Anyone know of a web site(s) with a significant collection of slow airs in ABC format, cataloged as such, for download? One can find slow airs to be sure, but no site that I have visisted catalogs them separately. I’ve searched around a bit in this forum’s archives and on Google, but haven’t quite found what I am seeking. I’m not looking for any song in particular at the moment… just a good collection to peruse.
Did you ever think of coming to Ireland to me to attend one of my classes where I teach everything in abc format. I always arrange classes for people coming from a different country or who want to attend my Summer School in August. Contact carmelgunning@hotmail.com for more information. Thank you. Signed Carmel Gunning Sligo Ireland.
Another option different than what you’re asking for is to get a book of slow airs and type the notes in from the book into abc. It’s not as time consuming as it may seem. Slow airs don’t have all that many notes to begin with.
I’ll also preempt the obligatory post that warns to hear a played version by someone who knows the melody as opposed to ever relying entirely on printed music for slow airs. In print, they appear to have a steady rhythm just so the transcriber can write a coherent score with the right number of beats per bar, etc. They don’t play that way at all. Abc format will give you the same misdirection.
I’ve recommended many times on this board 110 Best Ireland’s Slow Airs book with 2cd’s. (Waltons/Mel Bay publisher) Haven’t changed my mind.
Tony
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[ This Message was edited by: TonyHiggins on 2002-04-13 12:09 ]
Tony, thanks for your comments on playing slow airs from either sheet music or ABC’s. After finally getting one memorized and then going back to the notated original - I’ve found my version is maybe a little (or a LOT) different, and I thought I was doing something wrong 
My “own” version usually sounds better to me, and since I’m the only one I play for…
This place is absolutely incredible!! I don’t know if this place is common knowledge or not or how many times this link has been suggested on this board, but here goes…
http://trillian.mit.edu/~jc/music/abc/FindTune.html
I’ve spent hours going through this place. Just search for anything off the top of your head and you’ll get a list of tunes that has your search match somewhere in the abc file. You’ll have the choice of gif, png, abc, midi, text and several other formats to view it in. This place REALLY is awesome!!!
Once you have taken the time to collect a bunch of slow airs make sure you share them with us!!
Good luck,
Eric
Thanks for the comments… A good day to all.
CDon. Tony Higgins stated that abc format will give misdirection. I totally disagree with him as slow airs do not have a rigid time signature among other things. Signed Carmel Gunning.
Carmel, I’m open to learning as much as possible. So, could you please explain your comment? It’s because slow airs don’t have a rigid time signature that I suggested abc’s might give the wrong impression. I would elaborate on my comment that listening to only an abc of a slow air might give the impression that a slow air has a toe-tapping steady rhythm. Listening to any good player will dispel that notion quickly.
Even the book I recommended has a fair amount of disparity between the printed music and the accompanying cds. In one place, a quarter note is played briefly, in another (same tune), it’s extended much longer. It makes the learning challenging and the playing requires a lot of intuition.
What ability I have at playing these melodies comes from listening to recordings and forming my own inferences. No coaching. I draw my conclusions from observation only. Any tips you have that will give better insight, I would love to hear. I’m sure others would, too. Thanks in advance,
Tony
Tony Thanks for replying but since I am not getting paid for expressing my expertise on the Net, I would suggest that if you ever come to Ireland book in for a class with me at my school or Summer School and I will be at liberty to reveal all then. Check my website www.cisle/tradmusic for full details and you are welcome to come to Ireland at any time of the year. Regards Carmel Gunning T.T.C.T. Director of Queen Maeve Summer School of Traditional Music Song and Dance.
On 2002-04-20 09:52, Cee Gunning wrote:
Tony Thanks for replying but since I am not getting paid for expressing my expertise on the Net, I would suggest that if you ever come to Ireland book in for a class with me at my school or Summer School and I will be at liberty to reveal all then.
Iwill probably be given stick over this sort of comment, as uaual but
‘at liberty’
‘giving’ ‘sharing’ ‘Passing on’ Handing on’ somehow spring to mind
The address of Cee’s web site got a bit
garbled. It is at:
Peter,
I don’t think you should be “given stick”. I too was put off by Ms. Gunning’s comment. Tony, in the interest of discussion, seems to be asking a legitimate question and seeking clarification to an earlier post. Ms. Gunning seems to be more interested in advertising her school. If I’m wrong I apologize but this is a discussion board and her comments so far haven’t indicated an interest in discussion.
Bruce
And Ms Gunning appears to be unaware that we also have music teachers here in the States.
There is an collection of Airs transcribed by Jack Champin that can be found here:
http://www.purr.demon.co.uk/jack/index.html
The collection is “All 200 tunes from the first volume of James Aird’s tune collection, published in Glasgow in 1782.”
I hope this helps
Also, Richard Robinsons Tunebook Index Page lists the 2nd and 3rd volume of the Aird collection.
