Hi all... In terms of repertoire, I've been cramming my head with dance tunes for some time... I only have a scant handful of airs and other slow melodies to draw from...
Anyone care to suggest some lovely airs suited to flute and/or whistle?
I don't know how these will work on flute, since I play fiddle, but I just learned Limerick's Lamentation and I am now working on Amhran na Leabhar. Both are hauntingly beautiful.
I've been trying to transcribing "An Buachaillin Ban" in vain. It's on Niall & Cillian Vallely's "Callan Bridge." Edor is the best key for flute. And I've been itching to learn pipers' classics such as "The Dark Slender Boy," "Bean Dubh aGhleanna" and "Roisin Dubh."
Slainte's choice of "Bright Hollow Fog" is excellent on the D whistle as is the melody of "Edward on Lough Erin's Shore" from the Dervish "Live in Palma" recording
Mna na hEireann always sounds well on a wind instrument if a bit hackneyed - you'll find an abc for it on this site. I think its listed as a barndance which is ridiculous of course as its played much slower and with more feeling. As you may well know, its very hard to write down an air on sheet music - with the exception of Carolan pieces most just aren't played that way.
Currently, I also like Amhran na Leabhar, Eamon an Chnoic, An Buachallin Ban, A Stoir mo Chroi, Banchnoic Eireann O and others.
Cuilin, Roisin dubh, Limerick's lamentation, Owen Roe O'Neill, An Maighdean? mhara (Mermaid) Mna na hEireann, For Ireland I would not tell her name, songs such as Lagan Love, Carrickfergus, Sally gardens, there are thousands.
I can only play slow airs, that's on a mandolin.
Airy suggestions
Airy suggestions
Hi all... In terms of repertoire, I've been cramming my head with dance tunes for some time... I only have a scant handful of airs and other slow melodies to draw from...
Anyone care to suggest some lovely airs suited to flute and/or whistle?
# Posted on April 3rd 2005 by bestcraic
Re: Airy suggestions
Keyless flute?
# Posted on April 3rd 2005 by Will CPT
Re: Airy suggestions
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/986
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/1165
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/211
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/1415
# Posted on April 3rd 2005 by gian marco
Re: Airy suggestions
Try song melodies - slow them down and add some tasteful ornamentation = instant airs
# Posted on April 3rd 2005 by Sharon the Flute
Re: Airy suggestions
(yes W. Harmon, keyless flute.)
# Posted on April 3rd 2005 by bestcraic
Re: Airy suggestions
written in the mid-'90's, and recorded by TheTide ('98), Ring ('01) and Burke ('04) if you fancy a new unknown one . . .
# Posted on April 3rd 2005 by lisaniska
Re: Airy suggestions
Some fairly simple tunes that work well as airs:
Autumn Child
Arran Boat Song
Skye Boat Song
Inion Ni Scannlain
Humours of Tullycrine
Eleanor Plunkett
Far Away Waltz
Terry Teehan's
# Posted on April 4th 2005 by Will CPT
Re: Airy suggestions
I have been all about sad, slow airs lately.
I don't know how these will work on flute, since I play fiddle, but I just learned Limerick's Lamentation and I am now working on Amhran na Leabhar. Both are hauntingly beautiful.
# Posted on April 4th 2005 by Andee
Re: Airy suggestions
Try these tunes too: http://thesession.org/tunes/display.php/2562
http://slainte.web.infoseek.co.jp/mist-mt.html
I recorded the Scottish one for Mighty Craic Online. It's not perfect playing, but you'll get an idea of how it sounds on flute.
My all-time favourite is actually "The Bright Hollow Fog": http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/597/comments It's a fairly straightforward and beautiful tune. Probably better to learn it by listening to John Williams' playing of the tune: http://www.greenlinnet.com/listen/ra/1157.ram (starts around 16:00)
I've been trying to transcribing "An Buachaillin Ban" in vain. It's on Niall & Cillian Vallely's "Callan Bridge." Edor is the best key for flute. And I've been itching to learn pipers' classics such as "The Dark Slender Boy," "Bean Dubh aGhleanna" and "Roisin Dubh."
# Posted on April 4th 2005 by slainte
Re: Airy suggestions
And "Hector the Hero"! http://thesession.org/tunes/display.php/1292 It works nice in G too.
# Posted on April 4th 2005 by slainte
Re: Airy suggestions
Slainte's choice of "Bright Hollow Fog" is excellent on the D whistle as is the melody of "Edward on Lough Erin's Shore" from the Dervish "Live in Palma" recording
# Posted on April 4th 2005 by joesmith
Re: Airy suggestions
Mna na hEireann always sounds well on a wind instrument if a bit hackneyed - you'll find an abc for it on this site. I think its listed as a barndance which is ridiculous of course as its played much slower and with more feeling. As you may well know, its very hard to write down an air on sheet music - with the exception of Carolan pieces most just aren't played that way.
Currently, I also like Amhran na Leabhar, Eamon an Chnoic, An Buachallin Ban, A Stoir mo Chroi, Banchnoic Eireann O and others.
# Posted on April 4th 2005 by the wounded hussar
Re: Airy suggestions
I meant to add that you just have to listen to someone else playing and/or singing the air, to really get a grip on it.
# Posted on April 4th 2005 by the wounded hussar
Re: Airy suggestions
Cuilin, Roisin dubh, Limerick's lamentation, Owen Roe O'Neill, An Maighdean? mhara (Mermaid) Mna na hEireann, For Ireland I would not tell her name, songs such as Lagan Love, Carrickfergus, Sally gardens, there are thousands.
I can only play slow airs, that's on a mandolin.
# Posted on April 4th 2005 by bodhran bliss
Re: Airy suggestions
"Brauch Na Carrige Baine" gets to me everytime. Try "Windy Gap" CD by Laurence Nugent. (^:
# Posted on April 4th 2005 by CeolCairdeas