I wrote a version of The Wind that Shakes the Barley (reel) in jigtime with the wonderful title 'The Wind that Jigs the Barley'; 't was a piece of cake to do & I think it sounds OK and it is easy to play.
Paddy Glackin and Jolyon Jackson on Hidden Ground did a superb effort on The Green Fields of America, first as a jig then a reel.
The jig starts the set very mournfully, I assume picturing the feelings of the Emigrant leaving Ireland, but then the reel is very upbeat, almost with a jazzy accompaniment, presumably signifying the now Immigrant's arrival in America. That's the way I hear it, anyhow!
Not nit picking, Steve but, for the benefit of other members, this album was released by Ossian publications in Ireland and has no connection with the well known Scottish band Ossian. Just in case it wasn't too clear. I have this album too and there are some cracking tunes on it.
There are probably some traditionalists that would strongly disapprove of such follies. But one need only look at the existing traditional repertoire to find tunes which have come about exactly in this way - whether consciously or unconsciously. The Cathal McConnell set Steve mentionsabove is an example of this - certainly, the jig (The Humours of Drinagh) and the reel (The Banks of the Ilen) are existing tunes which are clearly variations on the same theme (haven't heard it as a hornpipe elswhere). There are many other examples of this: The Burnt Old Man (Jig)/Miss McLeod's(Reel), Hardiman the Fiddler (Slip Jig)/Down the Back Lanes (Jig), to name a few.
Mixing jigs and reels in one set is hard enough for us amateurs, but I once saw Natalie MacMaster, in a fiddle workshop, take a single tune (it was a jig, but I can't remember which one) and play it first as a jig, then a march, then a reel, and then a strathspey.
She really had to "shoehorn" it a bit, but it was interesting to see/hear.
The Chieftans have done a few such pieces. On Water from the Well, they have a Drops of Brandy medly that have a few versions in jig or slip jig, then it changes into a reel, which by the way sounds really cool. They also did a Road to Lisdoonvarna on their very first album into a reel, which doens't sound so great... But one of my relatives who plays the banjo is really good at taking jigs and turning them into reels. It makes one wonder whether its something banjo players do well. (or maybe its just the fact that he cant play jigs)
The first time I experienced transforming a tune was when I'd been practicing jig after jig after Guinness after jig etc. I Went into a reel and it took me eight bars to realize that I'd been playing it as a jig. Woeaah. Eye opener. Some tunes can be easily changed. Some require rearranging few notes. For other (most?) tunes it really just doesn't seem to work. More important to me is how does it sound! Its infrequent that I find a tune thats flexable enough AND also sounds good to my ears when changing meter and feel. For those that read sheet music play with the bar lines. For me, its been easier to transform a tune if I haven't already played it a bunch of times. On a slightly different note; depending on numerous variables (Liquid intake, etc. etc.) a measure from a reel, jig, etc. will stick in my mind ('Irish Riff'?) and ramble, meander, saunter, its way around until it pops up as a new tune which pays no mind to the meter or feel from which it came.
Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
This thread could no sense at all but when listening to the Nomos CD
# Posted on January 19th 2004 by pitnekit
Re: Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
there is a wonderful 'jig' version of 'The Gravel Walks' which is played frequently ..so why not?
# Posted on January 19th 2004 by DeffGoat
Re: Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
Sorry just a note here! Did you get my mail Deff Goat?
# Posted on January 19th 2004 by pitnekit
Re: Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
yes, and did you get mine to your hotmail address?
# Posted on January 19th 2004 by DeffGoat
Re: Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
nop sorry send it again please!
# Posted on January 19th 2004 by pitnekit
Re: Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
I wrote a version of The Wind that Shakes the Barley (reel) in jigtime with the wonderful title 'The Wind that Jigs the Barley'; 't was a piece of cake to do & I think it sounds OK and it is easy to play.
# Posted on January 19th 2004 by Henk Bos
Re: Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
Do it all the time, jig to reel, reel to jig. Slip jig to reel is harder, you kind of get a slip reel thing. Good though
# Posted on January 19th 2004 by ...
Re: Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
Paddy Glackin and Jolyon Jackson on Hidden Ground did a superb effort on The Green Fields of America, first as a jig then a reel.
The jig starts the set very mournfully, I assume picturing the feelings of the Emigrant leaving Ireland, but then the reel is very upbeat, almost with a jazzy accompaniment, presumably signifying the now Immigrant's arrival in America. That's the way I hear it, anyhow!
Danny.
# Posted on January 19th 2004 by Rudall the time
Re: Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
Joe, this is a bloody hornpipe. Will you stop smacking the skin to reel-time!
