Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
The request is for tunes, but as songs seem to be suggested:
"The Well Below the Valley" (Planxty's version) and "Heiemo og Nykkjen" (Kirsten Bråten Berg's version).
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
Valse Triste, by Sibelius. It was part of the incidental music to a 1903 play about death. From the programme notes, relating to the waltz tune:
"It is night. The son, who has been watching beside the bedside of his sick mother, has fallen asleep from sheer weariness, Gradually a ruddy light is diffused through the room: there is a sound of distant music: the glow and the music steal nearer until the strains of a valse melody float distantly to our ears. The sleeping mother awakens, rises from her bed and, in her long white garment, which takes the semblance of a ball dress, begins to move silently and slowly to and fro. She waves her hands and beckons in time to the music, as though she were summoning a crowd of invisible guests. And now they appear, these strange visionary couples, turning and gliding to an unearthly valse rhythm. The dying woman mingles with the dancers; she strives to make them look into her eyes, but the shadowy guests one and all avoid her glance. Then she seems to sink exhausted on her bed and the music breaks off. Presently she gathers all her strength and invokes the dance once more, with more energetic gestures than before. Back come the shadowy dancers, gyrating in a wild, mad rhythm. The weird gaiety reaches a climax; there is a knock at the door, which flies wide open; the mother utters a despairing cry; the spectral guests vanish; the music dies away. Death stands on the threshold."
The music fits this programme perfectly. Scary music (Sibelius wasn't bad at that).
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
Ichabod's Last Ride is a good one. Not sure why its not up here yet? I always found Reel Beatrice to be a bit creepy. Look through the minor keyed tunes.
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
For "haunting" (not creepy) just refer to almost any track from a
Martin Hayes album. Haunting and Dark is a way of playing
any tune. You just have to find a way into it from that angle.
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
The Haunted House? Doesn't at all sound scary though, sounds nice and happy to me actually. One of my favourite tunes
How about I buried my wife and danced on her grave? (also not scary sounding).
Re: What is the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
For me, it's Lament For Peadar O'Donnell, a Moving Hearts number. I don't know for sure who wrote it - my guess is Davy Spillane.
For me, it's at once a hackle-raising tune and an expression of horrible, abyssal desolation and darkness.
O'Donnell was a socialist Republican active in the Irish Independence and Civil Wars of the 1920s. My take on the tune is not to do with him personally; rather, in my own mind the tune seems to express both the sombre might of the imperative to seek dignity through nationalist uprising and if need be martyrdom, and the utter abomination of some things that were done as a result, by whichever side. And this tune seems to tell me that the motives were cursed in advance by the results, and have gone down into the pit of nightmare with them.
My God, this is heavy stuff. It is only what this tune suggests to me. It is not a set of opinions on who should have done what in the 1920s.
I would like to believe there is Another Side on which a lot of people who died innocently in these events or participated in them for various motives at various levels have rubbed their eyes, woken up and embarked on a better life together: that nothing - or as little as possible - has been wasted. But there is not a trace of this hope in this tune, as I hear it.
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
Reactions to music are so personal. Hearing that tune always lifts my soul and brings to mind the inscription on the Jim Larkin statue on O'Connell street: "The great appear great because we are on our knees: Let us rise.".
But then many here remember Peadar O'Donnell as a "grand old man of the left", a trade union organiser, a activist for radical politics in post-war Ireland, and a campaigner for civil rights on behalf of marginalised sections of Irish society. He inspired the young to look beyond their immediate concerns and take up the greater cause whether that be Trade Union rights, the rights of emigrants, CND or the Anti-Apartheid movement. My recollection is that Donal was commission to write "A TRIBUTE to Peadar O'Donnell" to celebrate the life of one of Ireland's most important progressive politicians.
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
@The Hurler on the Ditch:
"Reactions to music are so personal..."
Indeed, they are. And I should imagine my reaction to that tune is coloured by personal sentiments and bits of experiences that are somehow catalysed by it but have no connection with Irish history.
Thanks for your response, and your note on Peadar O'Donnell himself as he is remembered in Ireland.
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
Holy cow, Layne! Is that you on the gut bucket bass?
Another haunting, spooky tune is Gilderoy, which is an earlier version of The Red Haired Boy/Little Beggarman. http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/10561
I like to play it with King of the Fairies and Rights of Man, though I think I transpose Gilderoy from the key here Or maybe not. I'm away from my instruments right now.
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
@ Tracie... Yep I played the gut bucket for the Dirt Daubers... Where on earth did you come across that???
Thanks to everyone for all their contributions.. It'll take me a while to go through them all. I am always on the look out for spooky old tunes... So this is really great!
What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
Thanks,
"Slow" Layne
# Posted on September 19th 2011 by Layne Hendrickson
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/16221
# Posted on September 19th 2011 by Bredna
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
Tonights The Night by Neil Young is a pretty devastating piece of work to my ears.
# Posted on September 19th 2011 by strayaway
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
You must be preparing for a Halloween gig, eh?
