Lori,
Below is review of a book by Chris Smith. It has the best explanations of what makes celtic music celtic. It not only explains the forms to a certain extent it allow has excellent exercise for learning to hear the things he discusses in the book.
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<b>Review: Celtic Back-Up for all Instrumentalists by Chris Smith.</b> <br>
Published by Mel Bay and includes Compact disk.<br><hr>
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This is the first tutor I've seen on playing Irish music by ear. IMHO, A book that should be on every beginning session player's must read book: a tutorial, a guide, and a reference.<br>
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Chris' stated purpose for the book is to help the instrumental session musician "to play tasteful, interesting, imaginative, and supportive improvised accompaniment".<br></blockquote>
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The book covers theory, celtic rhythms, celtic harmonies, Keys and their modes. It provide nice notation and explanations but also integrate training the ear to hear the Irish. Exercises and explanations include hearing the various rhythms associated with the various forms such as hornpipes, jigs, reals, etc. It has a wide variety of harmony approaches organized in a 15 point plan and exercises for each of the approaches. The CD has 99 tracks including tracks that just demonstrate each of the rhythms, each of the 15 approaches, the tones in each of the keys, the tones ineach of the modes, as well as some practice sets of tunes.<br>
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One of the foci of the book is on being able to accompany songs in sessions where you are hearing the melody for the first time. Playing by ear, what to look for, what does it sound like, what does it mean, what to avoid.<br>
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The book is written primarily for stringed accompanyment like guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, piano but applies to any instrumental accompanyment.
This is the best twenty buck's I've spent on learning Irish music.
The book is available at the Whistle Shop on-line and Lark in the Morning. Links follow:<br><br>
<a href=
http://www.thewhistleshop.com/catalog/t ... htm>Celtic BackUp at The Whistle Shop</a><br>
<a href=
http://www.larkinam.com/MenComNet/Busin ... tar>Celtic BackUp at Lark in The Morning</a><hr>Hope this helps you to ...