Birkin Tree

The Ultimate On-Line Whistle Community. If you find one more ultimater, let us know.
Post Reply
caniadafallon
Posts: 140
Joined: Sat Jun 19, 2004 9:26 am
Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
Location: Atlanta

Birkin Tree

Post by caniadafallon »

I'm having a hard time getting started on trying to figure out The Birkin Tree, as performed by Old Blind Dogs... does anyone know what key it's in?

Best,
Ad
Music washes away from the soul
the dust of everyday life.
~Berthold Auerbach
User avatar
colomon
Posts: 2140
Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2001 6:00 pm
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Tell us something.: Whistle player, aspiring C#/D accordion and flute player, and aspiring tunesmith. Particularly interested in the music of South Sligo and Newfoundland. Inspired by the music of Peter Horan, Fred Finn, Rufus Guinchard, Emile Benoit, and Liz Carroll.

I've got some compositions up at http://www.harmonyware.com/tunes/SolsTunes.html
Location: Midland, Michigan
Contact:

Post by colomon »

Well, the tonic note is clearly D, and the Cs are all natural. I think the Bs are too, and I don't hear any F's at all in the song. Best guess is D dorian, then.
Sol's Tunes (new tune 2/2020)
User avatar
emmline
Posts: 11859
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2003 10:33 am
antispam: No
Location: Annapolis, MD
Contact:

Post by emmline »

I love that song. One of my great challenges in life is to figure out all the lyrics. I'm at about 30% at present. Guess I could ask Stacey, but that would take all the fun out.
User avatar
dubhlinn
Posts: 6746
Joined: Sun May 23, 2004 2:04 pm
antispam: No
Location: North Lincolnshire, UK.

Re: Birkin Tree

Post by dubhlinn »

caniadafallon wrote:I'm having a hard time getting started on trying to figure out The Birkin Tree, as performed by Old Blind Dogs... does anyone know what key it's in?

Best,
Ad
http://users.argonet.co.uk/users/gather ... birkt.html

Close enough,the rest is down to imagination.

Slan,
D.
And many a poor man that has roved,
Loved and thought himself beloved,
From a glad kindness cannot take his eyes.

W.B.Yeats
caniadafallon
Posts: 140
Joined: Sat Jun 19, 2004 9:26 am
Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
Location: Atlanta

Post by caniadafallon »

Thanks Colomon!

Em, the lyrics are out there on the web if you really get stuck. :)
Music washes away from the soul
the dust of everyday life.
~Berthold Auerbach
caniadafallon
Posts: 140
Joined: Sat Jun 19, 2004 9:26 am
Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
Location: Atlanta

Post by caniadafallon »

Dub, that one will work on my D whistle, thanks! Unfortunately, it's a different key than the Old Blind Dogs version, so I'll have to keep noodling away at playing along with the CD.

Can someone correct me if I'm wrong-- if Colomon is right about it being in D dorian, it should be good on my C whistle?
Music washes away from the soul
the dust of everyday life.
~Berthold Auerbach
User avatar
dubhlinn
Posts: 6746
Joined: Sun May 23, 2004 2:04 pm
antispam: No
Location: North Lincolnshire, UK.

Post by dubhlinn »

:)
You could always transpose it down/up.
Any body got a scottish.english dictionary?


http://www.geminica.com/investigations/ ... tml#birkin

Slan,
D.
And many a poor man that has roved,
Loved and thought himself beloved,
From a glad kindness cannot take his eyes.

W.B.Yeats
User avatar
colomon
Posts: 2140
Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2001 6:00 pm
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Tell us something.: Whistle player, aspiring C#/D accordion and flute player, and aspiring tunesmith. Particularly interested in the music of South Sligo and Newfoundland. Inspired by the music of Peter Horan, Fred Finn, Rufus Guinchard, Emile Benoit, and Liz Carroll.

