If there were a list of songs & tunes that every whistler should know, what songs would you suggest? I want to make a list of jigs, reels and airs to teach to students.
TIA
Gary
edited to correct a tiepoe
[ This Message was edited by: Gary on 2002-10-14 12:33 ]
Gary,
This was a topic on the Board a year or so ago. Check the Archives. I remember 'cuz I built my own list based on the posted messages.
I’d post my list, but it’s at home.
[Edited to fix the inevitable spelling error.]
-Tom
Tom Gallagher
a whistling tenor, just fiddling around
fiddlingtenor@usa.com
“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to say something and remove all doubt” --atributed to Abraham Lincoln</FONT SIZE>
[ This Message was edited by: fiddling_tenor on 2002-10-14 10:14 ]
Tom,
I did a search before posting this and could not find such a list. Any suggestions?
Gary
Hi
Even this was on the board before a year ago, I can’t see the problem asking again, so many new members are here since.
I’d suggest you some :
Cooley’s reel
Kerry reel
Kesh jig
The Silver spear reel
Donnybrook Fair jig
Drowsy Maggie reel
The Banshee reel
The Merry Blacksmith reel
The Knotted Chord reel
The Blackthorn Stick jig
So that’s at least ten.
Cheers
Erik
One I would add, even though it may not be terribly traditional, is “The Irish Washerwoman.” I mention it because it seems that people are always requesting it, particularly if you’re playing sometime around St. Patrick’s Day (they may not even know the name, but they’re sure to ask “do you know the one that goes like…”). It’s also a good one to teach newbies the proper timing for a double jig, as most of them will recognize the tune.
I would also add “Si Bhaeg, Si Mor” and “The Southwind,” and perhaps “The Rakes of Mallow” and “Brian Boru’s March.”
Redwolf
[ This Message was edited by: Redwolf on 2002-10-14 11:18 ]
How about, as my whistle teacher refered to it, Danny frickin’ Boy?
Mike Burns
Yeah, people always request that one too, and I reply with “only if you’re wearing ear plugs and agree to sign a waiver…I don’t want to be held responsible for any hearing damage!”
Redwolf
Quite. The whole point about these lists, surely, us that they are subject to change?
And with a whole new load of people on the board, don’t we all get a chance to vote on a new list?
Of the 1542 people on the members list, 1082 have signed on since 14th October 2001, including Bloomfield, Walden, Weekenders and myself, to name but 4 prolific posters in the top 12.
So I vote for:
Jigs:
The Kesh Jig
Morrison’s Jig
Haste to the Wedding
Drummond Castle
Tripping it up the Stairs
Whelan’s Fancy
Slides:
Merrily Kiss the Quaker
Denis Murphy’s Slide
Reels:
The Star of Munster
My Love is in America
Saint Anne’s Reel
The Skylark
The Sally Gardens
Hornpipes:
The Rights of Man
The Boys of Bluehill
Harvest Home
Off to California
The Home Ruler
Songs:
Cliffs of Doneen
The Parting Glass
Is the goal to suggest tunes that “everyone” knows, or tunes that are frequently requested by an ignorant public, or cool and educational tunes for whistlers?
Perhaps a little of “all of the above”? If one is playing only for one’s own pleasure, then pretty much any tune one finds pleasing is worth learning. If one’s going to play for the public, a few of those “old favorites” will need to be in there. If one is playing with other traditional musicians, there’s probably a good stock repertoire that will enable one to play along on a wide variety of tunes. And, of course, it’s always good to be a little bit challenged.
I also think it’s a good idea to start beginners on tunes that they may already know how to sing or hum (especially if they’re neither experienced music readers nor experienced at learning by ear)…helps 'em learn basic concepts because they don’t have to be figuring out how the tune is supposed to go at the same time.
Redwolf
Since I’m most interested in the last possibility I mention, here’s ten tunes which are session standards and are challenging, interesting, and fun to play on whistle:
Wise Maid
The (Poor) Scholar
Tarbolton/Longford Collector/Sailor’s Bonnet
Otter’s Holt
Bucks of Oranmore
Pigeon on the Gate
Cook in the Kitchen
Slieve Russell
I should sugges every [whistle]player ‘should’ know ten or twenty tunes that have NOT been battered to death by every beginner before them. Do a nice job on them, show a bit of personality and surprise those who are listening.
Mainly to add to Martin M’s:
Slipjigs:
Hunting the Hare
Rocky Road to Dublin
Drops of Brandy
Jigs:
Cock O’ The North
Jig O’ Slurs
The Old Favourite
Waltzes (yes!):
Margaret’s Waltz
Ashokan Farewell
Miss Rowan Davies
Reels:
Fairy Dance
Cup of Tea (Irish version)
Green Fields of America
And I heartily agree with Peter’s wish that every whistler should have a small number of out-of-the-way-ish tunes up his/her sleeve for an unhackneyed fresh contribution.
living in session diaspora, i have adopted the tunes on:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/folk/acoustic_club/launch.shtml
i’d be interested in hearing what people think of the tunes available there.
cheers!
Sorry, Gary, missed your reply to my post. Didn’t mean to seem short: it was just that I couldn’t find my own list and thought the archives might help. I tried myself and foudn nothing as well, so I’m glad for the other members who posted.
Hey, I even added a few tunes to my list. Always looking for a few new ones. I like the suggestion of knowing a few of your “own” tunes. I played at my first Pub session last night (they’ve been trying to get me there for over a year), and I knew maybe half the tunes the leader called, but then she didn’t know some of the tunes I knew–and let me play! It was COOL!
Happy whistling!
-Tom
Here’s a few tunes to add to the list:
The Battering Ram
The Frost is All Over
O’Donnell Abu/The Boys of Wexford
Fanny Power/The South Wind
Humours of Glendart/Paddy’s Return
The Butterfly
Haste to the Wedding/Saddle the Pony/Off She Goes
There’s my 2 cents worth.
-Tom
French - I checked out the site and love it! I’ll print out a few, practice them and then play along. Great idea, virtual session.
Thanx, BillG
I’ve got an excel spreadsheet I’ve been putting together. It is still being filled in, but has a list of tunes, what type of tune it is, the starting note, and I am working on putting down the first 6-8 notes of the A part for each one. This is a “cheat sheet” for me - as an ear-learner, I don’t work from music, but often can’t remember how a tune begins.
This sheet is only helpful if you have the tune memorized and can figure out the beat from the type of tune and the first few notes. But anyone who wants the file, shoot me an email, and I’ll pop it off to you.
[ This Message was edited by: avanutria on 2002-10-14 14:57 ]
That’s really a great idea! I do learn from written music (as well as by ear), but I work to progress to playing without the music as quickly as possible (the last thing I want to do if I’m “playing out” is have to whip out sheet music and a music stand!). If I haven’t played a tune in a while, I may have a false start or two before I remember what notes I usually start it on…a “cheat sheet” like that would be really useful. I may think of making one up myself for all my favorites.
Redwolf
Jigs:
Lonesome Jig (Rolling Waves)
Joy of My Life
Lilting Banshee (Ryan’s Jig)
Get Up Old Woman and Shake Yourself
The Butterfly
Have a Drink With Me
Calliope House
The Portroe Jig (Out on the Ocean)
Reels:
Ashplant
Man of the House
Dunmoor Lasses
Flagstaff of Memories
Rolling in the Rye Grass
Airs:
Si Beg Si Mor
South Wind
Down By the Sally Gardens
Slides:
O’Keefe’s Slide
Worntorn Petticoat
Marches:
Halting March (Pikemen)
Battle of Aughrim
Flings:
Cis Ni Lithain
Regards,
Philo