Hi all…
usually spend my time on the flute and pipes forum, but I thought I would share this tune with folks and see what you think. Just a quick once through, but you get the idea. Played on an old Bb Generation. Hope you like it.
Arbo
I enjoyed that very much, Arbo. What’s the source of the chune?
It’s my loose interpretation of the tune from the playing of Rose Clancy. It was written by her uncle, I believe. I heard her play it at the Pipers’ Gathering concert this past August. I am still working out how it sits with me, and whether I want to tackle it on whistle or flute, or fiddle.
Arbo
Very nice. Thanks! 
My pleasure! Thank you for listening!
Arbo
Just a newbie whistler here enjoying ‘a lovely wee tune’ and if I may suggest, tackle the whistle first, and then flute and fiddle.
And what revs me up even more is the tune played on an old Bb Generation 
Very nice!
Thank you for sharing the tune over here in the whistle forum. 
It sounds lovely! You executed this slow air in an exceptionally emotive manner.
“Emotive.” Yep, that should be a key element in any tune, but in an air? Well… wouldn’t be one without it now…
Yes, but it was very nicely done.
Skillz, ya got Skillz.
Very true. I’m only a beginner so when I play slow airs they tend to be a bit… skeletal, although that isn’t to say I haven’t progressed in that respect. As Mary Bergin said, “It’s harder to put feeling into a slow air compared to faster tunes…” and goes on to say how knowing the tune will help you play it “in a style that is more flowing”, which is a very good reason to learn by ear.
nice tune, nicely played!
Thanks!
Lovely tune.
Hey Mr. Guru, how about some ABC? (I must admit to being too lazy 
)
Arbo,
Nice playing on this air.
Cayden
Just the basic tune, for now.
X:1
T:Leaving Stage Harbor
R:Air
S:Arbo Doughty, from the playing of Rose Clancy
N:Played dotted, to taste
Z:MTGuru for C&F, 2012-09-06
M:6/8
K:AMix
E|ABA G2E|Ace dcd|ecA dBG|AEA G2E|
ABA G2E|Ace dcd|ecA dBG|A3 A2:|
e/f/|gfe aea|gec ded|cBA dBG|AEA G2E|
ABA G2E|Ace dcd|ecA dBG|A3 A2:|
Gentlemen, thank you both, Arbo and MTGuru, both for a piece of music that made me think “Wow, I wish I could play a tune like that!” and the transcription that made me think “Wow, maybe I can play a tune like that!”
Might I commend to you a tune I practice (but haven’t perfected) that I find in a similar vein … “Sarah’s Mandolin”, tune X:23 in the file http://www.cranfordpub.com/tunes/abcs/cranford_tunes101-200.txt
For us newbies learning by ear, would you take a moment to speak about what you are doing during the playing? Maybe not a play-by-play or note-for-note, but maybe speak to just a couple of phrases, the tricky ones. Anything is always appreciated.
Are you directing this to me? If so, that might be a little hard. This was just an un-rehersed, once off version of the tune. I have not sat down and really worked out what I would like to do… for instance, the ending phrases, and approach to the phrases I might change. I do like hanging on the last note of each phrase, especially when it gives a bit of tension to the tune, with respect to re-entering the phrases. Perhaps I should play around a bit and record it through a few times with some variations? Also, an explanation of what you consider a ‘tricky’ phrase would be helpful. I am glad to know that someone is interested.
Arbo
Here’s a more detailed transcription of the clip. I transcribed only the first time through each tune part, but this ought to give an idea of what Arbo’s playing. Which, as he says, is likely to be different each time through anyway.
X:1
T:Leaving Stage Harbor (Detail)
R:Air
S:Arbo Doughty, from the playing of Rose Clancy
Z:MTGuru for C&F, 2012-09-07
M:6/8
K:AMix
{D}E|{c}(A>BA) {FA}(G{A}>G{EA}E{FG})|{c}A>.cLe (d>cd)|{d}Je>.c{c}LA d>.B{B}(LG|JA>EA) {G}{FGA}PHG2 (E {FG})|
{Ac}(A>BA) {GA}(G{A}>G{EG}E{FG})|{c}A>.c(Le d>cd)|{d}Je>.cLA (dBG|JA3 {B}A2)
(e/f/)|{fa}(g>f{ea}e) {g}(Ja>ea)|{gfa}(g{a}g/e/c) (d>ed)|c>.BLA d>.B{B}(LG|JA>EA){F}({AGF}PHG2)(E{A})|
{c}(A>BA) {FA}(G{A}GE{FG})|{c}(A3/2c//).c//Le dzd|e>.cLA d>(BG|JA3 {c}A2)
Jesus MT!
I don’t think I could even make my way through this!
Arbo
I’ll take input anything from anybody, as I can’t read notation and have a very basic knowledge of ABCs so they’re both “foreign” language for me. Arbo, I realize the tune was a quick once thru, but, I’m just curious how you (musicians) work a tune out. What do you think it needs? I’m thinking along the lines that your “fingers/ears” tell you what to do. Maybe its improv? You keep playing it and it eventually works itself out, maybe not. Or is it mood swings? Or environment/occasion? But its by your own ear that determines the changes. You said you like “hanging on the last note of each phrase” to create tension, that’s the kind of insight I’m interested in hearing about.
Maybe I shouldn’t have used the word “tricky” related to phrases as its all tricky to me, perhaps the word should’ve been what “possibly” could I have done? I know that’s opening a can of worms, they are good fertilizer though. The tune is a “air” so that would somewhat limit the possibilities. Maybe that’s what I’m really asking, how do you narrow it down? What’s the process you use to tune the tune? And, I am interested in how you finally work it out whenever you do, please share.
MTGuru, thanks for the updated ABCs now I’ll have to dig out the ABC manual and transcribe the ABCs into english. ABCs have been a good education for me so far and I don’t mind putting in the effort with all of them brackets, less thans, more thans, etc., geez, I had a hard enough time just figuring out how to post on C & F… that’s tension and now I’m paying attention too. 