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mad baloney - Posted - 01/27/2013: 18:02:15
I'm leaning towards reels, maybe a classic set from the 78 era. Like "Humors of Lissadell/Sweeney's Dream", "Bonnie Kate/Jennie's Chicken's" , "Down the Broom/The Gatehouse Maid" or another classic set from that time.
Any other ideas?
Mojohand40 - Posted - 01/28/2013: 06:10:12
I don't know how to play any of those yet, so either would be good. I like " Humors of Lissadell" and thought about learning it once before.
I've been meaning to learn some new reels so I started scratching out "Rolling in the Rye Grass" the other day. Needs work.. But yeah, whatever reel you want to pick.
I hope others participate more and get some versions posted. I know we got some folks around here interested in Irish fiddle. Can't have this forum turn into nothing but Old Time, can we?
bandsmcnamar - Posted - 01/28/2013: 12:20:28
I have to admit to not being familiar with any of these songs. So I'll go with whatever everyone else decides!!
Tommys dad - Posted - 01/28/2013: 15:23:07
Never heard these. But there is no reason to be scared.
Tommys dad - Posted - 01/28/2013: 15:28:54
Never heard these. But there is no reason to be scared.
dogmageek - Posted - 01/28/2013: 18:26:40
I'm partial to a jig like
First Night in America
Draught of Ale
Tongs by the Fire
or
Moll Roe
sheesh theyr'e all in G
Or Ingonish in Em
dogmageek - Posted - 01/28/2013: 18:45:50
bm: I could do the ones you named with some effort; but my guitar player would object. Humors of Lissadell is a hard tune IMO and Down the Broom sounds like a bunch of other tunes like "Bag of Spuds" for ex. Which is why "guitar" objects. I like Bag of Spuds [and Down the Broom too]; lately I have taught the "Laurel Tree" which I like a lot.
Mojohand40 - Posted - 01/29/2013: 04:04:52
well, if it's up to a vote, then I'll vote: "Down the Broom/The Gatehouse Maid"
bandsmcnamar - Posted - 01/29/2013: 09:16:44
I'll vote for Down The Broom etc as well. Found this Kevin Burke version and am now firmly hooked.
youtube.com/watch?v=yAkVrc5LjsI
I'd be talking years rather than a month to get it anywhere near to what Kevin is doing, but the journey is worth it!!!
dsreiner - Posted - 01/29/2013: 12:21:26
Humors of Lissadell is a fine, flowing tune.
Dave
fiddle and banjo player - Posted - 01/29/2013: 12:23:55
quote:
Originally posted by dogmageek
I'm partial to a jig like
First Night in America
Draught of Ale
Tongs by the Fire
or
Moll Roe
sheesh theyr'e all in G
Or Ingonish in Em
I'd vote for Ingonish - LOVE that one!!
mad baloney - Posted - 01/30/2013: 17:48:16
dogmageek, I'm all for input but all of the tunes I've done so far are jigs. we've only had one reel so far which is out of whack when compared to the tradition. while I'm on the topic of tradition, I thought it would be good to pick a classic set in the tradition.
so got any classic reel sets? preferably from Coleman, Kiloran, Wynne, Morrison etc?
amwildman - Posted - 01/30/2013: 18:19:28
Bonnie Kate/Jenny's Chickens is probably the epitome of Coleman era playing. The Tarbolton set should be mentioned in that conversation as well. I'm really digging the first set now, although there are a couple finger twisters in there. Second set may be a bit easier under the fingers, but when ornamented, both sets are fairly advanced. Are we trying to make these at least somewhat beginner friendly?
Edited by - amwildman on 01/30/2013 18:32:51
amwildman - Posted - 01/30/2013: 18:22:17
quote:
Originally posted by bandsmcnamar
I'll vote for Down The Broom etc as well. Found this Kevin Burke version and am now firmly hooked.
youtube.com/watch?v=yAkVrc5LjsI
I'd be talking years rather than a month to get it anywhere near to what Kevin is doing, but the journey is worth it!!!
