Just curious. I've been trying to learn some tunes that are really tricky for flute lately. One is Eddie Kelly's reel in Dm. That one has a tendency to drop to low A and C and just hover in places. Couldn't find any recordings of flute players doing that tune or ones similar. Another that I think is hard but at least realistic is Molly McGuire's in Emajor. Heard it on a CD from Sue Sternberg and Sam Bartlett. Here's a link to the notes: http://trillian.mit.edu/~jc/cgi/abc/tuneget?F=GIF&U=/~jc/music/book/ryan-cole/Entry/ray:davies99.freeserve.co.uk/MollyMcGuiresReel_1.abc&X=1&T=MOLLYMCGUIRESREEL
That's kinda long, but JC's abc finder will get you there.
Anyway... My question is:
Does anyone know of recordings (on regular irish flute with keys) of flute players tackling such tunes or any other helpful resources? There are lots of tunes that I play in Dm, Gm, etc. that are'nt particularly easy, but some tunes seem nearly unadaptable to flute. Sue Sternberg seems to relish those low gravelly tunes as does Liz Carrol.
Stephen, your "Molly McGuire's Reel" is a regular old chestnut - The Boyne Hunt (aka the Perthshire Hunt) only set in E major. More realistic in D, which is the key everybody in Irish music circles plays it in.
The turn of the tune you linked to is different, no doubt the original Scottish version, but is sometimes heard played in Ireland.
When you hear flute players tackling tunes in Dm and Gm they tend to be keyed-flute players like Paddy Carty or SharonTheFlute who posts here sometimes.
But years ago in Miltown I met a German woman (I think her name was Regina) who could play just about any tune you could think of a tone down on a simple-system D flute, a knack she developed through sitting in with pipers' C sessions.
Flute friendly low tunes
Flute friendly low tunes
Just curious. I've been trying to learn some tunes that are really tricky for flute lately. One is Eddie Kelly's reel in Dm. That one has a tendency to drop to low A and C and just hover in places. Couldn't find any recordings of flute players doing that tune or ones similar. Another that I think is hard but at least realistic is Molly McGuire's in Emajor. Heard it on a CD from Sue Sternberg and Sam Bartlett. Here's a link to the notes: http://trillian.mit.edu/~jc/cgi/abc/tuneget?F=GIF&U=/~jc/music/book/ryan-cole/Entry/ray:davies99.freeserve.co.uk/MollyMcGuiresReel_1.abc&X=1&T=MOLLYMCGUIRESREEL
That's kinda long, but JC's abc finder will get you there.
Anyway... My question is:
Does anyone know of recordings (on regular irish flute with keys) of flute players tackling such tunes or any other helpful resources? There are lots of tunes that I play in Dm, Gm, etc. that are'nt particularly easy, but some tunes seem nearly unadaptable to flute. Sue Sternberg seems to relish those low gravelly tunes as does Liz Carrol.
# Posted on August 13th 2007 by StephenR
Re: Flute friendly low tunes
Stephen, your "Molly McGuire's Reel" is a regular old chestnut - The Boyne Hunt (aka the Perthshire Hunt) only set in E major. More realistic in D, which is the key everybody in Irish music circles plays it in.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/142
The turn of the tune you linked to is different, no doubt the original Scottish version, but is sometimes heard played in Ireland.
When you hear flute players tackling tunes in Dm and Gm they tend to be keyed-flute players like Paddy Carty or SharonTheFlute who posts here sometimes.
But years ago in Miltown I met a German woman (I think her name was Regina) who could play just about any tune you could think of a tone down on a simple-system D flute, a knack she developed through sitting in with pipers' C sessions.
So it can be done - with a wee bit of practice.
# Posted on August 13th 2007 by Jeeves Tones