Haunting and Memorable slow airs

workbased 2000 · Post by **workbased 2000** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 1:29 am

I really like "Inisheer" and "Ambhran A Leabhain"
These are truely haunting, memorable tunes that stop people talking and command listening, because of the sheer brilliance of the compositions.
What other tunes do folk know would fall into this category?

Bothrops · Post by **Bothrops** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 7:07 am

I'd say definitely "Down By The Sally Gardens", and maybe "South Wind"

jemtheflute · Post by **jemtheflute** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:21 am

An Feochan (The Gentle Breeze) by Tommy Peoples. Brilliantly and influentially played on flute by the late Frankie Kennedy on Altan's Horse With A Heart album.

Here's a clip of it on low D whistle I did when I was reviewing Guido Gonzato's Low D (not played on his whistle here).

BTW, I don't think South Wind counts as a slow air - it's a waltz, isn't it? - At least, the one I know.....

Key_of_D · Post by **Key_of_D** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:32 am

Gol Na Mban San Ár as titled on Chieftains 9... I think the tune they play doesn't actually go by that name? Cause I know of another Gol Na Mban San Ár that Seamus plays on Bonnie Bunches of Roses with his tin whistle, but although that's a nice peice as well, isn't the one I'm getting at.

Of course the Chieftains decorate it with other stuff, but the jist of it is there. Chieftains 9, track 9... I don't have another recording of that tune on hand, so this is my only reference.

Bothrops · Post by **Bothrops** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:35 am

jemtheflute wrote: BTW, I don't think South Wind counts as a slow air - it's a waltz, isn't it? - At least, the one I know.....

I think the one played by Joanie Madden is an air.. but I can be wrong. Anyways, it's a nice one

Freddo · Post by **Freddo** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:01 am

Spancil Hill
Glenswilly- can be fun fast as well
Merch Magan - Would enjoy listening to someone playing it.
Amhran na Tra Baine- Song of the White Sand
Sheebeg, Sheemore
The Twisting of the Hayrope
The Lakes of Ponchartrain

Plus all the others mentioned

Merry Christmas!!!

rance · Post by **rance** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:18 am

Seolaim Araon Na Geanna Romhaian (Let Us Be Driving The Geese)

(By the way, does anyone have the dots/music for this one?)

Paddyman · Post by **Paddyman** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:23 am

Coinleach Ghlas an Fhomair
Lament for the Wild Geese
An Raibh Tu ag an gCarraig?
Lament for Limerick
Taimse im Chodladh

Berti66 · Post by **Berti66** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:42 am

Eamonn a' Chnoic : ned of the hill
blind mary (carolan tune)
and don't hate me for it: danny boy

Pazziato · Post by **Pazziato** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 2:05 pm

she moved through the fair kicks my ass when its played right (or when I play it right)

PallasAthena · Post by **PallasAthena** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 3:21 pm

The Parting Glass
The Factory Girl (to a lesser extent)
The Foggy Dew
Carrackfergus (sorry if I misspelled it...)

anniemcu · Post by **anniemcu** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 3:45 pm

Bothrops wrote:
jemtheflute wrote: BTW, I don't think South Wind counts as a slow air - it's a waltz, isn't it? - At least, the one I know.....
I think the one played by Joanie Madden is an air.. but I can be wrong. Anyways, it's a nice one

I have always been under the impression that an air was an air because it didn't fit a specific rhythm anymore, being played as if sung, with feeling, so whether essentially a waltz, a reel, or whatever, played as an air, it becomes an air.

Of course, I've been wrong once or twice. (cough)

s1m0n · Post by **s1m0n** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 5:48 pm

anniemcu wrote:
Bothrops wrote:
jemtheflute wrote: BTW, I don't think South Wind counts as a slow air - it's a waltz, isn't it? - At least, the one I know.....
I think the one played by Joanie Madden is an air.. but I can be wrong. Anyways, it's a nice one :wink:
I have always been under the impression that an air was an air because it didn't fit a specific rhythm anymore, being played as if sung, with feeling, so whether essentially a waltz, a reel, or whatever, played as an air, it becomes an air.

