Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
That tune is really popular in my local sessions, and I sort of learned by osmosis. Nobody ever seemed to be able to give me a name/source for the tune though. It's nice to finally have a name for it.
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
I thought Gavin and Finn's recording was tuned half a step up, not down. Can't think why they did that though. Fiddles usually sound nicer tuned flat, perhaps because "A" was lower when the instrument was designed.
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
That's the tune , Jim. The first musicians from Ireland I heard playing it were Frankie Kennedy [RIP], and Mairead ni Mhaonaigh, in pre-Altan days, I think Glasgow in 1984.
Bernie R - you're quite correct in that the Gavin/Finn recording the tunes are played a semi-tone sharp of concert pitch. It was quite a common thing for Irish musicians to do in the 1980s, and maybe into the 90s - haven't come across it much in the last 20 years or so.
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
Just looked at "Pat Mustard's" video clip above - those are the same 2 tunes as Frankie & Mairead played in 1984. The parts of the "Glasgow Highlanders" are reversed with the "high" part played first in Donegal.
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
I've heard it said that Gavin used to tune a semi-tone sharp to stop others from joining in, but maybe that's just mythology.
The one track I've checked on Hill/Linnane seems to be about 40 cents over a semi-tone sharp. Possibly that's just a case of playing the tape back a bit faster to give it more zip.
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
im surprised no-one here has ever understood why they play in E flat, the semi tone higher. its far easier to play in than concert pitch, on the fiddle anyway. its brighter and nippier aswell, however you lose the overall roundedness and aesthetic that you can achieve with concert pitch. its still done a lot these days, gavin always plays in E flat and there are countless others who do aswell.
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
"im surprised no-one here has ever understood why they play in E flat"
I still don't get it, it sounds brighter, sure, but after a few sets, it sounds pretty much the same. It's certainly an effective device for limiting who can play though, if that's what you're in to. Unfortunately you cant put a capo on a box or a set of pipes.
frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
does any one know the name of the second tune in this set? it's a great tune...
# Posted on January 15th 2012 by berserker
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
It's an Irish version of "The Glasgow Highlanders".
# Posted on January 15th 2012 by Kenny
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2971
# Posted on January 15th 2012 by Kenny
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
thanks!!!
# Posted on January 15th 2012 by berserker
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
That tune is really popular in my local sessions, and I sort of learned by osmosis. Nobody ever seemed to be able to give me a name/source for the tune though. It's nice to finally have a name for it.
I did a bit of digging and found this clip which has the tune my session mates always play with the Glasgow Highlanders:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN4W2NPKeng
Sorry for hijacking the thread, but can anyone give me the name of the other tune in this set?
Cheers
# Posted on January 16th 2012 by Pat Mustard
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
this doesn't sound like the same tune to me...are we talking about the same set?
# Posted on January 16th 2012 by berserker
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
it sounds like he is tuned a half step down so he is playing the tune like it's in E but it's actually in Eb after the peacock's feathers.
# Posted on January 16th 2012 by berserker
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
The second tune in the set is called the Peacock's feathers http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/665
# Posted on January 16th 2012 by Theirlandais
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
Is this it, taken a good while back now. I grew my Moustache too long, it was more often in my mouth or up my nose. lol
jim,,,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3jdSV0iHLY
# Posted on January 16th 2012 by FIDDLE4
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
I thought Gavin and Finn's recording was tuned half a step up, not down. Can't think why they did that though. Fiddles usually sound nicer tuned flat, perhaps because "A" was lower when the instrument was designed.
# Posted on January 16th 2012 by Bernie 29
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
That's the tune , Jim. The first musicians from Ireland I heard playing it were Frankie Kennedy [RIP], and Mairead ni Mhaonaigh, in pre-Altan days, I think Glasgow in 1984.
Bernie R - you're quite correct in that the Gavin/Finn recording the tunes are played a semi-tone sharp of concert pitch. It was quite a common thing for Irish musicians to do in the 1980s, and maybe into the 90s - haven't come across it much in the last 20 years or so.
# Posted on January 16th 2012 by Kenny
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
Just looked at "Pat Mustard's" video clip above - those are the same 2 tunes as Frankie & Mairead played in 1984. The parts of the "Glasgow Highlanders" are reversed with the "high" part played first in Donegal.
# Posted on January 16th 2012 by Kenny
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
Omos do Joe Cooley is a semi-tone sharp, that's Gavin again, and Noel Hill and Tony Linnane is. Why did they do it?
# Posted on January 16th 2012 by Bernie 29
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
I've heard it said that Gavin used to tune a semi-tone sharp to stop others from joining in, but maybe that's just mythology.
The one track I've checked on Hill/Linnane seems to be about 40 cents over a semi-tone sharp. Possibly that's just a case of playing the tape back a bit faster to give it more zip.
# Posted on January 16th 2012 by johndsamuels
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
im surprised no-one here has ever understood why they play in E flat, the semi tone higher. its far easier to play in than concert pitch, on the fiddle anyway. its brighter and nippier aswell, however you lose the overall roundedness and aesthetic that you can achieve with concert pitch. its still done a lot these days, gavin always plays in E flat and there are countless others who do aswell.
# Posted on January 16th 2012 by fiddleruairi
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
And, as I heard a very wellknown fluteplayer say once, 'it keeps the riff raff from joining in'.
# Posted on January 16th 2012 by Prof. Prlwytzkofski
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
and Eb flutes are loads easier to play
# Posted on January 16th 2012 by ...
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
Kenny,
And many's a tune I got then off Frankie Kennedy [RIP], and Mairead ni Mhaonaigh, in pre-Altan days... Happy Memories !
jim,,,
# Posted on January 16th 2012 by FIDDLE4
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
"im surprised no-one here has ever understood why they play in E flat"
I still don't get it, it sounds brighter, sure, but after a few sets, it sounds pretty much the same. It's certainly an effective device for limiting who can play though, if that's what you're in to. Unfortunately you cant put a capo on a box or a set of pipes.
# Posted on January 16th 2012 by Backer
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
Sped up the tape? No, actually Gavin tunes up to play the tunes in F, but they slowed the tape down so you could hear the notes.
But I hear he cheats on the recordings, does them in two passes. First pass he does the bowing, then he goes back and does the fingering later.
# Posted on January 16th 2012 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: frankie gavin and alec finn: masters of irish music, peacock feathers set
that's it!! thanks!!! if anyone cares, try playing this tune in e, it's rather fun...
# Posted on January 17th 2012 by berserker