Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
Hello all.... Playing in a band that plays a mix of tunes & songs at wedding and corporate doos that does not neccessarily attract a house full of ITM loving individuals it is interesting to see the reaction from the great unwashed when we start to play tunes.
Certain tunes we know will always get a good reaction while others are met with indifference. For example we know that if we play say King of the Fairies with a break to play Cap'n Pugwash in the middle then return to King of the Fairies we know we will get a great reaction from the crowd likewise with the Devils Dream but if we play say Tripping up the Stairs/Morrissons the peeps will not react in the same way. Now we fully admit it could be to do with our playing... but lets assume it is consistent.
So my question is has anyone else experience of tunes they know go down a storm to a non ITM loving crowd and equally the ones you've learnt to avoid...???
Re: Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
People like stuff they are familiar with. So all the hackneyed chestnuts that make musicians cringe always go down well with the great unwashed - The butterfly, Kesh, Found Harmonium, Irish Washerwoman, and anything that has ever been used in an advert.
Re: Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
Lots of x-mas tunes are easily skewed into diddly formats. Great for playing at dances at this time of year. Silent Night and Good King Wenslesness make good jigs. Deck the Bells is a reasonable polka. Just experiment with them. It's a hoot.
Re: Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
Thanks for replies...
Skreech.. Butterfly & Kesh (surprisingly) = not brill... Harmonium & IWW fare better but not as good as the ones i've mentioned which apart from Cap'n Pugwas are not really in the top 10 if the known ITM hit parade.
Re: Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
I've seen that reaction too with the King of the Fairies, although I don't play in a band per se. It's curious, why do people know it - is it a hark back to the Horslips?
Re: Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
I find people tend to get a rise when I play any hornpipes. I've been told a couple of times that I have a very funky way of playing hornpipes, and I do highly regard those tunes for the record. It's the same with barndances and flings. I tend to go into a reel or two if the mood suits and, obviously, the speeding up of tempo creates a reaction. Doesn't have to be the specific tune - could be your treatment of it!
Re: Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
We have lately been playing the old Bing Crosby number, "Christmas in Killarney," at Christmas gigs. It is fun to see every grey and white haired head in the room pivot in our direction when we launch into it, and they all smile. Although that's the reaction in the USA, of course. Not sure how a Tin Pan Alley song like that would go over back in Ireland.
And I don't know how recognizable it is, but we have a lot of fun playing the Shetland tune, "Christmas Day Ida Morning." I have loved that one ever since I first heard Aly Bain play it years ago.
Re: Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
I think I'll tune in to carols. Every year the contribution of Irtrad to specifically Christmas tuneology comes up here, and every year establishes that this is minimal.
From the odd clip, I get the impression that singer Kate Rusby has done a very nice album of Christmas songs. She comes from South Yorkshire (Eng.) where there is in fact a strong tradition of folk carols, sung in various crowded pubs. These may or may not include the well-known ones done in Anglican carol services, but many are quite different, or at least have different tunes.
Re: Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
Did we have a go at abc's for some reel adaptation for carols in years gone by or is my memory playng tricks??
Jig version of Silent Night and a Reel of Jingle Bells come to mind.
For Llig, with appreciation for all your curmudgeonly ways...and wishing you a very 'jolly' X-mas (that awful contraction given with intent!) Who luvs yuh babes? ~
Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
Hello all.... Playing in a band that plays a mix of tunes & songs at wedding and corporate doos that does not neccessarily attract a house full of ITM loving individuals it is interesting to see the reaction from the great unwashed when we start to play tunes.
Certain tunes we know will always get a good reaction while others are met with indifference. For example we know that if we play say King of the Fairies with a break to play Cap'n Pugwash in the middle then return to King of the Fairies we know we will get a great reaction from the crowd likewise with the Devils Dream but if we play say Tripping up the Stairs/Morrissons the peeps will not react in the same way. Now we fully admit it could be to do with our playing... but lets assume it is consistent.
So my question is has anyone else experience of tunes they know go down a storm to a non ITM loving crowd and equally the ones you've learnt to avoid...???
Merry Xmas all...!!!
# Posted on December 22nd 2011 by weebag
Re: Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
People like stuff they are familiar with. So all the hackneyed chestnuts that make musicians cringe always go down well with the great unwashed - The butterfly, Kesh, Found Harmonium, Irish Washerwoman, and anything that has ever been used in an advert.
