Slow Airs

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Whistling Willie
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Slow Airs

Post by Whistling Willie »

I'm looking to learn a new slow air on a low D,something very haunting and at the same time having a catchy melody to it...any suggestions?
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Darwin
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Post by Darwin »

I'm not sure about what it means for something to be simultaneously "haunting" and "catchy", but maybe Crested Hens will do it?

X:39
T:Crested Hens
R:Air
Q:150
M:3/4
L:1/8
K:EDor
E2EGFE|B4Bc|dc Be dc|dc BA GF|\
E2EGFE|B4Bc|dc BA GA|1 B3G FD:|2 B4 ef||
gB Bg gB|=c4ef|gf ag fe|^d2e2f2|\
gB Bg gB|=c4ef|gf ag fd|1 e3e ef:|2 e6|>|

The Solas version is a bit "deeper" than this.

I always advise listening to tunes on http://fingertrip.net/whistle/ and picking something that you like the sound of. There are MP3s and dots.
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Post by Byll »

Darwin beat me to it. I agree, completely. 'Crested Hens' fits your specifications. My band is working on it at present. What a winner...
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Solas Transcription

Post by Craig Stuntz »

Darwin wrote:The Solas version is a bit "deeper" than this.
For comparison:

http://www.concertina.net/tunes_detail.html?rec_id=179
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Post by FJohnSharp »

I assume you already know Inisheer
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slowair
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Post by slowair »

Inisheer is a great one.
There's also The Skye Boat Song and you can really work Amazing Grace.
Oh, Down By The Sally Gardens too.

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Post by stiofan »

a few of my favorites:

Wounded Hussar
Banks of Sullane
An Buachaillin Ban
General Monroe's Lament
Paistin Fionn (as an air, not the hornpipe)

...and yes, Crested Hens (and for a version with that "haunting" mood, you might want to check out the version by Solas)

and lest we forget - Lonesome Boatman...

Autumn Child - technically a slow reel, but it can certainly played with that poignant feel to it.

also, I sometimes play traditional songs (i.e., music with lyrics) on whistle/flute, such as:

The Boatman
Black is the Colour
Aisling Gheal
Maighdean Mhara
Ta Mo Chleamhnas A Dheanamh

by the way, "Traditional Slow Airs of Ireland" by Tomas O'Canainn has 118 slow airs + 2 cds. one of my favorite sources for slow airs.

lastly, if you're inclined towards more modern tunes (as I am), anything from Davy Spillane's The Sea of Dreams...
Last edited by stiofan on Mon May 09, 2005 12:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by KDMARTINKY »

Immigrants Daughter is a very nice slow aire
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Post by perrins57 »

She moved through the fair, gets my vote

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Post by blackhawk »

The most haunting one I have ever heard is Poor Irish Boy. It's gorgeous.
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Post by fiddlinviolinin »

An Buachaillin Ban from the album Callan Bridge. Oh jeez. I heart it.

The Wounded Hussar definitely is a winner to me. Tim Britton's version [Barefoot on the Altar ~ Chulrua] is B-E-A-U-tiful.
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Post by KDMARTINKY »

How could I forget the "Hare's lament"...just slow it down just a tad...
Keith

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Colin
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Re: Slow Airs

Post by Colin »

Whistling Willie wrote:I'm looking to learn a new slow air on a low D,something very haunting and at the same time having a catchy melody to it...any suggestions?
The Maids of Mitchelstown - as played by the Bothy Band - has a melody
(and counter melody) which is both catchy and haunting. It is a slow
reel as opposed to a slow air but it might still suit your purposes.

Colin
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Post by paulsdad »

I like Amhrán A Leabhair, Roisin dubh, Minstrel Boy, Hector the Hero, the South Wind.

I need to check out some of the others listed in previous replies. I'm always interested in learning new tunes.

Paulsdad
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Post by slowair »

One more...

At my Thursday session, we've started doing Four Green Fields. It's a song, but you can do it as an air. It's really nice.

Mike
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