Hello there!
I recorded this tune last night (1/28/2013) after receiving a new microphone. The last time I spent any time in front of one was about twenty years ago, and that was for about 5 minutes.
The mic is a TASCAM TM-ST1 and the whistle is a D I made.
The outlook is strong that the playing and sound quality will improve with more time spent in front of the mic. Still, the nervousness wasn’t as bad as expected when it was powered up and the record button was clicked.
Maybe bear in mind it’s quite a powerful song, ‘He’s my hero [..]He’s my Ceasar..’ there’s defiance and power in it that will suffer when played to slow and sweetly.
Other than that, fine job (but do take care not to stretch the bars).
That’s one of the first things that was noticed when listening to it this morning. There’s a mental list already going of what I’d change. Thanks for the compliment and direction, Mr. Gumby.
The only thing I can compare getting this track finished and uploaded to is the 1st time playing bass on stage. It was considered a win to get through it without any major flubs and have a little fun at the same time.
. That wasn’t really a point of criticism. Microphones do that to people.
I have heard the song sung so often (quite often by Cór Cuil Aodha) and it’s always a rousing piece. It’s a problem with air playing though, quite often they get played too drawn out out and too slow. Don’t fall into that trap.
Ed,
Nice work and a nice sounding whistle. Good points made by Mr. Gumby regarding the emotions that need to be projected in that piece of music. It would be interesting to have you make the adjustments and post both renditions in a single post as a comparative of the two.
It took a few takes and some adjusting of mic placement to remove my hoof stomping from the track.
Glad you mentioned that! When I play the few airs I know, to me they sound better a little faster, but I wasn’t sure if it was because of having a small bag of tricks to draw from to bring out the best of a tune when done slowly, a need to hear more examples from good players, or both.
Yeah, that thing made me sweat like President Obama at an NRA convention.
Glad you mentioned that! When I play the few airs I know, to me they sound better a little faster, but I wasn’t sure if it was because of having a small bag of tricks to draw from to bring out the best of a tune when done slowly, a need to hear more examples from good players, or both.
Try to know the song. Listen to singers. Taimse im’ Chodladh is another one that is often played much too whimpy. Again it’s a song of defiance that needs a bit of conviction to carry over.
As a beginner, I considered airs a logical place to start. Wrong! I still rarely play them in public, and cringe when I hear my recorded attempts. In fact, I know very few people who I’d say excel at more than one or two selected favorites.
I agree with you completely that I want to hear that treatment in the tune. But I can see why people might feel a slow, mournful (but still not sweet) lament appropriate.
If you are selective about verses, it can really be pulled either way.
(I am pasting in the English translation from Wikipedia, please excuse the clunkiness and any mistranslations).
But, yeah. When all the verses are taken as a whole, it does seem like defiance and pride is just as present as lamentation and loss.
Good points made by Mr. Gumby regarding the emotions that need to be projected in that piece of music. It would be interesting to have you make the adjustments and post both renditions in a single post as a comparative of the two.