Sounds like Christmas Eve and Bag of Spuds had a love child.
dogmageek - Posted - 01/30/2013: 19:04:28
suggestions: reels - - these are some on my list (coleman-?)
sailor's bonnet
reidy johnson
and of course lord mcdonald's and ballinasloe fair
non coleman:
bobby casey and tansey's
Do pipe tunes count - -
I've been trying to learn
dogs in the bushes - in G
zai - Posted - 02/02/2013: 08:42:23
So it's Down the Broom and The Gatehouse Maid for this month?
Mojohand40 - Posted - 02/02/2013: 14:17:08
quote:
Originally posted by zai
So it's Down the Broom and The Gatehouse Maid for this month?
I think I'm going to start working on "Down the Broom". I got a version by Michael Gorman on a CD called "Past Masters of Irish Fiddle". It's done in a set with " The Pigeon on the Gate" .
I'll try and learn "Gatehouse Maid" with it though if I have time.
I do like the Kevin Burke video where he plays the set.
mad baloney - Posted - 02/02/2013: 17:14:05
So it is Down the Broom and if you feel ambitious play The gatehouse Maid.
I'm pretty excited because these ate two tunes I don't really play, so far most of the tunes have been tunes that I've been playing backwards and forwards forever. Doesn't make them bad but at least I'll learn something this month
Mojohand40 - Posted - 02/14/2013: 08:20:44
Progress report:
We'll I'm still working on these tunes. Mostly "Down the Broom". Trying to do it a little like the Kevin Burke version. I found a couple of recordings of him playing it (as well as some others). It's an addictive but frustrating little tune for me.
The good thing is it's forcing me to work on bowed triplets (burls). Still don't have the proper flick of the wrist yet for 'em.
What's weird for me also about this tune is that at first the B part seemed like it would be way harder then the A part, but now I find the B part to actually be a little easier then the A.
Hopefully I'll post a first attempt soon.
Anybody else working these?
zai - Posted - 02/14/2013: 10:08:43
Good going there, Mojohand!
I just started today on these tunes, couldn't get the link to work that Mad Baloney put up there but got the Kevin Burke vid's audio slowed down, and and starting to get the outline of the Gatehouse Maid and found that I very likely learnt a version of Down the Broom at some point, because it really didn't take me much to be playing along to the slowed down version of it. Thought it sounded familiar when I listened it, hehe, but thought it was just from hearing it. Maybe it was just hearing it, I'm not sure of the context of where I heard it or played it before. Maybe it was at the once a month session I go to.
I'll probably end up learning the 3rd tune in the Kevin Burke vid as well, seeing as how I'm lazy and I'd as soon let the whole track repeat instead rewind after the first two tunes.
Looking forward to your first attempt, Mojohand :)
Mojohand40 - Posted - 02/18/2013: 17:20:01
Alright..I said I'd post a sorry first attempt at Down The Broom....and here it is. I find this to be a hard tune to get. I'm going to keep at it and post an updated version at the end of the month. Come on people, post a version! It can't be worse 'n mine...
amwildman - Posted - 02/18/2013: 17:30:10
Mojo, were you the one looking for advice on bowed trebles? I can't find the thread to chime in.
Mojohand40 - Posted - 02/18/2013: 17:34:42
quote:
Originally posted by amwildman
Mojo, were you the one looking for advice on bowed trebles? I can't find the thread to chime in.
well....if you just listened to my version of Down The Broom...you'd obviously hear I need advice on bowed triplets. Chime in right here!
:)
amwildman - Posted - 02/18/2013: 18:31:48
As long as the advice is welcome. I don't want to offend you.
Sounds to me like your trebles need to be shortened up - bow travel as well as the time of each note. Most players always start them with a downbow. The last note before a treble needs to be an upbow. This will allow you to transition seamlessly into the ornament. What you want to aim for is to just use wrist and fingers to make it quick. The looser your wrist gets the better you can get at doing the down-up-down flick. Also of note: You can make your trebles more crunchy-sounding ala Tommy Peoples merely by digging in a tiny bit with the first finger of your bowing hand. If you want the lighter trebles like Martin Hayes, you only need a tiny bit more pressure. The crunchier you make them sound, the less bow travel and more bow pressure you will need.
