Anyone know of any strathspeys that would pair nicely with any these reels?
The Foxhunters'
The Duke of Leinster
The Red-Haired Lass
The Dark-Haired Lass
The Boys of Malin
Silver Spear
Sunny Banks
The Mountain Road
Master McDermott's
Trip to Nenagh
After hearing Athol Brose paired with Dogs Among the Bushes, I really like the concept of strathspeys with reels.
Stirling Castle is a cracker with anything in D, and Laird of Drumblair is ace with anything in A. Well, not anything. Let your instincts tell you whether you have a good pairing and don't go berserk with the concept!
The High Reel actually makes a nice strathspey if you play with it a little. And being the High Reel, it'd probably go nicely with Silver Spear. Does really nicely with Musical Priest, though, if you play that one.
Check out some choice listens, such as from Cape Breton - hear and be inspired by the likes of Buddy McMaster, Jerry Holland, etc. Many 'sets' exist that carry the same name, strathspey and reel, and the combination is classic for Cape Breton step dancing, as it has been for Scottish... The combinations are chosen to inspire, and are even requested as favourites by dancers... There's also other collections to delve into, such as "The Athole" and "The Skye",. but ears are best, so score a few Cape Breton recordings for a start, if you haven't already...
Thanks Solidmahog. great tune! Speaking of, it sounds like there are a lot of great strathspeys. I listened to all the ones in the Key of G listed here and I can't say that there was one that I didn't like. Moneymusk and Heilan' Donald Kissed Kitty are the ones i'm taking for the the G reels, but the other strathspeys I favored i'll have to get them in my repertoire, but not too soon.
Strathspeys are played together with reels in medley dance sets (and I speak as no expert) but of course the reel is played in quick time and the strathspey is played in slow time and takes twice as long. Some dance sets alternate between the two and I find these among the most difficult to play for. I don't think it is quite the right thing to play strathspeys and Irish reels together at the same speed.
Is it on “Encore” by Celtic Fiddle Festival (Kevin Burke, Johnny Cunningham and Christian Lemaître) where they play Farewell to Ireland first as a strathspey and then kick it into a reel?
It's not so much the speed of the strathspey thats important, rather the change from the dotted 4/4 strathspey rhythm (which varies from place to place, Donegal, C. Breton and the various Scottish regions etc, the treatment of the dotted rhythm and snap are stylistically different) into the smoother reels. The change into the reel may give the impression of a speeding up but t's not necessarily so, the tempo often remains the same.
It's not uncommon in Scotland/C. Breton for the strathspeys to start slowly and build the tempo over the course of a few strathspeys in the set, up to the tempo of the reel for the change. Sometimes the use of an increasing tempo can happen in just the one strathspey.
Sorry, that was incomplete. I meant yes for a few. I found recordings and videos for some of them. And Al, I agree, with no authority at all, that Christ did not have a bike.
"Is it on “Encore” by Celtic Fiddle Festival (Kevin Burke, Johnny Cunningham and Christian Lemaître) where they play Farewell to Ireland first as a strathspey and then kick it into a reel? "
I need help finding strathspeys for reels.
I need help finding strathspeys for reels.
Anyone know of any strathspeys that would pair nicely with any these reels?
The Foxhunters'
The Duke of Leinster
The Red-Haired Lass
The Dark-Haired Lass
The Boys of Malin
Silver Spear
Sunny Banks
The Mountain Road
Master McDermott's
Trip to Nenagh
After hearing Athol Brose paired with Dogs Among the Bushes, I really like the concept of strathspeys with reels.
# Posted on January 6th 2012 by fiddlelearner
Re: I need help finding strathspeys for reels.
Stirling Castle is a cracker with anything in D, and Laird of Drumblair is ace with anything in A. Well, not anything. Let your instincts tell you whether you have a good pairing and don't go berserk with the concept!
# Posted on January 6th 2012 by Steve Shaw
Re: I need help finding strathspeys for reels.
Have a look at the four volumes of Kerr's Merry Melodies for Violin the reels and strathspeys are set out alternately
should give you about 400 pairs to go at
# Posted on January 6th 2012 by millionyears_bc
Re: I need help finding strathspeys for reels.
Thanks
I won't go "berserk" lol. I don't need strathspeys for all the reels I play. Just the really special ones 
# Posted on January 6th 2012 by fiddlelearner
Re: I need help finding strathspeys for reels.
The High Reel actually makes a nice strathspey if you play with it a little. And being the High Reel, it'd probably go nicely with Silver Spear. Does really nicely with Musical Priest, though, if you play that one.
# Posted on January 6th 2012 by Jon Kiparsky
Strathspey into reel for a bit of lively steppin'
Check out some choice listens, such as from Cape Breton - hear and be inspired by the likes of Buddy McMaster, Jerry Holland, etc. Many 'sets' exist that carry the same name, strathspey and reel, and the combination is classic for Cape Breton step dancing, as it has been for Scottish... The combinations are chosen to inspire, and are even requested as favourites by dancers... There's also other collections to delve into, such as "The Athole" and "The Skye",. but ears are best, so score a few Cape Breton recordings for a start, if you haven't already...