# Posted on December 22nd 2011 by skreech
Re: Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
Lots of x-mas tunes are easily skewed into diddly formats. Great for playing at dances at this time of year. Silent Night and Good King Wenslesness make good jigs. Deck the Bells is a reasonable polka. Just experiment with them. It's a hoot.
# Posted on December 22nd 2011 by ...
Re: Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
Thanks for replies...
Skreech.. Butterfly & Kesh (surprisingly) = not brill... Harmonium & IWW fare better but not as good as the ones i've mentioned which apart from Cap'n Pugwas are not really in the top 10 if the known ITM hit parade.
Llig.. great idea, we'll try that next year
Keep em coming...!
# Posted on December 22nd 2011 by weebag
Re: Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
Try combining Road to Lisdoonvarna with God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen. Both are single jigs and it's a nice surprise when the second tune kicks in.
# Posted on December 22nd 2011 by Ailin
Re: Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
I've seen that reaction too with the King of the Fairies, although I don't play in a band per se. It's curious, why do people know it - is it a hark back to the Horslips?
# Posted on December 22nd 2011 by the wounded hussar
Re: Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
Galway Girl seems to get people hopping, again it's well known.
# Posted on December 22nd 2011 by the wounded hussar
Re: Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
Anything from Riverdance or Lord of the Rings!
# Posted on December 22nd 2011 by Bredna
Re: Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
I find people tend to get a rise when I play any hornpipes. I've been told a couple of times that I have a very funky way of playing hornpipes, and I do highly regard those tunes for the record. It's the same with barndances and flings. I tend to go into a reel or two if the mood suits and, obviously, the speeding up of tempo creates a reaction. Doesn't have to be the specific tune - could be your treatment of it!
# Posted on December 23rd 2011 by 52Paddy
Re: Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
We have lately been playing the old Bing Crosby number, "Christmas in Killarney," at Christmas gigs. It is fun to see every grey and white haired head in the room pivot in our direction when we launch into it, and they all smile. Although that's the reaction in the USA, of course. Not sure how a Tin Pan Alley song like that would go over back in Ireland.
And I don't know how recognizable it is, but we have a lot of fun playing the Shetland tune, "Christmas Day Ida Morning." I have loved that one ever since I first heard Aly Bain play it years ago.
# Posted on December 23rd 2011 by AlBrown
Re: Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
I think I'll tune in to carols. Every year the contribution of Irtrad to specifically Christmas tuneology comes up here, and every year establishes that this is minimal.
From the odd clip, I get the impression that singer Kate Rusby has done a very nice album of Christmas songs. She comes from South Yorkshire (Eng.) where there is in fact a strong tradition of folk carols, sung in various crowded pubs. These may or may not include the well-known ones done in Anglican carol services, but many are quite different, or at least have different tunes.
# Posted on December 23rd 2011 by nicholas
Re: Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5InOEfmFfM
"On a Cold Winter's Day/Christmas Eve"
(track 3)
Luka Bloom - "Ciara" (2009)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvA3qeC74uI
(track 5)
# Posted on December 23rd 2011 by ain't fluffed
Re: Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
Here is some can be nice wee tunes on Traditional Instrument's.. jim,,,
Wexford Carol..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1NQRklP5Ug
But don't wait tooooo long like my Mate's here did last year ?
- lol.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOwX6WlSE1c
Nice one here..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXgoyKdsAD4&feature=related
# Posted on December 23rd 2011 by FIDDLE4
Re: Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
Did we have a go at abc's for some reel adaptation for carols in years gone by or is my memory playng tricks??
Jig version of Silent Night and a Reel of Jingle Bells come to mind.
# Posted on December 23rd 2011 by Donough
Re: Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
Da Cold Night's O' Winter and Da Blue Yow are good Shetland tunes for winter.
# Posted on December 23rd 2011 by darach
Re: Looking for inspiration while on me Xmas hols...???
Oh yeah, Jingle bells. It works as a harmony over the top of Christmas Eve
# Posted on December 23rd 2011 by ...
"The Jingle Bells Polka"
Submitted on December 23rd 2011 by ceolachan.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/11656
For Llig, with appreciation for all your curmudgeonly ways...and wishing you a very 'jolly' X-mas (that awful contraction given with intent!) Who luvs yuh babes? ~
# Posted on December 23rd 2011 by ceolachan
"I Saw Three Ships" - not forgetting this one too
Submitted on December 11th 2006 by yours truly yet again.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6494
# Posted on December 23rd 2011 by ceolachan