Tune Help? (Black is the Colour)

Whistle
1

I’m trying to learn “Black is the Color” - the way I used to hear it when I was little.

But I’m having problems finding the version (or something similar enough) that I want. I recall it having a lot of flats, though those might have been vocal embellishments (or slip ups… I was about three or four) - At any rate… I can’t find any sheet music, tabulatures, ABCs… nothing, about this tune. (Well, there’s an ABC on Sniff, and sheet music too, but its to a… weird… version of the tune.)

Someone on Clips and Snips plays it almost exactly the way I recall it, but I’m having the damndest time matching my whistle to his.

If someone happens to know of a notation of any kind RE this air, I’d appreciate a shove in the right direction.

2

Could you post the link to that so we know exactly what you’re looking
for? I don’t know which version you heard when you were little.

Wait, is it this version, played by Patrick Ashley?
http://www.tinwhistletunes.com/clipssnip/Audio/12-03/BlackistheColorPatrickA.mp3

3

oh! I’m sorry! I wrote the post when I was pretty sleepy. Yes, thats the version. =)

4

Just listened to that clip- absolutely beautiful! I remember christy Moore singing that when I was little and heard another lovely version a couple of years ago on Cara Dillon’s first album. But that clip there was really haunting. Nice one Patrick!! :slight_smile:

I’ve heard it played mostly in Am but Patricks version is in Bm.
Sounds like he might be playing the Am version on a Low E whistle which puts him in Bm-I’m not sure.

5

My guess is Bm played on a low D. The first frase starts on B and ends on D with a G and F# in there. The second has a C# and high D. It’s a nice tune.