I have about 100 traditional albums, but have never really been able to find anyone playing the stuff I most like to hear. In 1996 when I started playing I heard Michael McGoldrick live and he was playing the most beautiful music I’ve ever heard on low whistle. He played slow Breton tunes that he had picked up on his travels, but he just had a way with messing about with the rhythm and breathing to create a slightly jazzy feel that had a lot of feeling, but never strayed too far from the tune.
I’ve heard Brian Finnegan playing similar stuff, but these guys just seem to record a different selection of tunes on their albums. In fact I’m not sure there’s anyone playing exclusively that type of stuff. Maybe Cormac Breatnach can do the same, but again on his albums it’s a selection of fast and slow and not quite what I like.
If any of you can go to this page http://www.folk.be/barou/ra.htm and download the tune played and composed by Sylvain Barou called “Clare’s reel” you will get an idea of what I’m after. Imagine that tune on Low whistle with a sweeter sound and 10 times better and you’ll have an idea of what Mike’s low whistle playing can sound like.
Is there anyone else playing a lot of this type of stuff that I’ve missed?? I have 100 or so albums, but I can’t say that’ I’ve heard every flute / low whistle player out there. I’d appreciate some advice. There’s nothing more frustrating than buying albums of guys who can play lovely slow stuff, but prefer to play lovely very fast stuff.
However, what I’m hearing is him playing the pipes, and I recall it all being on a low whistle. Hmm. Perhaps he switches later in the track. This clip is just once through the tune.
Franco, have you listened to Lunasa yet? Mike McGoldrick used to play with this group. Their music is played on low keyed whistles, flute, Uilleann Pipes and fiddle with guitar and upright bass accompaniment. A mighty group, that I think play the kind of music you are looking for.
yep, franco, joseph’s right! you may also want to look into http://www.flook.co.uk
they rock. (and by the way, their first album was with mcgoldrick too)
Hi guys, I’ve got 2 Lunasa albums and all the Flook albums. I’ll certainly check out that spillane recording. I tended to avoid his albums since I bought a few of his in the past, but just thought he was neglecting playing traditional stuff altogether. “A place among the stones” was awful. He barely played a traditional tune, but plenty of solos on the guitar
You know I think I’m the only one who knows what I’m going on about here. The reason being if I’d never heard Mike McGoldrick playing live on his own, I would never have heard that type of low whistle playing as nobody seems to record it. It’s a shame there’s so much of an emphasis on fast reels in traditional music. I wish you guys could have heard the same stuff I did played by Mike back in 1996, I’ve no doubt everyone would have loved it. I was just blown away. How I wish I owned a minidisc recorder back then.
Flook is great and they do rock . I have Rubai and the Live cd. If you are looking for the slow lovely you wont find it on these 2 CD’s .It is all mainly very fast lovely.
I have “The Sound of the Sun” CD by Fred Morrison. He is a great piper and this CD has 3 or 4 very nice low whistle recordings on it. Might want to google and listen to samples before you buy.
edited to add: Paddy Keenans Long Grazing Acre has 2 very lovely slow Low whistle songs
Thanks toughknot. I couldn’t find the clips of Fred Morrison, but seen some good reviews and some bad ones from the real traditionalists so that looks promising. I’ll add that to my list off stuff to buy.
I mainly like the traditional Irish Tunes by various artist my favorite being Lunasa, but I also venture off to the new age celtic sound of Talbert St. Claire. The slower and haunting the tune is the more I like it.
A sample clip from Sound of the Sun can be found in the CD section at www.kerrywhistles.com along with samples from other CD’s. I am currently looking for an online source for the Deiseal CD.
We seem to be in agreement as to lack of slow airs in low whistle cds, and I have found none that fit your description of Mc Goldrick’s live playing; it must have been great, wish I could have heard it, or a recording at least. Have you tried emailing him about it? Maybe you could give him an incentive to record those pieces!
I find only bits and pieces of cds that have great low whistle, and I believe all have been mentioned, above. However, one flute player I have two cds from, is in this category. His name is Eoghan Mac Aogain from Ireland. His first album, mainly solo flute, with some guitar backup, some high whistle, and some uilleann pipes, but he is the main attraction on his flute, and he plays very well. Mostly all airs. His second cd, The Clare Hills has more of a mixture, with maybe 4 or 5 good slow airs on flute that are similar to your likes, where the first is more solid the whole way through. It’s thanks to Blackhawk, that I found him!
I hope you like him. It may not be exactly what you had in mind, but I believe it’s close. If you ever do find more music like you like, please let me know, and I’m sure others here would like a post also if you do.
Thanks for that, greenspider. I agree about the slow airs although I am after something slightly different. I tried contacting the soundman for the gigs that Mike done, but he told me that he didn’t have any recordings of those gigs.
He also told me that he didn’t think Mike recorded them either so I didn’t bother contacting him. Mike changed his number since I last spoke to him anyway, but if you do have his e-mail address then please send me a message with it and I will e-mail him.
Hmmm, I wouldn’t say that. I was just hoping there was someone out there doing the same jazzy slow thing on the whistle with Irish or other tunes. Mike also did the same on Irish tunes, but perhaps he used Breton tunes more often for some reason.
(and by the way, their first album was with mcgoldrick too)
