just wondering....what is all of your favourite tunes? I mean your very top five favorites? And why do you like them?And are they on this site?
mine are: 1: Drowsy Maggie with all 3 parts (drowsy maggie, cooleys reel, and congress reel) because the tunes are just so....irish, i dont know, they are so fun to play and when you play them people say 'wow shes good'
2:Fisher's Hornpipe because its another wow shes good song
3: Bryan O'Lynn cause I just...like it
4:Drummond castle cause the song is sooo pretty and easy to play and its really fun to play
5. OKOK I'm going to go to seven: Mary Young and fair and Chanter and Bryan boru's march cause they are awesome
Depends who's playing it, mostly. But - true - some are more appealing than others. Mine are: Mist on the Mountain, The Dusty Miller, The Blarney Pilgrim and Killarney Boys of Pleasure (at the moment - it changes with time), when performed by others.
On the other hand - I love: Frieze Britches, The Cheating Bastard and Elizabeth Kelly's Delight, and, most importantly, 4 minutes 33 seconds - because I can play them without cursing.
The third group - tunes that I love (and play) because of appealing title: The Cheating Bastard (revisited), Old Hag You Have Killed Me, I Buried My Wife and Danced on Her Grave, Get Up Old Woman and Shake yourself and my most recent love: Granny Hold the Candle While I Shave the Chicken's Lip.
Cooleys, Rights of Man, Irish Washerwoman ... the list goes on. So difficult to pick just a few favourites. I guess I'd have to agree with Zena Lee that my favourite is the one I'm working on at the time ... the reason must have to do with the satisfaction of getting it right (or frustration of enjoying trying). That's always the tune that goes around and around in your head all day, and you can't wait to get home, pick up the zook and work on it again. Kid on the Mountain has got me at the moment.
I remember there being a discussion last year on favourites that generated considerable input. Might be worth having a look back at that too.
My favourite at the moment is Farewell to Keelroe. I heard Damien Mullane play it in London a few times on the accordion. He wasn't sure of the name, but I came across it again on a sample of Eliot Grasso's new CD (which sounds excellent, by the way). It's a nice elegant reel.
Hmmmm.... I agree... depends on what I'm working on at the time but I'd have to say...
Morrisons Jig
The Beachcomber
Musical Priest
Rollin In The Ryegrass
Tar Road To Sligo
Otter's Holt (If I ever figure this one out the way I want to, I'll be happy)
Wheels of the world kills me; I love tunes that emphasize that spooky modality. I second Ptollemy on For Ireland as well, though as a banjo player I'll NEVER get to play it; it would be like sculpting marble with a butter knife.
My favorite set of reels at the moment that I'm working on is
Corney is coming / Roaring Mary
Seriously, this is a great set, especially on flute...RM is such a nice flute tune with those F# rolls..........I wish I could take credit for the idea of putting those together : )
BTW I play Corney is Coming with C naturals which is my preference to the C # version. I just learned RM from one of Grey Larsen's CD's found in his new Irish flute and tin whistle book.
In this moment Cooley's. I am able to play it still round and round in set with Sally Garden reel, which wasn't easy on harp with my slow beginner's fingers. As for listening I felt in love with Limerick lassies. Verson of Silly Wizards always makes me dance with headphones on my head in the middle of office at work. So everybody think that I am mad. Jenny's chicken and Drunken landlady are also great tunes. As for Airs ... Inisheere is so easy and nice. (Well, easy, but ... not easy to play really with spirit)
1. The Kiwi Reel, just amazing to hear played well.
2. Mason's Apron, excellent in sessions.
3. Laxo Burn, love playing it.
4. Drowsy Maggie, love playing it.
5. Bonnie Isle O' Whalsay, it's home what else can I say.
Does anyone else's favorite tunes seem to be based on what you heard when you where younger? I have grown up with these tunes and nothing can move them out of my favorites.
For me it has to be Phil Cunningham's set on the piano accordion - the one that starts with Jackson's No.2. Sharron Shannon does an incredible cover of it on the box titled 'the Phil Cunningham Set'. Brilliant inspiration any time sitting down to practice gets a bit hard - if she can play that well I MUST be able to do a tenth as well. I'd be happy with that.
