Hi all, Great new board! 
Studies here continue and I was wondering what the high-skill level tunes were? Anyone got one to share?
Any Reel
Joe
Right now I’m trying to get my hands around Colonel Fraser. Five parts to begin with, and the expectation of a /lot/ of ornamentation. It’s one of the standard UP showoff tunes, and even without regulators it’s a challenge!
Colonel F goes like this</a](http://www.lafferty.ca/misc/frazer.jpg">this</a)>.
(Yeesh, that image was HYOOOGE. Sorry.)
-Rich
[ This Message was edited by: rich on 2001-06-27 11:12 ]
I’ve never been able to get a handle on Sean Sa Cheo (a.k.a. John in the Fog, Sean is Sinead). It is a 3 part reel that spends a lot of time in the 2nd register. I now love the energy that the 2nd register gives out so I am looking for tunes that spend more time there. It has a fair number of triplets and rolls, and has a great swing. I am going to buy the Conal O’Grada (http://www.scoiltrad.com)lesson for that tune this July.
The hardest tune for me to learn (at this moment) is the Tarbolton Jig/Reel (I don’t know which it is!!!) 
Nico
[ This Message was edited by: NicoMoreno on 2001-06-27 10:25 ]
I’ve been working on a set with Tom Billy’s jig and The Langstrom Pony for some time now. Not overly complex, just straight and fast with a great lilt or swing to it! I’ve also been picking away at Colonel Fraiser and The Bucks of Oranmore. Doubt I’ll EVER get those two!
Slán
Brian~
Drowsy Maggie
Bunker Hill: the combination of rolls on C natural, high D, plus crans is driving me NUTS!
Brian the Brave - my favourite tune but difficult to play (at least for me)
I agree about Langstrom’s Pony, and would add The Gravel Walk and Wise Maid to the list.
So Tephillah,
How long has that stinkin’ pony tune been keeping you awake at nights wondering just how folks like Paddy and Mary B. are able to pull it off so perfectly?!
And Claudine…what’s all this about me being brave? 
All my best,
Bri~
Brian,
Langstrom’s has remained unattempted so far, I only struggle along with it when we play it at sesiuns. After hammering away at it last nite, I think I’m ready to take the challenge!
So now I will try to be brave and begin practicing the beast: Langstrom’s Pony. Thanks for the idea.
Hmmm, I dunno why, but the tune I can’t still get correctly is “Gravel Walk”. There’s that darn 4th or 5th part which goes from octave to octave and that kills me… Also, “O’Carolan’s Concerto” gives me headaches
I guess the moral is that an advanced tune is the one that I just can’t seem to get down. Some of the tunes mentioned I find flow easily for me while others I struggle with too… No, I don’t think it’s tunes that are advanced it’s some of us who are slow.
I’m currently having a terrible time with “Toss the Feathers.” It shouldn’t be so hard, but the combination of the reel rhythm and all those jumps…sheesh.
The hardest tune that I can actually PLAY is a Scottish tune (heresy?) called “Andy Renwick’s Ferret.” It’s a pipe/fiddle tune, very very fun to play fast and furious, but there are no good spots to breathe, as you might expect.
Tom
p.s. My current quote seems appropriate to this thread! Keep at it:
Tarbolon Reel (reel, Nico), which I transcribed to abc from “Willie Clancy’s Dance Music of Ireland” has all of his ornamentation on paper, which is how I strived to learn it. If anyone wants, I’ll repost the abc’s. Anyway, I have a whole book of hard tunes to work through!
I picked up an abc on the net of Mary Bergin’s version of Monaghan’s Jig. Great tune with multiple parts and 2 complete variation/versions. Just different enough to be hard to memorize. Worth the trouble, though. I’ve been working on it for weeks, but still wouldn’t consider going public with it yet.
Maudabawn Chapel, from Kevin Burke’s fiddle playing is really tough. Keeping the phrasing distinguishable is the challenge. I agree that Wise Maid and Drowsy Maggy take work to get down.
If you want an easy tune that sounds unbelievable, try Pigeon on the Gate from McCullough’s 121 Fav Irish Session Tunes. (It’ll boost your ego.)
Almost forgot: Clare Reels from Chieftains5 is really tough to smooth out on. I’ve recorded myself several times when I thought I had it and was humbled by the playback.
I’d like to have a look at the transcription Tony! Post the Tarbolton reel please!
Hey Brian,
Ive spent months trying to learn that confounded pony song off the Film cuts cd. Bleary eyes, late nights bulk purchases of aspirin etc. As it happens last night I cracked the last catch in the tune. I never could quite get the rythym of the second part on this one triplet, actually I had two triplets mixed to gether, kind of complicated(i think I ODed on the aspirin) Anyway I finally did it! played the whole thing through note for note, without slowing it down or anything, with the cheiftains. Exhilarating. I’m just glad everyone else has problems with it too. I thought maybe there was something wrong with me(aghem).
Anyway there you have thats the hardest one Ive played to date.
Anything with lotsa c naturals and triplets!
BTW, this is Annie Mandarin, wierd things happened and neither of my browsers would accept My username, password or e-mail address when I went to log in. Don’t mean to be a cheat, but I figure I’m safe here in Deadwood as long as only pennywhistlers come to visit!