Chiff and Fipple Forums

Anyone have recommendations for good slow reels, or good reels to slow down? I'm totally taken at this point with the Bothies' version of Maids of Mitchellstown, and I've always liked Solas's version of O'Dowd's 9 (the first part of the Beauty Spot set). There's another I found in the Joyce collection called The Wedding Ring.

TIA

I like The Ruined Old Cottage in the Glen, Flora MacDonald, Merry Boys of Pleasure, and The Wedding Reel played at a more serene pace. Here's a gimme for this thread: Matt Molloy's recording of Drowsy Maggie. It's a nicer tune slow, especially for flute or whistle. People have told me that it it's a fun one on the fiddle at breakneck speed.
Mike

The Banshee

Matt Molloy also does Morning Dew nice and lazy which sounds terrific.
Actually, I often recommend people trying ALL fast tunes at a slow pace once in a while. Many of them sound great that way and it's a good way to try to learn a new. fast tune. It's sometimes tough to get that strong rhythmic feel when you're playing slowly but if you can manage it your faster playing of that tune will be a lot better.

The Chieftains do a really slow version of Dunmore Lasses on Long Black Veil cd. It sounds cool.
I've heard Star of Munster and Porthole of the Kelp done slowly to nice effect.
Also consider the hornpipe, Humors of Tullycrine. (A lot of minor keyed jigs sound great done slowly, as well.)
Tony

The Dunmoor Lasses is particularly beautiful when slowed down.

Philo

Although its not a reel, and not really all that slow, it is still a very cool song "The Hungry Rock" and Dervish plays it. Has a similar flow and mode that Maids of Michelstown has...

When I play a reel slow, I usually wind up syncopating it, more like a hornpipe (but not that much). It just seems to sound better. Does anyone else do that? Do these recordings of reels mentioned played slow just slow them down or do they change the rythmn or feeling in any way?

One of my music buddies plays nearly every reel as a hornpipe. It's his trademark. I think they sound fine; we decide before we play them what the style will be in terms of dottedness (that hornpipy rhythm).

I was assuming that it's one of those things the purists would frown on. But this is traditional music which probably evolved through the folk process in its own time. I say play how you like it.

Jennie

So, speaking from the standpoint of an ITM idjit, is it kosher to slow down a reel?

emmline wrote:So, speaking from the standpoint of an ITM idjit, is it kosher to slow down a reel?

As far as I know, it is; there are many purists who do. I don't know if it's kosher to slow down just any reel, though, which is kind of why I asked the question.

BTW, I just stumbled across another on the Mairead and Frankie Altan album. Can't remember the name of it, but it's gorgeous, too.

The Foxhunter's Reel in the key of A sounds great slow. It's a completely different tune when slowed down.

Hunters House sounds great slowed down, as does Path through the Wood (Bealach An Doirin) although I am not sure if this is actually a reel.

Can I *strongly* recommend listening to a set of slow reels - Jerry O'Sullivan and the Dimmers (hey - that sounds like a 50s band!!!) which are recorded by Lunasa on their Kinnitty Sessions.

Both tunes are on thesession.org and they are my big favourite at the moment.

Lunasa make them sound easy to play, but that's deceptive!!!

Castlekelly and Caislean an Oir (sp?) (i.e. Golden Castle).

J.