I like variety in a session. A good brisk waltz can be great fun.
Some players think of waltzes & airs as one in the same. Well, they can be.
A tune played at one session may be very different in another session.
Traditional music does change over time & distance.
I play some slow airs & think they are grand.
I just hope there are sessions where the waltzes are lively & the slow airs are rare but savoured.
In my opinion, a good waltz is much better at a session for everyone joining in, because it has a steady predictable rhythm. I have always thought of slow aires as a solo turn--and I think people should give the player a chance to flex the rhythm to fit the aire, rather than join in, and take away that flexibility. For example, unless you are specifically asked to participate, I think accompanists should be silent during aires.
I love, love, love waltzes. Especially the old standards....Westphaila, Ash Grove, Tennessee Waltz and the like.
It's fun to play them, then play them again in a different manner. They can be slow, played with a swing or bold. I never tire of playing them. One thing I've found is that most players can pick them up quickly and they appeal to a wide age group of listeners.
I love a good waltz, but about two-thirds of the ones I've heard just don't tickle my fancy. It's a fairly simple form, which means it's harder to write really good ones. Any recommendations?
Don't ask me to explain why (I honestly don't know) but there are some great waltzes such as The Belltable, Tabhar Dom Do Lamh, Tom Bhetty's which are welcome at any session. However, there are others such as The Wild Rover, The Boys of The County Armagh, A Mother's Love's a Blessing, etc which would drive anyone to drink! My view is play the good ones but steer well clear of the dirges which give all waltzes a bad name.
Dark Island, Brafferton Village, Miss Rowan Davies, Leaving Lismore.
Numbers 1, 3 & 4 of these are Scottish; waltzes seem to feature more prominently in Scottish and North American trad than in Irish. Irish waltzes seem a rather obscure group of tunes, for some reason, but The Marino Waltz is a lively one, composed by one of the Dubliners.
I forgot about Miss Rowan Davies and Tommy Bhetty's - beauties, though the latter is prone to being screwed up by awful accompaniment. There's that even famouser Jay Ungar one, Ashokan Farewell. Mr Ungar is fairly solicitous as to the use to which his music is put but I doubt whether he'll be seen in a session near you any time soon. There's a very nice waltz in D called Canada Waltz (or Canadian Waltz?) that I think also has another name, if anyone can enlighten. It was on an old Boys of the Lough album. They also did a nice version of the Ook Pik Waltz.
Waltzes are just great - any waltzes, and I do love scottish ones : not too fast, time to play a lot of ornaments and variations... and if you just look a bit on the side of TIM, towards France, for instance, you'll find a lot of delicate, tricky and hauntingly beautiful waltz tunes. Sharon Shannon, Mairtin O'Connor recorded a few...
There's an Irish song turned sometimes into waltz called something like "The Pretty Girl Milking her Cow". Well, the name is not entirely mystical or epic but the bold rendition of this tune by Harry Bradley in "As I carelessly did stray..." gives a new and appealing perspective quite different from that of other more commonly heard waltzes.
I also enjoy "Hold her Hand" (or "my" or something similar, sorry, I'm terrible for names) and "Her Mantle so green" (by Cherish the Ladies)
In the immortal words of comedian Frank Carson (well almost) "It's the way you play them" Morning Star! A good example of this is that great melody written by Tommy Peoples, "The Jocelyn Tree". I originally picked it up from Tommy as a jig he gave to a fiddle class more than 10 years ago. Following that some years later he recorded it on his "Green Linnet" CD as a slow air. However, if you speed it up slightly it makes for a great waltze.
Just a thought Sylvester, your "Hold Her Hand" is probably "Give me your Hand" or, as Gaeilge, "Tabhair Dom do Lamh". Just a thought on great and terrible waltzes I mentioned in an earlier post, I think I'm beginning to see a pattern here as the majority of the good ones don't have words (eg this one, Tom Bhetty's, the Belltable, etc). Maybe it's the singers that are ruining them!
The older musicians used to call the F natural the lonesome note. It's so effective in making a tune that bit special, even in dance tunes like "the Cook in the Kitchen" or the set dance, "The Hunt".
Not sure about F natural being the lonesome note, it's more the 'f neutral' that sliding or elusively inbetween intonation of a note that really hits the lonesome touch.
Anyhow, as waltzes go, playing on the back of beyond for years we did The Harbour Lights of Old Aberdeen, The New Land and never scared away from Bold Jack Donohue, Moonlight in Mayo or even A mother's Love.. and the like. The dancers just loved them.
I think that's The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen" Kilfarboy but then maybe there's another song. You reminded me of a few more that dancers always enjoy as follows:
These are My Mountains, The River Clyde, The Road to Dundee - what did someone say earlier on about Scottish songs?
