A Little Something I'm Proud of, 1st Whistle Recording

[Mr Ed]

Hello there!
I recorded this tune last night (1/28/2013) after receiving a new microphone. The last time I spent any time in front of one was about twenty years ago, and that was for about 5 minutes.

Here it is, Mo Ghile Mear:
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12136447

The mic is a TASCAM TM-ST1 and the whistle is a D I made.
The outlook is strong that the playing and sound quality will improve with more time spent in front of the mic. Still, the nervousness wasn't as bad as expected when it was powered up and the record button was clicked.

Hope You Enjoy It,
Ed

[Feadoggie]

Very cool!

[Mr Ed]

Many thanks, Feadoggie.

It was a fun, and humbling, experience.

[Mr.Gumby]

Maybe bear in mind it's quite a powerful song, 'He's my hero [..]He's my Ceasar..' there's defiance and power in it that will suffer when played to slow and sweetly.

Other than that, fine job (but do take care not to stretch the bars).

[Mr Ed]

...there's defiance and power in it that will suffer when played to slow and sweetly.

That's one of the first things that was noticed when listening to it this morning. There's a mental list already going of what I'd change. Thanks for the compliment and direction, Mr. Gumby.

The only thing I can compare getting this track finished and uploaded to is the 1st time playing bass on stage. It was considered a win to get through it without any major flubs and have a little fun at the same time.

[Mr.Gumby]

I realised you were playing very cautiously . That wasn't really a point of criticism. Microphones do that to people.

I have heard the song sung so often (quite often by Cór Cuil Aodha) and it's always a rousing piece. It's a problem with air playing though, quite often they get played too drawn out out and too slow. Don't fall into that trap.

[fearfaoin]

Wow, it is amazing that a horse can talk AND play the whistle!

[Cayden]

Ed,
Nice work and a nice sounding whistle. Good points made by Mr. Gumby regarding the emotions that need to be projected in that piece of music. It would be interesting to have you make the adjustments and post both renditions in a single post as a comparative of the two.

Keep at it!

Cheers,
Cayden

[Mr Ed]

Wow, it is amazing that a horse can talk AND play the whistle!

It took a few takes and some adjusting of mic placement to remove my hoof stomping from the track.

It's a problem with air playing though, quite often they get played too drawn out out and too slow. Don't fall into that trap.

Glad you mentioned that! When I play the few airs I know, to me they sound better a little faster, but I wasn't sure if it was because of having a small bag of tricks to draw from to bring out the best of a tune when done slowly, a need to hear more examples from good players, or both.

Microphones do that to people.

Yeah, that thing made me sweat like President Obama at an NRA convention.

[Mr Ed]

Slow typer.

Ed,
Nice work and a nice sounding whistle. Good points made by Mr. Gumby regarding the emotions that need to be projected in that piece of music. It would be interesting to have you make the adjustments and post both renditions in a single post as a comparative of the two.

Keep at it!

Cheers,
Cayden

Thanks!

I think that once I'm more comfortable around a mic, and most importantly, relax and have fun, there should be a noticeable improvement.

[Mr.Gumby]

Glad you mentioned that! When I play the few airs I know, to me they sound better a little faster, but I wasn't sure if it was because of having a small bag of tricks to draw from to bring out the best of a tune when done slowly, a need to hear more examples from good players, or both.

Try to know the song. Listen to singers. Taimse im' Chodladh is another one that is often played much too whimpy. Again it's a song of defiance that needs a bit of conviction to carry over.

[crookedtune]

As a beginner, I considered airs a logical place to start. Wrong! I still rarely play them in public, and cringe when I hear my recorded attempts. In fact, I know very few people who I'd say excel at more than one or two selected favorites.

Solid effort there, though!

[Mr Ed]

I think the next effort showed improvement. There was a little more fun and a little less nervousness (after a while).

For comparison:
The original as previously posted
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12136447

Version 2.0
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12137389

[fearfaoin]

Maybe bear in mind it's quite a powerful song, 'He's my hero [..]He's my Ceasar..' there's defiance and power in it that will suffer when played to slow and sweetly.

I agree with you completely that I want to hear that treatment in the tune. But I can see why people might feel a slow, mournful (but still not sweet) lament appropriate.

If you are selective about verses, it can really be pulled either way.
(I am pasting in the English translation from Wikipedia, please excuse the clunkiness and any mistranslations).

Every day I'm constantly enduring grief,
Weeping bitterly and shedding tears,
Because my lively lad has left me
And no news is told of him - alas.

The cuckoo doesn't sing cheerfully after noon,
And the sound of hounds isn't heard in the nut-tree woods,
Nor a summer morning in a misty glen
Since my my lively boy went away from me.

Gallant Darling for a while under sorrow,
And Ireland completely under black cloaks;
I have found neither rest nor fortune
Since my Gallant Darling went far away.

Once I was gentle maiden,
But now I'm a spent, worn-out widow,
My consort strongly plowing the waves,
Over the hills and far away.

Gallant young horseman
An appearance without worry or care
A grip thats sure and quick in battle
Leading the crowd and making us strong

He's my champion my Gallant Darling,
He's my Caesar, a Gallant Darling,
I've found neither rest nor fortune
Since my Gallant Darling went far away.

But, yeah. When all the verses are taken as a whole, it does seem like defiance and pride is just as present as lamentation and loss.

[Mr.Gumby]

I have pulled a few versions together that I would consider bonafide (which is to say I skirted around the Celtic Women of the world):

Iarla O Lionard & Steve Cooney

Jimmy Crowley and Friends (at Concert for Michéal O Domhnaill)

Seamus Begley & Jim Murray

Cór Cuil Aodha

[edited to add last link]