. Maybe goose bumps aren't the thing to measure with, but they were there. The first, and their playing, was very aggressive, but not dance music. The second was relaxed and made you want to dance, and it was music from their area. not just reels and jigs, beautiful and heartfelt. I guess I won't need to say who got first and who got second. I got a lot of hassle for that decision.
I later found out that my 'local' 1st place was from a family with a long line of music behind them, and she played for dance too. I didn't know their history before the event. Some judges will be swayed by flash turns, and others are moved by something that is beyond just the mechanics... Also, some like it when what is offered shows some local accent to the playing and the choice of tunes. I'm pretty sure that back then it was three tunes, but it could have been that we had the option as judges to ask for another after two, and you can bet your life I would have wanted to hear more... So, even if it is two, do have more than that to call on.
"In the 12-15 grade each competitor shall play two slow airs, one selected by the adjudicator from a list of four submitted and the other selected by the competitor from the remaining three on the list."
'slow airs' taken as a blank to be filled in by your selections:
13.) Tunes to be played at competitions shall be selected from the following, in accordance with the sample Clár na gComórtas, designed by CEC -
Air (slow or lively) / Reel / Polka / Hornpipe / Jig (double, single, slip) /
Slide / Set Dance / March / Mazurka / Planxty /
Fling / Barn Dance / Schottische / Clan March
Competitors shall play each tune twice only. In the case of a reel which is played singly a competitor may play such a reel three times (AB AB AB). Competitors who play extra tunes e.g. two jigs or two reels in lieu of one shall be adjudicated on the first tune of the selection only and shall be penalised by the deduction of two marks for each extra tune attempted. Only slow airs based strictly on the traditional airs and not on modern arrangements shall be accepted. No penalty shall be levied on a competitor in the Slow Airs Competition if he/she plays the air through only once.
14.) In Under 12 and 12-15 grades, a competitor shall play one tune from each of two classes specified in Rule 13.
My little sister's competing in the 12-15 Whistle this year (we've already had our regional, next is the All-Britain).
She has to play 2 tunes for the whistle competition. That's the same for you too. There isn't a competition for button accordion slow airs so don't worry about that. The most common tunes played are a Reel and a Jig. I'd definitely play a reel- they often judge you on your reel unfortunately. A jig's a good idea, but you could also play a hornpipe as for example, when you go through to 15-18 and have 3 tunes to play they're often a reel, jig and hornpipe.
Best idea is to play a tune with a minimum of two parts arranged AABB. Then play it twice through. You can officially play single reels (one's with a pattern AB) and if you do that play it 3 times through. But not many people ever do that in my experience.
Few....no slow airs.Thanks ceolachan and roisionb.I think ill play a reel and a jig.I might go for The Green Feilds of Rossbeigh and Luradans.By the way best of luck to your sister roisin.Thanks again
Yeah, I wanted to say something like that ~ but I was avoiding my biases...
Did you notice that waltzes are not an option? It's that old 'foreign influence' thing... Thank the powers that be that Donegal and Ulster get at least some respect and consideration... ( ~ not by all ~ another reason I've sworn off competition...)
Fleadh Ceoil.....
Fleadh Ceoil.....
On May 12th I will be competing in the Mayo county Fleadh.
I will competing in the 12-15 button accordion competition.
The proplem is I dont now what amount or what type of tunes to play.I read the rules at http://www.comhaltas.ie/images/press_rooms/FleadhRules.pdf
but cant unterstand them fully.Can someone PLEASE explain it to me in plain English.All help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Liam
# Posted on May 3rd 2007 by dinn2
Re: Fleadh Ceoil.....
Sorry wrong link
http://www.comhaltas.ie/blog/post/competition-rules
# Posted on May 3rd 2007 by dinn2
Re: Fleadh Ceoil.....
sh*te
http://comhaltas.ie/blog/post/competition_rules
# Posted on May 3rd 2007 by dinn2
Re: Fleadh Ceoil.....
cant member if its 2 or 3 pieces to play but if its 2 play a jig and a reel. people sometimes play a different combination but jig and reel is preferred especially in box comp. if its 3 pieces then a hornpipe or barndance is a good choice but id edge more towards hornpipe
# Posted on May 3rd 2007 by cathall
Re: Fleadh Ceoil.....
Mayo has some great tunes, and if you can give attribution, someone you learned them from, that would be good too. Represent where you're from. Judges are like the lottery, you never know for sure what you're facing, and each has their way and preferences. I can only tell you what made me mark things as important to support, though I am completely against competitions now, but don't let that influence you. Go for it and good luck...
