Looking for recommendation for recordings with Irish Rhythms

Whistle
1

I’m looking for CD’s or (online) metronomes that have a selection of Irish rhythms to accompany me when practicing/playing the whistle.

I used The Irish Beat Conductor by Jules Bitter when I had access to Spotify
(http://www.amazon.com/The-Irish-Beat-Conductor/dp/B0026GF6IW/ref=sr_shvl_album_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1302990487&sr=301-2).
I like that you have the rhythms in different tempo’s, but I’d prefer more natural sounding recordings.

Today I found a CD by Mark Stone called The Brodhran
(http://www.amazon.com/The-Bodhran/dp/B0013PMZNG/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2PHNOIV4J5E3P&colid=1UGEFH78V1SKJ).
Looks very good, but the rhythms are only in one speed.

Before I buy anything, I was wondering if anybody else has found good Irish rhythm recordings, or an other way to get the rhythms to play along to.

Thanks,
Folkert

2

I have Mark Stone’s CD around here. I’ve taken part in bodhran workshops with Mark, actually more like a tag-team workshops between Mark and Albert Alfonso. I like Mark’s playing. He’s a good drummer, a nice guy and a good teacher. I talked to him a couple years after the last workshop and bought the CD from him. The rhythms presented on his CD are played at typical ITM tempos, and useful as intended. They are meant as bodhran instruction examples and not as play-along samples. I guess you could try them that way. There’s no reason you couldn’t see how one of the many tempo/pitch software applications that are now available would speed-up or slow-down Mark’s tracks as you might want them. Amazing Speeder-upper anyone?

There’s no substitute for playing live with decent players. I’m not sure what you are trying to accomplish with this though. There are plenty of “session” CD’s and Internet recordings out there to play with. Those will include melody instruments though. Are you just looking for bodhran tracks? I’ve got a couple collections of acidized bodhran loops here too. I find them pretty cold as backing They don’t follow the tunes very well but the beat goes on, and on, and on. If you know what I mean. I use Band In A Box to write and arrange other forms of acoustic music but the Irish rhythms in BiaB, even with Real Drummer and Real Band, are somewhat unconvincing.

You can always use commercial CDs and employ speed/pitch software to play along at your preferred pace.


Feadoggie

3

I just use a plain metronome, usually set to 1/1 time.

You could use Audacity to make a clicktrack. With audacity, you are only limited by your creativity and patients with the software. I used it to set up a click track for our pipe band’s medley, including many tempo and time signature changes. It only took about 15 minutes to get it finished.

4

Thanks Feadoggie and Highland-piper,

I’ve practiced with a metronome up to now, but I’ve noticed that tunes just make more sense when learning them listening to (and practicing with) the rhythm they are supposed to be played at. For me, difficult parts that are hard using metronome become easy when helped by the beat of the rhythm they are meant to be played at.
That’s why I’m looking for recordings of brodhran tracks.

I’ve also found the (free download) session recordings at Comhaltas.

http://comhaltas.ie/shop/detail/foinn_seisiun_book_volume_2/
http://comhaltas.ie/shop/detail/foinn_seisiun_book_volume_1/

Great for me to have as I don’t have access to a session.
I have more recordings of this type to play along with, but what I’m looking for is material to practice or learn a tune. That’s why I thought of brodhran recordings.

Thanks for the tip of using software to slow the tracks down. I downloaded Audacity today.

5

Have a look through the years of tunes at the Riley School of Irish Music then.

Feadoggie