OK, the tune I'm speaking of, Kimmel's Fancy, can't be found anywhere in cyberspace. You'll have to either pick up a copy of the album Pierre Schryer and Dermot Byrne did together and learn it by ear or harass me until I transcribe it for you.
It will take some time if I want to get it even half right. I'll get started when I get home from work. Unfortunately, if positions don't bother you, you might not find it hard. It's pretty catchy.
Pretty high. I don't know what to call the positions, but it's where you go when your first finger ends up where your fourth finger usually is. (Heh, I bet that's called fourth position - that would be logical...)
These are not difficult to play, just difficult to play *well*. (According to me, but I truly stink at playing the fiddle.) They're also bitchin' tunes though.
Have yourself a go at one of the Fahey reels on the new Kane Sisters recording - specifically: the first tune in the 2nd track. Sounds easy, but it's a real pain in the ass. And fingers.
OK, I'm a fluter, not a fiddler, but there's a flute version of a tune on Disk two of "Across the Waters: Irish Traditional Music from England" (http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display.php/843), track 12, called "John J Kimmel's Favourite - Clog". I transcribed it a while back. Since I can't put abc here, I'll put it up in tunes. See if it's the same piece. Not as much of a feckerupper for flute as it is for fiddle, I'm sure. No promises on the accuracies of the transcription either, but I'll post the link once I get it up.
Kerri says: "Well, is it a seven part hornpipe in D major with a few parts in A and B minor? If not, it isn't the same tune."
Well, I didn't originally transcribe it as a hornpipe, but as a 12/8, and it is 7 parts, and it does go back and forth between Bm, D and A, and the form is like this: A B C B A D B, where
A is in Bm,
B is in D,
C is in A (or actually is just in the dominant of D), and
D is in D.
Transcription coming, I'm just cleaning it up.
Why not try playing the tunes you already know, on an instrument you can't play? (Flugelhorn, Bassoon, Sackbutt, Marimbas, French Horn, or similar). It should give you the kick you crave.
Or try playing the tunes you already know under the influence of a psychedelic agent (LSD, Peyote, Mescaline, Nutmeg, Psilocybin, or similar).
Hope this is of use.
Mark
Or how about recording a tune *played backwards*, then reversing it in a clever program like Cool Edit and posting the mp3? That ought to be interesting.
Come ON Zina! You must have tried playing Marco's reel under the influence of nutmeg? It really takes your mind off the acute nausea (from the nutmeg, not the reel)
You know what's seriously great tune, and entirely impossible to play? Well for me, anyway...
...it's that Larmor Plage tune - first tune of the second track of Deanta's album Ready for the Storm. Man, it's impressive. I tried to transcribe it once, but the room started to spin so I had to stop.
What about learning to play behind your back or under your leg or something? Or, for a real challenge, switch hands and give'er, Ashley MacIsaac style!
Well, Mark, I hate to admit it, but not only have I never tried ingesting or otherwise using anything but nutmeg on that list (and the nutmeg only while cooking as part of the spice list), I've never even played Marco's. So now I guess I'd better go fix that. ;)
LOL -- okay, so nutmeg may cause cancer of the liver, and "The nutmeg high more strongly resembled flu than a marijuana high as others have claimed." -- maybe I'll skip nutmeg... hehehehe
Not long ago someone posted a link to a Death Waltz. That should prove a good starter for you, Happy Camper. It took me a good while to master it on spoons.
Skip the nutmeg. Try Scullcap. You won't remember what tune you're actually playing. Also, how about this suggestion? Try re-doing the very first tune you ever learned.
The first tune I ever seriously tried was Willow Tree and as simple as it is it still makes me nauseous. Maybe I'll rename it Nutmeg Tree.
saille fearn aka mary anna
BTW, Mark -- it's probably just the MIDI. I think I need to find a recording of someone *playing* Marco's, because the MIDI makes it sound uncannily like something you'd hear at the circus.
Zina, it IS like something you'd play at the circus. It cheers you up when the nutmeg induced flu symptoms are getting you down!
Three men and a dog recorded it on 'Barking Mad'
It is such a silly tune that we had to stop playing it at one session because Ewan would start doing Bavarian Clog Dancing Gnome impressions (well, something like that) and I would just fall off my chair laughing.....
Christ on a crutch, and I should learn this tune, why? LOL -- Bavarian Clog Dancing Gnomes!? Now I have to go find that recording to see if it sounds that bad on real instruments. ;)
Awesome tunes
Awesome tunes
Im bored of all the tunes im playing at the moment on the fiddle.
Can any1 suggest any awesome tunes that are really difficult.