Here is a good explanation(although i use less forearm for mine than Jim does) youtube.com/watch?v=vkbYKmU4B-Y Hope this helps.
Mojohand40 - Posted - 02/19/2013: 05:56:47
quote:
Originally posted by amwildman
As long as the advice is welcome. I don't want to offend you.
Sounds to me like your trebles need to be shortened up - bow travel as well as the time of each note. Most players always start them with a downbow. The last note before a treble needs to be an upbow. This will allow you to transition seamlessly into the ornament. What you want to aim for is to just use wrist and fingers to make it quick. The looser your wrist gets the better you can get at doing the down-up-down flick. Also of note: You can make your trebles more crunchy-sounding ala Tommy Peoples merely by digging in a tiny bit with the first finger of your bowing hand. If you want the lighter trebles like Martin Hayes, you only need a tiny bit more pressure. The crunchier you make them sound, the less bow travel and more bow pressure you will need.
Here is a good explanation(although i use less forearm for mine than Jim does) youtube.com/watch?v=vkbYKmU4B-Y ; Hope this helps.
I'll keep workin at 'em. That youtube is a pretty good help.
Thanks
zai - Posted - 02/19/2013: 11:28:59
Good starting effort on that tune, Mojohand.
Jim's vid on bowed triplets is a pretty good one.
When I do a bowed triplet (xcept when playing real slow) to me it feels like a momentary stop in bow movement, then continuing in the same direction. So if it starts on a down it moves down (but only startst down, just a very short note there), then stops (but it doesn't really stop, the abruptness of my arm stopping makes the bow travel ever so slightly the other way) and then continues on it''s path. Key is to have a nice and relaxed wrist and hold of the bow, fingers and thumb very relaxed as well.
I'm one of the exeptions to Wildman's most fiddlers start them on a downbow rule. For me they're easier when I precede the treble with a downbow (starting the triplet on an upbow), but I can do them the other way 'round too.
I'll see if I can whip up a quicky recording of Down the Broom, I sorta got that worked out. The Gatehouse Maid needs more attention, and I'm having a nice puzzle at a bit of variation Mr. Burke does on the last tune.
zai - Posted - 02/19/2013: 13:08:21
Well, here's my 'quicky' recording. Not quite happy with it, but then I didn't say I was done with the tune yet. 
So I'll be a sport and share the final result of about an hour's worth of mucking about with the tune mixed up with some random exercises.
I play the tune three times through, first time trying to put a long note in place of a trebble, 2nd time through putting two notes in it's place, and third time putting in the tripplets.
youtu.be/-wc7NMhOrY8
Mojohand40 - Posted - 02/19/2013: 14:58:23
quote:
Originally posted by zai
Well, here's my 'quicky' recording. Not quite happy with it, but then I didn't say I was done with the tune yet.
So I'll be a sport and share the final result of about an hour's worth of mucking about with the tune mixed up with some random exercises.
I play the tune three times through, first time trying to put a long note in place of a trebble, 2nd time through putting two notes in it's place, and third time putting in the tripplets.
youtu.be/-wc7NMhOrY8
Triplets sound good. I liked it a lot the second time to. Thanks for posting! I'm happy somebody's giving it a go.
Keep at it. I want to hear you it again in another week.
bandsmcnamar - Posted - 02/22/2013: 09:07:39
Well, here's a run at it. I spent a couple of weeks trying to get the triplets thing, and all of the little grace notes. Didn't get them all in but the idea is there. Need to add a little speed still, but definitely worth the effort to work on these things. Had a couple of notes that just didn't sound toward the end, not sure why that happens, other than I know it's me and the bow not doing something properly.
Anyway here's my attempt.
Mojohand40 - Posted - 02/22/2013: 10:41:38
quote:
Originally posted by bandsmcnamar
Well, here's a run at it. I spent a couple of weeks trying to get the triplets thing, and all of the little grace notes. Didn't get them all in but the idea is there. Need to add a little speed still, but definitely worth the effort to work on these things. Had a couple of notes that just didn't sound toward the end, not sure why that happens, other than I know it's me and the bow not doing something properly.
