I need ideas for good peices to learn. I like to play to amuse my friends and family, so I’m not overly worried about knowing popular session tunes. I want try to learn music that is either fun (hornpipes, jigs, etc), “pretty” (aires), or recognisable (tunes to songs), because these seem to go over best when a friend relative asks for a demonstration. At the moment, my repotoir consists of The Foggy Dew, Rakes of Mallow, The Wild Rover, The Wearing of the Green (people sometimes know this one), The Rights of Man, The Boys of Bluehill, The Strayaway Child, Loch Lomand (Scottish, I know, but people (a) like it and (b) don’t realize the tinwhistle is Irish), Ye Banks and Breas of Bonny Doon (Scottish, I know), and Bonny Charlie (also Scottish).
I’d like suggestions for Traditional (Irish, Scottish, other) tunes that the average person is likely to enjoy or recognise.
Others with a high fun/work ratio:
The Leaving of Liverpool (song)
Slow Barn Dance (from the BBC session)
Spootdiskerry (simple fun reel)
Ned of the Hill (great air, goes well with Rights of Man)
Red Is The Rose
Check out O´Carolan tunes - fun and easy to play and lovely to listen to!
Most people who don´t know very much about irish music use to like his tunes!
Some other suggestions: Danny Ab´s slide, Bill Collins (jig), Taimse im Chodladh (air), Those endearing young charms (air), The gentle maiden (air), Women of ireland (air), The scartaglen polka, The cameronian reel, Lannigan´s ball/The kerry dance (as played by James Galway on Legends), The Liverpool Hornpipe.
Just wondering, why look specifically for Irish if you want something that people recognize? You seem partial to Scottish, and have picked some lovely tunes there. There are a whole slew of very recognizable English and American tunes, including hymns and lullabys that are very recognizable, and might even encourage one of your audience to sing or hum along. My mother, who doesn’t much care for whistle because its high pitched, warmed to it when I played a Yiddish folk tune.
We tend to get wrapped up in the Irish music on this site, but it is not the only music that can sound wonderful on a whistle.
I’m interested in pretty much anything–Irish and Scottish being my preferences along with Galacian music when I can find it. Personally, I like playing hornpipes and reels, but they can sound repetitive if you don’t have an interest in traditional music. The advantage to song tunes is people recognise them and generally, to the unfamiliar, each will sound more unique. The advantage to dance tunes, however, is that it’s harder to hear when I screw up.
“O Shenendoah” is my show stopper on the low whistle, moves through the octaves nicely, a little vibrato, a little legato – gorgeous. “Si Beag Si Mohr” now there’s a pretty tune (hope they play that one at my funeral – or wedding). “Sailor’s hornpipe” is a hit with the kids.
Thanks to everyone for reminding me of some tunes I wouldn’t have thought of.
Doug