# Posted on January 19th 2004 by Joe Quinn
Re: Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
Not nit picking, Steve but, for the benefit of other members, this album was released by Ossian publications in Ireland and has no connection with the well known Scottish band Ossian. Just in case it wasn't too clear. I have this album too and there are some cracking tunes on it.
John
# Posted on January 19th 2004 by Johnny Jay
Re: Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
There are probably some traditionalists that would strongly disapprove of such follies. But one need only look at the existing traditional repertoire to find tunes which have come about exactly in this way - whether consciously or unconsciously. The Cathal McConnell set Steve mentionsabove is an example of this - certainly, the jig (The Humours of Drinagh) and the reel (The Banks of the Ilen) are existing tunes which are clearly variations on the same theme (haven't heard it as a hornpipe elswhere). There are many other examples of this: The Burnt Old Man (Jig)/Miss McLeod's(Reel), Hardiman the Fiddler (Slip Jig)/Down the Back Lanes (Jig), to name a few.
# Posted on January 19th 2004 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
a really serious player would skip lunch and dedicate the time to practicing hard.
# Posted on January 19th 2004 by Joe Quinn
Re: Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
Try doing Tatter Jack Walsh followed by Dinny O'Brien's.
# Posted on January 19th 2004 by Rudall the time
Re: Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
Aw, Joe, most the *really* serious players I know skip lunch and drink instead... (kidding -- sorta...*smirk*)
# Posted on January 19th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
I
# Posted on January 20th 2004 by pitnekit
Re: Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
Mixing jigs and reels in one set is hard enough for us amateurs, but I once saw Natalie MacMaster, in a fiddle workshop, take a single tune (it was a jig, but I can't remember which one) and play it first as a jig, then a march, then a reel, and then a strathspey.
She really had to "shoehorn" it a bit, but it was interesting to see/hear.
# Posted on January 20th 2004 by KeepFiddlin'
Re: Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
Work is the curse of the drinkin' classes.
Scrub those pots an' pans, Steve
# Posted on January 20th 2004 by Joe Quinn
Re: Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
I washed my brain last night and I can't do a thing with it now
# Posted on January 20th 2004 by Rudall the time
Re: Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
I once saw Matt Molloy turn "The Butterfly" from a slip jig to a slide by repeating the last three notes in every bar,and it worked.
# Posted on March 1st 2003 by dafydd
Re: Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
I do the "Foxhunters Jig" in reel time (with some added notes!) ... *not* the Foxhunter's Reel!
Jim
PS But yes I do play the "Foxhunter's Reel" as well. But not in the same set.
# Posted on January 20th 2004 by Worldfiddler
Re: Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
And what's about good ol De Dannan transforming Beatles songs from 'piece' to hornpipe to jig to reel?
# Posted on January 20th 2004 by swisspiper
Re: Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
Speaking about De Danann, wasn't is them that played The Clumsy Lover first in jigtime and then in reeltime?
# Posted on January 20th 2004 by Henk Bos
Re: Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
The Chieftans have done a few such pieces. On Water from the Well, they have a Drops of Brandy medly that have a few versions in jig or slip jig, then it changes into a reel, which by the way sounds really cool. They also did a Road to Lisdoonvarna on their very first album into a reel, which doens't sound so great... But one of my relatives who plays the banjo is really good at taking jigs and turning them into reels. It makes one wonder whether its something banjo players do well. (or maybe its just the fact that he cant play jigs)
# Posted on January 21st 2004 by stairmaster
Re: Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
The first time I experienced transforming a tune was when I'd been practicing jig after jig after Guinness after jig etc. I Went into a reel and it took me eight bars to realize that I'd been playing it as a jig. Woeaah. Eye opener. Some tunes can be easily changed. Some require rearranging few notes. For other (most?) tunes it really just doesn't seem to work. More important to me is how does it sound! Its infrequent that I find a tune thats flexable enough AND also sounds good to my ears when changing meter and feel. For those that read sheet music play with the bar lines. For me, its been easier to transform a tune if I haven't already played it a bunch of times. On a slightly different note; depending on numerous variables (Liquid intake, etc. etc.) a measure from a reel, jig, etc. will stick in my mind ('Irish Riff'?) and ramble, meander, saunter, its way around until it pops up as a new tune which pays no mind to the meter or feel from which it came.
# Posted on January 22nd 2004 by gleann
Re: Transforming Jigs or Slip Jigs into Reels
"They also did a Road to Lisdoonvarna on their very first album into a reel"
I haven't heard what they did, but there *is* a version of "Road" that is a reel:
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/249
# Posted on January 22nd 2004 by glauber