I don't know whether or not music from Riverdance has been published, but there are some things you should consider about learning anything from the show. First, the music is not traditional; it was composed by Bill Whelan. He specifically wrote difficult music to keep the topnotch players contracted to play this music night after night interested. It is not in the format of traditional dance music. There is more of an arrangement requiring a complement of instruments, as opposed to tunes that can easily be played by one instrument.
Some of the music could be adapted. I like playing along with Reel Around the Sun, but it falls flat if I try to play it without the arrangement Whelan built around the melody. The lack of an AA-BB format to the tunes might also provide some frustration if you wanted to play any of this stuff at sessions. Besides, I get the impression that some ITM musicians have an attitude about Riverdance, and wouldn't welcome tunes from it.
I'm just looking for them for a friend. He wants riverdance tunes to play to American people who come to the session he plays at. Thank's for the edvice.
:-| He wants riverdance tunes to play to American people who come to the session? Disclaimer: this is only my personal opinion, but I think it's a sorry state of affairs that he feels that he has to do that. Why can't he just say "sorry, it's not real traditional Irish music. Stop asking for Riverdance tunes you plonkers and shut up and listen to the real stuff".
It's the Mc of McTrad folks!
Hey why don't we just sit back and watch the tradition die a slow but sure death before our very eyes? *tongue only partially in cheek*
I don't think playing a riverdance tune is going to kill off trad music Dow. People request tunes like the riverdance and if you could play them it would make them happy. Anyway the real music begins at the end of the night and before that it's work, after all my friend gets piad to play for these people so it would nice if he played one tune they requested. It's nice to play something a bit different from time to time.
(Just a quick aside for Jack: *this* is a perfect illustration of why I prefer not to view sessions as a paid "public performance" to entertain the punters and make them happy. Maybe I'm just selfish, but that's the way it has to be, otherwise I would lose the will to live)
I've been looking and I can't find anything for sale that is arranged for a fiddle. They only seem to have guitar and vocal, and penny whistle.
Anyway, traditional Irish or not, there are some nice tunes in Riverdance, I especially like the Lament (I can't remember how to spell its proper name). I had no idea that Riverdance was not traditional Irish music, nor do I care, I like it because it's impressive. I always thought you guys hated it because of its commericialistic ways...
Dow, my thread wasn't about people being "paid" to perform in public. It wasn't about people requesting River Dance tunes, or anything else. It was about sessions in pubs being a public performance. I realize you're having a tuff time coming to terms with the fact you were wrong on that thread, but you don't need to go digging around in any of the other threads desperately attempting to absolve yourself. You'd probably have a level head and these things wouldn't happen if you gave up that silly English-thing you tinker around with and got an anglo.
Whaaat? I've arrogantly risen to such great moral heights of rightness that I can't hear what you're saying Jack. However, I did hear the words "level head" and "English thing" so I'm assuming that back down on ground level you've finally come to your senses and realised what a great instrument it is.
That is the most convoluted gibberish I have heard yet, Dow. What color is the sky in your world? hahahahahaha Maybe someone needs to intervene and confiscate your English-mouse-trap thing before you go completely mad. hahahahaha
how come evry time dow and jack come head to head, i want to get into the nitty gritty? I mean is it REALLY about concertinas (anglovs irish) or zumthing more? is it about bongage? fisdles mebbe? (+:
I've got 80% of "Nova Scotia Set" transcribed for fiddle in its original key (starting in Em). Will have the remainder done shortly. I used the Amazing Slow Downer, some manuscript paper and a pencil. E-mail me if you want it.
Some info for anyone interested : the set consists of a reel, followed by two polkas. The reel is AAAA (no B-part), and the polkas have AA and BB parts each. The time sigs are 4/4 for the reel, and 2/4 for the polkas. The timing is straightforward, it's the 'tied' notes that give the impression of the whole thing having 'complex' timing.
It's obviously not IR trad and probably unlike anything else you'll come across. It's technically not that difficult to play, except maybe for the rapid shift from 1st to 3rd position and back to 1st in the first of the two polkas. That depends on your shifting ability. It's probably more difficult to get your head round the note groupings than it is to actually play the thing.
