I was just playing the tune called colonel fraser on my uilleann pipes, and I was wondering (knowing there are so many versions of it) how you guys play the tune (think of rolls and things like that).
Could you give my advice of how to realy master this tune, specially the last peace, which i find very difficult!
Yes, Michael, surely but on the other hand: Col. Fraser is not a very complicated tune if you look at it. You can dress it up but none of the parts is particularly complex or has particular difficulties.
ainekenaz:
Both responses above make good sense to me, especially llig's, if he refers to having a good arsenal of techniques/ornamentations from which to choose in interpretting it, coupled with really knowing the "basic" tune very well.
My point of interest in your query is this: It seems to me it all depends on how you define "master" a tune -
Do you seek to play in another "master"s style,
(in which case you might be either, at best, a torchbearer for a tradition, or, at worst, a carbon-copy or clone)
OR
Do you wish to make your own personal statement, with your own variations and stamp on it?
I don't think you can "master" any tune, whether it's Colonel Fraser or the Kesh Jig, until you've achieved a high level of facility with various techniques and a keen musical sense of when and where to use them.
Are you interested in a photocopy of the tune that bears the inscription ' version Mike McGoldrick' ? Not sure if it is the Lunasa version, but it might interest you. Send me an email with your post adress if you want me to send it.
This a wonderful reel and has been one of my favourites since I first heard a recording of it by Brian MacNamara. It is written out in full in the Heather Clarke book but this is a fiendishly difficult version. When I first started on Uilleann Pipes it was my ambition to be able to play this tune and I'm pleased that I can now manage a version of it.
A studio recording of my version is on Clips and Snips.
To Rook: You make a good point there ;) I mostly want to add my own variations, but before I do, I wanted to see some different variations to mix it with.. I can now play all of the tune, exept the last peace, because of the 'triplets' (don't know if that's the right name) in combination with the high notes. Perhaps all it takes is practise
In the end, as regards the personal stamp on the playing of a tune, I will likely here state the obvious:
You may simply find yourself highlighting the things you like best ,and culling or playing-down the things you find less central, to the tune you fell in love with.
This may become "your version" of Fraser.
Good luck.
BTW:
Have you heard Jerry O'Sullivan's "Col. F."? I believe it is on his album, The Invasion (or some such title).
Quite a display of virtuosity, IMHO.
The best way to learn an Uillean pipe version of a tune is to learn it from a piper and not from i.e. a fiddler. The abc/ dots you find here are of mixed sources, I guess much more fiddle than pipe tunes.
If you have no piper locally to teach you learn it from recordings of the grand ol man like Leo Rowsome, Patsy Thouey or Willie Clancy, for all written down versions of the tune are in the books about them. You can buy them from the publisher NPU and they which are a must have for pipers anyway.
Playing colonel fraser (uilleann pipes)
Playing colonel fraser (uilleann pipes)
Hay to all!
I was just playing the tune called colonel fraser on my uilleann pipes, and I was wondering (knowing there are so many versions of it) how you guys play the tune (think of rolls and things like that).
Could you give my advice of how to realy master this tune, specially the last peace, which i find very difficult!
Love, Aine
p.s. The one on the Lúnasa-cd is amazing!!
# Posted on August 18th 2008 by ainekenaz
Re: Playing colonel fraser (uilleann pipes)
the best way to "master" a tune like that is to "master" many many others first.
# Posted on August 18th 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Playing colonel fraser (uilleann pipes)
Yes, Michael, surely but on the other hand: Col. Fraser is not a very complicated tune if you look at it. You can dress it up but none of the parts is particularly complex or has particular difficulties.
# Posted on August 18th 2008 by kilfarboy
Re: Playing colonel fraser (uilleann pipes)
ainekenaz:
Both responses above make good sense to me, especially llig's, if he refers to having a good arsenal of techniques/ornamentations from which to choose in interpretting it, coupled with really knowing the "basic" tune very well.
My point of interest in your query is this: It seems to me it all depends on how you define "master" a tune -
Do you seek to play in another "master"s style,
(in which case you might be either, at best, a torchbearer for a tradition, or, at worst, a carbon-copy or clone)
OR
Do you wish to make your own personal statement, with your own variations and stamp on it?
Which is mastery for you?
Just my two cents. What do you all think?
# Posted on August 18th 2008 by Rook
Re: Playing colonel fraser (uilleann pipes)
I don't think you can "master" any tune, whether it's Colonel Fraser or the Kesh Jig, until you've achieved a high level of facility with various techniques and a keen musical sense of when and where to use them.
# Posted on August 18th 2008 by TheSilverSpear
Re: Playing colonel fraser (uilleann pipes)
Ainekenaz,
Are you interested in a photocopy of the tune that bears the inscription ' version Mike McGoldrick' ? Not sure if it is the Lunasa version, but it might interest you. Send me an email with your post adress if you want me to send it.
# Posted on August 18th 2008 by Henk Bos
Re: Playing colonel fraser (uilleann pipes)
heres my version of the tune, which i will be playing at the senior flute comp next weekend in tullamore.
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=gYF_HFwQ6Sw
# Posted on August 18th 2008 by S.Doherty
Re: Playing colonel fraser (uilleann pipes)
I dunno how hard/easy it is to get ahold of this recording, but Eamonn's playing of Col. Frazer on Storm the Kettle is quite masterful...
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1145
# Posted on August 18th 2008 by browndog
Re: Playing colonel fraser (uilleann pipes)
This a wonderful reel and has been one of my favourites since I first heard a recording of it by Brian MacNamara. It is written out in full in the Heather Clarke book but this is a fiendishly difficult version. When I first started on Uilleann Pipes it was my ambition to be able to play this tune and I'm pleased that I can now manage a version of it.
A studio recording of my version is on Clips and Snips.
http://www.tinwhistletunes.com/clipssnip/Audio/03-08/FairyChildColFrasierCameronE.mp3
Good luck with your piping.
# Posted on August 18th 2008 by cameron1
Re: Playing colonel fraser (uilleann pipes)
Very good, Stephen - best of luck in the competition.
# Posted on August 18th 2008 by Kenny
Re: Playing colonel fraser (uilleann pipes)
To Rook: You make a good point there ;) I mostly want to add my own variations, but before I do, I wanted to see some different variations to mix it with.. I can now play all of the tune, exept the last peace, because of the 'triplets' (don't know if that's the right name) in combination with the high notes. Perhaps all it takes is practise
# Posted on August 19th 2008 by ainekenaz
Re: Playing colonel fraser (uilleann pipes)
"all it takes is practice"
Most of the important things do, do they not?
In the end, as regards the personal stamp on the playing of a tune, I will likely here state the obvious:
You may simply find yourself highlighting the things you like best ,and culling or playing-down the things you find less central, to the tune you fell in love with.
This may become "your version" of Fraser.
Good luck.
BTW:
Have you heard Jerry O'Sullivan's "Col. F."? I believe it is on his album, The Invasion (or some such title).
Quite a display of virtuosity, IMHO.
# Posted on August 19th 2008 by Rook
Re: Playing colonel fraser (uilleann pipes)
The best way to learn an Uillean pipe version of a tune is to learn it from a piper and not from i.e. a fiddler. The abc/ dots you find here are of mixed sources, I guess much more fiddle than pipe tunes.
If you have no piper locally to teach you learn it from recordings of the grand ol man like Leo Rowsome, Patsy Thouey or Willie Clancy, for all written down versions of the tune are in the books about them. You can buy them from the publisher NPU and they which are a must have for pipers anyway.
# Posted on August 20th 2008 by swisspiper