I don't want to give the where, who or what, and I think the basics of my decision on one point will at least give my way with it, not necessarily shared by others. I had the teens in this one. There was a family who I was later told ALWAYS took first, in all their competitions. After listening to them all I was down to two who were impressive, and one of them was from that family. Just a quick note on them, learned later, they had no history of music, which is OK, but basically parents who pushed their children, several, into music and competitions, and they had walls and tables covered with them.
I'm just making the comparison for the top two. Their child played, and it was flash, full of the influences of the latest recordings out of Dublin, this was back in the early 80s. Technically he was very impressive, but there was nothing that took hold of me. I listened intently but my feet weren't moving, nor my heart. The other was another matter, not overly ornate, not full of ornaments in other words, and beautifully rhythmic playing, and my feet were going, and my heart, and I got goose bumps. Maybe goose bumps aren't the thing to measure with, but they were there. The first, and their playing, was very aggressive, but not dance music. The second was relaxed and made you want to dance, and it was music from their area. not just reels and jigs, beautiful and heartfelt. I guess I won't need to say who got first and who got second. I got a lot of hassle for that decision.
I later found out that my 'local' 1st place was from a family with a long line of music behind them, and she played for dance too. I didn't know their history before the event. Some judges will be swayed by flash turns, and others are moved by something that is beyond just the mechanics... Also, some like it when what is offered shows some local accent to the playing and the choice of tunes. I'm pretty sure that back then it was three tunes, but it could have been that we had the option as judges to ask for another after two, and you can bet your life I would have wanted to hear more... So, even if it is two, do have more than that to call on.
Let us know how it goes...
# Posted on May 3rd 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Fleadh Ceoil.....
"In the 12-15 grade each competitor shall play two slow airs, one selected by the adjudicator from a list of four submitted and the other selected by the competitor from the remaining three on the list."
'slow airs' taken as a blank to be filled in by your selections:
13.) Tunes to be played at competitions shall be selected from the following, in accordance with the sample Clár na gComórtas, designed by CEC -
Air (slow or lively) / Reel / Polka / Hornpipe / Jig (double, single, slip) /
Slide / Set Dance / March / Mazurka / Planxty /
Fling / Barn Dance / Schottische / Clan March
Competitors shall play each tune twice only. In the case of a reel which is played singly a competitor may play such a reel three times (AB AB AB). Competitors who play extra tunes e.g. two jigs or two reels in lieu of one shall be adjudicated on the first tune of the selection only and shall be penalised by the deduction of two marks for each extra tune attempted. Only slow airs based strictly on the traditional airs and not on modern arrangements shall be accepted. No penalty shall be levied on a competitor in the Slow Airs Competition if he/she plays the air through only once.
14.) In Under 12 and 12-15 grades, a competitor shall play one tune from each of two classes specified in Rule 13.
# Posted on May 3rd 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Fleadh Ceoil.....
Damn, I guess you can't ask for another anymore...
# Posted on May 3rd 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Fleadh Cheoil.....
Hi dinn
My little sister's competing in the 12-15 Whistle this year (we've already had our regional, next is the All-Britain).
She has to play 2 tunes for the whistle competition. That's the same for you too. There isn't a competition for button accordion slow airs so don't worry about that. The most common tunes played are a Reel and a Jig. I'd definitely play a reel- they often judge you on your reel unfortunately. A jig's a good idea, but you could also play a hornpipe as for example, when you go through to 15-18 and have 3 tunes to play they're often a reel, jig and hornpipe.
Best idea is to play a tune with a minimum of two parts arranged AABB. Then play it twice through. You can officially play single reels (one's with a pattern AB) and if you do that play it 3 times through. But not many people ever do that in my experience.
Hope that helps!
Roisin
# Posted on May 3rd 2007 by RoisinB
Re: Fleadh Ceoil.....
Few....no slow airs.Thanks ceolachan and roisionb.I think ill play a reel and a jig.I might go for The Green Feilds of Rossbeigh and Luradans.By the way best of luck to your sister roisin.Thanks again
Liam
# Posted on May 3rd 2007 by dinn2
Re: Fleadh Ceoil.....
Best of luck!!!
# Posted on May 3rd 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Fleadh Ceoil.....
A polka and a mazurka.
Definitely.
# Posted on May 3rd 2007 by mcdevincabe
Re: Fleadh Ceoil.....
Yeah, I wanted to say something like that ~ but I was avoiding my biases...
Did you notice that waltzes are not an option? It's that old 'foreign influence' thing... Thank the powers that be that Donegal and Ulster get at least some respect and consideration... ( ~ not by all ~ another reason I've sworn off competition...)
# Posted on May 3rd 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Fleadh Ceoil.....
Good Luck!
# Posted on May 12th 2007 by RoisinB