That’s usually a good way to kick off a gig. We’ve got a nice set where it begins with a slow air on the flute (Charlie’s Lament), then moves on to Jim Ward’s Jig, followed by 2 polkas (load of hay, mango island) played extra quick. By the end of the set, the only people not dancing must be dead.
All I play pretty much is Airs, and slow marches thanks to a Carpel Tunnel surgery about a year ago, I still have great use of my hand but it gets sore easier than it used to, The doctor says it take a good year or two to fully recover…
that’s how we would say it in Maine.
Anywhoo, being a NON Irish trad aspiring player, I first got into Uilleann piping after hearing a slow air.
I said to meself, I want to buy those pipes, and play tunes using the same sort of musical color palette as he has. I realized that I wouldn probably find those notes on any other instrument.
So I did.
I for one, am probably a bit of a black sheep in this crowd, as I :
- am not learning(currently)from a live instructor
- love slow air style so much, that it’s pretty much all I do play, when I do.
However, I do intend on learning more traditional jig/reel methods & tunes as well.
My bent is currently toward musical theatre/special church music, and as such at least thus far, where I fit in to the musical spectrum is playing slower pieces.
Well, that’s my .02
Perhaps when I get the guts up to attend my first tionol, I’ll be properly beaten into shape..
cheers all from Maine.
Rich
Yea I have a lot of contemporary church music Im going to work on. If I can put my Highland pipes down for a while…