The Fiddler's Companion (the ITM version of snopes, IMO--Andrew Kuntz should get WAY more recognition for his work) says 'air or waltz', although I think the air-version is older; probably older than walting itself.

SOUTHWIND (An Ghaoth Aneas). AKA and see "The Southern Breeze." Irish, Air (3/4 or 6/8 time) or Waltz. F Major (Brody): G Major (Matthiesen, Tubridy): A Major (O'Neill). Standard. AB (Matthiesen, O'Neill): AAB (Brody, Tubridy). O'Sullivan states that little is known of the author of the original Gaelic song, save that he was a native of Irrul, County Mayo, named Domnhall Meirgeach Mac Con Mara (Freckled Donal Macnamara). Fiddler Junior Crehan told a story about how the air was learned by the west Clare musicians. It seems that a ghost ship was bringing back to Ireland the souls of the the Wild Geese (i.e. Irish exiles) who had been killed in battle. As the vessel proceeded around southwest Cork it was driven up the west coast by a southern breeze and the ghosts of the Wild Geese could be heard chanting this tune, which was picked up by musicians on the coast of Clare who supposedly witnessed the event. The song begins:
**
A ghaoth andeas na mbraon mbog glas
A ni gach faithe féarmhar
Bheir iasg ir eas is grian i dteas
Is lion is meas ar ghéagaibh
Más sios ar fad mar mbinn féin seal
Is mianach leat-sa séide
Cuirim Ri na bhFeart dhod chaomhaint ar neart
'S tu/ir don tir sin blas mo bhéil-se
**
O wind from the south with the soft clear drops
You that make every sward grassy
Bring the fish to the waterfall, give heat to the sun
And abundance of fruit to the branches
It is far to the north where I once lived
That you are minded to blow
May the King of Power preserve you in strength
And give the taste of my mouth to that country
**
Source for notated version: Chieftains (Ireland) [Brody]. Brody (Fiddler's Fakebook), 1983; pg. 263-264. Bulmer & Sharpley (Music from Ireland), 1974, Vol. 1, No. 79. Matthiesen (Waltz Book I), 1992; pg. 45. O'Neill (1850), 1979; No. 510, pg. 89 (appears as "The Southern Breeze"). O'Sullivan (Songs of the Irish), 1960; pg. 95. Tubridy (Irish Traditional Music, Vol. 1), 1999; pg. 2. Island 9379, Chieftains- "Chieftains 3" (appears as "An Ghaoth Aneas"). Biograph 6008, Jerry Jenkins- "Fox Hollow String Band Festival." Front Hall 017, Michael and McCreesh- "Dance, Like a Wave of the Sea" (1978).
T:Southwind
T:An Ghaoth Aneas
R:waltz
Z:By Phil Sexton
M:6/8
L:1/8
Q:30
K:G
|:c|"G"BAG Bcd|"D7"A2A ABc|"G"BAG "C"EDE|"G"G2 "C"G"G"G2:|!
d|g2"D7"g "C"gf"D7"e|"G"d2"A7"d "D"d2"D7"c|"G"BAG Bcd|"A7"A2A "D7"ABd|!
"G"g2"D7"g "C"gf"D7"e|"G"d2"A7"d "D"d2"D7"c|"G"BAG "D7"AcF|"G"G2"C"G "G"G2||

burnsbyrne · Post by **burnsbyrne** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:01 pm

Women of Ireland (Mna na hEireann)
Mike

pastorkeith · Post by **pastorkeith** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 9:34 pm

Lament for Iona (Sarah Bauhan)
Clyde Sunset (written by Ian Melrose, played by Tina Mcloughlin)

And thanks to Blackhawk for introducing me to them and MTGuru for transcribing Lament for Iona and Ian Melrose for graciously doing the same for Clyde Sunset.

pastorkeith