The Rambling Pitchfork, Connachtman’s Rambles and Out on the Ocean were some of the first tunes I ever learned. They are suitable for teaching complete beginners, but nobody is too good to play them, and even record them: Tommy Peoples, a master in most people’s books, has recorded all of them. As I choose to play these again and again, is nostalgia influencing me unduly, or is there something that sets these and other simple, perfect tunes apart from the piles of tunes out there? If they really are special, why?
Some others that I put in this category: The Morning Star, Munster Buttermilk (Behind the Haystack), the Banshee. These sound good fast or slow, solo or with a band, and are managable for the most inexperienced players.
Maybe the good, old, common tunes are good because they are old and common; so many people playing them for so long has refined them to perfection. Or perhaps they are old, common tunes, rather than old, dead tunes, because they are and always were good.
Some more: High Part of the Road, Old Favorite, Tommy Peoples (reel, the G2BG cGBG one).
I love the Bride’s Favorite. I don’t know about some of these tunes suggested here, though…I must say I’ve always hated Connaghtman’s Rambles (those shriekingly high notes, yuck!)
If I think about perennial favorites, I really like the Sligo Maid. Ripping good, straightforward reel and one of the best of those typical Amin e~a3 e~a3 B-parts (you know like Knotted Cord, Green Groves of E etc etc).
As for jigs, I think it’s hard to beat Garret Barry’s
I like a lot of favourites. Harvest Home, Lark in the Morning, Banish Misfortune and Dan O’Keefe’s Slide are a few that others haven’t named. Gee, I even like the Kesh friggin Jig.
Nothing’s wrong with The Kesh Jig, but once you’ve mastered it, it does get to be a little exasperating if you have to play it multiple times for the sake of politeness every effin week.
If you can get through that tune without speeding up or slowing down, can add variations, and can play it with a bit of lift and spirit, great. congratulations.
Now go learn some other tunes
Take one of O’Neill’s books, a stack of recordings, and get to work. No whining. Whining is verboten. Whiners will be shot. Shutup and practice.
This reminds me of those priceless moments when you finally pluck up your courage (or control your rage) and take the bodhran player/guitarist to one side and tell them that if they are going to play right, they are going to have to actually learn the tunes: and you get that stricken, horrified look in return that says: “You mean all those tunes? Learn them? But that’s impossible!”
I don’t know about some of these tunes suggested here, though…I must say I’ve always hated Connaghtman’s Rambles (those shriekingly high notes, yuck!)
