I have an old Cathal McConnell tutorial that is tune book and 3 cassettes. It has been my favorite because it contains many of my favorite tunes learnt and learning, and Cathal is, well, Cathal on the tapes.
I would love to obtain the same tutorial but with CDs. My good friend Tom Dowling was kind enough as always to show me the new CD and tune book, but we realized that it does not contain, for whatever reason all of the tunes of the original.
Does anyone know whether the full older version exists, but with CD?
Homespun Tapes makes 2 versions of the original cassette tape series. One is a 3 CD series, and the other is a shortened version on a single CD. That’s probably the one Mr Dowling has. They have abbreviated versions of several of their instruction series. I like the original series.
Does yours have the same number of CDs? I seem to recall reading that there was a version (perhaps this one at Elderly) that had all that the old tutorial had.
(Looks like I posted at the same time as bigpalooka.)
Thanks so much Keith and BigPalooka. It turns out that Homespun, which released the original, only has the one CD shortened version. I ordered the full 3 CD version from Elderly. Elderly lists it as “Beginner,” which I find amusing and informed the lovely lady, that while good for beginners, there are a number of particularly challenging tunes, that is to be played correctly, that are a nice enough handful for “Advanced” as well. Tommy People’s Jig #1, The Musical Priest, Banish Misfortune, and even old favorites like The Kesh and Morrison’s, are really not so easy to play VERY WELL, up to speed with appropriate ornamentation, solid rolls, well placed breathing, proper phrasing, etc. While the same applies to the tunes in the single first CD version, that would be better termed “Beginners.”
We are indeed a grossly misunderstood lot, eh?
Anyway thanks again guys; this remains the best place to look for answers to lots of stuff.
I have the abbreviated version. I’d like to get the full length version. Is there a longer book containing all the tunes to go with the 3 CD version as well?
This was the first book I used to learn from. Coming from saxophone, I didn’t need the basic books people often recommend. I could play blues and jazz on whistle within weeks of buying my first one. What I needed was instruction in Irish music and this was what I got.
When we are asked what we would recommend to newbies, I’ve often mentioned this book and been really surprised that people in general seem to prefer books I don’t consider half as good. So it’s really good to see that others like it as well.
As I said, it’s my favorite. It appears that the Elderly 3 CD version has all the tunes of the original long version on cassettes in both book and on CDs; I’ll certainly let you know when I get it. I too have always been surprised that this tuturial does not receive big raves from more people, but hey Wombat, it’s our little secret.
Just got it from Elderly - a nice compact package sans the original big plastic cover to house the cassettes. Anyway, it contains ALL of the tunes of the original both in the tune book and on the 3 CDs. I am reminded that this is truly a wonderful tool and a joy for both beginners (Cathal does intro, holding the whistle, beginning to play and ornamentation throughout, as well as tunes first slowly then at speed) and advanced players (and all those between).