Ah, some really nice tunes already. I could steal a few for my list (Master Crowleys, Greenfields of Glentown, George IV, Tar Road to Sligo) but the ones that have surfaced most recently for me would be The Glen Road to Carrick (or, On the Road from Glen to Carrick would be its more formal name, eh?) and The Geese in the Bog. (Which I first learned a dozen years ago, but nobody else played it, so it fell by the wayside. I just saw/heard it in Donegal last month, and so it's back and fresh in my mind...) Another timeless favorite - the Shetland Fiddler. And oh yes, Lord Gordon's; I first learned it from the playing of Kevin Burke and thought it was brilliant, but then I saw Paddy Glackin playing it with Donal Lunny and it just totally rocked. That was truly a moment of religious ecstasy.
That is not being silly; in my case that is a serious amount of tunes to choose from!
If you wanted to know a tune that I would most probably play at any session or gig, that would have to be "The Boys of the Lough"! I just love that tune, and even when I'm warming up on the flute I'll quite happily go through it loads!
This thread comes up a lot and it never ceases to amaze me what terrible tunes some people think are great. But I don't mind, the best of you will grow out of it.
A tune is a tune. They are neither good nor bad. Nor do I think anybody here has bad taste in music. If you mean that us folks will raise our sights to playing Mozart's 25th on a kazoo I think that conversation might be on another thread.
That's all right, Michael, I'm always amazed that someone can think great tunes are terrible, as some players can make any tune terrible and some can make any tune great!
Lord Gordon is one of my current favourites... but it's interesting to find from this site that it's got several parts... I heard it on a Natalie MacMaster live recording and liked it so learnt it from that, with only two parts.
Sheltie: where might I hear the Kiwi Reel?
Enduring favourites for me (that I can think of on the spur of the moment): Big John MacNeil, Lannie MacLellan's, Poll Ha'penny, Tommy's Tarbukas, Farewell to Tchernobyl, ... I think I'll stop there.
Michael - I partially agree... but I think you should put your own favourites up for others to ridicule!
Another favourite tune at the moment is Devaney's Goat...dug that out of a pile of mini disc recordings of a Mike McHale workshop almost 2 years ago.....a music buddy plays it and I thought I'd learn it before visiting this coming weekend. Great reel that almost sounds like a hornpipe. It's about a Tinker's goat that eats someone's lettuce garden, according to Mike McHale.......
wow i didnt know id get so many responses....
its ok if you say more than 5 tunes, i dont know what i was thinking when i said just 5. more of my favorites are the rights of man (easy to play) And how could i forget my arrangement of road to lisdoonvarna with the butterfly following after it
Just wondering, do do any of you know Kevin Burke personally? (My friend is taking lessons from him cause right now he is in Portalnd Oregon his home town and I live In Vancouver, WA ) not to sound braggy or anything....sorry.
favourite tune
favourite tune
just wondering....what is all of your favourite tunes? I mean your very top five favorites? And why do you like them?And are they on this site?
mine are: 1: Drowsy Maggie with all 3 parts (drowsy maggie, cooleys reel, and congress reel) because the tunes are just so....irish, i dont know, they are so fun to play and when you play them people say 'wow shes good'
2:Fisher's Hornpipe because its another wow shes good song
3: Bryan O'Lynn cause I just...like it
4:Drummond castle cause the song is sooo pretty and easy to play and its really fun to play
5. OKOK I'm going to go to seven: Mary Young and fair and Chanter and Bryan boru's march cause they are awesome
# Posted on February 22nd 2004 by an_all_irish_girl
Re: favourite tune
The one I'm working on at the moment is always my favorite tune.
# Posted on February 22nd 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: favourite tune
Depends who's playing it, mostly. But - true - some are more appealing than others. Mine are: Mist on the Mountain, The Dusty Miller, The Blarney Pilgrim and Killarney Boys of Pleasure (at the moment - it changes with time), when performed by others.
On the other hand - I love: Frieze Britches, The Cheating Bastard and Elizabeth Kelly's Delight, and, most importantly, 4 minutes 33 seconds - because I can play them without cursing.
The third group - tunes that I love (and play) because of appealing title: The Cheating Bastard (revisited), Old Hag You Have Killed Me, I Buried My Wife and Danced on Her Grave, Get Up Old Woman and Shake yourself and my most recent love: Granny Hold the Candle While I Shave the Chicken's Lip.
# Posted on February 22nd 2004 by Janek
Re: favourite tune
I must add that 4 minutes 33 seconds is the most appealing and playable tune I've learnt off this site. Thank you Domhniaill.
# Posted on February 22nd 2004 by Janek
Re: favourite tune
The Maid on the Green/First Night in America
Banish Misfortune/Kid on the Mountain
Go George, for I Cannot Endure You
There. That's five.
Dave
# Posted on February 22nd 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: favourite tune
Sorry - I forgot to answer the other question: Why do you like them?
