At Hammy Hamilton’s flute course/seminar in Ballyvourney last week, Paul McGrattan, who was one of the 3 tutors, made the suggestion that the following 2 tunes, which he called “Con Cassidy’s”, - although they came from Donegal, - were in fact slides.
The question of slide vs. single jig has come up a number of times on this forum. An opinion that appears to be prevalent is that "it's not what you play, it's the way that you play it". Yes, there are certainly many slides from Sliabh Luachra that sound distinctly and exclusively like Sliabh Luachra slides. But there are many others that, played in a different style, with different accents or phrasing, could be jigs, single or double, from anywhere in Ireland, Scotland (as some of them are, in fact), or England. To me, in fact, the second of the two tunes in question (#2007) does sound like a slide, and if I didn't know better, I would assume it was from the Southwest of Ireland. But I think it is largely a matter of interpretation and regional nomentclature. Perhaps Paul McGrattan was drawing attention to the fact that these tunes *could* be called slides, because he was in Ballyvourney, at the time - a kind of 'tip of the hat' to the Sliabh Luachra tradition.
I've only ever heard those 2 tunes played as single jigs. Never heard them played as slides before, but nothing to stop you doing so if that's your preference.
In " The Northern Fiddler " Music and Musicians of Donegal and Tyrone, there are several of Con's Jigs (Untitled) Reels, and Untitled Highlands. Even a Brass Band March.!! No slides though--I'm inclined to agree with Dow's view.
Con Cassidy's Slides ??
Con Cassidy's Slides ??
At Hammy Hamilton’s flute course/seminar in Ballyvourney last week, Paul McGrattan, who was one of the 3 tutors, made the suggestion that the following 2 tunes, which he called “Con Cassidy’s”, - although they came from Donegal, - were in fact slides.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/3382
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2007
Interesting that “Bannerman” raised this possibility, too, some two and a half years ago.
What do you reckon ?
# Posted on April 28th 2006 by Kenny
Re: Con Cassidy's Slides ??
They sure feel like slides to me.
# Posted on April 28th 2006 by GaryAMartin
Re: Con Cassidy's Slides ??
The question of slide vs. single jig has come up a number of times on this forum. An opinion that appears to be prevalent is that "it's not what you play, it's the way that you play it". Yes, there are certainly many slides from Sliabh Luachra that sound distinctly and exclusively like Sliabh Luachra slides. But there are many others that, played in a different style, with different accents or phrasing, could be jigs, single or double, from anywhere in Ireland, Scotland (as some of them are, in fact), or England. To me, in fact, the second of the two tunes in question (#2007) does sound like a slide, and if I didn't know better, I would assume it was from the Southwest of Ireland. But I think it is largely a matter of interpretation and regional nomentclature. Perhaps Paul McGrattan was drawing attention to the fact that these tunes *could* be called slides, because he was in Ballyvourney, at the time - a kind of 'tip of the hat' to the Sliabh Luachra tradition.
# Posted on April 28th 2006 by granama
Re: Con Cassidy's Slides ??
I've only ever heard those 2 tunes played as single jigs. Never heard them played as slides before, but nothing to stop you doing so if that's your preference.
# Posted on April 28th 2006 by Dow
Re: Con Cassidy's Slides ??
In " The Northern Fiddler " Music and Musicians of Donegal and Tyrone, there are several of Con's Jigs (Untitled) Reels, and Untitled Highlands. Even a Brass Band March.!! No slides though--I'm inclined to agree with Dow's view.
# Posted on April 28th 2006 by duffgen