I heard this Joni Mitchell tune again the other day and tried it.
It sounds perfectly lovely on the Irish flute. I think I’m in
the key of G; it starts on the second octave D and
the highest note is the second octave Cnatural.
Is anybody aware of other richly melodic
tunes like this, either by JM or others? Thanks
Is anybody aware of other richly melodic
tunes like this, either by JM or others? Thanks
Halp! Aging brain cells. You know the genre–Judy Collins covered a lot
of these songs.
Sorry, Jim. The only retro tune going thru my head right now is “They Paved Paradise”, etc. (is that the title?)…and that’s JM! Bouncy, though…would that do?
“Both Sides Now” is such a beautiful tune that, after watching a documentary on Joni’s life on PBS earlier this year, I tried the tune on the uilleann pipes, because I thought it sounded like it was built around a monotone, or consistent bass note, and I thought it did sound good with the pipe drones.
They paved paradise! great, I’ll try it.
You know there were beautiful melodies
back then…maybe if I stand on my head
I’ll remember more of them. Thanks.
You probably already play Today? Anyway it’s lovely.
jim d.
Ive been messing around with "Blue" by Joni. Theres another one that I have to get to come out of this thing but I cant remember the name of it. She plays the dulcimar on the tune and it goes Oh I could drink a case of you darling, and still Id be on my feet, I would still be on my feet. Anyway its another killer tune by one of my all time favorite singer song writers. Theres also some good stuff on her more jazzy albumes but I aint ready for those yet. Both sides now would be good and there are a lot of tunes that Judy Collins did that would be great on the flute. Well one tune at a time I guess.
Tom
Hi, Jim:
Might try these by J. Collins, (I think):“Fairwell to Tarwaithi” (sp); “Someday Soon”; “My Father Always Promised Me (that we would live in France–that we’d go boating on the Sein, and I would learn to dance..” not sure of the title); “Bring in the Clowns”–probably have to speed up the tempo some on this.
“Christmas” is the title of the piece that Blackbeer was thinking of, I believe.
Nah–I got the J.Mitchel songs wrong: “Case of You” is the title, not “Christmas”; anyway, “I Wish I had a River,” is what I was thinking about orignially, not “Christmas.”
Well, you see the idea–lovely, melodic, ballady things
go well on the flute. I do play My Funny Valentine and
Someone to Watch Over Me. But I wish I knew more
of these tunes…
Someday Soon Going With Him is very good on the flute, indeed.
I perform on the street, and some of these are worth
their weight in gold. Both Sides Now is gonna help.
Jim: You probably already are aware of this, but the name of the Joni Mitchell song that this line comes from is “Big Yellow Taxi.”
All the Best, Tom
Yes, I just found a Joni M song book and got the title
right.
Remember the one man band by the quick lunch stand,
he was playing real good for free?
I “stole” a Judy Collins music book from my mum. Can’t think where it is atm, but i’ve never tried it on the flute - unbelievable. I usually play it on the keyboard.
My mum would always listen to Judy Collins, so naturally I’ve become hooked. I love listening to her songs.
One of my fav is “Suzanne”, but thats quite a slow one. Oh and “Holly Ann”, thats quite a good one too. Could get a really nice slurring effect on “Holly Ann”. Would recommend those.
I do agree with Chandl, “Bring in the clouds” would also be a lovely one to do, also agree that the tempo may need to be stepped up. Would also add “Who knows where the time goes” to the list too. Oh and also “Cook with Honey” but thats quite a lively tune.
Jim, I hope you have Joni’s version of “Both sides now,” from the album Clouds. Judy Blue Eyes does a great version, but Joni just puts a ton of emotion into it that Judy can’t with the large ensemble. A song of Joni’s that I had for many years thought was a traditional song is “Circle game,” the last song on Ladies of the canyon, an album that’s just rife with beautiful melodies for the whistle, especially if you have an E (I guess flute, on this board).
I didn’t much like the Judy Collins rendition that I
heard–the big ensemble didn’t help much.
It just brought back the tune…
thanks for Circle Game. Must listen to that album.
That’s a good one also.
“I heard his refrain as the signal changed, he was still playing real good for free.”
All the Best,
Tom
Dylan: My love she speaks like silence,without ideals or violence…
Not exactly irtrad, but for those of us who go back that far, there’s also some good stuff in the early Ian & Sylvia recordings. I’ve been working on “Katie Dear” and “Marianne” - with the close harmony they make nice duets, too.
I picked it out as soon as I read this ~ so a suggestion ~
Why don’t you start it in A?
You don’t have to get up as high, and there are no accidentals. 
Mary
That sounds good,too. I find high more dramatic,
also I’m playing on the street, and high
carries better. Thanks. Jim