Are there suggestions out there for cool Irish/Scottish fiddle tunes I can learn that are double-stop based? We are developing repertoire for our new band and I want some really full sounding solo stuff to give our hard-working guitarist a rest now and then!
Writing a tune based on any kind of harmony is not part of the tradition, but you can always take a tune and add your own harmonic filler. A lot of American tunes are traditionally played with plenty of drone and double stopping. Could you use one of those?
Ah...that's why I couldn't find any! I'll look for American traditional tunes that are as directly derived from Scots/Irish as possible. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks, Bob. :0)
Listen to Liz Carroll playing "Sean sa Cheo" in the set with "Exile of Erin" on the 1990 Green Linnet Boston College Irish Fiddle Festival recording, "My Love Is In America."
Several of the American tunes tend to be drone-crazy on the A part and more single-line melodic on the B part. Or vice versa. Let’s see, Old Molly Hare (Fairy Dance), Arkansas Traveller (don’t know if it’s Scot/Irish derived), … Rats! The names aren’t coming to me.
Brendan Tonra's jig lends itself to drones. I once played it with almost continuous double stops for a fiddler who is well respected for his knowledge of Irish music. He was not noticeably aghast, and remarked that some Kerry fiddlers are more inclined to use more double stops--although he did stop short of saying that my version actually sounded "traditional."
So it gets down to how strictly traditional you want to be, and according to whom, as usual.
I saw an Alisdair Fraser concert once, and decided he is pretty much King of the Double Stops. So I would guess they are legal in Scottish music... but of course opinions will vary.
Bundle and Go is a nice jig in em that works great with double stops on the long notes at the start of each measure (in the a part)
I've been playing it on the accordion, but the double stops would be pretty straightforward on the fiddle aswell.
tunes in A are always good for drones, because you can use the E- drone (as well as the A- and D- drone).
Take for example Boys of Malin, High Road to Linton, Mason's Apron.
Check out some of Catriona MacDonald's recordings. I have had the pleasure of a couple of classes with her at fiddle camps, and she is a truly inventive double-stopper!
Now that you've all inspired me, I've written a double stopped version of Blackberry Blossom and will do the same for some of my Scots and Irish tunes, Hoping the trad god will not rain fire from heaven on me...
DOUBLE STOP TUNES
DOUBLE STOP TUNES
Are there suggestions out there for cool Irish/Scottish fiddle tunes I can learn that are double-stop based? We are developing repertoire for our new band and I want some really full sounding solo stuff to give our hard-working guitarist a rest now and then!
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by thier1754
Re: DOUBLE STOP TUNES
You'll find hen's teeth and frog hair first.
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by Bob himself
Re: DOUBLE STOP TUNES
Writing a tune based on any kind of harmony is not part of the tradition, but you can always take a tune and add your own harmonic filler. A lot of American tunes are traditionally played with plenty of drone and double stopping. Could you use one of those?
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by Bob himself
Re: DOUBLE STOP TUNES
Ah...that's why I couldn't find any! I'll look for American traditional tunes that are as directly derived from Scots/Irish as possible. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks, Bob. :0)
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by thier1754
Re: DOUBLE STOP TUNES
Listen to Liz Carroll playing "Sean sa Cheo" in the set with "Exile of Erin" on the 1990 Green Linnet Boston College Irish Fiddle Festival recording, "My Love Is In America."
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by ∅
Re: DOUBLE STOP TUNES
Good idea, Laitch.
Several of the American tunes tend to be drone-crazy on the A part and more single-line melodic on the B part. Or vice versa. Let’s see, Old Molly Hare (Fairy Dance), Arkansas Traveller (don’t know if it’s Scot/Irish derived), … Rats! The names aren’t coming to me.
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by Bob himself
Re: DOUBLE STOP TUNES
The Devil's Dream! EVERYBODY plays The Devil's Dream!
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by fidkid
Re: DOUBLE STOP TUNES
That's a great track, and Exile of Erin can feature some really nice drones and double stops.
Also try:
Brenda Stubbert's
Concertina Reel
Bag of Spuds
John Roarty's (an Ed Reavy tune)
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by Will Harmon
Re: DOUBLE STOP TUNES
Er, sorry. I was thinking of Soldier’s Joy/The Kings Head. That’s supposed to be the most widely disseminated fiddle tune.
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by fidkid
Re: DOUBLE STOP TUNES
Brendan Tonra's jig lends itself to drones. I once played it with almost continuous double stops for a fiddler who is well respected for his knowledge of Irish music. He was not noticeably aghast, and remarked that some Kerry fiddlers are more inclined to use more double stops--although he did stop short of saying that my version actually sounded "traditional."
So it gets down to how strictly traditional you want to be, and according to whom, as usual.
I saw an Alisdair Fraser concert once, and decided he is pretty much King of the Double Stops. So I would guess they are legal in Scottish music... but of course opinions will vary.
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by John Galt
Re: DOUBLE STOP TUNES
Great suggestions! A project for me to hunt them all down (I'd bet a lot are in this site)! Many thanks. :0)
# Posted on January 27th 2006 by thier1754
Re: DOUBLE STOP TUNES
Bundle and Go is a nice jig in em that works great with double stops on the long notes at the start of each measure (in the a part)
I've been playing it on the accordion, but the double stops would be pretty straightforward on the fiddle aswell.
# Posted on January 27th 2006 by RumRebellion
Re: DOUBLE STOP TUNES
tunes in A are always good for drones, because you can use the E- drone (as well as the A- and D- drone).
Take for example Boys of Malin, High Road to Linton, Mason's Apron.
# Posted on January 27th 2006 by Henk Bos
Re: DOUBLE STOP TUNES
one i like o lot, full of double stops, is Arkansas traveller. that is very good for a solo.
# Posted on January 27th 2006 by fiddlemax
Re: DOUBLE STOP TUNES
Check out some of Catriona MacDonald's recordings. I have had the pleasure of a couple of classes with her at fiddle camps, and she is a truly inventive double-stopper!
# Posted on January 27th 2006 by cathrynb
Re: DOUBLE STOP TUNES
Now that you've all inspired me, I've written a double stopped version of Blackberry Blossom and will do the same for some of my Scots and Irish tunes, Hoping the trad god will not rain fire from heaven on me...
Checking out all of your suggestions!
# Posted on January 27th 2006 by thier1754