American slow airs?

[I.D.10-t]

It should be pointed out that the term "slow air" is one that is fairly specifically used to mean the air of a song from the Sean Nos or English language traditional singing tradition from Ireland, or an instrumental tune played in that same style... So technically, no there are no "American" slow airs, since the singing traditions are different.

I just thought it was a slower aria/ayr/ayre.

[jim stone]

http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/pla ... +Brigadoon

This is from the hit play, Brigadoon, and it's American pseudo-Scottish. Call it want you want, it's slow and it sounds
ravishing on the Irish flute.

By the way, the rendition on the video is in G, and you can simply play along on the flute.

[rama]

standard american airs

[MTGuru]

It should be pointed out that the term "slow air" is one that is fairly specifically used to mean the air of a song from the Sean Nos or English language traditional singing tradition from Ireland, or an instrumental tune played in that same style... So technically, no there are no "American" slow airs, since the singing traditions are different.

Yep, exactly. And the "slow" in Slow Air (Fionn Mall) doesn't really mean slow per se, but distinguishes goltraí and suantraí from geantraí in the 3-part traditional division of Irish music types.

Is there a Scottish slow air tradition? I think so, but that's a different question.

Actually, I think there might be a few American traditional vocal styles - Native American, Appalachian, blues - that could lend themselves to what might be called an American Slow Air style. But that's not what the OP is asking for. Phreddee is looking for American folk song melodies that can be played on the flute. Nothing wrong with that. They're not Slow Airs, though they may be airs that are slow.

[BigDavy]

Hi MTGuru

The Scottish tradition has a lovely selection of slow airs/laments

Have a listen to this one written by Phil Cunnningham and played by Duncan Chisholm (my favourite player of slow airs). Gentle Light that Wakes Me

Or McCrimmon's Lament the first tune in this set by Martyn Bennett.

David

[MTGuru]

Thank you, David.

[NicoMoreno]

I just thought it was a slower aria/ayr/ayre.

Many people think that "slow air" just means "slow tune", but it doesn't.

You'd be hard pressed to prove to me that it is an independently developed term in a tradition of music other than Irish Traditional Music (and the somewhat related styles, as in Scottish music) meaning something different from the definition I posted. People who use the term all seem to have heard of it in relation to ITM first, and then either use it correctly, or misunderstand what it is supposed to be used for.

The argument may be made that the term means whatever people use it for, but it still sticks in my craw that people use the term "decimate" to mean "completely destroy", so that argument isn't going to convince me!

[Mr.Gumby]

There's the Hare in a G String... and it's not an Irish Hare either.

[Peewit]

http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/pla ... +Brigadoon

This is from the hit play, Brigadoon, and it's American pseudo-Scottish. Call it want you want, it's slow and it sounds
ravishing on the Irish flute.

By the way, the rendition on the video is in G, and you can simply play along on the flute.

Wow! Thanks for this, Jim - it's gorgeous. Can't wait to try playing along.

My kids did Brigadoon in school. Isabelle played Bonnie Jean and Claire was Harry Beaton (it was a girls' school). Thus,
I got to see one child married and the other carried in dead, all in one show. This is their least favourite of all
the shows they did in school, because the story is so far-fetched, I think. The Lerner & Loewe music can't be faulted.

The girl who sang Come to Me, Bend to Me was a very weak singer (the director's daughter ) so I had no idea
how great a song this is. Something's lacking when a soprano sings a guy's song anyway...

[Denny]

There's the Hare in a G String... and it's not an Irish Hare either.

it's a bachair


I didn't want to disappoint ya Peter

[benhall.1]

Brigadoon is my joint all-time favourite musical show. The other being Carousel. I find both stories equally believable.

[Mr.Gumby]

And the "slow" in Slow Air (Fionn Mall) doesn't really mean slow per se, but distinguishes goltraí and suantraí from geantraí in the 3-part traditional division of Irish music types.

In all honesty, I don't think that division has seen any practical use since the middle ages or thereabouts.

I notice older players used to refer to 'air' and that could include many things, Boolavogue, Skibbereen, Moonlight in Mayo and all manner of song. Slow air seems to be used more for Sean Nos airs but it's not particularly well defined.

[Nanohedron]

Hi MTGuru

The Scottish tradition has a lovely selection of slow airs/laments

Have a listen to this one written by Phil Cunnningham and played by Duncan Chisholm (my favourite player of slow airs). Gentle Light that Wakes Me

Or McCrimmon's Lament the first tune in this set by Martyn Bennett.

David

Speaking of the Scottish stuff, I've been totally groovin' on this simple tune for days, now, played by Aly Bain accompanied by a slew of others. It's called Bonaparte's Retreat, but it's not the tune as I've known it heretofore. Pardon me while I go hit "Replay".

The nice thing about this arrangement (beyond the playing), to me, is how the parent connection to the music of the American Deep South is pointed out.

[MTGuru]

In all honesty, I don't think that division has seen any practical use since the middle ages or thereabouts.

Well, it's my theory and I'm stickin' to it. Forsooth.

[Nanohedron]

In all honesty, I don't think that division has seen any practical use since the middle ages or thereabouts.

Well, it's my theory and I'm stickin' to it. Forsooth.

How come when I play the geantraí, it works on the audience like the suantraí, and on me like the goltraí?