I don't want to sound unhelpful, but the real answer is: Because I just do.
Dave
# Posted on February 22nd 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: favourite tune
Old Man Dillon
Tommy People's
The South of France
For Ireland I'll Not Say Her Name
An Paistin Fionn
Cheers
Morgana
# Posted on February 22nd 2004 by Ptollemy
Re: favourite tune
Cooleys, Rights of Man, Irish Washerwoman ... the list goes on. So difficult to pick just a few favourites. I guess I'd have to agree with Zena Lee that my favourite is the one I'm working on at the time ... the reason must have to do with the satisfaction of getting it right (or frustration of enjoying trying). That's always the tune that goes around and around in your head all day, and you can't wait to get home, pick up the zook and work on it again. Kid on the Mountain has got me at the moment.
I remember there being a discussion last year on favourites that generated considerable input. Might be worth having a look back at that too.
# Posted on February 22nd 2004 by tyardy
Re: favourite tune
Morrisons' Jig - good for triplets
# Posted on February 22nd 2004 by geoffwright
Re: favourite tune
Harvest home and Goin' to the well for water. I reckon I like bouncing back and forth amongst the strings.
# Posted on February 23rd 2004 by Ran
Re: favourite tune
The Morning Thrush. It's kind of a rare tune outside of piping circles but it's a beauty and sounds great on flute and fiddle, too.
# Posted on February 23rd 2004 by Hanley
Re: favourite tune
My favourite at the moment is Farewell to Keelroe. I heard Damien Mullane play it in London a few times on the accordion. He wasn't sure of the name, but I came across it again on a sample of Eliot Grasso's new CD (which sounds excellent, by the way). It's a nice elegant reel.
Con
# Posted on February 23rd 2004 by Conán McDonnell
Re: favourite tune
Hmmmm.... I agree... depends on what I'm working on at the time
but I'd have to say...
Morrisons Jig
The Beachcomber
Musical Priest
Rollin In The Ryegrass
Tar Road To Sligo
Otter's Holt (If I ever figure this one out the way I want to, I'll be happy)
Ok so that's 6... so sue me.
# Posted on February 23rd 2004 by McHaffie
Re: favourite tune
definetly the mason's apron or the moving cloud!
# Posted on February 23rd 2004 by tonnta
Re: favourite tune
Wheels of the world kills me; I love tunes that emphasize that spooky modality. I second Ptollemy on For Ireland as well, though as a banjo player I'll NEVER get to play it; it would be like sculpting marble with a butter knife.
# Posted on February 23rd 2004 by celtobilly
Re: favourite tune
Out of those I can actually play my favourites at the moment:
Dunmore Lasses
Master Crowley's
Humours of Whiskey
Cooley's
The Templehouse
# Posted on February 23rd 2004 by kuec
Re: favourite tune
I'm really enjoying 'Over the Moor to Maggie', 'Pipe on the Hob', 'Hag at the Churn' and 'Gravel Walk' at the moment.
Been playing them these past few days on a low F whistle, bit faster than normal, with more emphasis on the pulse than I would normally do. Stylin'.
# Posted on February 23rd 2004 by Q
Re: favourite tune
My favorite set of reels at the moment that I'm working on is
Corney is coming / Roaring Mary
Seriously, this is a great set, especially on flute...RM is such a nice flute tune with those F# rolls..........I wish I could take credit for the idea of putting those together : )
Joyce
# Posted on February 23rd 2004 by JMH
Re: favourite tune
BTW I play Corney is Coming with C naturals which is my preference to the C # version. I just learned RM from one of Grey Larsen's CD's found in his new Irish flute and tin whistle book.
# Posted on February 23rd 2004 by JMH
Re: favourite tune
# Posted on February 23rd 2004 by maffet
Re: favourite tune
Well here goes,
1. The Kiwi Reel, just amazing to hear played well.
2. Mason's Apron, excellent in sessions.
3. Laxo Burn, love playing it.
4. Drowsy Maggie, love playing it.
5. Bonnie Isle O' Whalsay, it's home what else can I say.
Does anyone else's favorite tunes seem to be based on what you heard when you where younger? I have grown up with these tunes and nothing can move them out of my favorites.
# Posted on February 23rd 2004 by sheltie
Re: favourite tune
For me it has to be Phil Cunningham's set on the piano accordion - the one that starts with Jackson's No.2. Sharron Shannon does an incredible cover of it on the box titled 'the Phil Cunningham Set'. Brilliant inspiration any time sitting down to practice gets a bit hard - if she can play that well I MUST be able to do a tenth as well. I'd be happy with that.