# Posted on September 19th 2011 by Batgirl has left the GPL ;)
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
No Babs, I'm getting ready for the country...same as Martin...you know the one....McGuiness is good for you
# Posted on September 19th 2011 by strayaway
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
Sorry, cross-posted.
# Posted on September 19th 2011 by Batgirl has left the GPL ;)
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
Kate Bush's Wuthering Heights
# Posted on September 19th 2011 by ...
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
Or anything from the 50s with a theramin
# Posted on September 19th 2011 by ...
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
Or there's The Banshee of course
# Posted on September 19th 2011 by ...
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
The ones that aren't played with equal-tempered scales.
# Posted on September 19th 2011 by Dragut Reis
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
perhaps ...
The Simpsons vs Star Trek
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkTpUxh8Vxc
# Posted on September 19th 2011 by Batgirl has left the GPL ;)
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
The request is for tunes, but as songs seem to be suggested:
"The Well Below the Valley" (Planxty's version) and "Heiemo og Nykkjen" (Kirsten Bråten Berg's version).
# Posted on September 20th 2011 by Weejie
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
I've been away from this site for many moons, and it appears nothing has changed.
# Posted on September 20th 2011 by Jimmy B
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
I still says it is a Halloween gig.
# Posted on September 20th 2011 by Batgirl has left the GPL ;)
Halloween Tunes - Do you know any?
Posted on October 18th 2006 by Ptarmigan
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/11534/comments#comment234569
# Posted on September 20th 2011 by Batgirl has left the GPL ;)
That was my lazy search
... top of thread~ http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/11534
# Posted on September 20th 2011 by Batgirl has left the GPL ;)
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
Valse Triste, by Sibelius. It was part of the incidental music to a 1903 play about death. From the programme notes, relating to the waltz tune:
"It is night. The son, who has been watching beside the bedside of his sick mother, has fallen asleep from sheer weariness, Gradually a ruddy light is diffused through the room: there is a sound of distant music: the glow and the music steal nearer until the strains of a valse melody float distantly to our ears. The sleeping mother awakens, rises from her bed and, in her long white garment, which takes the semblance of a ball dress, begins to move silently and slowly to and fro. She waves her hands and beckons in time to the music, as though she were summoning a crowd of invisible guests. And now they appear, these strange visionary couples, turning and gliding to an unearthly valse rhythm. The dying woman mingles with the dancers; she strives to make them look into her eyes, but the shadowy guests one and all avoid her glance. Then she seems to sink exhausted on her bed and the music breaks off. Presently she gathers all her strength and invokes the dance once more, with more energetic gestures than before. Back come the shadowy dancers, gyrating in a wild, mad rhythm. The weird gaiety reaches a climax; there is a knock at the door, which flies wide open; the mother utters a despairing cry; the spectral guests vanish; the music dies away. Death stands on the threshold."
The music fits this programme perfectly. Scary music (Sibelius wasn't bad at that).
# Posted on September 20th 2011 by Steve Shaw
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
The ones that have drums in them?
Is this a trick question?
# Posted on September 20th 2011 by AlBrown
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
gilligan's island meets
star trek meets
leave it to beaver
with the politician ending
# Posted on September 20th 2011 by dogmageek
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
The darkest tune i know of is "Farewell to(Churnoble" is how it's pronounced, not sure how it's spelled).
# Posted on September 20th 2011 by fiddlelearner
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
It's spelled 'Черно́быль'.
# Posted on September 20th 2011 by Weejie
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
Ichabod's Last Ride is a good one. Not sure why its not up here yet? I always found Reel Beatrice to be a bit creepy. Look through the minor keyed tunes.
# Posted on September 20th 2011 by Johnny Chicago
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
For "haunting" (not creepy) just refer to almost any track from a
Martin Hayes album. Haunting and Dark is a way of playing
any tune. You just have to find a way into it from that angle.
# Posted on September 20th 2011 by Hup
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
Paddy Ryans Dream is dark and so is the story behind it.
# Posted on September 20th 2011 by Imithe
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
Pull The Knife, played solo.
# Posted on September 20th 2011 by Phil T. Doherty
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
Here's a nice spooky tune:
http://abcnotation.com/tunePage?a=www.alfwarnock.info/alfs/abc/ACCW-ecd/0069
# Posted on September 20th 2011 by RichardB
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
The Haunted House? Doesn't at all sound scary though, sounds nice and happy to me actually. One of my favourite tunes
How about I buried my wife and danced on her grave? (also not scary sounding).
# Posted on September 20th 2011 by jcawley
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
In all seriousness, I think the most haunting tunes in the Irish traditional repertoire are slow airs try Scaruint Na gCompanaigh.
# Posted on September 20th 2011 by jcawley
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1811
# Posted on September 20th 2011 by Kenny
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
"Piano Duet" @ 1:10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60J7_sNbHBU
# Posted on September 20th 2011 by Batgirl has left the GPL ;)
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
Is it the Birdie Song by the Tweets?
