Hi there.
My friend asked me to play some tunes for a coming Christmas party. I think I can make some sets to play, but I think I should play something like airs or slow reels which are suitable for Christmas.
So I would like to ask all you tune masters to recommend me good tunes.
Any ideas?
The wren is always a good rousing tune to play at Christmas time in Ireland. On St. Stephens day particularly. Slow airs are not always the norm for that time of year so don't be afraid to include a couple of good boot stompers as well.
Uh, slow down Star of the County Down and call it O Sing a Song of Bethlehem and you've a ready made carol/song. I like Greg's list of songs they're all good standard tunes. If you can work out O Holy Night it is a typical crowd favorite.
The Frost Is All Over
Christmas Day In The Morning
The Holly Tree Jig
God Rest Ye Polka
Jingle Bell
The Merry Christmas Polka
Hearts Pure
New Christmas Reel
New Year's Day March
Deck The Halls Hornpipe
The Hills Of Snow
Good King Wenceslas
The Christmas Jig
I am not sure how many of these you will be able to find. But good luck! Some are just basic Christmas tunes made Irish.
I have a very beautiful CD called "The Night Before....A Celtic Christmas"---has a really nice version of Tommy Coen's Reel and many, many other lovely songs. Not ITM, but at Christmas I love to play traditional carols on the autoharp, fingerpicking Mother Maybelle style. Such a sweet sounding instrument. We also have a "garage quartet"--it started as a way to out-do a neighbor's ostentatious Christmas display and canned music. We borrowed amps, pick-ups and electric instruments, plugged in and played away. The first year, people kept driving around the block to see the "live people"--the second year people parked and listened and the neighbor turned off his music. The third year we created a block long traffic jam, last year we served hot chocolate and coffee. This year we have a chocolate fountain like at wedding receptions. Drive by if you're in the neighborhood!
LOVE the idea of the slowed down "Star of the County Down"!
Grouser! The Wren must die, BUT, it *should* only be a ritual killing - no actual blood invlived - so you can shout at those bloodthirsty youngsters with a clear conscience.
Us Pagans celebrate the Solstice at this time, and like a bit of mulled wine and wassail. Any more Seasonal tunes that aren't so religiously partisan?
This is the recording dmarie mentioned. I've just posted it.
Paul_draper' s suggestions are good too, but of them all, I'd say the Frankie Gavin CD would be best, but maybe not that easy to find.
Anyone remember "Roaring Jelly" and "Christmas In Australia" ?
"Christmas in Australia, is Christmas in Paradise,
Christmas in Australia, is basically, BLOODY NICE,
Bruce is going steady with Sheila,
And Sheila's going steady with Bruce,
And if you ain't got a Christmas sun tan,
You're a Pommy and you ain't no use"
There is a nice Scot (or maybe it is Shetland) tune called Christmas Day in the Morning, which I see is mentioned by Red Crow up above here. And of course the Christmas Eve reel, which we play all year around because it is a good tune. For slow stuff, I love the Wexford Carol, but because of the accidentals, it doesn't work well with flutes and whistles.
i'm no ''tune master'' Lowdens, but it didn't stop me writing my own nearly 10 years ago now and in the wintertime too
like yourself, i'm a guitarist first, so start composing on it (_or at least have a bash) as i did then (in standard) and now (in CGCGCD)
unless you're a genius, you won't have a party bagfull in 5 weeks, but if you start to think of how ''you would like'' a slow reel or air to sound, it'll help you make up your mind in choosing the others _i'd go for a mixed bag myself
compose a good one and it will live for you forever
We like to take the Christmas Air at a spot just past the Hell Fire Club looking down on Glen na Smol. A flask of Hot Whiskey, a couple of songs, present & departed friends abounding... and then retire to somewhere inviting. Perfect.
... may be a matter of perspective. While not an air at all, I always thought that Frankie Gavin's version of St. Patrick's Day (on Frankie Goes To Town) had a real Christmas-y feel to it... just add some twinkly lights and several pints, and... lo...
Air for Christmas
Air for Christmas
Hi there.
My friend asked me to play some tunes for a coming Christmas party. I think I can make some sets to play, but I think I should play something like airs or slow reels which are suitable for Christmas.
So I would like to ask all you tune masters to recommend me good tunes.
Any ideas?
# Posted on November 12th 2005 by lowdens
Re: Air for Christmas
Why are airs and slow airs suitable for Christmas?
# Posted on November 12th 2005 by TomR
Re: Air for Christmas
sorry airs and slow reels!
# Posted on November 12th 2005 by TomR
Re: Air for Christmas
The wren is always a good rousing tune to play at Christmas time in Ireland. On St. Stephens day particularly. Slow airs are not always the norm for that time of year so don't be afraid to include a couple of good boot stompers as well.
# Posted on November 12th 2005 by newfie percussionist
Re: Air for Christmas
Are you familiar with Frankie Gavin's Xmas album:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000000E5D/ref=m_art_li_1/102-3268271-7625700?v=glance&s=music
You might be able to adapt some of this music?
Must admit newfie, I hate the idea of celebrating the killing of the Wren, but then that's just me.
