something mike rafferty said while introducing a tune on the cce website videos: “i’ll try to play this one as slow as i can.”
i introduced this concept to the fiddler i was playing with at our monthly ceili dance. she said the dancers like it fast. i suggested we see how slow yet lively we can make it, instead of how fast and rushed we can. man what a difference! mike rafferty is a frreakin’ genius!
next time you play with ‘fast’ friends, test it out.
rama - do you mean playing fast tunes in a more musically way, like say Martin Hayes?
or slow motion?
Good question. I like playing slowly for artistic purposes. But OTOH, there are counter-examples: the pace of playing “advanced” hornpipes for stepdancers is excruciatingly glacial. The only thing that ever kept me from tearing at my wrists with my teeth to end the suffering was that my hands were holding the flute and my mouth was at the embouchure.
just so happpens a new video is up on the cce of mike rafferty.
http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_242_5_mike_rafferty_on_irish_flute/
it’s not the video i was originally referring to, but i think it conveys the message. he demonstrates far better than i ever could, or could describe in words. no rush job here.
This topic immediately reminds me of Laurence Nugent, one of the kings of slow reels and jigs. Unfortunately I can’t find any video of him playing 
It’s been 8 long years now since the release of Windy Gap. We miss ya Larry…
Loren
That’s a lovely clip, the Lilting Banshee. It’s got that lightness, that lift. If everybody who likes to play fast would slow down and put that lightness in instead, the music would have more life and soul than all the technical brilliance could possibly add.
Man. I’ll never forget the time when “The Nuge” was sitting in at a local session and he started in on Sally Gardens as a slow reel. Now, Sally Gardens from the get-go has never been a personal favorite of mine, slow or fast, but Larry gave it a life and a beauty I’d never heard before, and a dignity that I’d never have thought was inherent in the tune. Can’t quite put my finger on what the difference was; it wasn’t particularly heavy with ornamentation. I’d love to hear it again, if for nothing more than the novelty of the experience, and, maybe, to learn something.
Larry is amazing; a musician’s musician. He was at the Tionol in St. Louis last spring, and getting to hear him in sessions was a treat (though sitting next to him was terrifying 
).
I hope he records something again, and soon.
'Just loved it! I’m hearing and enjoying the actual music, rather than just listening to technical prowess (i.e. someone showing off their lightning-fast fingers).
I want more… Who else plays like this?
Dana
… and mimcgann says …
(just guessing that he’ll HAVE to post a couple names, here )
If he doesn’t, I’ll post 'em a little later.
Oops. Caught lurking! (Hi, Cat!)
Well, there is the other Master from Galway, Jack Coen, who has 3 cds–I think WARMING UP has been reissued.
Also, another favorite, shared with Cat, is Paul Smyth, who has a recording out called UP AND AWAY.
Steady and lively, without sacrificing melody to speed.
Mmmmmmm!
Rafferty’s music is lovely. Thanks for posting.
I second mimcgann! (good to hear you! )
I also think PJ Crotty & the Cullinans’ CD, “Happy to Meet,” is a gem. It’s a little quicker, more of a slow lope than a trot, but not too much, and it’s lovely lively music.
Also in my “moving into a canter/hand gallop but my ear can still keep up … plus it’s such great music I can listen all day” category are John Lee and Seamus McGuire’s “The Missing Reel;” the very first Cherish the Ladies (way before Joanie) recordings from Outlet Records; Dave Sheridan’s “Sheridan’s Guesthouse;” Michael Clarkson’s “The Far Set;” Alan & John Kelly’s “Fourmile House,” a fair amount of John Wynne & Kevin Crawford & John Skelton/Kieran O’Hare’s stuff, and of course, anything played by my faves, the Mulcahy family (tho’ Mr McG will disagree with me on this one, I fear).
These are the ones at the top of my heap that have flute players in them somewhere.
Meanwhile, my favorite listening of late is Angelina Carberry’s teaching recordings. I bop around to even her snail’s pace versions … awesome. I wanna play like THAT. Thanks, Arbo!
( a video of them playing: http://youtube.com/watch?v=uNhkRQB6rwg&feature=related )
and
http://www.theyllbegoodyet.com/
(a video of them playing : http://youtube.com/watch?v=KpcM6LEeon4 )
Oooh, ooh that’s my fave, right there – but I left it out because of the lack of flute. There is some fun whistling however …
Another nice one if you like fiddles and accordions is Diarmuid O Brien’s new “Cairde Cairdin.” Wonderful.
Thanks for the suggestions, all! Now to go listen…
Dana
Bump.
This thread, emphasizing the importance of playing slowly, is too good to lt die.
Start every tune within your comfort zone. Only play as fast as the most difficult part can be played. Speed of playing is not a virtue. Playing too fast makes a tune ugly. Relax - speed makes you tense. Tension can ruin the beauty of the tune.
Yeah, man, I get all wound up every time I watch Molloy play “The Bucks.” He really should watch himself. Cheers,
Rob
You might like Paddy Carty, Roger Sherlock, and Sean Moloney.