Funny I was thinking the same last night. I had a few airs from which I can only hum a line or two floating about in my head. I'd also like to find the dots if they exist on the interwebnet. Any good sites?
I often look to the O'Regan's tune list if only to compare what our brethren in Montreal are playing compared to their cousins down the country in dear old Tronna, but, while the slow tunes in the above link are lovely in their own right I'd hardly call them slow airs, some would be more like waltzes or pieces. A quick search through past discussions reveals a plethora of links ands opinions as to the same.
An Buachaill Caol Dubh is a favourite of mine, also An Raibh tú ag an gCarraig.
There is a book called 110 best slow airs, published by Waltons, Dublin, which might help you, which you can get with a CD of the tunes , but I haven't heard the CD so can't really comment on the quality of the playing.
The Waltons slow airs CD set is fine for learning the tunes. It's quite functional - gives you the air played one time through (mainly fidlle or low whistle/flute), which is probably suitable for you to learn it and to skip through the CD to find the ones you like. Not the type of CD you'd stick on for listening pleasure, though.
I think that this topic came up recently but I can't find the thread. That time I recommended Tomás Ó Canáinn's book of slow airs and accompanying tape and it would still be my favourite source of tunes. Regarding favourites, they're all there from An Cúlín to Táimse im Coladh, An Raibh Tú ag an Carraig, etc, etc. My own personal favourite in the book is Geaftaí Baile Buí.
An Raibh tú ag an gCarraig
Táimse Im Chodladh
An Cúlín
An Buachaill Caol Dubh
The Blackbird
Lament for Staker Wallace
Sliabh Geal gCua
Sliabh na mBan
Amhran Na Leabhar
Na Connery's
Bean An Fhir Rua
Bean A'Leanna
The Wounded Hussar
The Green Linnet
If you want, I can list some good fiddle albums that have these airs on them. Many slow airs that are well suited for the fiddle are also pretty commonly played on whistle/flute, too, so that's another place to look if you have a few whistle or flute albums
Limerick's Lament, Roisin Dubh, An Maighdein Mhara, An Eireann....For Ireland I would not tell her name, there are hundreds of beautiful airs. Unfortunately I don't understand dots, ABC or such, so I just learn them by ear.
Ok...I'll just go with the list of airs I posted before, and the albums I got them from.
1. An Raibh tú ag an gCarraig: Brian Conway, First Through the Gate
2. Táimse Im Chodladh: Matt Cranitch, Take A Bow
3. An Cúlín: Brian Conway (with Joe Burke & Felix Dolan), A Tribute to Andy McGann
4. An Buachaill Caol Dubh: Matt Cranitch, Give It Shtick (also Sean Potts on the Boston College Gaelic Roots 2-disc CD)
5. The Blackbird: Andy McGann, A Tribute to Michael Coleman
6. Lament for Staker Wallace: Brian Conway, My Love is in America (Boston College Irish Fiddle Festival 1991), or Eileen Ivers, Wild Blue
7. Sliabh Geal gCua: Tony DeMarco (with Brian Conway), The Apple in Winter (it's called the White Mountain on the album, but it's the same tune)
8. Sliabh na mBan: Frankie Gavin, Fierce Traditional (he plays flute on this track), or Seamus Connolly on the My Love is in America album mentioned above
9. Amhran Na Leabhar: Patrick Mangan, Farewell to Ireland
10. Na Connery's: Matt Cranitch, Take A Bow
11. Bean An Fhir Rua: The Chieftains, Very Best of the Claddah Years or Water from the Well
12. Bean A'Leanna: Oisin MacDiarmada, Ar An Bhfidil
13. The Wounded Hussar: l learned it from my teacher, but it's on the Chulrua album Barefoot on the Altar (a very different version than I have though, played on the pipes, so I'm not sure how well it would work on the fiddle)
14. The Green Linnet: PJ Crotty (with James Cullinan), Happy to Meet (flute track)
Based on the fiddle players you named in your profile, I'd say we have similar tastes in fiddle styles. I'd guess that you'll like most of these albums if you don't already have them. Most of these albums are of sort of Sligo/New York/Michael Coleman type players, with some similar but slightly different styles occasionally.
*Just a tip--when you're learning airs off CDs, make sure to listen closely to the phrasing. It's a good idea to play along with the recording to get the timing right. It would be great if you could get your hands on some recordings of sean nos singing. That's the absolute best way to learn slow airs, as they were all originally sean nos songs before they were played on instruments. Hope all this helps!!
My harp playing friend does a lovely 'Water Kelpie'
I do not know where she found it. The Solas version posted here is in a different key & a bit different. http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1589
I may post her Abc's in the "Comments"
Cillian does a beautiful recording of An Buachaill Caol Dubh on the Callan Bridge CD.