Or is it My Old Man's A Dustman by Lonnie Donegan?
# Posted on September 20th 2011 by yhaalhouse
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uQZ9eLuOLk
haunting, certainly, if not spooky.
# Posted on September 20th 2011 by gam
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8-R33XvQSk
dark, possibly, if not creepy.
# Posted on September 20th 2011 by gam
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
Ah sure go on...........i think its a little dark.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHaqaYwiQOg
# Posted on September 20th 2011 by gitane007
Re: What is the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
For me, it's Lament For Peadar O'Donnell, a Moving Hearts number. I don't know for sure who wrote it - my guess is Davy Spillane.
For me, it's at once a hackle-raising tune and an expression of horrible, abyssal desolation and darkness.
O'Donnell was a socialist Republican active in the Irish Independence and Civil Wars of the 1920s. My take on the tune is not to do with him personally; rather, in my own mind the tune seems to express both the sombre might of the imperative to seek dignity through nationalist uprising and if need be martyrdom, and the utter abomination of some things that were done as a result, by whichever side. And this tune seems to tell me that the motives were cursed in advance by the results, and have gone down into the pit of nightmare with them.
My God, this is heavy stuff. It is only what this tune suggests to me. It is not a set of opinions on who should have done what in the 1920s.
I would like to believe there is Another Side on which a lot of people who died innocently in these events or participated in them for various motives at various levels have rubbed their eyes, woken up and embarked on a better life together: that nothing - or as little as possible - has been wasted. But there is not a trace of this hope in this tune, as I hear it.
# Posted on September 21st 2011 by nicholas
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
Reactions to music are so personal. Hearing that tune always lifts my soul and brings to mind the inscription on the Jim Larkin statue on O'Connell street: "The great appear great because we are on our knees: Let us rise.".
But then many here remember Peadar O'Donnell as a "grand old man of the left", a trade union organiser, a activist for radical politics in post-war Ireland, and a campaigner for civil rights on behalf of marginalised sections of Irish society. He inspired the young to look beyond their immediate concerns and take up the greater cause whether that be Trade Union rights, the rights of emigrants, CND or the Anti-Apartheid movement. My recollection is that Donal was commission to write "A TRIBUTE to Peadar O'Donnell" to celebrate the life of one of Ireland's most important progressive politicians.
# Posted on September 21st 2011 by The Hurler on the Ditch
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
@The Hurler on the Ditch:
"Reactions to music are so personal..."
Indeed, they are. And I should imagine my reaction to that tune is coloured by personal sentiments and bits of experiences that are somehow catalysed by it but have no connection with Irish history.
Thanks for your response, and your note on Peadar O'Donnell himself as he is remembered in Ireland.
# Posted on September 21st 2011 by nicholas
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
For me, it’s “Du Kannst Nicht Immer Siebzehn Sein”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58bIzQtN0xo
# Posted on September 21st 2011 by fidkid
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
http://www.dan-dare.org/Dan%20Potter/HarryPotterPhilosophersStoneTheme.mp3
# Posted on September 21st 2011 by Minerva McGonagall
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
The first movement of Bartok's thing for strings, perccusion and celest must be up there
# Posted on September 21st 2011 by ...
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
The spookiest tune I play is The Kail (or Kale) Pot:
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/9770
A bubbling pot of kale does look dark and creepy.
# Posted on September 21st 2011 by Tracie
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
Holy cow, Layne! Is that you on the gut bucket bass?
Another haunting, spooky tune is Gilderoy, which is an earlier version of The Red Haired Boy/Little Beggarman.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/10561
I like to play it with King of the Fairies and Rights of Man, though I think I transpose Gilderoy from the key here Or maybe not. I'm away from my instruments right now.
Play 'em slow and mysterious.
# Posted on September 21st 2011 by Tracie
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
Ghost Riders in the Sky. Especially the way my wife sings it ti her ukulele.
# Posted on September 21st 2011 by Guernsey Pete
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
@ Tracie... Yep I played the gut bucket for the Dirt Daubers... Where on earth did you come across that???
Thanks to everyone for all their contributions.. It'll take me a while to go through them all. I am always on the look out for spooky old tunes... So this is really great!
# Posted on September 22nd 2011 by Layne Hendrickson
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
the kiss !! (Last of mohicane's track)
# Posted on September 22nd 2011 by fiddlemax
Re: What are the darkest, creepiest, spookiest, most haunting Tunes?
X: 1
T: Abbots Bromley Horn Dance
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Em
e| B2 e G2 e | B2 e E2 G | FGA GAB | AGF G2e|
B2 e G2 e | B2 e E2 G | FGA GAB | AGF E2 ||
e| c2 c cde | A2 A ABc | FGA GFE | DEF B,2 g|
e2 e efg | c2 c cde | dcB AGF | E3-E2 ||
| BcB c3 | BcB e3 | BcB AGF | E3 E2 z |
BcB c3 | BcB e3 | BcB AGF | E3 E2 z |]
# Posted on September 27th 2011 by geoffwright