I play flute and whistles. I am looking for a few tunes to enter in the talent show at my school. Any ideas? I think something very fast and technical would do well. It doesn't have to be tasteful; the judges have never heard Celtic music before.
If that's the case, you should play something "tasteful" and enlighten them. They might be pleasantly surprised. Even if you don't win, your integrity will still be left intact. "Fast and technical" does not necessarily equate with "good music".
Hmmm, well IMO if I were in a talent show, I'd probably end up playing a set of Sean Ryan Jigs, to be exact: Castle Jig, Sean Ryan's, Lilting Banshee, Cliffs of Moher.
Second is vague, I know =P but it's the one that Kevin Burke plays with Martin Hayes in the In concert CD, "Sean Ryan Jigs" something to that nature, it's the second tune.
Give the poor lad a break. He's just saying that this isn't going to be judged like All-Ireland.
If it were me, I'd play a slow air into something bouncy w/ some technical flash. That will give you a chance to showcase a variety of styles, and if you pick the right tune, you'll get the audience involved. I've played something like "Sally Gardens" (the air) followed by a hornpipe ("Off to California") and gotten a good reaction.
Carolan's Lamentation (it's in ONeills) and then Cape Clear (I don't know where that is but I'll look) is another such combination as Scott describes - and has always been very well received when I've played it.
In the circumstances you describe you may need to be careful not to confuse the audience - a set in which the individual tunes are more clearly distinct would probably have the advantage. Some sets, though technically demanding, can tend to be a bit esoteric, and inward looking, and leave an uninitiated audience with the feeling that it was all just one very confusing tune.
Good luck with it Sam (is that Sam as in Samuel, or as in Samantha?)
An air and set dance set. Reels or other fast tunes will be too fast for your audience: you'll run into the "irish music all sounds the same" reaction.
The blackbird air and set dance springs to mind, but my party piece is an air called "the Banks of the Lee" which I learned from Richard Hughes' playing on "the Light through the leaves: traditional Irish wind instrumentals" a Rounder record from 83 compiled by Mick Moloney, followed by the well-known set dance "the King of the Fairies."
Thanks a lot, guys. I think you're probably right that I should do something a bit slower. I'm thinking maybe "Two-Fifty to Vigo" into "The Rights of Man" might be a good set.
oo, the rights of man is a good one! i was working on relearning it last week but then stopped, cuz i'm working on so many other tunes. way back when it was one of my favorites. once i get done with the tunes i'm working on (i know them... but i want to work on my musicality, breathing, rhythm, and ornamentation on 15 or so tunes before i move on), i have a feeling it will become one of my fave's again.
if you know jig of slurs, that would be good. it has a real big swing too, and on a flute it goes a real nice effect. the low notes really stand out out, almost sounding like another flute when you play it fast enough. the jumps really impress people, i think. i know my uncle's recording of it on his cd (he mightve done it on more than one, even)impressed me for years! i still cant get over it.
it also have the added benefit of sounding faster than it is. un-celticky people like fast more than they like in time, so if you can pull it off in time you get both benefits, lol.
High School Talent Show
High School Talent Show
I play flute and whistles. I am looking for a few tunes to enter in the talent show at my school. Any ideas? I think something very fast and technical would do well. It doesn't have to be tasteful; the judges have never heard Celtic music before.
# Posted on September 24th 2004 by Sam2
Re: High School Talent Show
If that's the case, you should play something "tasteful" and enlighten them. They might be pleasantly surprised. Even if you don't win, your integrity will still be left intact. "Fast and technical" does not necessarily equate with "good music".
# Posted on September 24th 2004 by Johannes J
Re: High School Talent Show
Hmmm, well IMO if I were in a talent show, I'd probably end up playing a set of Sean Ryan Jigs, to be exact: Castle Jig, Sean Ryan's, Lilting Banshee, Cliffs of Moher.
Second is vague, I know =P but it's the one that Kevin Burke plays with Martin Hayes in the In concert CD, "Sean Ryan Jigs" something to that nature, it's the second tune.
# Posted on September 24th 2004 by fiddlinviolinin
Re: High School Talent Show
I think the second Sean Ryan's Jig is called "The Nightinggale."
# Posted on September 24th 2004 by Jiml
Re: High School Talent Show
"It doesn't have to be tasteful; the judges have never heard Celtic music before"
Danny Boy and the Irish Washerwoman then.
# Posted on September 24th 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: High School Talent Show
Give the poor lad a break. He's just saying that this isn't going to be judged like All-Ireland.
If it were me, I'd play a slow air into something bouncy w/ some technical flash. That will give you a chance to showcase a variety of styles, and if you pick the right tune, you'll get the audience involved. I've played something like "Sally Gardens" (the air) followed by a hornpipe ("Off to California") and gotten a good reaction.
Scott
# Posted on September 24th 2004 by srt19170
Re: High School Talent Show
Carolan's Lamentation (it's in ONeills) and then Cape Clear (I don't know where that is but I'll look) is another such combination as Scott describes - and has always been very well received when I've played it.
In the circumstances you describe you may need to be careful not to confuse the audience - a set in which the individual tunes are more clearly distinct would probably have the advantage. Some sets, though technically demanding, can tend to be a bit esoteric, and inward looking, and leave an uninitiated audience with the feeling that it was all just one very confusing tune.
Good luck with it Sam (is that Sam as in Samuel, or as in Samantha?)
Dave
# Posted on September 24th 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: High School Talent Show
This book is where I got Cape Clear from:
http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/04515/details.html
# Posted on September 24th 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: High School Talent Show
An air and set dance set. Reels or other fast tunes will be too fast for your audience: you'll run into the "irish music all sounds the same" reaction.
The blackbird air and set dance springs to mind, but my party piece is an air called "the Banks of the Lee" which I learned from Richard Hughes' playing on "the Light through the leaves: traditional Irish wind instrumentals" a Rounder record from 83 compiled by Mick Moloney, followed by the well-known set dance "the King of the Fairies."
# Posted on September 24th 2004 by s1m0n
Re: High School Talent Show
Thanks a lot, guys. I think you're probably right that I should do something a bit slower. I'm thinking maybe "Two-Fifty to Vigo" into "The Rights of Man" might be a good set.
# Posted on September 24th 2004 by Sam2
Re: High School Talent Show
oo, the rights of man is a good one! i was working on relearning it last week but then stopped, cuz i'm working on so many other tunes. way back when it was one of my favorites. once i get done with the tunes i'm working on (i know them... but i want to work on my musicality, breathing, rhythm, and ornamentation on 15 or so tunes before i move on), i have a feeling it will become one of my fave's again.
if you know jig of slurs, that would be good. it has a real big swing too, and on a flute it goes a real nice effect. the low notes really stand out out, almost sounding like another flute when you play it fast enough. the jumps really impress people, i think. i know my uncle's recording of it on his cd (he mightve done it on more than one, even)impressed me for years! i still cant get over it.
it also have the added benefit of sounding faster than it is. un-celticky people like fast more than they like in time, so if you can pull it off in time you get both benefits, lol.
# Posted on September 25th 2004 by daiv