It's a shame that so many trad musicians have a negative view of Riverdance. Sure it annoys me when people think of it as 'what traditional Irish music is' but you have to accept it's a pretty amazing musical work by Bill Whelan. Just make it clear that it's not traditional stuff, (but composed by him, influenced by trad Irish music) and appreciate it as an impressive compositional achievement. ..?
I think Riverdance is a terrific show. I was also my "intro" to Irish music. It piqued my curiosity and it didn't take long for me to discover Planxty and The Chieftains, then Cathal McConnell, Mary Bergin, Patrick Street, Danu, etc. If it wasn't for Riverdance, I may never have discovered what is now the single-most all-consuming passion of my life. Ironically enough, I don't even listen to the Riverdance CD much anymore (it's been months), but I may pull out my old VHS copy of the show one of these days--Jean Butler makes my poor heart go pitter-pat.
Riverdance Tunes
Riverdance Tunes
Could anyone tell me some names of popular riverdance tunes or where to find them. I tried abc tune finder and only 2 tunes came up.
# Posted on June 9th 2004 by banjaxbanjo
Re: Riverdance Tunes
I don't know whether or not music from Riverdance has been published, but there are some things you should consider about learning anything from the show. First, the music is not traditional; it was composed by Bill Whelan. He specifically wrote difficult music to keep the topnotch players contracted to play this music night after night interested. It is not in the format of traditional dance music. There is more of an arrangement requiring a complement of instruments, as opposed to tunes that can easily be played by one instrument.
Some of the music could be adapted. I like playing along with Reel Around the Sun, but it falls flat if I try to play it without the arrangement Whelan built around the melody. The lack of an AA-BB format to the tunes might also provide some frustration if you wanted to play any of this stuff at sessions. Besides, I get the impression that some ITM musicians have an attitude about Riverdance, and wouldn't welcome tunes from it.
# Posted on June 9th 2004 by Ailin
Re: Riverdance Tunes
I'm just looking for them for a friend. He wants riverdance tunes to play to American people who come to the session he plays at. Thank's for the edvice.
# Posted on June 9th 2004 by banjaxbanjo
Re: Riverdance Tunes
:-| He wants riverdance tunes to play to American people who come to the session? Disclaimer: this is only my personal opinion, but I think it's a sorry state of affairs that he feels that he has to do that. Why can't he just say "sorry, it's not real traditional Irish music. Stop asking for Riverdance tunes you plonkers and shut up and listen to the real stuff".
It's the Mc of McTrad folks!
Hey why don't we just sit back and watch the tradition die a slow but sure death before our very eyes? *tongue only partially in cheek*
# Posted on June 9th 2004 by Dow
Re: Riverdance Tunes
I don't think playing a riverdance tune is going to kill off trad music Dow. People request tunes like the riverdance and if you could play them it would make them happy. Anyway the real music begins at the end of the night and before that it's work, after all my friend gets piad to play for these people so it would nice if he played one tune they requested. It's nice to play something a bit different from time to time.
# Posted on June 9th 2004 by banjaxbanjo
Re: Riverdance Tunes
(Just a quick aside for Jack: *this* is a perfect illustration of why I prefer not to view sessions as a paid "public performance" to entertain the punters and make them happy. Maybe I'm just selfish, but that's the way it has to be, otherwise I would lose the will to live)
# Posted on June 9th 2004 by Dow
Re: Riverdance Tunes
It may be nice to play something a bit different from time to time, but not in the pub session. Just my personal opinion though.
# Posted on June 9th 2004 by slainte
Re: Riverdance Tunes
Slip Jig: the Countess Cathleen
Reel: Reel Around the Sun
Um. Those are the only two I can remember. I think there's a book somewhere with the sheet music, I'd try the riverdance website.
# Posted on June 9th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Riverdance Tunes
I've been looking and I can't find anything for sale that is arranged for a fiddle. They only seem to have guitar and vocal, and penny whistle.
Anyway, traditional Irish or not, there are some nice tunes in Riverdance, I especially like the Lament (I can't remember how to spell its proper name). I had no idea that Riverdance was not traditional Irish music, nor do I care, I like it because it's impressive. I always thought you guys hated it because of its commericialistic ways...
