Since I’m still pretty new on flute and it’s been suggested that I stick to the first octave or so to work on getting a good tone before tackling the second octave (good advice) I’ve been practicing with some of my favorite one octave (plus or minus a note) tunes.
Here’s the top ten I go back to over and over (I tend to go to these on whistle too when I’m tired or can’t think of what else to play). I also like challenging myself to play them slowly and as expressively as I can.
In no particular order:
Wayfaring Stranger
Simple Gifts
Sally Garden
500 Miles (the folk tune, not the one by the Proclaimers )
Dawning of the Day (years ago this was the first tune I learned on whistle thanks to the old Vinnie Kilduff video)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Scarborough Fair
O Come O Come Emmanuel
Never Love Thee More
Auld Lang Syne
Anyone else have a short list of favorite simple tunes they come back to now and then (trad or otherwise)? I could use some new ones!
Just adding that any tune can be played in the compass of 1 octave by simply folding the upper register down. No need for special repertoire. And it’s a necessary skill anyway.
I’m not sure it’s “good advice” to stick to the first octave. You improve the upper register by … playing the upper register. And practice long tones in the lower register. These things are not mutually exclusive.
Also you improve the lower register by (among other things) playing the upper one.
It develops a stronger embouchure.
The thread is predicated on a presumption that I do think is doubtful
and possibly counter-productive. There may be a point to this
for a little while, but I do think it’s best sooner rather than
later to really play the flute. When you can play those tunes, for instance,
time for the training wheels to come off the bicycle.
I’ve been playing nearly ten years, FWIW. A number of teachers,
books, never heard this thing before.
Actually… I just wanted to know what people’s favorite tunes were that had a fairly limited range… that was the point of this thread. I know there are lists and websites out there of octave (plus or minus) tunes (and it was someone in another thread that had suggested the thing about making the first octave solid before moving to the next) … but anyway … all responses have been interesting!
‘Since I’m still pretty new on flute and it’s been suggested that I stick to the first octave or so to work on getting a good tone before tackling the second octave (good advice) I’ve been practicing with some of my favorite one octave (plus or minus a note) tunes.’
Sorry to take it all so seriously, and lots of newbies may well be reading what you endorse as ‘good advice.’ Probably it’s not
good advice and this needs to be said for their sake, or else they will take it, too.
A thread about tunes to be played entirely in one octave is fine, of course. Note that they can be played in
the second octave too, most of them. The third octave D will help and is accessible with a bit of practice.
Oh my! As a noob at flute I don’t think my endorsement holds much sway! And as a non-noob at playing music in general I tend to take anyone’s advice on here with some interest, but I end up doing what feels right to me.
And as I mentioned… I got that advice from someone on the board who (I’m assuming) was not a noob (though anyone can pretend to have whatever experience they want to tout, I suppose).
Of course, the thing that all the titles you listed have in common is that they are all songs, not simply tunes. And folk songs with a restricted range of 1 octave or so are common, given the conventions and limitations of the folk voice. So common English-Celtic-American folk song melodies are likely to be a good candidates.
Another source might be tunes associated originally with instruments with a restricted compass, such as GHB or various smallpipes.
If you know how to recognize the difference between plagal melodies (tonic in the middle of the range) and authentic melodies (tonic at the ends of the range), you can adjust the keys to keep them mostly in the lower octave.
And again, octave folding is definitely worth getting comfy with. Especially if your goal is eventually Irish trad flute, where octaves can be delightfully fungible.
)
