Music to know

PallasAthena · Post by **PallasAthena** » Wed May 17, 2006 8:19 pm

I need ideas for good peices to learn. I like to play to amuse my friends and family, so I'm not overly worried about knowing popular session tunes. I want try to learn music that is either fun (hornpipes, jigs, etc), "pretty" (aires), or recognisable (tunes to songs), because these seem to go over best when a friend relative asks for a demonstration. At the moment, my repotoir consists of The Foggy Dew, Rakes of Mallow, The Wild Rover, The Wearing of the Green (people sometimes know this one), The Rights of Man, The Boys of Bluehill, The Strayaway Child, Loch Lomand (Scottish, I know, but people (a) like it and (b) don't realize the tinwhistle is Irish), Ye Banks and Breas of Bonny Doon (Scottish, I know), and Bonny Charlie (also Scottish).

I'd like suggestions for Traditional (Irish, Scottish, other) tunes that the average person is likely to enjoy or recognise.

Jason Paul · Post by **Jason Paul** » Wed May 17, 2006 8:39 pm

I would think that most people would think that Down by the Sally Gardens is a nice one.

Off to California is fun. My daughter starts dancing around every time I play that one.

And personally, I really like Stack of Rye.

Jason

Unseen122 · Post by **Unseen122** » Wed May 17, 2006 9:07 pm

Off She Goes is a fun Jig. How about Harvest Home for Hornpipes. Inisheer for your slower stuff.

FJohnSharp · Post by **FJohnSharp** » Wed May 17, 2006 9:22 pm

Fanny Powers

Planxty Irwin

Si Beag Si Mor

For Ireland I Cannot Say Her Name

(cough) Danny Boy

Amazing Grace

Chiffed · Post by **Chiffed** » Wed May 17, 2006 10:09 pm

My current fave is Planxty Dale Wisely.

Others with a high fun/work ratio:
The Leaving of Liverpool (song)
Slow Barn Dance (from the BBC session)
Spootdiskerry (simple fun reel)
Ned of the Hill (great air, goes well with Rights of Man)
Red Is The Rose

CRC · Post by **CRC** » Wed May 17, 2006 10:32 pm

My current fave is Planxty Dale Wisely.

One of my favorites too at the present.

boomerang · Post by **boomerang** » Wed May 17, 2006 11:10 pm

go to,
http://www.tinwhistler.com/songname.asp
http://www.thesession.org/
http://www.hslc.org/~gormley/tunes/giftunes.html
all the inspiration u will need for a couple of years,
have fun,
Regards David

monkey · Post by **monkey** » Thu May 18, 2006 6:36 am

Scarborough fayre
Greensleeves
Skye boat song

i'm trying to learn Film and TV themes like the pink panther & monkey magic too. just for the fun of playing them really.

Jason Paul · Post by **Jason Paul** » Thu May 18, 2006 8:22 am

Si Beag Si Mor - duh, why didn't I think of that one - one of my favorites.

Also, Planxty Hewlett.

Jason

falkbeer · Post by **falkbeer** » Thu May 18, 2006 2:12 pm

PallasAthena wrote:I need ideas for good peices to learn. I like to play to amuse my friends and family, so I'm not overly worried about knowing popular session tunes. I want try to learn music that is either fun (hornpipes, jigs, etc), "pretty" (aires), or recognisable (tunes to songs), because these seem to go over best when a friend relative asks for a demonstration. At the moment, my repotoir consists of The Foggy Dew, Rakes of Mallow, The Wild Rover, The Wearing of the Green (people sometimes know this one), The Rights of Man, The Boys of Bluehill, The Strayaway Child, Loch Lomand (Scottish, I know, but people (a) like it and (b) don't realize the tinwhistle is Irish), Ye Banks and Breas of Bonny Doon (Scottish, I know), and Bonny Charlie (also Scottish).

I'd like suggestions for Traditional (Irish, Scottish, other) tunes that the average person is likely to enjoy or recognise.

Check out O´Carolan tunes - fun and easy to play and lovely to listen to!
Most people who don´t know very much about irish music use to like his tunes!

Some other suggestions: Danny Ab´s slide, Bill Collins (jig), Taimse im Chodladh (air), Those endearing young charms (air), The gentle maiden (air), Women of ireland (air), The scartaglen polka, The cameronian reel, Lannigan´s ball/The kerry dance (as played by James Galway on Legends), The Liverpool Hornpipe.

Good luck with your practising!

/Falkbeer

OBrien · Post by **OBrien** » Thu May 18, 2006 3:48 pm

A crowd pleasing jig: The Road to Lisdoonvarna

izzarina · Post by **izzarina** » Thu May 18, 2006 4:21 pm

The Swallowtail Jig seems to be one that is easily recognizable, and also fun to play.

mutepointe · Post by **mutepointe** » Thu May 18, 2006 4:28 pm

knowing happy birthday comes in handy

Tyghress · Post by **Tyghress** » Thu May 18, 2006 4:38 pm

Just wondering, why look specifically for Irish if you want something that people recognize? You seem partial to Scottish, and have picked some lovely tunes there. There are a whole slew of very recognizable English and American tunes, including hymns and lullabys that are very recognizable, and might even encourage one of your audience to sing or hum along. My mother, who doesn't much care for whistle because its high pitched, warmed to it when I played a Yiddish folk tune.

We tend to get wrapped up in the Irish music on this site, but it is not the only music that can sound wonderful on a whistle.

PallasAthena · Post by **PallasAthena** » Thu May 18, 2006 5:30 pm

I'm interested in pretty much anything--Irish and Scottish being my preferences along with Galacian music when I can find it. Personally, I like playing hornpipes and reels, but they can sound repetitive if you don't have an interest in traditional music. The advantage to song tunes is people recognise them and generally, to the unfamiliar, each will sound more unique. The advantage to dance tunes, however, is that it's harder to hear when I screw up.

Chiff and Fipple Forums

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