Robinson’s index is here
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/music/Info/RRTuneBk/listings.html
Volume 2 of the James Aird collection is here: http://www.leeds.ac.uk/music/Info/RRTuneBk/Aird2/Aird2.abc
Volume 3 of the James Aird collection is here: http://www.leeds.ac.uk/music/Info/RRTuneBk/Aird3/Aird3.abc
Hi Everybody, I am sorry you are upset by my comments. Yes I am aware that there are lots of teachers around the world but I am only interested in Ireland. What’s wrong with promoting my Summer School? Isn’t that what people do when they want to advertise their expertise? Music is my life - I dont earn any money from anything else only teaching music and singing and gigging. It is hard work when your only income is from Music. But it is what I chose to do and I am fairly successful and busy Thank God. I realise that this a discussion forum but one could go on at length about slow airs and I have not the time to do so. The only thing I can do is pass on my Summer School The Queen Maeve Summer School to you and hope some day you will enrol for a particular instrument and take part in the major concert at the end of the school week. My url is http://www.cisl.ie/tradmusic. My e.mail address is carmelgunning@hotmail.com If anybody wants to enrol please send me an e.mail for enrolment forms and your address that I can send it to. Again sorry if I ruffled a few feathers but I did not intend that to happen and if you knew me you would know that I am very generous when it comes to sharing and passing on information. But I have to make a living O.K.? Bye for now.Carmel GunningT.T.C.T. Director, Queen Maeve Summer School, Sligo Town Ireland.
Dont mean to sound cranky, but Bruce is right. Look at these entries, Ms. Gunning, and learn: people are talking and sharing information about something we all enjoy, and we’re not advertising and were not charging for it. Thats the spirit of forums like this.
Is nice to see so many abc links. I can see how if you are not careful ABC can be a crutch, but I love it simply because it gives me access to so much printed music, which as a beginner helps me get into it to a point where I can start learning tunes by ear. And yes, I spend hours listening to recordings to learn the nuances of how to play, arrange and ornament the printed notes. And yes, of course, this is most important with slow airs where those nuances dont translate well. The real problem is not having enough time to learn all of the hundreds, nay thousands of tunes that are so accessable on the web using ABC format.
Kevin
Hi Kev. Thanks for replying but I dont have to learn anything from you. I have made my point and am entitled to it. Hope to see you sometime in Ireland. Slan Carmel Gunning.
If Ms. Gunning is trying to entice people to come to her school, she is going about it the wrong way. She corrected Tony and then did not substantiate her argument when asked…only referenced her school.
To give her the benefit of the doubt, possibly the written word is being misinterpreted, and possibly Ms. Gunning does not mean to come across like she is just out to make a buck (or a Euro). But what’s wrong with giving a little free advice…it could go a long way to building confidence and trust that could lead to people learning more about her school…and thus referring people or enrolling in it.
… Look at these entries, Ms. Gunning, and learn: people are talking and sharing information about something we all enjoy, and we’re not advertising and were not charging for it. Thats the spirit of forums like this.
Kevin
Well put. This is the beauty (to us) but distress (apparently, to you) of the Internet in a nutshell. Look at Brother Steve, he is giving free lessons on the web. So is Whistle tutor. Look at abc format. I own a lot of tunebooks. If I was a publisher, I would be very concerned about tune-sharing.
Because of abc, I really don;t have to buy tunebooks any more. I choose to because I have been a musician, composer, performer all of my life and respect the value of printed music and thier impact on the lives of musicians since 1500 or so (e.g. Petrucci, etc).
Ms. Gunning, I think the problem was that the very second post was a suggestion to come to your school. Frankly, you can post that as a second reply to about 30 percent of the queries on this Forum. I have asked about rolls, Irish pronunciation, reel playing etc etc and all of those could be answered by the suggestion to go to your school because I would learn these things. But to pack up and go 7000 miles for an answer is something else. I’m sure its a beautiful, stimulating place to GET those answers but…
I am usually the one accused of being too sensitive but perhaps others took your reply a bit personally. Maybe your reply was kind of light because its Spring and we are thinking of summer plans. But I think those who share freely might have taken exception then gotten cranky for all you might say later.
I want to come to your school someday and I would really like to come to Miltown too. We have summer sessions here in California as well. Just because I learn free stuff on the Internet won’t dissuade me from coming but having you take the time to make posts but then say you don;t have time to give free advice is contradictory and a bit off-putting.
Back to subject: I agree with Tony. Practically, all time signatures on airs create problems and I think abc or regular notation is a limited way to express them without a lot of fermatas etc. Some publishers have attempted to show music without time signatures but its risky, given the expectations of the public.
As the publisher, you just can’t assume that people are aware of the expressive nature of Irish airs. By default, they throw a signature on there and we just have to be informed practictioners.
Sometimes though, the term air might be used loosely. I have seen what I would consider true airs that had moments where you could pause and resume at absolute discretion, unsullied by the expectation of a time signature. I have seen other airs that were light waltzes.
It would be nice if that was indicated in some way by publishers. I don’t know how you could ever convey that on abc format.
Best to all.