# Posted on June 9th 2004 by beano
Re: Riverdance Tunes
Well, that too.
Actually, I don't hate it, but it's not particularly "traditional Irish music". Some nice melodies, though.
# Posted on June 9th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Riverdance Tunes
Dow, my thread wasn't about people being "paid" to perform in public. It wasn't about people requesting River Dance tunes, or anything else. It was about sessions in pubs being a public performance. I realize you're having a tuff time coming to terms with the fact you were wrong on that thread, but you don't need to go digging around in any of the other threads desperately attempting to absolve yourself. You'd probably have a level head and these things wouldn't happen if you gave up that silly English-thing you tinker around with and got an anglo.
# Posted on June 9th 2004 by Phantom Button
Re: Riverdance Tunes
Whaaat? I've arrogantly risen to such great moral heights of rightness that I can't hear what you're saying Jack. However, I did hear the words "level head" and "English thing" so I'm assuming that back down on ground level you've finally come to your senses and realised what a great instrument it is.
# Posted on June 9th 2004 by Dow
Re: Riverdance Tunes
That is the most convoluted gibberish I have heard yet, Dow. What color is the sky in your world? hahahahahaha Maybe someone needs to intervene and confiscate your English-mouse-trap thing before you go completely mad. hahahahaha
# Posted on June 9th 2004 by Phantom Button
Re: Riverdance Tunes
It makes perfect sense to me. All that anglo playing must be destroying those brain cells Jack. Never mind eh, there's no hope for you now.
# Posted on June 9th 2004 by Dow
Re: Riverdance Tunes
how come evry time dow and jack come head to head, i want to get into the nitty gritty? I mean is it REALLY about concertinas (anglovs irish) or zumthing more? is it about bongage? fisdles mebbe? (+:
(-;
O ^:
lefthanders of th wurld, unite!
# Posted on June 9th 2004 by vboyd100
Re: Riverdance Tunes
In Dow's case -- it's all about the bongade.
# Posted on June 9th 2004 by Phantom Button
Re: Riverdance Tunes
( - :
hi
# Posted on June 9th 2004 by vboyd100
Re: Riverdance Tunes
he's kinda cute that way, doncha think?
so near and yet so far ( - :
# Posted on June 9th 2004 by vboyd100
Re: Riverdance Tunes
I've got 80% of "Nova Scotia Set" transcribed for fiddle in its original key (starting in Em). Will have the remainder done shortly. I used the Amazing Slow Downer, some manuscript paper and a pencil.
E-mail me if you want it.
Some info for anyone interested : the set consists of a reel, followed by two polkas. The reel is AAAA (no B-part), and the polkas have AA and BB parts each. The time sigs are 4/4 for the reel, and 2/4 for the polkas. The timing is straightforward, it's the 'tied' notes that give the impression of the whole thing having 'complex' timing.
It's obviously not IR trad and probably unlike anything else you'll come across. It's technically not that difficult to play, except maybe for the rapid shift from 1st to 3rd position and back to 1st in the first of the two polkas. That depends on your shifting ability. It's probably more difficult to get your head round the note groupings than it is to actually play the thing.
Jim
# Posted on June 11th 2004 by Worldfiddler
Re: Riverdance Tunes
It's a shame that so many trad musicians have a negative view of Riverdance. Sure it annoys me when people think of it as 'what traditional Irish music is' but you have to accept it's a pretty amazing musical work by Bill Whelan. Just make it clear that it's not traditional stuff, (but composed by him, influenced by trad Irish music) and appreciate it as an impressive compositional achievement. ..?
# Posted on June 11th 2004 by Lizzy
Re: Riverdance Tunes
I think Riverdance is a terrific show. I was also my "intro" to Irish music. It piqued my curiosity and it didn't take long for me to discover Planxty and The Chieftains, then Cathal McConnell, Mary Bergin, Patrick Street, Danu, etc. If it wasn't for Riverdance, I may never have discovered what is now the single-most all-consuming passion of my life. Ironically enough, I don't even listen to the Riverdance CD much anymore (it's been months), but I may pull out my old VHS copy of the show one of these days--Jean Butler makes my poor heart go pitter-pat.
# Posted on June 12th 2004 by whistlemanhimself