as slow as i can

rama · Post by **rama** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 9:33 pm

something mike rafferty said while introducing a tune on the cce website videos: "i'll try to play this one as slow as i can."
i introduced this concept to the fiddler i was playing with at our monthly ceili dance. she said the dancers like it fast. i suggested we see how slow yet lively we can make it, instead of how fast and rushed we can. man what a difference! mike rafferty is a frreakin' genius!
next time you play with 'fast' friends, test it out.

Cathy Wilde · Post by **Cathy Wilde** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:22 am

eilam · Post by **eilam** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:44 am

rama - do you mean playing fast tunes in a more musically way, like say Martin Hayes?
or slow motion?

Post by **Nanohedron** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:10 am

eilam wrote:rama - do you mean playing fast tunes in a more musically way, like say Martin Hayes?
or slow motion?

Good question. I like playing slowly for artistic purposes. But OTOH, there are counter-examples: the pace of playing "advanced" hornpipes for stepdancers is excruciatingly glacial. The only thing that ever kept me from tearing at my wrists with my teeth to end the suffering was that my hands were holding the flute and my mouth was at the embouchure.

rama · Post by **rama** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 3:14 pm

just so happpens a new video is up on the cce of mike rafferty.
http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhal ... ish_flute/

it's not the video i was originally referring to, but i think it conveys the message. he demonstrates far better than i ever could, or could describe in words. no rush job here.

Loren · Post by **Loren** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 4:12 pm

This topic immediately reminds me of Laurence Nugent, one of the kings of slow reels and jigs. Unfortunately I can't find any video of him playing

It's been 8 long years now since the release of Windy Gap. We miss ya Larry.......

Loren

sbfluter · Post by **sbfluter** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 4:51 pm

That's a lovely clip, the Lilting Banshee. It's got that lightness, that lift. If everybody who likes to play fast would slow down and put that lightness in instead, the music would have more life and soul than all the technical brilliance could possibly add.

Post by **Nanohedron** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:52 am

Loren wrote:This topic immediately reminds me of Laurence Nugent, one of the kings of slow reels and jigs. Unfortunately I can't find any video of him playing

It's been 8 long years now since the release of Windy Gap. We miss ya Larry.......

Loren

Man. I'll never forget the time when "The Nuge" was sitting in at a local session and he started in on Sally Gardens as a slow reel. Now, Sally Gardens from the get-go has never been a personal favorite of mine, slow or fast, but Larry gave it a life and a beauty I'd never heard before, and a dignity that I'd never have thought was inherent in the tune. Can't quite put my finger on what the difference was; it wasn't particularly heavy with ornamentation. I'd love to hear it again, if for nothing more than the novelty of the experience, and, maybe, to learn something.

Cathy Wilde · Post by **Cathy Wilde** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:55 am

Larry is amazing; a musician's musician. He was at the Tionol in St. Louis last spring, and getting to hear him in sessions was a treat (though sitting next to him was terrifying

).

I hope he records something again, and soon.

Dana · Post by **Dana** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:31 pm

rama wrote:just so happpens a new video is up on the cce of mike rafferty.
http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhal ... ish_flute/

'Just loved it! I'm hearing and enjoying the actual music, rather than just listening to technical prowess (i.e. someone showing off their lightning-fast fingers).

I want more... Who else plays like this?

Dana

Cathy Wilde · Post by **Cathy Wilde** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:37 pm

... and mimcgann says ....

(just guessing that he'll HAVE to post a couple names, here

)

If he doesn't, I'll post 'em a little later.

mimcgann · Post by **mimcgann** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:50 pm

Oops. Caught lurking! (Hi, Cat!)

Well, there is the other Master from Galway, Jack Coen, who has 3 cds--I think WARMING UP has been reissued.

Also, another favorite, shared with Cat, is Paul Smyth, who has a recording out called UP AND AWAY.

Steady and lively, without sacrificing melody to speed.

Mmmmmmm!

Cathy Wilde wrote:... and mimcgann says ....

(just guessing that he'll HAVE to post a couple names, here )

If he doesn't, I'll post 'em a little later.

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 1:07 pm

Rafferty's music is lovely. Thanks for posting.

Cathy Wilde · Post by **Cathy Wilde** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 1:39 pm

I second mimcgann! (good to hear you!

)

I also think PJ Crotty & the Cullinans' CD, "Happy to Meet," is a gem. It's a little quicker, more of a slow lope than a trot, but not too much, and it's lovely lively music.

Also in my "moving into a canter/hand gallop but my ear can still keep up ... plus it's such great music I can listen all day" category are John Lee and Seamus McGuire's "The Missing Reel;" the very first Cherish the Ladies (way before Joanie) recordings from Outlet Records; Dave Sheridan's "Sheridan's Guesthouse;" Michael Clarkson's "The Far Set;" Alan & John Kelly's "Fourmile House," a fair amount of John Wynne & Kevin Crawford & John Skelton/Kieran O'Hare's stuff, and of course, anything played by my faves, the Mulcahy family (tho' Mr McG will disagree with me on this one, I fear).

These are the ones at the top of my heap that have flute players in them somewhere.

Meanwhile, my favorite listening of late is Angelina Carberry's teaching recordings. I bop around to even her snail's pace versions ... awesome. I wanna play like THAT. Thanks, Arbo!

daiv · Post by **daiv** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 2:03 pm

Dana wrote:
rama wrote:just so happpens a new video is up on the cce of mike rafferty.
http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhal ... ish_flute/
'Just loved it! I'm hearing and enjoying the actual music, rather than just listening to technical prowess (i.e. someone showing off their lightning-fast fingers).

I want more... Who else plays like this?

Dana

http://www.kittylieover.com/

( a video of them playing: http://youtube.com/watch?v=uNhkRQB6rwg&feature=related )

and

http://www.theyllbegoodyet.com/

(a video of them playing : http://youtube.com/watch?v=KpcM6LEeon4 )