Favourite slow airs

lilymaid · Post by **lilymaid** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 3:35 pm

I want to learn some new tunes. I really prefer airs and would like to know everyone's favourites.

I'm personally madly in love with the "Arran Boat Song" and "Inisheer."

jim_mc · Post by **jim_mc** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 3:36 pm

The Lament for Owen Roe.

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 3:41 pm

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php ... +slow+airs

Here are some good choices. I'm not trying to stifle the give and take of the conversation here, I just know I'd never remember all of these if I tried to list them myself.

My personal faves are Anach Chuin, Amhran na Leabhar and Dance of the Gypsy Queen (a non trad tune by Eoin Duignan that sounds as good as the best trad).

Pat Cannady · Post by **Pat Cannady** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 3:49 pm

Port na bPucai, By The River of Gems, and Gentle Philip Fahy.

kevin m. · Post by **kevin m.** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 3:53 pm

There's so many!
Off the top of my head;
The Dark slender Boy
Roisin Dubh
Taimse im Chodladh (Blackbirds and Thrushes)
Bean Dubh an Ghleanna
Paddy's rambles through the Park
Ar thaobh na Carraige (just got this one via 'A Dossan of Heather' collection of Packie Manus Byrne tunes- Beautiful!)

Redwolf · Post by **Redwolf** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 4:23 pm

I favor airs too. Here are some of my favorites:

The Ash Grove (it ain't Irish, but it's definitely an air)

The Water is Wide/O Waly Waly

Amazing Grace (well, it's a hymn, but what the heck)

South Wind (I play it a bit faster than I've heard it recorded, with a definite waltz swing)

Fil, Fil, A run O

The Parting Glass

The Star of the County Down

Eamonn a'Chnuic

Mo Mhuirnin Ban

An Londubh is an Cheirseach

Sally Gardens

An Buachaillin Ban

Ar Eirinn

Do You Remember That Night?

Contae Mhuigheo

Buachaill o'n Eirne

Caitlin Triall

An Boithrin Bui

Planxty Irwin

Fanny Power

Lord Inchiquin

Eleanor Plunkett

Si Beag, Si Mor

Dallas Skies (Avanutria's beautiful lament for the Columbia astronauts)

That's all I can think of at the moment.

Redwolf

allezlesbleus · Post by **allezlesbleus** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 5:20 pm

"Lochaber No More" is great but it's easy to confuse with one of my other favorite airs "Limerick's Lamentation"

PC

chas · Post by **chas** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 5:27 pm

Blind Mary
Wild Geese (Gye Fane/sp?)

And not exactly slow airs, but Crested Hens and Dowd's #9, both as rendered by Solas.

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 5:34 pm

Here are more: http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php ... c&start=30 and here: http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php ... ts+ballads

lilymaid · Post by **lilymaid** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 5:39 pm

jim_mc wrote:The Lament for Owen Roe.

That's gorgeous. I'll learn that one first.

StewySmoot · Post by **StewySmoot** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 5:40 pm

"She Begs, She Moans"...

My sister-in-law wants me to play it at her wedding in 2 weeks! Any advice?

FJohnSharp · Post by **FJohnSharp** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 5:52 pm

Star of the County Down as I learned it is a polka. Is there an air version?

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 5:53 pm

jim_mc wrote:The Lament for Owen Roe.

Jim, whose version do you like the best, of the ones you've heard on CD?

FJohnSharp · Post by **FJohnSharp** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 5:55 pm

StewySmoot wrote:"She Begs, She Moans"...

My sister-in-law wants me to play it at her wedding in 2 weeks! Any advice?

I think Planxty has a recorded version to listen to for tips. I think it needs to be easy on the ornamentation, but it's a fairly flexible piece.

StewySmoot · Post by **StewySmoot** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 6:00 pm

FJohnSharp wrote:Star of the County Down as I learned it is a polka. Is there an air version?

Slainte does an air version that is quite pleasant. Si Beag Si Mor kills me on the high B in the second part.

I need to quit smoking!