I am slowly easing myself into flute, I have not divorced my whistles as yet, so have not totally moved over to what the whistlers call the Dark side, I have been looking for the notes for the waltz/air The Coolin in D,
also I have heard Michael Flatleys Whispering Wind, is this a variation on the Coolin or do the notes for this exist on anyones computer, in any form ABC or real notation, I have one version of the Coolin of the session.org but it dose’nt sound right its in the key of G and not D.
Best way to learn a slow air like The Coolin is to play along with a recording you like. Figure out a few phrases and follow the flow. Playing the Coolin in key of D, start on A B C# d. Playing in G, start with d e f# g.
Don’t know anything about the Flatley tune - if it sounds like The Coolin then it probably is. One of my pet hates is people taking trad. tunes making a few twists to them and then claiming them as original and copyrightable material for commercial purposes. Don’t know if that’s case here but wouldn’t be surprised!
Well, if you want to be pendantic, best way to learn a slow air is to learn how to sing the song that goes with air. Then play it as an air - Dessie Wilkinson’s take.
The notes to The Coolin’ are in various books and locations, so it shouldn’t be difficult to find. If you fail, which you shouldn’t…but if you do, lemme know…I have a pair that I can fax you (or email if need be).
I’m workin on a beautiful set of variations on the Coolin played by Charles Nicholson. Very neat stuff. Maybe someday I can actually play it!
And I get to learn it on a Clementi-Nicholson flute.
The Coolin (An Chúilfhionn) is most commonly played in G, but I’ve heard recordings in the NPU archive of pipers playing it in D (including Leo Rowsome if I remember rightly).
Here’s a setting in G written out from the playing of the piper Chris Langan:
(The parts are generally played twice each). I think its a really good way to get to know an instrument if you learn it in one key then transpose it across to another instinctually and in your own sweet time.
many thanks for all the help, I tracked a book down with a vast array of tunes in, so I am all set, Amazon UK had a few in there used items sections,
so as soon as the postman delivers today or tommorrow i’ll be off.