# Posted on January 7th 2012 by ceolachan
And not forgetting Winston 'Scotty' Fitzgerald and -
"Mike MacDougall's Tape For Father Hector"
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1168
Natalie MacMaster - & with Buddy here:
"Traditional Music From Cape Breton Island"
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1695
there are many fine fiddlers to be inspired by ~ Ashley MacIsaac, Dave MacIsaac, Brenda Stubbert, etc...
# Posted on January 7th 2012 by ceolachan
You can learn and hear and acquire more here too, MP3s and dots ~
http://www.cranfordpub.com/
# Posted on January 7th 2012 by ceolachan
Re: I need help finding strathspeys for reels.
"After hearing Athol Brose paired with Dogs Among the Bushes, I really like the concept of strathspeys with reels." fiddlelearner
Me too.
# Posted on January 7th 2012 by Solidmahog
Re: I need help finding strathspeys for reels.
Here's a good one to be getting on with..........
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/4862
# Posted on January 7th 2012 by Solidmahog
Re: I need help finding strathspeys for reels.
Thanks Solidmahog. great tune! Speaking of, it sounds like there are a lot of great strathspeys. I listened to all the ones in the Key of G listed here and I can't say that there was one that I didn't like. Moneymusk and Heilan' Donald Kissed Kitty are the ones i'm taking for the the G reels, but the other strathspeys I favored i'll have to get them in my repertoire, but not too soon.
# Posted on January 9th 2012 by fiddlelearner
Re: I need help finding strathspeys for reels.
"I listened to all the ones in the Key of G listed here"
You mean you listened to the midi things?? Sheesh
# Posted on January 9th 2012 by ...
Re: I need help finding strathspeys for reels.
Strathspeys are played together with reels in medley dance sets (and I speak as no expert) but of course the reel is played in quick time and the strathspey is played in slow time and takes twice as long. Some dance sets alternate between the two and I find these among the most difficult to play for. I don't think it is quite the right thing to play strathspeys and Irish reels together at the same speed.
# Posted on January 9th 2012 by RichardB
Re: I need help finding strathspeys for reels.
Is it on “Encore” by Celtic Fiddle Festival (Kevin Burke, Johnny Cunningham and Christian Lemaître) where they play Farewell to Ireland first as a strathspey and then kick it into a reel?
# Posted on January 9th 2012 by fidkid
Re: I need help finding strathspeys for reels.
It's not so much the speed of the strathspey thats important, rather the change from the dotted 4/4 strathspey rhythm (which varies from place to place, Donegal, C. Breton and the various Scottish regions etc, the treatment of the dotted rhythm and snap are stylistically different) into the smoother reels. The change into the reel may give the impression of a speeding up but t's not necessarily so, the tempo often remains the same.
It's not uncommon in Scotland/C. Breton for the strathspeys to start slowly and build the tempo over the course of a few strathspeys in the set, up to the tempo of the reel for the change. Sometimes the use of an increasing tempo can happen in just the one strathspey.
# Posted on January 9th 2012 by Solidmahog
Re: I need help finding strathspeys for reels.
I may be wrong but I seem to recall it was Laird of Drumblair that got the strathspey/reel treatment on
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display.php/176
# Posted on January 9th 2012 by domhnall.
Re: I need help finding strathspeys for reels.
Yes llig, the MIDI files, sheesh. :P
# Posted on January 10th 2012 by fiddlelearner
Re: I need help finding strathspeys for reels.
christ on a bike
# Posted on January 10th 2012 by ...
Re: I need help finding strathspeys for reels.
Ahem, I have it on good authority, and I believe the archaeological record will confirm, Christ didn't have a bike...
# Posted on January 10th 2012 by AlBrown
Re: I need help finding strathspeys for reels.
Sorry, that was incomplete. I meant yes for a few. I found recordings and videos for some of them. And Al, I agree, with no authority at all, that Christ did not have a bike.
# Posted on January 10th 2012 by fiddlelearner
Re: I need help finding strathspeys for reels.
Christ might not have had a bike but the roar of Moses' Triumph was heard throughout the land!
# Posted on January 10th 2012 by RichardB
Re: I need help finding strathspeys for reels.
Were they not Norton Commandments?
# Posted on January 10th 2012 by Weejie
Re: I need help finding strathspeys for reels.
Handed down by an Ariel Leader
# Posted on January 10th 2012 by millionyears_bc
Re: I need help finding strathspeys for reels.
who was eating a boiled Bantam egg as a Dragonfly clattered past and a Black Shadow fell across the land.....making him feel Superior.....
# Posted on January 10th 2012 by millionyears_bc
Re: I need help finding strathspeys for reels.
"Is it on “Encore” by Celtic Fiddle Festival (Kevin Burke, Johnny Cunningham and Christian Lemaître) where they play Farewell to Ireland first as a strathspey and then kick it into a reel? "
I've dug out a strathspey version and posted it in the tunes section:
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/33/comments#comment619294
# Posted on January 11th 2012 by Weejie
Al, well, half a bike then, a unicycle...
# Posted on January 13th 2012 by ceolachan