Slow Airs

Whistle
1

I’m looking to learn a new slow air on a low D,something very haunting and at the same time having a catchy melody to it…any suggestions?

2

I’m not sure about what it means for something to be simultaneously “haunting” and “catchy”, but maybe Crested Hens will do it?

X:39
T:Crested Hens
R:Air
Q:150
M:3/4
L:1/8
K:EDor
E2EGFE|B4Bc|dc Be dc|dc BA GF|
E2EGFE|B4Bc|dc BA GA|1 B3G FD:|2 B4 ef||
gB Bg gB|=c4ef|gf ag fe|^d2e2f2|
gB Bg gB|=c4ef|gf ag fd|1 e3e ef:|2 e6|>|

The Solas version is a bit “deeper” than this.

I always advise listening to tunes on http://fingertrip.net/whistle/ and picking something that you like the sound of. There are MP3s and dots.

3

Darwin beat me to it. I agree, completely. ‘Crested Hens’ fits your specifications. My band is working on it at present. What a winner…
Best.
Byll

4

For comparison:

http://www.concertina.net/tunes_detail.html?rec_id=179

5

I assume you already know Inisheer

6

Inisheer is a great one.
There’s also The Skye Boat Song and you can really work Amazing Grace.
Oh, Down By The Sally Gardens too.

Mike

7

a few of my favorites:

Wounded Hussar
Banks of Sullane
An Buachaillin Ban
General Monroe’s Lament
Paistin Fionn (as an air, not the hornpipe)

…and yes, Crested Hens (and for a version with that “haunting” mood, you might want to check out the version by Solas)

and lest we forget - Lonesome Boatman…

Autumn Child - technically a slow reel, but it can certainly played with that poignant feel to it.

also, I sometimes play traditional songs (i.e., music with lyrics) on whistle/flute, such as:

The Boatman
Black is the Colour
Aisling Gheal
Maighdean Mhara
Ta Mo Chleamhnas A Dheanamh

by the way, “Traditional Slow Airs of Ireland” by Tomas O’Canainn has 118 slow airs + 2 cds. one of my favorite sources for slow airs.

lastly, if you’re inclined towards more modern tunes (as I am), anything from Davy Spillane’s The Sea of Dreams…

8

Immigrants Daughter is a very nice slow aire

9

She moved through the fair, gets my vote

Mark

10

The most haunting one I have ever heard is Poor Irish Boy. It’s gorgeous.

11

An Buachaillin Ban from the album Callan Bridge. Oh jeez. I heart it.

The Wounded Hussar definitely is a winner to me. Tim Britton’s version [Barefoot on the Altar ~ Chulrua] is B-E-A-U-tiful.

12

How could I forget the “Hare’s lament”…just slow it down just a tad…

13

The Maids of Mitchelstown - as played by the Bothy Band - has a melody
(and counter melody) which is both catchy and haunting. It is a slow
reel as opposed to a slow air but it might still suit your purposes.

Colin

14

I like Amhrán A Leabhair, Roisin dubh, Minstrel Boy, Hector the Hero, the South Wind.

I need to check out some of the others listed in previous replies. I’m always interested in learning new tunes.

Paulsdad

15

One more…

At my Thursday session, we’ve started doing Four Green Fields. It’s a song, but you can do it as an air. It’s really nice.

Mike

16

Bachelor’s Farewell,
Moran’s Return
Sargant Early’s Dream

Coilsfield House
TheTroubled Child
Another vote for ‘She Moved Through the Fair.’

17

Folks at my Monday session play a haunting melody called After](http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/1308%22%3EAfter) the Battle of Aughrim
I guess it’s technically a polka, but it’s too mournful to play very fast…
It’s catchy… I usually walk away from the session humming it for hours.

18

I really like the Woman of Ireland. You can hear it on Joannie Madden’s Songs for the Irish Whistle. It’s pretty easy to figure out too.