# Posted on November 12th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Air for Christmas
Christmas eve - lovely reel when played slow
Do'n Oíche úd i mBeitheal [Christmas carol - for that night in Bethlehem]
# Posted on November 12th 2005 by breandan
Re: Air for Christmas
Beat me to it Breandan!
Another lovely tune is The Wexford Carol!
What instrument are you performing on?
Brianx
# Posted on November 12th 2005 by briantheflute
Re: Air for Christmas
Besides the aforementioned ITM, I like to play traditional carols on my flute; most of them lie quite well. Here's my "set list"...
In G-Hark The Herald Angels Sing; O Come All Ye Faithful; Ding Dong Merrily On High, Away In A Manger; Good Christian Men Rejoice
In Em- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemem; We Three Kings
in D-
Silent Night, The First Noel; Joy To The World; The Wassail Song
# Posted on November 13th 2005 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Air for Christmas
Uh, slow down Star of the County Down and call it O Sing a Song of Bethlehem and you've a ready made carol/song. I like Greg's list of songs they're all good standard tunes. If you can work out O Holy Night it is a typical crowd favorite.
# Posted on November 13th 2005 by musicfan
Re: Air for Christmas
Here is my current list of Christmas tunes
The Frost Is All Over
Christmas Day In The Morning
The Holly Tree Jig
God Rest Ye Polka
Jingle Bell
The Merry Christmas Polka
Hearts Pure
New Christmas Reel
New Year's Day March
Deck The Halls Hornpipe
The Hills Of Snow
Good King Wenceslas
The Christmas Jig
I am not sure how many of these you will be able to find. But good luck! Some are just basic Christmas tunes made Irish.
# Posted on November 13th 2005 by Red Crow
Re: Air for Christmas
I have a very beautiful CD called "The Night Before....A Celtic Christmas"---has a really nice version of Tommy Coen's Reel and many, many other lovely songs. Not ITM, but at Christmas I love to play traditional carols on the autoharp, fingerpicking Mother Maybelle style. Such a sweet sounding instrument. We also have a "garage quartet"--it started as a way to out-do a neighbor's ostentatious Christmas display and canned music. We borrowed amps, pick-ups and electric instruments, plugged in and played away. The first year, people kept driving around the block to see the "live people"--the second year people parked and listened and the neighbor turned off his music. The third year we created a block long traffic jam, last year we served hot chocolate and coffee. This year we have a chocolate fountain like at wedding receptions. Drive by if you're in the neighborhood!
# Posted on November 13th 2005 by dmarie
Re: Air for Christmas
There's plenty of seasonal music on the "Da Day Dawn" from the Boys of the Lough and the "Bells of Dublin" from the Chieftains.
# Posted on November 13th 2005 by Paul_draper
Re: Air for Christmas
LOVE the idea of the slowed down "Star of the County Down"!
Grouser! The Wren must die, BUT, it *should* only be a ritual killing - no actual blood invlived - so you can shout at those bloodthirsty youngsters with a clear conscience.
Us Pagans celebrate the Solstice at this time, and like a bit of mulled wine and wassail. Any more Seasonal tunes that aren't so religiously partisan?
# Posted on November 14th 2005 by Innocent Bystander
Re: Air for Christmas
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display.php/1839
This is the recording dmarie mentioned. I've just posted it.
Paul_draper' s suggestions are good too, but of them all, I'd say the Frankie Gavin CD would be best, but maybe not that easy to find.
Anyone remember "Roaring Jelly" and "Christmas In Australia" ?
"Christmas in Australia, is Christmas in Paradise,
Christmas in Australia, is basically, BLOODY NICE,
Bruce is going steady with Sheila,
And Sheila's going steady with Bruce,
And if you ain't got a Christmas sun tan,
You're a Pommy and you ain't no use"
# Posted on November 14th 2005 by Kenny
Re: Air for Christmas
There is a nice Scot (or maybe it is Shetland) tune called Christmas Day in the Morning, which I see is mentioned by Red Crow up above here. And of course the Christmas Eve reel, which we play all year around because it is a good tune. For slow stuff, I love the Wexford Carol, but because of the accidentals, it doesn't work well with flutes and whistles.
# Posted on November 15th 2005 by AlBrown
Write one
i'm no ''tune master'' Lowdens, but it didn't stop me writing my own nearly 10 years ago now and in the wintertime too
like yourself, i'm a guitarist first, so start composing on it (_or at least have a bash) as i did then (in standard) and now (in CGCGCD)
unless you're a genius, you won't have a party bagfull in 5 weeks, but if you start to think of how ''you would like'' a slow reel or air to sound, it'll help you make up your mind in choosing the others _i'd go for a mixed bag myself
compose a good one and it will live for you forever
# Posted on November 16th 2005 by lisaniska
Re: Air for Christmas
Hmmm,
We like to take the Christmas Air at a spot just past the Hell Fire Club looking down on Glen na Smol. A flask of Hot Whiskey, a couple of songs, present & departed friends abounding... and then retire to somewhere inviting. Perfect.
# Posted on November 17th 2005 by nílim cinnte
Re: Christmas
... may be a matter of perspective. While not an air at all, I always thought that Frankie Gavin's version of St. Patrick's Day (on Frankie Goes To Town) had a real Christmas-y feel to it... just add some twinkly lights and several pints, and... lo...
# Posted on November 18th 2005 by drone