What are the most common airs that one should have in one’s repertoire?
Well the only reason I can think of to needing tunes in your repertoire (which is what “should have” implies to me) is if you’re going to play with others. In that circumstance, airs are unlike reels and jigs (which are usually group efforts) in that they are usually solo affairs.
So really, the only airs you ‘need’ are the ones you just are dying to know.
I would suggest you first ask yourself why you are thinking of playing airs (be honest, here). If you are just playing airs because you believe pipers are supposed to play airs, then I would suggest you give a listen to what other pipers are playing on CDs and copy that. You will find that there are often the same airs played by many pipers, or to put it another way, pipers don’t play all that many different airs, prferring just a few “standards”.
On the other hand, if you think playing airs is fabulous stuff, I suggest you get started collecting recordings of actual singers of airs. Good UP playing of airs is supposed to be based on real sung renditions. Listen to what sean nós singers do with an air, then listen to how good pipers play the same air. This should get you acquainted with air playing, what can be accomplished, as well as what is expected.
djm
Well, as you seem to have read in my post, I’m thinking one ‘ought’ to have some airs in one’s repertoire.
My GHB tutor had me study piobaireachd, which actually I do not like. I learned 3 or 4 of them and now that I’m not taking lessons any more I never play piobaireachd - I compete in GHB grade 3 and I only do marches, strathpeys, and reels.
I’m glad I learnt some piobaireachd and glad to know a few urlars still, but except for having my GHB students learn at least 2, I don’t bother with it and enjoy making fun of piobaireachd. 
I play Eamonn an Choic and I rather like it. Wonder if I’d like some more?
Anyway, point well taken on airs – I’ll learn a few to see if I’d like it.
Thanks-
Dave Jones
I personally don’t care much for airs. I couldn’t follow them at all at first, and put a lot of time and money into learning more about the sean nós tradition. Now I can follow along better, but also realize I’m not big on them - but that’s just my personal tastes. I have no intention of dissuading others who may like them. If you like slow airs, I’d say go for it, but if you don’t care for them, don’t sweat it. If you’re not going to be a professional UPiper, you’re seldom if ever going to have to play any.
djm
Taimse im Chodhladh (sp?) - “Don’t wake me, I’m sleeping”, is an old favourite. I heard an old recording of Sean O’Riada singing it and the way Liam O’Flynn plays it on Words and Music is almost an exact copy, almost. Straight forward but with emotion.
Some people stuff airs up, IMHO, because they suffer from what I call ‘R&B mentality’ - you know, like wannabe ‘Idols’ auditioning singing songs with an overkill’s worthy of Mariah Carey warbling and singing everything but the bloody note - have you seen the Simpson’s episode where Bleeding Gums Murphy sings ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ at the baseball? That sort of thing.
Cheers,
DavidG
What a pity. That Kennedy B set of your looks like it would be great for airs.
djones,
If an air grabs you by the “soul” or “gonads” 
then that is what you must learn and play. Little point really in learning an air you don’t particularly like 'cos you’ll only end up playing it without soul and feeling. :roll:
Having said that, I’ve never ever attempted to learn any type of tune I do not like, be it an air, jig, reel et cetera. I could never see the point in that.
IMHO the pipes are THE most expressive instrument in the world but to get the best from them one needs to be “attuned” to the instrument whereby pipes and piper are as one and the sound is coming from the pipes but the expression is coming from the player.
I don’t want to sound “spiritual” or “mystical” ('cos I aint) but just go with your sixth sense and play what comes from the soul.
As mentioned, listen to a few CD’s. Try listening to Ronan Brown’s “Port na bPucai” or Seamus Ennis’s “By the River of Gems”. If they leave you cold, move on and find one or two you do like.
Joseph (the “non spiritual” UK one) 
in my neck of the woods, beginners like may morning dew. learn it from the cd of the same name and you will add a great piping cd to your repetiore. mick o’brian. i dont remember if he plays it on concert or flat pipes and cannot check right now. but you can learn from any cd by first learning on a whistle of the same pitch as the cd. once you have absorbed the melody line- its less than 120 secs, you can play it on pipes. like many airs, it uses f nat in the second octave, which can be played with a key if you have one but can be played even on many unkeyed chanters. ask us how if you don’t know.
meir
These are the 4 that I’ve been working on.
À stòr mo chroi
Sliabh na mban
Bean dubh an ghleanna
Cape Clear
There are a few more that I play but which I don’t think count as slow airs (but I play them in that style):
On the banks of the Lee
Àr nAthair
I don’t think it’s necessary to have a huge repertoire of slow airs. If they allow you to play two at a session or gig, consider yourself lucky. Although, if you really like slow airs and wish to collect them, that’s a different matter entirely.
The booklet says “concert pitch”. 
[The booklet says “concert pitch”.
]
not much for keeping booklets, or even cds handy once they are on the old ipod shuffle:)[/quote]
I was just about to give that one a go after hearing it sung on the Chieftains DVD.