Ebb Tide (Em)
Flowing Down Her Back And The Colour of her Golden Hair Was Black (Bm)
Paddy Fahy's (The one in G on the Martin Hayes Album)
Killarney Boys Of Pleasure (Em)
Maids of Mitchellstown.
Kitty in the Laurel.
Trim the Velvet.
Lord MacDonald's.
The First House in Connaught.
Richard Dwyer's.
Salamanca's Sister.
The Whistling Postman.
The Yellow Tinker.
The Limestone Rock.
Hand me down the Tackle.
Yes, of course, Ott, the Kilarney Boys. Also The Girl who Broke my Heart.
Father Kelly's.
Mayor Harrison's Fedora.
Paddy Fahy's (obviously).
O'Dowd's #2.
What gian marco called the James Keane version of Lough Mountain is very nice, I first heard it on Fisher Street, but the intro on James Keane's recording it's played this way.
Nah, I'm burnt out with ABC's...but it's on one of the Oisin albums...either Hand Me Down the Tackle, or Bealadeas. It's a brilliant reel, underplayed and under-rated...probably too hard for yer average session hound. Would go well on yer 'tina, Jack. And can sit nice on the flute (played slowly -- which is, after all what this thread is about.)
Right -- that's where I first heard it, and it's on a recording I have of Cyril O'Donoghue and Josephine Marsh called "To Meet a Friend." Lovely tune all right.
Greenfields of Rossbeigh (on fiddle and flute) Martin Wynne's #2 (a la Johnny Cunningham)
The Morning Star
Within A Mile of Dublin
Jug of Punch
Eileen Curran
All such good tunes, they work at almost any tempo.
Greenfields of Rossbeigh it is. I just dug up & converted to CD a recording of Frankie Gavin giving Bill Ochs a private whistle lesson using this tune sometime in the seventies.
My copy is a burn of dub of a dub, but Frankie still sounds good.
Julia Delaney - Kevin Burke plays this slow sometimes, a;though I've since found a lot of nice variations he doesn't play, I still like it slow.
The Star of Munster - I think this can be very worthwhile.
Now, I would never have thought of playing Green Fields of Rossbeigh slow. (But I promise to go away and try it.) It's a favourite tune of mine, but the guy I learned it from plays it 90mph - beautifully, I might add. I've never heard Frankie Gavin play it, so that might help.
This is the great thing about this site - learning things, or getting something interesting to think about. (So it's not spelt Rossbay then...?)
There are some nice tunes listed. As a relative beginner to the fiddle, would someone please tell me. What is a good tempo for slow reels and are they for particular dances?
Try playing the set of reels you finished last week's session off with. Everybody knows them, and yet everyone will be surprised. (Make sure nobody hijacks it though)
Jack, or Danny - take a look at "Aughamore" in the database, I'm sure that's the same tune as the one "Oisin" recorded as the "Salamanca's Sister". Maybe one of you could confirm?
In reply to celticrichie - as far as I am aware, slow reels are just for listening. The correct tempo is a very subjective thing indeed. It's about slowing the tune down to a tempo where it's easier to appreciate its finer points.
It's kinda like slowing down your driving speed to look at the scenery. Some people slow down from 90mph to 65, others prefer to go 30mph.
Martin Hayes is well known for this, some would say he takes it to the extreme, but it does have the effect of allowing you to hear the tune with new ears sometimes. Kevin Burke did a few slower reels, espacially in the Portland/Promenade era, but not usually really slow. He also has a way of making them sound slower than they turn out to be when you try to play along - just because he sounds so relaxed.
So it's totally up to you whether you want to turn your reel (or jig) into a slow air, a gentle hornpipe tempo or just a bit too slow for dancing.
Slow reels
Slow reels
I'm in the mood for a slow reel or two. What are everyone's favorites for playing at a stately pace?
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by s1m0n
Re: Slow reels
Ebb Tide (Em)
Flowing Down Her Back And The Colour of her Golden Hair Was Black (Bm)
Paddy Fahy's (The one in G on the Martin Hayes Album)
Killarney Boys Of Pleasure (Em)
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by Ottery
Re: Slow reels
Maids of Mitchellstown.
Kitty in the Laurel.
Trim the Velvet.
Lord MacDonald's.
The First House in Connaught.
Richard Dwyer's.
Salamanca's Sister.
The Whistling Postman.
The Yellow Tinker.
The Limestone Rock.
Hand me down the Tackle.
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Slow reels
Yes, of course, Ott, the Kilarney Boys. Also The Girl who Broke my Heart.
Father Kelly's.
Mayor Harrison's Fedora.
Paddy Fahy's (obviously).
O'Dowd's #2.
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Slow reels
What gian marco called the James Keane version of Lough Mountain is very nice, I first heard it on Fisher Street, but the intro on James Keane's recording it's played this way.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/1318
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by Phantom Button
Re: Slow reels
Hey Danny, do you have abcs for Salamanca's Sister?