There's the Wandering Whistler site. -it's for whistle obviously, but it's got a good collection of Airs (and anything else) that you can hear MIDI's (and often recordings) of, so I imagine it'd be a good call for anyone
Slow Airs
Slow Airs
Hi,
I was just thinking that i'd really like to learn some slow airs, as at the moment i don't know any. What would you recommend?
Whats your favourite? Is there such a thing as an Air thats particularly suited to the fiddle?
Cheers in advance
ps if there is somewhere on the interweb where i can listen to the tune(s) you recommend, i'd be very grateful if you could mention it. thanks again
# Posted on December 4th 2007 by sloth
Re: Slow Airs
A small selection from Canada:
http://music.gordfisch.net/oregans/music/airs.php
# Posted on December 4th 2007 by kuec
Re: Slow Airs
Funny I was thinking the same last night. I had a few airs from which I can only hum a line or two floating about in my head. I'd also like to find the dots if they exist on the interwebnet. Any good sites?
# Posted on December 4th 2007 by proinsiasrua
Re: Slow Airs
I often look to the O'Regan's tune list if only to compare what our brethren in Montreal are playing compared to their cousins down the country in dear old Tronna, but, while the slow tunes in the above link are lovely in their own right I'd hardly call them slow airs, some would be more like waltzes or pieces. A quick search through past discussions reveals a plethora of links ands opinions as to the same.
# Posted on December 4th 2007 by Patkiwi
Re: Slow Airs
The Dark Island is one of my faves.
Mary
# Posted on December 4th 2007 by Antikhntr
Re: Slow Airs
Miss Hamilton is my all time favorite. And then any OCarolan.
# Posted on December 4th 2007 by zippydw
Re: Slow Airs
The 1850 O'Neill's has a large airs section.
It gives the book atmosphere.
# Posted on December 4th 2007 by maxF
Re: Slow Airs
An Feochan composed by Tommy Peoples is brilliant.
# Posted on December 4th 2007 by hiharin83
Re: Slow Airs
An Cuilin (the Coolin) is one of my favourites.
Also the fairest rose by Tommy Peoples. I love the way he plays it into a hornpipe.
He is a legend.
oh, the ould resting chair is beautiful too.
# Posted on December 4th 2007 by session savage
Re: Slow Airs
Lament for Staker Wallace.....
# Posted on December 4th 2007 by jig
Re: Slow Airs
Sliabh Geal gCua na Feile: http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/senior_fiddle_aidan_oneill
Mist-Covered Mountains is an old classic. And try this Fred Morrison tune: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2562
# Posted on December 4th 2007 by slainte
Re: Slow Airs
An Buachaill Caol Dubh is a favourite of mine, also An Raibh tú ag an gCarraig.
There is a book called 110 best slow airs, published by Waltons, Dublin, which might help you, which you can get with a CD of the tunes , but I haven't heard the CD so can't really comment on the quality of the playing.
# Posted on December 4th 2007 by cathycook
Re: Slow Airs
http://waltons.ie/waltonsshop/product_info.php?cPath=106_201&products_id=7800
# Posted on December 4th 2007 by cathycook
Re: Slow Airs
The Waltons slow airs CD set is fine for learning the tunes. It's quite functional - gives you the air played one time through (mainly fidlle or low whistle/flute), which is probably suitable for you to learn it and to skip through the CD to find the ones you like. Not the type of CD you'd stick on for listening pleasure, though.
# Posted on December 4th 2007 by niallt
Re: Slow Airs
I think that this topic came up recently but I can't find the thread. That time I recommended Tomás Ó Canáinn's book of slow airs and accompanying tape and it would still be my favourite source of tunes. Regarding favourites, they're all there from An Cúlín to Táimse im Coladh, An Raibh Tú ag an Carraig, etc, etc. My own personal favourite in the book is Geaftaí Baile Buí.
# Posted on December 4th 2007 by Bannerman
Re: Slow Airs
cheers for all the replies, I'll have to be buying me some of these books and CDs
I' ve just been learning the air that Peoples plays before "Farewell to Ireland" on high part of the road. I think I'll have to learn reel as well.
# Posted on December 4th 2007 by sloth
Re: Slow Airs
Some of my favorite slow airs for fiddle are:
An Raibh tú ag an gCarraig
Táimse Im Chodladh
An Cúlín
An Buachaill Caol Dubh
The Blackbird
Lament for Staker Wallace
Sliabh Geal gCua
Sliabh na mBan
Amhran Na Leabhar
Na Connery's
Bean An Fhir Rua
Bean A'Leanna
The Wounded Hussar
The Green Linnet
If you want, I can list some good fiddle albums that have these airs on them. Many slow airs that are well suited for the fiddle are also pretty commonly played on whistle/flute, too, so that's another place to look if you have a few whistle or flute albums
# Posted on December 4th 2007 by FidDLe01
Re: Slow Airs
ooh! list away! i need some more music.
