DrPhill wrote:Somehow I never seem to actually manage to learn air(e)s - or at least finish learning them to my satisfaction. Maybe it is in the expression.
It's entirely in the expression.
If you're interested in airs, that's a special field of study (and probably my favorite); for example, it makes a difference whether they're Irish or Scottish for a number of basic reasons, but there's nothing particularly wrong with code-switching so long as you know what you're about. I'm more familiar with the Irish side of things, so let's go with that: In Irish airs it is almost axiomatic that there will be lyrics to go with the tune. There are exceptions, but it's best to assume otherwise until you know otherwise. SO: If you are learning an Irish air and want to do it right, you really, really must know the lyrics if you are to get acceptable phrasing, because if you wish to play traditionally your playing must mirror how the tune would or could be sung in a reasonable way. This is non-negotiable, because there might be someone in the audience who knows the song the air comes from, and that standard counts. English lyrics are one thing, but Irish lyrics pose problems for those of us who don't know the language. Fortunately, we have recordings readily to hand. In that case, listen to it being sung, and absorb the phrasing that way. Listening to more than one source in Irish is also a good idea, because different singers might have different styles, and knowing this can only enrich your capabilities. If you cannot find either lyrics or a recording of it being sung, then try to find at least three played versions from different established artists for comparison. It's better than nothing, and if their versions roughly concur, they will probably be based on the singing.
I am given to understand that in the Scottish tradition, airs do not necessarily have lyrics to begin with, so there is perhaps more leeway in how you express those. I haven't studied that aspect of the Scottish tradition enough to be able to state definitively. But if the air comes from a song with words, then I would personally apply the lyric-phrasing standard, just to be on the safe side.
I think a good Irish air for an English speaker to begin with is The May Morning Dew. The song was written in English, and the lyrics are easy enough to remember, so right phrasing falls into place with ease, and you can take it from there.
The best compliment I ever got after playing an air was from someone who knew nothing about Trad music, much less what an Irish air was: he said, unprompted, that he could almost hear lyrics under it. So I couldn't have been doing it entirely wrong.
DrPhill wrote:I suspect, however, that my producing a clone of that performance is not the real desired endpoint. Something more subtle is required.
You suspect correctly. Parroting someone's version note-for-note may be good as an exercise, but it is not desirable performance. Experienced players would not admire it, because it is not your own. You have to find your own version and express that. Don't be daunted and think, "Oh, I couldn't possibly rise to that level." Of course you can. It just takes exposure, practice, and critical listening.