# Posted on February 23rd 2004 by bc_box_player
Re: favourite tune
P.S. If you search that album of Phil's out, don't whatever you do play it in the car whilst driving. Great way to get a speeding ticket.
# Posted on February 23rd 2004 by bc_box_player
Re: favourite tune
Greenfields of Glentown
Star of Munster (never tire of it)
# Posted on February 23rd 2004 by geoffmc
Re: favourite tune
Ah, some really nice tunes already. I could steal a few for my list (Master Crowleys, Greenfields of Glentown, George IV, Tar Road to Sligo) but the ones that have surfaced most recently for me would be The Glen Road to Carrick (or, On the Road from Glen to Carrick would be its more formal name, eh?) and The Geese in the Bog. (Which I first learned a dozen years ago, but nobody else played it, so it fell by the wayside. I just saw/heard it in Donegal last month, and so it's back and fresh in my mind...) Another timeless favorite - the Shetland Fiddler. And oh yes, Lord Gordon's; I first learned it from the playing of Kevin Burke and thought it was brilliant, but then I saw Paddy Glackin playing it with Donal Lunny and it just totally rocked. That was truly a moment of religious ecstasy.
# Posted on February 23rd 2004 by HighlandSun
Re: favourite tune
I would say every tune I've learned!
That is not being silly; in my case that is a serious amount of tunes to choose from!
If you wanted to know a tune that I would most probably play at any session or gig, that would have to be "The Boys of the Lough"! I just love that tune, and even when I'm warming up on the flute I'll quite happily go through it loads!
ENJOY YOUR MUSIC AND HAVE LOTS OF FUN!
Brianx
# Posted on February 23rd 2004 by briantheflute
Re: favourite tune
This thread comes up a lot and it never ceases to amaze me what terrible tunes some people think are great. But I don't mind, the best of you will grow out of it.
# Posted on February 23rd 2004 by ...
Re: favourite tune
A tune is a tune. They are neither good nor bad. Nor do I think anybody here has bad taste in music. If you mean that us folks will raise our sights to playing Mozart's 25th on a kazoo I think that conversation might be on another thread.
# Posted on February 24th 2004 by Ran
Re: favourite tune
That's all right, Michael, I'm always amazed that someone can think great tunes are terrible, as some players can make any tune terrible and some can make any tune great!
# Posted on February 24th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: favourite tune
Lord Gordon is one of my current favourites... but it's interesting to find from this site that it's got several parts... I heard it on a Natalie MacMaster live recording and liked it so learnt it from that, with only two parts.
Sheltie: where might I hear the Kiwi Reel?
Enduring favourites for me (that I can think of on the spur of the moment): Big John MacNeil, Lannie MacLellan's, Poll Ha'penny, Tommy's Tarbukas, Farewell to Tchernobyl, ... I think I'll stop there.
Michael - I partially agree... but I think you should put your own favourites up for others to ridicule!
# Posted on February 24th 2004 by rog
Re: favourite tune
Another favourite tune at the moment is Devaney's Goat...dug that out of a pile of mini disc recordings of a Mike McHale workshop almost 2 years ago.....a music buddy plays it and I thought I'd learn it before visiting this coming weekend. Great reel that almost sounds like a hornpipe. It's about a Tinker's goat that eats someone's lettuce garden, according to Mike McHale.......
Joyce
# Posted on February 24th 2004 by JMH
Re: favourite tune
The only cd the kiwi reel is on that i' can remember is "Leaving Lerwick Harbour" by Willie Hunter. Laxo burn is also on there.
# Posted on February 24th 2004 by sheltie
Re: favourite tune
Spike Island Lasses
# Posted on February 24th 2004 by ...
Re: favourite tune
It's so good, it's on Tommy Peoples' album twice
# Posted on February 24th 2004 by ...
Re: favourite tune
cool, cheers sheltie, i haven't got that album (dunno why really); will have to acquire!
# Posted on February 25th 2004 by rog
Re: favourite tune
wow i didnt know id get so many responses....
its ok if you say more than 5 tunes, i dont know what i was thinking when i said just 5. more of my favorites are the rights of man (easy to play) And how could i forget my arrangement of road to lisdoonvarna with the butterfly following after it
Just wondering, do do any of you know Kevin Burke personally? (My friend is taking lessons from him cause right now he is in Portalnd Oregon his home town and I live In Vancouver, WA ) not to sound braggy or anything....sorry.
# Posted on February 26th 2004 by an_all_irish_girl