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by Phantom Button
Re: Slow reels
Nah, I'm burnt out with ABC's...but it's on one of the Oisin albums...either Hand Me Down the Tackle, or Bealadeas. It's a brilliant reel, underplayed and under-rated...probably too hard for yer average session hound. Would go well on yer 'tina, Jack. And can sit nice on the flute (played slowly -- which is, after all what this thread is about.)
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Slow reels
Right -- that's where I first heard it, and it's on a recording I have of Cyril O'Donoghue and Josephine Marsh called "To Meet a Friend." Lovely tune all right.
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by Phantom Button
Re: Slow reels
Greenfields of Rossbeigh (on fiddle and flute) Martin Wynne's #2 (a la Johnny Cunningham)
The Morning Star
Within A Mile of Dublin
Jug of Punch
Eileen Curran
All such good tunes, they work at almost any tempo.
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by Will CPT
Re: Slow reels
Greenfields of Rossbeigh it is. I just dug up & converted to CD a recording of Frankie Gavin giving Bill Ochs a private whistle lesson using this tune sometime in the seventies.
My copy is a burn of dub of a dub, but Frankie still sounds good.
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by s1m0n
Re: Slow reels
Trip to Nenagh (by Sean Ryan)
Splendid Isolation
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by _Steph_
Re: Slow reels
Dobbin's Flowery Vale
Terry Teehan's
The Templehouse
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by jdave
Re: Slow reels
Some friends of mine play the Banshee as a slow air, and it works great.
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by GaryAMartin
Re: Slow reels
s1mon- yes, but how did Bill Ochs sound???
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by I_Fel
Re: Slow reels
Bill scarcely gets a word it edgewise and doesn't do any of the playing.
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by s1m0n
Re: Slow reels
mmm
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by I_Fel
Re: Slow reels
I'm playing at the moment Jerry O'Sullivan's, Mary McNamara's and the Miller of Drohan.
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by Toni Ribas
Re: Slow reels
Julia Delaney - Kevin Burke plays this slow sometimes, a;though I've since found a lot of nice variations he doesn't play, I still like it slow.
The Star of Munster - I think this can be very worthwhile.
Now, I would never have thought of playing Green Fields of Rossbeigh slow. (But I promise to go away and try it.) It's a favourite tune of mine, but the guy I learned it from plays it 90mph - beautifully, I might add. I've never heard Frankie Gavin play it, so that might help.
This is the great thing about this site - learning things, or getting something interesting to think about. (So it's not spelt Rossbay then...?)
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by kris
Re: Slow reels
There are some nice tunes listed. As a relative beginner to the fiddle, would someone please tell me. What is a good tempo for slow reels and are they for particular dances?
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by celticrichie
Re: Slow reels
Try playing the set of reels you finished last week's session off with. Everybody knows them, and yet everyone will be surprised. (Make sure nobody hijacks it though)
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by llig leahcim
Re: Slow reels
Ships are Sailing.
PP
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by Pied Piper
Re: Slow reels
Danny, I didn't know you knew any slow reels!
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by Cath
Re: Salamanca Sister abcs
Jack, or Danny - take a look at "Aughamore" in the database, I'm sure that's the same tune as the one "Oisin" recorded as the "Salamanca's Sister". Maybe one of you could confirm?
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by Kenny
Re: Slow reels
In reply to celticrichie - as far as I am aware, slow reels are just for listening. The correct tempo is a very subjective thing indeed. It's about slowing the tune down to a tempo where it's easier to appreciate its finer points.
It's kinda like slowing down your driving speed to look at the scenery. Some people slow down from 90mph to 65, others prefer to go 30mph.
Martin Hayes is well known for this, some would say he takes it to the extreme, but it does have the effect of allowing you to hear the tune with new ears sometimes. Kevin Burke did a few slower reels, espacially in the Portland/Promenade era, but not usually really slow. He also has a way of making them sound slower than they turn out to be when you try to play along - just because he sounds so relaxed.
So it's totally up to you whether you want to turn your reel (or jig) into a slow air, a gentle hornpipe tempo or just a bit too slow for dancing.
Have fun!
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by kris
Re: Slow reels
That's a good idea Michael. I think I'll try that.
Would you like one of these Jaffa Cakes?
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: Slow reels
Thanks kris, sounds good.
# Posted on September 27th 2004 by celticrichie
Re: Slow reels
The Lads of Laois
Play the A part slow then speed up to contra dance tempo in Part B.
# Posted on September 28th 2004 by Unseen122
Re: Slow reels
Dunmore Lasses, slow enough so the low whistle player doesn't get out of breath...and Sgt. Early's Dream.
# Posted on September 29th 2004 by kuec