Anyway here's my attempt.
Well, alright! Another person struggling on this one with me.
You're right this is definetly worth the effort to work on these things (bowed triplets/trebles, grace notes, speed etc) on a tune like this.
I may not get this tune sounding like I want for a year, but each time I struggle through learning something like this, it makes my overall playing a smidgen better. I'm still working on my bowed triplets on this one. I think I got it a little better then my first post of it. I'm going to re-record myself in a few days to see if I've improved on it.
This Tune of the Month is a good motivator to stick with a tune for awhile and not write it off. I'm still fooling with the last three Irish Tunes of the Month...might have to post some updates to those as well.
Anyway, keep it up all!
Mojohand40 - Posted - 02/23/2013: 14:57:09
Well...here's my second attempt at it. I got it a little closer to what I want, but it's a tune that's going to have to rattle around my practice sessions for a few months before I'll be comfortable with it.
bandsmcnamar - Posted - 02/24/2013: 19:52:33
Sound to me like you're getting pretty close, keep after it!!!!
fiddle and banjo player - Posted - 02/25/2013: 07:30:09
Good job guys, these are tough ones! I'm going to give them a try too, I've never played them before, so we'll see...I assume the Session.org has decent sheet music to start off?
mad baloney - Posted - 02/25/2013: 14:37:49
Here's a more or less standard 'fiddle' setting of the tune. The setting on thesession.org is more aimed at flutes/pipes/whistle
mad baloney - Posted - 02/25/2013: 14:39:13
There's a ton of bowing on this tune, I'm going to try to put the bowing in and post it.
mad baloney - Posted - 02/25/2013: 15:23:53
Instead of putting in every bowing, I think it's easier to lay out some bowing guidelines for Irish fiddle
Triplets are almost always single bowed, usually down, up, down - and they aren't actually triplets they are more similar to two 16ths followed by an 8th note
Also where there are 'rocking' figures like in the second bar of the first part use 'cross-bowing' also known as "figure 8" (becuase your bowhand makes a figure eight) bowing here's a link.
It smooths out the jaggedness of single-bowing everything and makes it sound Irish.
Hope this helps a bit
fiddle and banjo player - Posted - 02/25/2013: 17:25:46
Yes, that's very helpful! I'll try that cross bowing with my fiddle in hand tomorrow. I have the B part up to speed, but for some reason I'm finding the A part much harder bowing wise. Kevin Burke does it so fast in all the youtube videos that I can't hardly 'get' the rhythm to it...
dogmageek - Posted - 03/03/2013: 16:53:24
here is my down the broom -after several takes
amwildman - Posted - 03/03/2013: 19:24:36
It is March. Maybe I will have time to post a recording this month since I'm done moving now.
mad baloney - Posted - 03/04/2013: 03:02:24
I've been on the lazy side too, just hard to find time to pull out the mic and record. I promise I will though.
Mojohand40 - Posted - 03/05/2013: 07:52:47
quote:
Originally posted by fiddle and banjo player
Slightly late, this one was challenging!
Loosely inspired by Kevin Burke's playing of it on YouTube.
hangoutstorage.com/jukebox.asp...D%3D10771
Can't wait to hear yours Brad!
That is some fine playing! I really like the way you gave the A part some bounce. Really brought the tune to life.
I'm going to keep working at DTB, you inspired me. I started working Gatehouse Maid last week and am still figuring my way around that one. I'm going to rattle around with these two tunes for another month and maybe post another swipe at it and try to do them as a set.
Anyway, FaBP, good one!
fiddle and banjo player - Posted - 03/08/2013: 07:40:14
Thanks Mojo & Dogmageek! I enjoyed taking on this months 'challenge' - Brad seems to like the hard ones...
mad baloney - Posted - 03/08/2013: 17:58:34
I didn't choose this tune
fiddle and banjo player - Posted - 03/09/2013: 07:20:51
quote:
Originally posted by mad baloney
I didn't choose this tune
Oh, I'm just kidding ya! 
