Learning tunes you don't like

[benhall.1]

E-n-n-n-n-y-way ...

Back to the general topic ... there are only two tunes I literally can't stand, and I won't learn them. I'm talking about good tunes. Just ones that I'm not so fond of. And, applied more generally, I wonder if most - all? - of us learn a fair few tunes we're not so keen on just for that "social context" (or whatever the phrase was). I mean, there are very few sessions where I think, at the end "Gosh! Every single tune tonight was a true classic!" OTOH, there aren't many tunes that I don't like. I like most of them. But, if there's a tune that keeps coming up and I'm not so keen - as, for instance, Beare Island has of late - should I learn it anyway? I mean, part of me thinks it's just going with the flow. Kind of "If you can't beat them, join them" kind of thing.

[Cross-post with Nano. And I love Sally Gardens as well. How could you not?]

[Nanohedron]

E-n-n-n-n-y-way ...

Back to the general topic ... there are only two tunes I literally can't stand, and I won't learn them.

So Beare Island would have made it three - and what are the other two? Maybe revealing this will help us get to the bottom of your malaise.

But, if there's a tune that keeps coming up and I'm not so keen - as, for instance, Beare Island has of late - should I learn it anyway? I mean, part of me thinks it's just going with the flow. Kind of "If you can't beat them, join them" kind of thing.

I'd suggest dropping the "should" thing, for starters. I think it's fine to have a rationale for doing it - again, social motivation, or the challenge of mastering a difficult tune just because it furthers your abilities, or it galls you that the sessioner you respect (or despise, as the case may be) can play it but you can't. Whatever, so long as you're clear on what you're about. As for not doing it, the fact that you don't feel like it ought to do.

And I love Sally Gardens as well. How could you not?

Well, I'm certainly looking more and more like a contrarian around the likes of you, aren't I.

[benhall.1]

E-n-n-n-n-y-way ...

Back to the general topic ... there are only two tunes I literally can't stand, and I won't learn them.

So Beare Island would have made it three - and what are the other two? Maybe revealing this will help us get to the bottom of your malaise.

I've said 'em before around here, but anyway, they're The Jug of Slugs and that wretched, worst tune ever, bleedin' Tam bloody Lin, aka the friggin' Glasgow.

And I love Sally Gardens as well. How could you not?

Well, I'm certainly looking more and more like a contrarian around the likes of you, aren't I.

Next you're going to tell me you don't like The Irish Washerwoman!

[Nanohedron]

E-n-n-n-n-y-way ...

Back to the general topic ... there are only two tunes I literally can't stand, and I won't learn them.

So Beare Island would have made it three - and what are the other two? Maybe revealing this will help us get to the bottom of your malaise.

I've said 'em before around here, but anyway, they're The Jug of Slugs and that wretched, worst tune ever, bleedin' Tam bloody Lin, aka the friggin' Glasgow.

Then I can't help you. I too don't play them.

And I love Sally Gardens as well. How could you not?

Well, I'm certainly looking more and more like a contrarian around the likes of you, aren't I.

Next you're going to tell me you don't like The Irish Washerwoman!

No, it's just that I simply don't play that, either, is all.

[Peter Duggan]

I used to dislike the Sally Gardens until I heard a world-class fluter treat it as a slow reel full of all sorts of ornamental encrustations; the end result was honestly tasty and changed my attitude about the tune entirely. It was a demonstration of how a tune, any tune, has the potential to be made attractive, and it was a revelation to me.

Sally Gardens the reel (which I like) and not Salley Gardens the song (beloved by every beginner whistler and his dog), right?

I've said 'em before around here, but anyway, they're The Jug of Slugs

You literally can't stand something by the great G.S. McLennan? Oh, Ben, how could you?

(Perhaps because you're too used to hearing it murdered as an 'Irish jig'!)

[Lars Larry Mór Mott]

Two tunes that bore me to tears are 'The Butterfly' which i do play along as not being rude and 'The wise maid' which i use as an excuse to go for another pint or to ..relieve myself..

[Nanohedron]

I used to dislike the Sally Gardens until I heard a world-class fluter treat it as a slow reel full of all sorts of ornamental encrustations; the end result was honestly tasty and changed my attitude about the tune entirely. It was a demonstration of how a tune, any tune, has the potential to be made attractive, and it was a revelation to me.

Sally Gardens the reel (which I like) and not Salley Gardens the song (beloved by every beginner whistler and his dog), right?

I guess I made the mistake of thinking that the words in red would have taken care of any misunderstanding.

[Peter Duggan]

I guess I made the mistake of thinking that the words in red would have taken care of any misunderstanding.

Not when you could just about do the same to the song!

[Nanohedron]

I guess I made the mistake of thinking that the words in red would have taken care of any misunderstanding.

Not when you could just about do the same to the song!

A disturbing thought.

[benhall.1]

I've said 'em before around here, but anyway, they're The Jug of Slugs

You literally can't stand something by the great G.S. McLennan? Oh, Ben, how could you?

It's probably because I'm too used to hearing it murdered as an Irish jig.

[accordionstu]

Personally I only learn tunes that I like, but I have found that tunes I may have disliked 5 years ago, later grew on me and I now like them. I used to dislike reels, cant remember why but now I find myself looking for the more challenging reels and giving them a go.

[benhall.1]

Personally I only learn tunes that I like, but I have found that tunes I may have disliked 5 years ago, later grew on me and I now like them. I used to dislike reels, cant remember why but now I find myself looking for the more challenging reels and giving them a go.

What? All reels? I find that there isn't a category of tunes that I don't like - I like something of every tune type. And I haven't even particularly any favourite categories. I happily play reels, polkas, jigs, hornpipes, barndances, marches, waltzes, mazurkas, redowas, military twosteps, slip jigs, single jigs, slides, hop jigs, airs and one or two tunes not covered in that list.

In fact, really, as I said, there are only two tunes I just can't bring myself to play, one of which is a jig and one a reel.

I think you're absolutely right though, accordionstu, that tunes that you (I) didn't like at one time then grow on you (me). I usually find that this is because I hear a good player playing them and I suddenly understand what the tune's about. Believe it or not, I didn't used to like The Woman of the House until I heard a good fluter playing it. I love the tune now.

[accordionstu]

I didn't get reels as much as I did with other trad music, having played button accordion for years, I preferred the jaunty Hornpipes and these travelled well onto the flute. I am enjoying reels more now but when i hear some players playing them so ridiculously fast, i just switch off because the tune is lost in a fog of notes and isn't enjoyable anymore.
I will give the Woman of the house a try , what would you recommend to go with it Ben?

[benhall.1]

I will give the Woman of the house a try , what would you recommend to go with it Ben?

Try The Bank of Ireland before it. That pairing has a provenance, as it used to be played so by Bobby Casey, IIRC. Besides, The Bank of Ireland is a cracking tune on wind instruments. A real winner.

[Mr.Gumby]

There are a lot of notes in it though. Or there were, before the recession.