I've got some compositions up at http://www.harmonyware.com/tunes/SolsTunes.html
Location: Midland, Michigan
Contact:

Post by colomon »

caniadafallon wrote:Can someone correct me if I'm wrong-- if Colomon is right about it being in D dorian, it should be good on my C whistle?
Actually, I don't see any problem with playing it on D whistle (no Fs, which would be the only problem note), but it definitely felt much more natural on a C whistle.
Sol's Tunes (new tune 2/2020)
User avatar
colomon
Posts: 2140
Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2001 6:00 pm
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Tell us something.: Whistle player, aspiring C#/D accordion and flute player, and aspiring tunesmith. Particularly interested in the music of South Sligo and Newfoundland. Inspired by the music of Peter Horan, Fred Finn, Rufus Guinchard, Emile Benoit, and Liz Carroll.

I've got some compositions up at http://www.harmonyware.com/tunes/SolsTunes.html
Location: Midland, Michigan
Contact:

Post by colomon »

BTW, the sheet music dubhlinn links to is in E dorian, so I'm thinking D dorian is definitely right. Very comfortable to play on a C whistle.
Sol's Tunes (new tune 2/2020)
User avatar
colomon
Posts: 2140
Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2001 6:00 pm
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Tell us something.: Whistle player, aspiring C#/D accordion and flute player, and aspiring tunesmith. Particularly interested in the music of South Sligo and Newfoundland. Inspired by the music of Peter Horan, Fred Finn, Rufus Guinchard, Emile Benoit, and Liz Carroll.

I've got some compositions up at http://www.harmonyware.com/tunes/SolsTunes.html
Location: Midland, Michigan
Contact:

Post by colomon »

caniadafallon wrote:Dub, that one will work on my D whistle, thanks! Unfortunately, it's a different key than the Old Blind Dogs version, so I'll have to keep noodling away at playing along with the CD.
Actually, if you read the sheet music (in E dorian) and pretend you're playing a D whistle but actually play a C whistle, it should come out in D dorian like the album.
Sol's Tunes (new tune 2/2020)
caniadafallon
Posts: 140
Joined: Sat Jun 19, 2004 9:26 am
Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
Location: Atlanta

Post by caniadafallon »

Argh... I knew I should have paid better attention in my music theory class. ::sigh:: I need a translator. :lol: Seriously though, I'll see if I give it a go Colomon! Thanks to both you and Dubhlinn for the help!!

Now if I just had a decent C whistle-- I hate my Clarke. :(
Music washes away from the soul
the dust of everyday life.
~Berthold Auerbach
User avatar
peeplj
Posts: 9029
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2002 6:00 pm
Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
Location: forever in the old hills of Arkansas
Contact:

Post by peeplj »

caniadafallon wrote:Now if I just had a decent C whistle-- I hate my Clarke. :(
Try an Oak C. The one I have is amazingly good...I love the D's but the C is even better.

Good to see you online...Shan and the ferts send their love.

If you're ever in this neck of the woods (central Arkansas) you oughta try to sit in on a session. They've got amazingly good sessions up in these hills. :)

Blessings,

--James
caniadafallon
Posts: 140
Joined: Sat Jun 19, 2004 9:26 am
Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
Location: Atlanta

Post by caniadafallon »

Thanks James, I'll see if I can get my hands on an Oak... the Clarke is just way to breathy for me, to the point of causing dizziness. Not a good thing. :boggle:

My love to Shannon and the ferts, too! I'll give a holler if I ever head your way. :)
Music washes away from the soul
the dust of everyday life.
~Berthold Auerbach
User avatar
vomitbunny
Posts: 1403
Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2004 7:34 pm
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Location: spleen

Post by vomitbunny »

Sounds like yer Birkin up the wrong tree........
My opinion is stupid and wrong.
User avatar
Darwin
Posts: 2719
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2004 2:38 am
Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
Location: Flower Mound, TX
Contact:

Post by Darwin »

dubhlinn wrote:Any body got a scottish.english dictionary?
http://www.mudcat.org/scots/index.cfm is pretty good.
Mike Wright

"When an idea is wanting, a word can always be found to take its place."
 --Goethe
Post Reply