After I played at my sisters wedding a few weeks ago I got asked to play a tune for a charity event in our local church this month. The theme is “Water” as raised funds will go to a water project in Africa, and the tune I was asked to play is “The water is wide” (Waly Waly). As it’s a simple tune and for a good cause, I could not say no.
But now I start to feel a bit unsure of my abilities to keep this short and simple tune interesting for a good +2 minutes. Any input on variations or ornamentations would be most appreciated. If you can point me to a good recording, mp3, video clip… of the tune being played on uilleann pipes or by a solo piper it would it would be very handy. So far I have only found piping version with Highland pipe bands that has been of very little use.
The interpretation of the tune that I have come to like themost so far is a song by Eva Cassidy.
If I only could transform that over to my own piping I would be safe
There are several versions on YouTube. It’s such a plain tune that I can’t see playing it more than once or twice through as an instrumental, unless you want to go totally rococco on the ornamentation. Another option you should consider is actually singing the tune along with your pipes.
That IS the problem, and that’s why I was hoping for some nice variations or a very similar tune I could steal a few bars from to dare play it a third time around. A long interlude might do the trick?
I looked through the youtube clips but can’t find anything useful on pipes, James Taylor and Pete Seger both do a nice job on the tune but I think I better stay away from singing it myself. Don’t want to end up with something that will remind people of the the first week auditions of American Idol
I don’t want people to be bored, so maybe I can work on an introduction to end up on “The water is wide” and then play it two times, with some moderate variations for the second run.
I don’t have the option to chicken out so any useful input on any variations or introduction would be very much appreciated.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FpFS4PVtuA
This version goes on for aboot 3minutes wi a little key change and a second or two of pipes at the end.
Are there other instruments playing…ye could all pitch in at various points.
It is a seriously boring tune and reminds moi of traveling in a lift (elevator) to nowhere.
Play it through and then kick ass wi Out on the Ocean and watch the congregation wake up. Or failing that ye could throw a bucket of water o’er them and pretend its a wave or something.
Good Luck
Slán Go Foill
Uilliam