It's "Northern Lights", - a reference to the Aurora Borealis - although we do have a harbour. We're venturing into Alexander Brothers territory here. I'm not much of a fan of waltzes, but there are a couple of exceptions - "Mrs. Kenny's", and also a tune which Seamus Egan recorded on his first album, called "Aggie's Waltz".
H.L.Menken wrote: “The waltz is sneaking, insidious, disarming, lovely. . . .The waltz, in fact, is magnificently improper-the art of tone turned lubricious. . . . There is something about a waltz that is irresistible.
Regarding spelling benhall, I was under the impression that what you inhale is spelled "air" but what you play is spelled "aire." But looking in the dictionary, I don't see that alternate spelling. So perhaps I am just clueless, and because I rely too much on the aural nature of the tradition, I don't know how to spell!
Ah. Thanks Al. It's just I find I'm quite often tripped up by the 'sidewalk', 'pants', 'suspenders' type of thing. (Especially the phrase, memorably said to a female American colleague away on business together as we parted for the night "Shall I knock you up in the morning?")
It makes me feel ever so much better now I know it's just wrong!
"Hold Her Hand" reminds me of the Tom Lehrer classic:
"I hold your hand in mine, dear,
I press it to my lips,
I take another bite from
Your dainty fingertips;
My joy would be complete, dear,
If you were only here,
But still I hold your hand in mine
As a precious souvenir..."
And that would fit in a set of standard Irish song-tune waltzes, and all!
The pretty Maid milking her cow (mentioned by Sylvester)can also be found on They Sailed Away from Dublin Bay, another great waltz by the way, an album by Liam Farrell and Joe Whelan.Box and banjo. Terrific.
Have to agree that this is a great recording and a full track listing including great details on Liam and Joe, posted by Aidan Crossey, can be viewed at http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1172
We play the Ookpik Waltz & enjoy it greatly.
Our version is different from the one posted.
I added the abc's to the comments section. http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/5422
“Aire” is an archaic spelling. I’ve seen it used plenty of times in *old* texts. I like to occasionally use archaic spellings or words when they feel right in the context. Sometimes they carry an extra bit of meaning that’s gotten rubbed off in the evolution of the language. Also, I *am* an eccentric old git.
I just remembered Each Little Thing, composed by Steven Cooney and played by Sharon Shannon and friends on Spellbound. Lovely tune with lots of interpretive possibilities.
Waltzes
Waltzes
I like variety in a session. A good brisk waltz can be great fun.
Some players think of waltzes & airs as one in the same. Well, they can be.
A tune played at one session may be very different in another session.
Traditional music does change over time & distance.
I play some slow airs & think they are grand.
I just hope there are sessions where the waltzes are lively & the slow airs are rare but savoured.
# Posted on May 9th 2007 by Random_notes
Re: Waltzes
In my opinion, a good waltz is much better at a session for everyone joining in, because it has a steady predictable rhythm. I have always thought of slow aires as a solo turn--and I think people should give the player a chance to flex the rhythm to fit the aire, rather than join in, and take away that flexibility. For example, unless you are specifically asked to participate, I think accompanists should be silent during aires.
# Posted on May 9th 2007 by AlBrown
Re: Waltzes
Oh Muse,
I love, love, love waltzes. Especially the old standards....Westphaila, Ash Grove, Tennessee Waltz and the like.
It's fun to play them, then play them again in a different manner. They can be slow, played with a swing or bold. I never tire of playing them. One thing I've found is that most players can pick them up quickly and they appeal to a wide age group of listeners.
Keep on Waltz'n
Mary
# Posted on May 9th 2007 by Antikhntr
Re: Waltzes
i like listening to waltzes, but i cannae play them. :(
my landlord left a dozen old 78s hanging up on the wall, mostly scottish accordian stuff, William Starr, Jimmy Shand, a lot of waltzes
its good hangover music.
# Posted on May 9th 2007 by DubChieftain
Re: Waltzes
Margaret's Waltz, Dark Island, Heaven's Gate.
# Posted on May 9th 2007 by Steve Shaw
Re: Waltzes
"aires" - is that American spelling, Al? Just curious ...
...divided by a common language 'n' that ...
# Posted on May 9th 2007 by benhall.1
Re: Waltzes
I love a good waltz, but about two-thirds of the ones I've heard just don't tickle my fancy. It's a fairly simple form, which means it's harder to write really good ones. Any recommendations?
# Posted on May 9th 2007 by Bob himself
Re: Waltzes
Don't ask me to explain why (I honestly don't know) but there are some great waltzes such as The Belltable, Tabhar Dom Do Lamh, Tom Bhetty's which are welcome at any session. However, there are others such as The Wild Rover, The Boys of The County Armagh, A Mother's Love's a Blessing, etc which would drive anyone to drink! My view is play the good ones but steer well clear of the dirges which give all waltzes a bad name.