Im perverse.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by imahappycamper
Re: Awesome tunes
I know this wicked 7 part hornpipe that's impossible. Not just difficult. I've been trying to learn it for half a year. I'll go find it for you.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Awesome tunes
Will's Bang Your Frog on the Sofa, which is in the tune archive. I don't think it's really difficult, but it is an awesome tune.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Awesome tunes
OK, the tune I'm speaking of, Kimmel's Fancy, can't be found anywhere in cyberspace. You'll have to either pick up a copy of the album Pierre Schryer and Dermot Byrne did together and learn it by ear or harass me until I transcribe it for you.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Awesome tunes
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/140
Go learn that. If you don't find it a serious pain in the arse, I'll transcribe that hornpipe.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Awesome tunes
Good tunes but not difficult enough. I need some fingerfeckeruppers.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by imahappycamper
Re: Awesome tunes
If Kimmel's Fancy doesn't feckup yer fingers you're in the wrong place, my friend.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Awesome tunes
Do you like working in other positions than first?
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Awesome tunes
gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy gimme kimmels fancy
Hows that for harassment??
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by imahappycamper
Re: Awesome tunes
not bothered about positions. just need it to be really bloody hard!!
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by imahappycamper
Re: Awesome tunes
It will take some time if I want to get it even half right. I'll get started when I get home from work. Unfortunately, if positions don't bother you, you might not find it hard. It's pretty catchy.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Awesome tunes
AWEBLOODYSOME...how high up the finger board does it go?
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by imahappycamper
Re: Awesome tunes
Pretty high. I don't know what to call the positions, but it's where you go when your first finger ends up where your fourth finger usually is. (Heh, I bet that's called fourth position - that would be logical...)
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Awesome tunes
Yup, that's the way it works, Ker.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Awesome tunes
Thanks, Zina, you're my hero.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/2815
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/696
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/737
These are not difficult to play, just difficult to play *well*. (According to me, but I truly stink at playing the fiddle.) They're also bitchin' tunes though.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Awesome tunes
Have yourself a go at one of the Fahey reels on the new Kane Sisters recording - specifically: the first tune in the 2nd track. Sounds easy, but it's a real pain in the ass. And fingers.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by _Steph_
Re: Awesome tunes
Is this a serious post, imaappycamper, or are you just trying to annoy Michael Gill?
I know what he would say to you and I'm afraid that I'd have to agree with him.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Johannes J
Re: Awesome tunes
How about the tunes off've the Donal Lunny live album. Some of them are pretty damn tough to get down.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Q
Re: Awesome tunes
Was it this, John:
"Why don't you try doing a better job on the tunes you're already playing?"
Anyhoo, I hope this isn't a wind-up. If it is I'm about to suffer for it transcribing that damn tune.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Awesome tunes
OK, I'm a fluter, not a fiddler, but there's a flute version of a tune on Disk two of "Across the Waters: Irish Traditional Music from England" (http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display.php/843), track 12, called "John J Kimmel's Favourite - Clog". I transcribed it a while back. Since I can't put abc here, I'll put it up in tunes. See if it's the same piece. Not as much of a feckerupper for flute as it is for fiddle, I'm sure. No promises on the accuracies of the transcription either, but I'll post the link once I get it up.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by FyfferGuy
Re: Awesome tunes
Well, is it a seven part hornpipe in D major with a few parts in A and B minor? If not, it isn't the same tune.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Awesome tunes
(although you should put it up anyway. This Kimmell fellow pens a pretty good tune...)
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Awesome tunes
Kerri says: "Well, is it a seven part hornpipe in D major with a few parts in A and B minor? If not, it isn't the same tune."
Well, I didn't originally transcribe it as a hornpipe, but as a 12/8, and it is 7 parts, and it does go back and forth between Bm, D and A, and the form is like this: A B C B A D B, where
A is in Bm,
B is in D,
C is in A (or actually is just in the dominant of D), and
D is in D.
Transcription coming, I'm just cleaning it up.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by FyfferGuy
Re: Awesome tunes
Posted:
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/4125
Please see comments for caviats.
-Chris
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by FyfferGuy
Re: Awesome tunes
Why not try playing the tunes you already know, on an instrument you can't play? (Flugelhorn, Bassoon, Sackbutt, Marimbas, French Horn, or similar). It should give you the kick you crave.
Or try playing the tunes you already know under the influence of a psychedelic agent (LSD, Peyote, Mescaline, Nutmeg, Psilocybin, or similar).
Hope this is of use.
Mark
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Ottery
Re: Awesome tunes
Or in different keys. Although if you try Mark's second set of suggestions (nutmeg? Really nutmeg?), you'll probably end up in a different key anyway.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Awesome tunes
Or how about recording a tune *played backwards*, then reversing it in a clever program like Cool Edit and posting the mp3? That ought to be interesting.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Q
Re: Awesome tunes
Come ON Zina! You must have tried playing Marco's reel under the influence of nutmeg? It really takes your mind off the acute nausea (from the nutmeg, not the reel)
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Ottery
Re: Awesome tunes
You know what's seriously great tune, and entirely impossible to play? Well for me, anyway...
