Now by solo, i mean just a fiddle nothing else. There are alot of standard session tunes that sound good done solo, but i am on a quest to find some very peculiar sounding ones. I know this is probably a hard thing to ask but i would be grateful for the help!!
"The Bunch of Keys" is a great solo fiddle tune, especially with the variations Matt Cranitch plays on his "Give it Schtick" album. You can start out by playing the tune pretty conservatively, and then get elaborate with your ornaments and melodic variation. Also, if you are in the mood for a challenging tune, Tommy Peoples' tune "The Green Fields of Glentown" is a great one. Others I like a lot are "Farewell to Ireland," "Morning Dew," and "The Gravel Walks."
I've always enjoy hearing fiddle players do these few: Jenny's Welcome to Charlie, Dr. Gilberts, Ireland in Exile, & Spike Island Lassies (also nice on flute). I heard a young fiddle player this past weekend do a beautiful job with In the Tap Room.
The kind of i am looking for would be sort of Tommy peoplesish or Kevin Burkishsh. I love tunes in flat keys. The reason i am lokking for some solo tunes is that my dad and i play out and we thought it would be cool to have me play about a half hour of it. We figured that people should hear some really trad kind of stuff along with the un trad kind of stuff. And what is more trad. than solo fiddle?
*snort* I've already heard AJ tear apart the Gravel Walk, brought a tear to the ol' eye, it did. Should've told me to put the flute down before we even started.
yes,jenny's welcome is a really good one & i'ld also suggest master crowley's too.
and as a general rule, a lot of donegal tunes seem to fit the fiddle very well.which is hardly surprising.both the jackson reels on the frankie gavin/alec finn album are great-there's a lot of scope elsewhere but that's what springs to mind.
if you want the flat keys then a goodd pairing is rthe banks h'pipe with galway bay(e flat/g minor).bit classical but who cares.the banks,that is.if it's good enough for andy mcgann...
i prefer unfalt keys myself but there we go.
oh,and rakish paddy is a good one too,the one with 4 parts tho.
good luck
Your request has Martin Hayes written all over it! A couple of others have suggested the "Paddy Fahy's" reel, which he does so well on Lonesome Touch. But there's much more fine solo stuff (often in minor keys) that he does. Another personal favorite is "The Reel with the Burl," the west coast (Ireland) version of "Drowsy Maggie." Another crowd pleaser! Let us know what you find, will you?
what are some good solo fiddle tunes
what are some good solo fiddle tunes
Now by solo, i mean just a fiddle nothing else. There are alot of standard session tunes that sound good done solo, but i am on a quest to find some very peculiar sounding ones. I know this is probably a hard thing to ask but i would be grateful for the help!!
AJ
# Posted on June 11th 2004 by berserker
Re: what are some good solo fiddle tunes
Hi AJ,
What sort of peculiar sound are you looking for?
Sara
# Posted on June 11th 2004 by sara g
Re: what are some good solo fiddle tunes
AJ, and we need to know your playing style. It seems you like Solas.
# Posted on June 11th 2004 by slainte
Re: what are some good solo fiddle tunes
"The Bunch of Keys" is a great solo fiddle tune, especially with the variations Matt Cranitch plays on his "Give it Schtick" album. You can start out by playing the tune pretty conservatively, and then get elaborate with your ornaments and melodic variation. Also, if you are in the mood for a challenging tune, Tommy Peoples' tune "The Green Fields of Glentown" is a great one. Others I like a lot are "Farewell to Ireland," "Morning Dew," and "The Gravel Walks."
# Posted on June 11th 2004 by violynnsey
Re: what are some good solo fiddle tunes
I've always enjoy hearing fiddle players do these few: Jenny's Welcome to Charlie, Dr. Gilberts, Ireland in Exile, & Spike Island Lassies (also nice on flute). I heard a young fiddle player this past weekend do a beautiful job with In the Tap Room.
Joyce
# Posted on June 11th 2004 by JMH
Re: what are some good solo fiddle tunes
The kind of i am looking for would be sort of Tommy peoplesish or Kevin Burkishsh. I love tunes in flat keys. The reason i am lokking for some solo tunes is that my dad and i play out and we thought it would be cool to have me play about a half hour of it. We figured that people should hear some really trad kind of stuff along with the un trad kind of stuff. And what is more trad. than solo fiddle?
AJ
# Posted on June 11th 2004 by berserker
Re: what are some good solo fiddle tunes
*snort* I've already heard AJ tear apart the Gravel Walk, brought a tear to the ol' eye, it did. Should've told me to put the flute down before we even started.
# Posted on June 11th 2004 by emily_bmore
Re: what are some good solo fiddle tunes
yes,jenny's welcome is a really good one & i'ld also suggest master crowley's too.
and as a general rule, a lot of donegal tunes seem to fit the fiddle very well.which is hardly surprising.both the jackson reels on the frankie gavin/alec finn album are great-there's a lot of scope elsewhere but that's what springs to mind.
if you want the flat keys then a goodd pairing is rthe banks h'pipe with galway bay(e flat/g minor).bit classical but who cares.the banks,that is.if it's good enough for andy mcgann...
i prefer unfalt keys myself but there we go.
oh,and rakish paddy is a good one too,the one with 4 parts tho.
good luck
# Posted on June 11th 2004 by biggus dave
Re: what are some good solo fiddle tunes
Try these ones:
http://thesession.org/tunes/display.php/1533
http://thesession.org/tunes/display.php/1606
They're the tunes I love but can't play in the original keys on the flute. Oh, and Boys of Malin and Drag her around the Road.
# Posted on June 11th 2004 by slainte
Re: what are some good solo fiddle tunes
My current fiddle solo favourite is The Lads of Loaise. For minor tunes, try some Paddy Fahy's!
-Athena
# Posted on June 11th 2004 by act
Re: what are some good solo fiddle tunes
Farewell to Whiskey
# Posted on June 12th 2004 by MC2
Re: what are some good solo fiddle tunes
Your request has Martin Hayes written all over it! A couple of others have suggested the "Paddy Fahy's" reel, which he does so well on Lonesome Touch. But there's much more fine solo stuff (often in minor keys) that he does. Another personal favorite is "The Reel with the Burl," the west coast (Ireland) version of "Drowsy Maggie." Another crowd pleaser! Let us know what you find, will you?
# Posted on June 12th 2004 by kephas
Re: what are some good solo fiddle tunes
Try Crested Hens (Solas) and the Tarbolton reel, too. One slow, one fast, and both good solo tunes.
# Posted on June 12th 2004 by kephas
Re: what are some good solo fiddle tunes
Farewell to Milltown.
# Posted on June 12th 2004 by oraghalm
Re: what are some good solo fiddle tunes
Hmmm, well there's always Itzikel ^_^;
# Posted on June 13th 2004 by armandale
Re: what are some good solo fiddle tunes
"Lark in The Morning" Sounds pretty good solo I play it all the time just by my self.
# Posted on June 18th 2004 by Why Bother?