On 2002-08-22 22:27, cowtime wrote:
He sang the tune,explaining that there are specific sylables for each note on the pipes, like HA or Hey.
Would that mean it’s more a form of solmization rather than scat?
I see, from Roger O’Keeffe’s post, that the pipers’ solmization form is Scottish, whereas Irish lilting is random.
You’re comparing apples and oranges here. The piper’s solmization, as you call it, is canntaireachd: a system for verbal transmission of bagpipe music in which notes and embellishments have been assigned unique sounds and names. It is very structured, specific to piobaireachd, with absolutely no elements of improvisaion as in scat, and completely different from “mouth music”.
Lilting, diddling, jigging what ever it is called I love it. I use it to teach the bodhran to students, to get the tune in their head, it helps with the rhythm and to learn and remember the tune.
It also helps me on the whistle, all though I can lip whistle all the tunes in key, and have whistled while playing the bodhran at a session, something that I have been able to do since I was a kid.
And at times have pulled the fiddlers jewels out of the fire when they forgot how a tune or set of tunes go when performing, I just jig it for them.
Garry Shannon (flute) has a CD called “Loozin’ Air”. I enjoy his flute playing, and on the last track he lilts (overtracks the flute). Really he is
“taking the Mickey” but I think he does a great job on the lilting, I find the fun infectious.
On 2002-08-24 09:47, Teri-K wrote:
You’re comparing apples and oranges here. The piper’s solmization, as you call it, is canntaireachd: a system for verbal transmission of bagpipe music in which notes and embellishments have been assigned unique sounds and names. It is very structured, specific to piobaireachd, with absolutely no elements of improvisaion as in scat, and completely different from “mouth music”.
I love lilting! I lilt out loud wherever I go. It’s a great way to get a tune really deeply and to explore variations and ornamentation. I don’t take it seriously, but I’ve had a number of Irish musicians tell me I’m the best lilter they’ve ever heard and that I should enter the Fleadh in the lilting competition :roll: I suspect this might not be as much of a complement as it would seem, especially since nobody has ever said anything like that about my flute playing
I’ve taught some whistle and flute lessons and I always insist that my students learn to lilt the tunes before they attempt to play them on the flute. I really believe that if you can sing it then you can, without a heck of a lot of trouble, play it.
Diddly dum,
Chris
The more you give the more there is.
[ This Message was edited by: ChrisLaughlin on 2002-08-25 20:31 ]
I’ve tried to lilt myself many times, I mean, to lilt effectively, and I found the ariculation of the syllables extremelt difficult.
Yet I must say that just after an Irish (gaelic) class my lilting is usually much better; I’d say that the sound usually employed in lilting have a lot to do with the phonemes of Irish; so, once my mouth was ‘configured’ to speak Irish, the lilting flew out easily.
There are several sources for good canntaireachd. One is the Ancient Piobaireachd albums by Willie Barrie in which several piobaireachd are sung with instrumental accompaniment. A series of tutorial CDs were released featuring P/M Donald MacLeod singing the canntaireachd for tunes.
At Piping Hot Summer Drummer, a piping and drumming school put on by the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, all of the pipers are required to sing the canntaireachd of the ground and first couple variations of a piobaireachd.
A great example is on Simon Fraser University Pipe Band’s “Down Under” CD in which the pipers sing the canntaireachd to the ground of a piobaireachd then follow it up by playing some of the remaining variations together with harmonies. I believe a RealAudio clip is available on their website. http://www.sfupipeband.com/html/media.html
Canntaireachd and lilting are great ways of illustrating how if you can sing a tune, you can play it.
Slainte!
Aaron
[ This Message was edited by: AaronMalcomb on 2002-10-01 10:42 ]
I love lilting! I lilt out loud wherever I go. It’s a great way to get a tune really deeply and to explore variations and ornamentation. I don’t take it seriously, but I’ve had a number of Irish musicians tell me I’m the best lilter they’ve ever heard and that I should enter the Fleadh in the lilting competition :roll: I suspect this might not be as much of a complement as it would seem, especially since nobody has ever said anything like that about my flute playing 