The best way to learn slow airs?

spittin_in_the_wind · Post by **spittin_in_the_wind** » Tue Feb 11, 2003 3:55 pm

I've seen books and CDs out there. Are they any good, any recommendations, etc? I don't want to spend a fortune buying every Irish/Celtic CD on the market at this particular time, but would like to learn some slow Airs.

Robin

Redwolf · Post by **Redwolf** » Tue Feb 11, 2003 4:17 pm

"Irelands Best 110 Slow Airs" is a must-have. The accompanying CD is worth getting too...I don't always love the way the airs are played on the CD, but it will give you an idea of how the tune should go, and you can always develop your own style with it.

The main thing with airs is to play expressively...it's more like singing than playing dance music.

Redwolf

AngeloMeola · Post by **AngeloMeola** » Tue Feb 11, 2003 4:52 pm

Go to Mick Woodruff's page
http://fingertrip.net/index.html
He has some beautiful airs and you can download them as mp3's as well as download the sheet music depending on which way you learn tunes.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Tue Feb 11, 2003 4:54 pm

Redwolf, do you know where to find that book and CD online? Thanks

Redwolf · Post by **Redwolf** » Tue Feb 11, 2003 5:53 pm

On 2003-02-11 17:54, Paul wrote:
Redwolf, do you know where to find that book and CD online? Thanks

I got mine from The Whistle Shop.

Redwolf

Chuck_Clark · Post by **Chuck_Clark** » Tue Feb 11, 2003 6:28 pm

The book is great if you don't know what tunes to learn. If you have specific favorites in mind, Trillian has free scores for many of the favorites.

spittin_in_the_wind · Post by **spittin_in_the_wind** » Tue Feb 11, 2003 8:36 pm

On 2003-02-11 17:17, Redwolf wrote:
"Irelands Best 110 Slow Airs" is a must-have. The accompanying CD is worth getting too...I don't always love the way the airs are played on the CD, but it will give you an idea of how the tune should go, and you can always develop your own style with it.

The main thing with airs is to play expressively...it's more like singing than playing dance music.

Redwolf

Thanks, Redwolf, that's very helpful. I've been wondering about this set. I'm pretty new to this type of music, so I think I need some kind of introduction--I would never know what to search for on the ABC site, if I was specifically looking for slow airs. As far as I can tell, there's no way to search by style, or am I wrong?

Robin

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 1:04 am

IF this is the book/CD I'm thinking of, it has the music done with different instruments, so that if you're looking to hear what it sounds like on a whistle, you might be disappointed. When I was first beginning I couldn't get a clear idea of how it was supposed to sound unless it was done with a whistle.

Easily_Deluded_Fool · Post by **Easily_Deluded_Fool** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 1:28 am

On 2003-02-11 21:36, spittin_in_the_wind wrote:
snip
....if I was specifically looking for slow airs. As far as I can tell, there's no way to search by style, or am I wrong?

Robin

http://tunedb.woodenflute.com
allows search by type.

Also search by 'first' or 'any' word, so if at first 'it' isn't there, you can expand the search. This sometimes throws up the tune you want by another name. The site will show a jpeg of the tune, and a midi is available - if the 'abc' is correct, otherwise an 'abc' only text version is shown.
If you already knew this, sorry

Cayden · Post by **Cayden** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 4:16 am

On 2003-02-11 17:17, Redwolf wrote:
"The main thing with airs is to play expressively...it's more like singing than playing dance music.

Redwolf

Some would argue [and I would tend to agree] that the only way to play an air properly is to know the song. The notes should support the words and determine the phrasing.

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 4:23 am

On 2003-02-12 05:16, Peter Laban wrote:
On 2003-02-11 17:17, Redwolf wrote:
"The main thing with airs is to play expressively...it's more like singing than playing dance music.

Redwolf
Some would argue [and I would tend to agree] that the only way to play an air properly is to know the song. The notes should support the words and determine the phrasing.

So that means that all airs come from songs originally?

Cayden · Post by **Cayden** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 6:59 am

I would never say all, there's always a few stray melodies without words or that have lost their words over time but in general slow airs are the tunes to [sean nos-]songs.
And that makes playing airs an art in itself, you have to somehow manage a convincing instrumental redition of an essitally vocal piece and any tradional singer would listen extremely critacally to how you tackle the airs. Personally I would not be tempted to play airs in public, only unless I have my arm twisted severely. I don play a few airs I am more or less secure with and they are the ones that have English words. I recently posted a version of Valentia Harbour/Song of the Books to the clips page and while I made interesting noises I have no illusion about what the reaction of a singer of the song to my version would be.

[ This Message was edited by: Peter Laban on 2003-02-12 08:20 ]

MarkB · Post by **MarkB** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 7:19 am

I recently purchased a Mel Bay publication "Singing in Irish Gaelic" by Mary McLaughlin; A phonetic approach to singing in the Irish language. with CD.

It is very well done. There are fourteen songs. She starts with simple pronunciation and you can repeat the lines.

My point is that just listening to Eamonn An Chnoic sung in sean nos style, I have changed the way I play the air.

Right now it is the closest I can get to sean nos singing.

Go here for book info;

http://www.melbay.com/product.asp?Produ ... ode=author

I hope this helps.

MarkB

edited to add link

_________________
"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." Charles Darwin.

[ This Message was edited by: MarkB on 2003-02-12 08:29 ]

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 7:33 am

I think knowing the song the air comes from helps, but I really doubt it's essential: there are too many fine musicians who play lovely airs but don't speak or sing a word of Gaelic.

I remember Harry Bradley commented on this once on the woodenflute list. His take was that playing with heart is much more important. I'll see if I can dig up the posting so I can quote it exactly here.

Best,

--James
http://www.flutesite.com

Wizzer · Post by **Wizzer** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 8:20 am

On 2003-02-11 16:55, spittin_in_the_wind wrote:
I've seen books and CDs out there. Are they any good, any recommendations, etc? I don't want to spend a fortune buying every Irish/Celtic CD on the market at this particular time, but would like to learn some slow Airs.
Robin

HI:
There is only one Cd and book out there for the beginning whistler. Bill Ochs has some amazing teaching CDs get in touch with him at http://www.pennywhistle.com/
Bill makes his living teaching and I have had the privilege of taking a few courses with him and know his material first hand.
If you ask him for his cd "Beginning Tin Whistle" and "Advanced beginners Tin Whistle with the sheet music. These are the CDs he uses in his class and are not usually available to the public unless you know to ask for them. He breaks each tune down into phrases and put each phrase on a separate track so you can put your cd player on repeat and play along with each phrase (already slowed down).
He is a nice guy and should answer your e mail promptly.
Good luck and good whistling.
Phil

[ This Message was edited by: Wizzer on 2003-02-12 09:21 ]