# Posted on December 4th 2007 by sloth
Re: Slow Airs
Limerick's Lament, Roisin Dubh, An Maighdein Mhara, An Eireann....For Ireland I would not tell her name, there are hundreds of beautiful airs. Unfortunately I don't understand dots, ABC or such, so I just learn them by ear.
# Posted on December 4th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Slow Airs
Ok...I'll just go with the list of airs I posted before, and the albums I got them from.
1. An Raibh tú ag an gCarraig: Brian Conway, First Through the Gate
2. Táimse Im Chodladh: Matt Cranitch, Take A Bow
3. An Cúlín: Brian Conway (with Joe Burke & Felix Dolan), A Tribute to Andy McGann
4. An Buachaill Caol Dubh: Matt Cranitch, Give It Shtick (also Sean Potts on the Boston College Gaelic Roots 2-disc CD)
5. The Blackbird: Andy McGann, A Tribute to Michael Coleman
6. Lament for Staker Wallace: Brian Conway, My Love is in America (Boston College Irish Fiddle Festival 1991), or Eileen Ivers, Wild Blue
7. Sliabh Geal gCua: Tony DeMarco (with Brian Conway), The Apple in Winter (it's called the White Mountain on the album, but it's the same tune)
8. Sliabh na mBan: Frankie Gavin, Fierce Traditional (he plays flute on this track), or Seamus Connolly on the My Love is in America album mentioned above
9. Amhran Na Leabhar: Patrick Mangan, Farewell to Ireland
10. Na Connery's: Matt Cranitch, Take A Bow
11. Bean An Fhir Rua: The Chieftains, Very Best of the Claddah Years or Water from the Well
12. Bean A'Leanna: Oisin MacDiarmada, Ar An Bhfidil
13. The Wounded Hussar: l learned it from my teacher, but it's on the Chulrua album Barefoot on the Altar (a very different version than I have though, played on the pipes, so I'm not sure how well it would work on the fiddle)
14. The Green Linnet: PJ Crotty (with James Cullinan), Happy to Meet (flute track)
Based on the fiddle players you named in your profile, I'd say we have similar tastes in fiddle styles. I'd guess that you'll like most of these albums if you don't already have them. Most of these albums are of sort of Sligo/New York/Michael Coleman type players, with some similar but slightly different styles occasionally.
*Just a tip--when you're learning airs off CDs, make sure to listen closely to the phrasing. It's a good idea to play along with the recording to get the timing right. It would be great if you could get your hands on some recordings of sean nos singing. That's the absolute best way to learn slow airs, as they were all originally sean nos songs before they were played on instruments. Hope all this helps!!
# Posted on December 4th 2007 by FidDLe01
Re: Slow Airs
Oh, bodhran bliss reminded me of another one...
Lament for Limerick: Martin Hayes, Lonesome Touch, or James Kelly, Traditional Irish Music
# Posted on December 4th 2007 by FidDLe01
Re: Slow Airs
My harp playing friend does a lovely 'Water Kelpie'
I do not know where she found it. The Solas version posted here is in a different key & a bit different.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1589
I may post her Abc's in the "Comments"
Cillian does a beautiful recording of An Buachaill Caol Dubh on the Callan Bridge CD.
# Posted on December 4th 2007 by Random_notes
Re: Slow Airs
Casadh an tSugan and stuff by Lasairfhiona
also Slive Gullion Braes.
# Posted on December 5th 2007 by Duijera Dubh
Re: Slow Airs
Asokan Farewell.
# Posted on December 5th 2007 by Barn Owl
Re: Slow Airs
Ashokan Farewell with an H.
# Posted on December 5th 2007 by Barn Owl
Re: Slow Airs
cheers everyone. Thanks for the big list FidDLe01
# Posted on December 5th 2007 by sloth
Re: Slow Airs
Ashokan Farewell is a newly composed American tune (American meaning not an Irish-style tune). Still nice, but just so you know it's not Irish.
# Posted on December 5th 2007 by FidDLe01
Re: Slow Airs
It's an American tune written in the style of a Scottish air by Jay Ungar. The fact that isn't not irish is neither here nor there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx6dxrhqPZY
# Posted on December 5th 2007 by Barn Owl
Re: Slow Airs
There's the Wandering Whistler site. -it's for whistle obviously, but it's got a good collection of Airs (and anything else) that you can hear MIDI's (and often recordings) of, so I imagine it'd be a good call for anyone
# Posted on December 8th 2007 by Zepherius
Re: Slow Airs
Waves of Kilkee----Joanie Madden, whistle
# Posted on December 14th 2007 by hauke