Hey, I'm going to keep this short, unlike previous posts...
I was just wondering what are some good tunes for a Bb flute, because I need to practice it more.
I'm looking especially for stuff like airs, slow reels, and waltzes, but any kind of tune would be great. I've tried to write some slow reels specifically for it, usually to no avail.
Mike McGoldrick plays Terry Teehan's/Her Long Dark Hair on the Bb flute on his album Fused. He plays them both as slow reels, even though Her Long Dark Hair is usually played as a hornpipe. I think it sounds fantastic, personally.
The Lúnasa one. Although Mike's version is much better than Lúnasa's, in my opinion. It's weird, I usually love Lúnasa, but this track really leaves me cold...
I had read on here that they had "Terry' 'Cuz' Teehan's" on their first album, and got excited, because I would love to hear Lunasa do Kerry Fling, but I found that track to leave me somewhat cold, too.
John McCusker's waltz, Sailing Through the Narrows, makes a great flute tune, played more like an air. It's here: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/491, just use the same fingering as though playing a D flute.
Also, My Mind Will Never Be Easy makes a nice slow slip jig on flute, particularly in D flute Bm fingering.
Matt Molloy's Heathery Breeze has lot's of lovely Bb flute on it.
But I can't help wondering why you don't just play any old tune on the thing, slow it down if you want. You'll surprise yourself what reels you are used to thrashing through can work splendidly given the Bb treatment. Matt Molloy and Drowsy Maggie are a testament to that.
The two tunes:
Farewell to Uist
& The Lochaber Badger
sound really pleasant played together on the whistle. You can check out the video of Fred Morrison and Mike McGoldrick playing them on Youtube.
I do play some other tunes on it, such as Brenda Stubbert's, which I've found to be fun on, and a few other tunes, along with most of the Lunasa Bb stuff, but I guess I'm looking especially for tunes that would help me practice it. I need to work on getting used to using the pinky on my right hand, and what feels like breaking my neck...
Do I correctly assume that the Bb flute is 2 tones down from the 'standard' D flute, or maybe a 4th down from the flat-pitch old concert flutes that were the first 'irish' flutes ?
Or just 2 tones down from the standard D whistle ?
For the big flute
For the big flute
Hey, I'm going to keep this short, unlike previous posts...
I was just wondering what are some good tunes for a Bb flute, because I need to practice it more.
I'm looking especially for stuff like airs, slow reels, and waltzes, but any kind of tune would be great. I've tried to write some slow reels specifically for it, usually to no avail.
And so much for keeping it short... crap
Thanks in advance, and God bless,
Joseph C.
# Posted on September 23rd 2008 by JosephofCK
Re: For the big flute
Mike McGoldrick plays Terry Teehan's/Her Long Dark Hair on the Bb flute on his album Fused. He plays them both as slow reels, even though Her Long Dark Hair is usually played as a hornpipe. I think it sounds fantastic, personally.
# Posted on September 23rd 2008 by Joe CSS
Re: For the big flute
Would "Terry Teehan's" be the one I know as "Kerry Fling", or the one Lunasa plays on "Diereadh Fomhair"?
# Posted on September 23rd 2008 by JosephofCK
Re: For the big flute
The Lúnasa one. Although Mike's version is much better than Lúnasa's, in my opinion. It's weird, I usually love Lúnasa, but this track really leaves me cold...
# Posted on September 23rd 2008 by Joe CSS
Re: For the big flute
I had read on here that they had "Terry' 'Cuz' Teehan's" on their first album, and got excited, because I would love to hear Lunasa do Kerry Fling, but I found that track to leave me somewhat cold, too.
# Posted on September 23rd 2008 by JosephofCK
Re: For the big flute
Harp and Shamrock is a great one. Kevin Crawford did it solo in Redwood. It's on the Bb as well
# Posted on September 23rd 2008 by irishflute93
Re: For the big flute
John McCusker's waltz, Sailing Through the Narrows, makes a great flute tune, played more like an air. It's here: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/491, just use the same fingering as though playing a D flute.
Also, My Mind Will Never Be Easy makes a nice slow slip jig on flute, particularly in D flute Bm fingering.
# Posted on September 23rd 2008 by Will CPT
Re: For the big flute
Matt Molloy's Heathery Breeze has lot's of lovely Bb flute on it.
But I can't help wondering why you don't just play any old tune on the thing, slow it down if you want. You'll surprise yourself what reels you are used to thrashing through can work splendidly given the Bb treatment. Matt Molloy and Drowsy Maggie are a testament to that.
# Posted on September 23rd 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: For the big flute
What about George White's (down in Bm/Dmaj) and Killarney Boys of Pleasure?
# Posted on September 23rd 2008 by slainte
Re: For the big flute
The two tunes:
Farewell to Uist
& The Lochaber Badger
sound really pleasant played together on the whistle. You can check out the video of Fred Morrison and Mike McGoldrick playing them on Youtube.
# Posted on September 23rd 2008 by celtpipes
Re: For the big flute
I do play some other tunes on it, such as Brenda Stubbert's, which I've found to be fun on, and a few other tunes, along with most of the Lunasa Bb stuff, but I guess I'm looking especially for tunes that would help me practice it. I need to work on getting used to using the pinky on my right hand, and what feels like breaking my neck...
# Posted on September 23rd 2008 by JosephofCK
Re: For the big flute
What about this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsH8Sq3NJj8 Surely a big tune for all the fluters. I love playing an easier substitute called the West Wind: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2837
# Posted on September 24th 2008 by slainte
Re: For the big flute
Do I correctly assume that the Bb flute is 2 tones down from the 'standard' D flute, or maybe a 4th down from the flat-pitch old concert flutes that were the first 'irish' flutes ?
Or just 2 tones down from the standard D whistle ?
# Posted on September 29th 2008 by Guernsey Pete