# Posted on May 9th 2007 by Bannerman
Re: Waltzes
Dark Island, Brafferton Village, Miss Rowan Davies, Leaving Lismore.
Numbers 1, 3 & 4 of these are Scottish; waltzes seem to feature more prominently in Scottish and North American trad than in Irish. Irish waltzes seem a rather obscure group of tunes, for some reason, but The Marino Waltz is a lively one, composed by one of the Dubliners.
# Posted on May 9th 2007 by nicholas
Re: Waltzes
The Lover's Waltz- (composed by American fiddler Jay Ungar) and Far Away are two I like. Also My Cape Breton Home, by Jerry Holland.
# Posted on May 9th 2007 by azfiddle
Re: Waltzes
I forgot about Miss Rowan Davies and Tommy Bhetty's - beauties, though the latter is prone to being screwed up by awful accompaniment. There's that even famouser Jay Ungar one, Ashokan Farewell. Mr Ungar is fairly solicitous as to the use to which his music is put but I doubt whether he'll be seen in a session near you any time soon. There's a very nice waltz in D called Canada Waltz (or Canadian Waltz?) that I think also has another name, if anyone can enlighten. It was on an old Boys of the Lough album. They also did a nice version of the Ook Pik Waltz.
# Posted on May 10th 2007 by Steve Shaw
Re: Waltzes
I DO like Ook Pick Waltz. And Natalie's new one, Julia's Waltz, is beautiful.
As for aires, I prefer Marc's Aire, March, and Reel (April Verch plays this). One tune in three different types/whatever. Just gorgeous.
# Posted on May 10th 2007 by Bridgee Stewart
Re: Waltzes
Waltzes are just great - any waltzes, and I do love scottish ones : not too fast, time to play a lot of ornaments and variations... and if you just look a bit on the side of TIM, towards France, for instance, you'll find a lot of delicate, tricky and hauntingly beautiful waltz tunes. Sharon Shannon, Mairtin O'Connor recorded a few...
# Posted on May 10th 2007 by Nikita Pfister
Re: Waltzes
Hector The Hero
Crossing To Ireland
Hewlet & other O'Carolyn tunes in 3 time
Mist Covered Mountains of Home
Waiting For Emily
Waltzing is a nice way to slow down sometimes.
# Posted on May 10th 2007 by morning star
Re: Waltzes
Waltzes and slow airs are nice *only* when other people seem tired of fast tunes.
By the way, Hector the Hero and Mist Covered Mt. are not waltzes, but slow airs. Waltzes for dancing, airs for listening, you know.
# Posted on May 10th 2007 by slainte
Re: Waltzes
There's an Irish song turned sometimes into waltz called something like "The Pretty Girl Milking her Cow". Well, the name is not entirely mystical or epic but the bold rendition of this tune by Harry Bradley in "As I carelessly did stray..." gives a new and appealing perspective quite different from that of other more commonly heard waltzes.
I also enjoy "Hold her Hand" (or "my" or something similar, sorry, I'm terrible for names) and "Her Mantle so green" (by Cherish the Ladies)
Rgds
# Posted on May 10th 2007 by sylvester
Re: Waltzes
Ok slainte, if you play the two airs mentioned in strict 3 time with less embellishment, they're easy to waltz to. How's that?
# Posted on May 10th 2007 by morning star
Re: Waltzes
In the immortal words of comedian Frank Carson (well almost) "It's the way you play them" Morning Star! A good example of this is that great melody written by Tommy Peoples, "The Jocelyn Tree". I originally picked it up from Tommy as a jig he gave to a fiddle class more than 10 years ago. Following that some years later he recorded it on his "Green Linnet" CD as a slow air. However, if you speed it up slightly it makes for a great waltze.
# Posted on May 10th 2007 by Bannerman
Re: Waltzes
Just a thought Sylvester, your "Hold Her Hand" is probably "Give me your Hand" or, as Gaeilge, "Tabhair Dom do Lamh". Just a thought on great and terrible waltzes I mentioned in an earlier post, I think I'm beginning to see a pattern here as the majority of the good ones don't have words (eg this one, Tom Bhetty's, the Belltable, etc). Maybe it's the singers that are ruining them!
# Posted on May 10th 2007 by Bannerman
Re: Waltzes
That's it Bannerman! "Give me your hand" I like the twist in the end with that F (keyed on flute).
I sum myself up to Bhetty's waltz.
Cheers
# Posted on May 10th 2007 by sylvester
Re: Waltzes
we regularly play the Belltable, tom bhetty's, gentle maiden, and I"ve recently fallen absolutely in love with "If ever you were mine"
# Posted on May 10th 2007 by Kriana
Re: Waltzes
The older musicians used to call the F natural the lonesome note. It's so effective in making a tune that bit special, even in dance tunes like "the Cook in the Kitchen" or the set dance, "The Hunt".