...it's that Larmor Plage tune - first tune of the second track of Deanta's album Ready for the Storm. Man, it's impressive. I tried to transcribe it once, but the room started to spin so I had to stop.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Q
Re: Awesome tunes
lol Mark.
What about learning to play behind your back or under your leg or something? Or, for a real challenge, switch hands and give'er, Ashley MacIsaac style!
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Awesome tunes
Believe it or not, that isn't it. I can definitely see the similarity though. Wacky.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Awesome tunes
Well, Mark, I hate to admit it, but not only have I never tried ingesting or otherwise using anything but nutmeg on that list (and the nutmeg only while cooking as part of the spice list), I've never even played Marco's. So now I guess I'd better go fix that. ;)
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Awesome tunes
Er. The playing of the reel, not the list of drugs.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Awesome tunes
Zina, for your edification and/or intoxication:
http://www.truthtree.com/Nutmeg.shtml
Whew.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Batlady
Re: Awesome tunes
LOL -- okay, so nutmeg may cause cancer of the liver, and "The nutmeg high more strongly resembled flu than a marijuana high as others have claimed." -- maybe I'll skip nutmeg... hehehehe
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Awesome tunes
Yeah, I especially want to feel mildly nauseous....whoohoo.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Batlady
Re: Awesome tunes
Any drug where "a conscious attempt to think pleasant thoughts helps" is probably not worth my time.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Awesome tunes
You could try some of Ed Reavy's tunes. Some of them are guaranteed fingerfeckeruppers.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by meemtp
Re: Awesome tunes
Not long ago someone posted a link to a Death Waltz. That should prove a good starter for you, Happy Camper. It took me a good while to master it on spoons.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by EastPole
Re: Awesome tunes
When I, for some peculiar reason, have the urge to feel mild nauseous all I have to do is think of the movie Top Gun.
Works every time.
Now, If you'll excuse me, I'll have to go lie down for few.
KFG
# Posted on January 20th 2005 by KFG
Re: Awesome tunes
Try these.
http://www.worldfiddlemusic.co.uk/video/maidinabox.wmv
http://www.worldfiddlemusic.co.uk/video/thescholar.wmv
Jim
# Posted on January 20th 2005 by Worldfiddler
Re: Awesome tunes
Look, don't knock nutmeg you guys - it's cheap, and it's nice with spinach!
# Posted on January 20th 2005 by Ottery
Re: Awesome tunes
LOL -- Mark, you're a nutmeg junkie, aren't you! Aren't you!
# Posted on January 20th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Awesome tunes
I could stop any time!
I just choose not to ....
# Posted on January 20th 2005 by Ottery
Re: Awesome tunes
I LIKE the flu!
# Posted on January 20th 2005 by Ottery
Re: Awesome tunes
Skip the nutmeg. Try Scullcap. You won't remember what tune you're actually playing. Also, how about this suggestion? Try re-doing the very first tune you ever learned.
The first tune I ever seriously tried was Willow Tree and as simple as it is it still makes me nauseous. Maybe I'll rename it Nutmeg Tree.
saille fearn aka mary anna
# Posted on January 20th 2005 by Saille Fearn
Re: Awesome tunes
BTW, Mark -- it's probably just the MIDI. I think I need to find a recording of someone *playing* Marco's, because the MIDI makes it sound uncannily like something you'd hear at the circus.
# Posted on January 20th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Awesome tunes
Funny nobody thought of The Mathematician yet. A good hornpipe for learning how to play in 6th position, if you ever get bored with 3rd or 4th.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/1755
# Posted on January 20th 2005 by Bleedin' Heart
Re: Awesome tunes
Zina, it IS like something you'd play at the circus. It cheers you up when the nutmeg induced flu symptoms are getting you down!
Three men and a dog recorded it on 'Barking Mad'
It is such a silly tune that we had to stop playing it at one session because Ewan would start doing Bavarian Clog Dancing Gnome impressions (well, something like that) and I would just fall off my chair laughing.....
# Posted on January 20th 2005 by Ottery
Re: Awesome tunes
Christ on a crutch, and I should learn this tune, why? LOL -- Bavarian Clog Dancing Gnomes!? Now I have to go find that recording to see if it sounds that bad on real instruments. ;)
# Posted on January 20th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Awesome tunes
The Castle Hornpipe, found @ http://www.cranfordpub.com/tunes/usa/Castle_Hornpipe.htm. here you can get the music and listen to an mp3 of Natalie and Buddy MacMaster playing it live.
# Posted on January 20th 2005 by snowyowl