# Posted on May 10th 2007 by Bannerman
Re: Waltzes
Not sure about F natural being the lonesome note, it's more the 'f neutral' that sliding or elusively inbetween intonation of a note that really hits the lonesome touch.
Anyhow, as waltzes go, playing on the back of beyond for years we did The Harbour Lights of Old Aberdeen, The New Land and never scared away from Bold Jack Donohue, Moonlight in Mayo or even A mother's Love.. and the like. The dancers just loved them.
# Posted on May 10th 2007 by kilfarboy
Re: Waltzes
I think that's The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen" Kilfarboy but then maybe there's another song. You reminded me of a few more that dancers always enjoy as follows:
These are My Mountains, The River Clyde, The Road to Dundee - what did someone say earlier on about Scottish songs?
# Posted on May 10th 2007 by Bannerman
Re: Waltzes
Could be, it's what Jackie Daly called it when we started playing it more regualrly
# Posted on May 10th 2007 by kilfarboy
Re: Waltzes
It's "Northern Lights", - a reference to the Aurora Borealis - although we do have a harbour. We're venturing into Alexander Brothers territory here. I'm not much of a fan of waltzes, but there are a couple of exceptions - "Mrs. Kenny's", and also a tune which Seamus Egan recorded on his first album, called "Aggie's Waltz".
# Posted on May 10th 2007 by Kenny
Re: Waltzes
H.L.Menken wrote: “The waltz is sneaking, insidious, disarming, lovely. . . .The waltz, in fact, is magnificently improper-the art of tone turned lubricious. . . . There is something about a waltz that is irresistible.
# Posted on May 10th 2007 by Random_notes
Re: Waltzes
Thanks for all the waltzes. I recognize some & am trying to find the rest. Just tried Mrs. Kenny's. It's grand!
# Posted on May 10th 2007 by Random_notes
Re: Waltzes
Regarding spelling benhall, I was under the impression that what you inhale is spelled "air" but what you play is spelled "aire." But looking in the dictionary, I don't see that alternate spelling. So perhaps I am just clueless, and because I rely too much on the aural nature of the tradition, I don't know how to spell!
# Posted on May 10th 2007 by AlBrown
Re: Waltzes
Mrs Kenny's is a great waltze - I think it was one of Michael Coleman's. Don't forget Spancil Hill, The South Wind and Sí Beag Sí Mór.
# Posted on May 10th 2007 by Bannerman
Re: Waltzes
Anyone care to wade in with their favourite jiges, reeles, slidees and mazurkaes?
# Posted on May 10th 2007 by Steve Shaw
Re: Waltzes
Ah. Thanks Al. It's just I find I'm quite often tripped up by the 'sidewalk', 'pants', 'suspenders' type of thing. (Especially the phrase, memorably said to a female American colleague away on business together as we parted for the night "Shall I knock you up in the morning?")
It makes me feel ever so much better now I know it's just wrong!
# Posted on May 11th 2007 by benhall.1
Re: Waltzes
I hope your enquiry of the lady in question elicited a positive response, Ben...
# Posted on May 11th 2007 by Steve Shaw
Re: Waltzes
"Hold Her Hand" reminds me of the Tom Lehrer classic:
"I hold your hand in mine, dear,
I press it to my lips,
I take another bite from
Your dainty fingertips;
My joy would be complete, dear,
If you were only here,
But still I hold your hand in mine
As a precious souvenir..."
And that would fit in a set of standard Irish song-tune waltzes, and all!
# Posted on May 11th 2007 by nicholas
Re: Waltzes
The pretty Maid milking her cow (mentioned by Sylvester)can also be found on They Sailed Away from Dublin Bay, another great waltz by the way, an album by Liam Farrell and Joe Whelan.Box and banjo. Terrific.
# Posted on May 11th 2007 by pennhorse
Re: Waltzes
Have to agree that this is a great recording and a full track listing including great details on Liam and Joe, posted by Aidan Crossey, can be viewed at http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1172
# Posted on May 11th 2007 by Bannerman
Re: Waltzes
We play the Ookpik Waltz & enjoy it greatly.
Our version is different from the one posted.
I added the abc's to the comments section.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/5422
# Posted on May 11th 2007 by Random_notes
Re: Waltzes
“Aire” is an archaic spelling. I’ve seen it used plenty of times in *old* texts. I like to occasionally use archaic spellings or words when they feel right in the context. Sometimes they carry an extra bit of meaning that’s gotten rubbed off in the evolution of the language. Also, I *am* an eccentric old git.
# Posted on May 11th 2007 by Bob himself
Re: Waltzes
I just remembered Each Little Thing, composed by Steven Cooney and played by Sharon Shannon and friends on Spellbound. Lovely tune with lots of interpretive possibilities.
# Posted on May 12th 2007 by Steve Shaw