Posting clips
- jemtheflute
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I've been meaning ever since I changed my "avatar" image that I should post some clips on the flute it shows - an early C19th boxwood one-key by Norton of Shaftesbury (Dorset). It isn't a Baroque flute, although most of the cross-fingerings work adequately on it - the embouchure and tone-holes are post-classical era in design and it is pitched at or slightly above A=440. I find it takes me a while to play myself into it and get decent-ish intonation - and it certainly isn't perfect in that regard even then! Still, I enjoy playing it and it has a lovely tone.
Here are two tunes by "Ioan Rhagfyr" - John Williams of Dolgellau (1740-1821), a well known writer of hymn tunes and a partly trained, partly self-taught musician, from a notebook belonging to him and his brother written c1760 and including several dance tune compositions by him. They are very much Baroque mainstream influenced but folksy - I suppose kinda loosely comparable to O'Carolan etc. in the Irish tradition. The important thing is he was a flute player! The Norton flute would have been made towards the end of his lifetime, in terms of contemporaneity, and one may presume that he would have played similar instruments. It isn't any more closely associated with him or Wales than that, though, save it now resides there itself and has played his music in Dolgellau!
Gavot (the second of two in the MS)
Air (also the second of two items thus labelled)
We have no idea what tempo the "air" was intended to be played at - the term only means it isn't in a specific dance metre, not that it should be slow as such. I have played this one slowly first, but I think some of the figures within it suggest it should be rather brisker, so the second run through is at a tempo that makes them work better, I feel. That said, I completely fell apart at the end!
Here are two tunes by "Ioan Rhagfyr" - John Williams of Dolgellau (1740-1821), a well known writer of hymn tunes and a partly trained, partly self-taught musician, from a notebook belonging to him and his brother written c1760 and including several dance tune compositions by him. They are very much Baroque mainstream influenced but folksy - I suppose kinda loosely comparable to O'Carolan etc. in the Irish tradition. The important thing is he was a flute player! The Norton flute would have been made towards the end of his lifetime, in terms of contemporaneity, and one may presume that he would have played similar instruments. It isn't any more closely associated with him or Wales than that, though, save it now resides there itself and has played his music in Dolgellau!
Gavot (the second of two in the MS)
Air (also the second of two items thus labelled)
We have no idea what tempo the "air" was intended to be played at - the term only means it isn't in a specific dance metre, not that it should be slow as such. I have played this one slowly first, but I think some of the figures within it suggest it should be rather brisker, so the second run through is at a tempo that makes them work better, I feel. That said, I completely fell apart at the end!
Last edited by jemtheflute on Wed May 21, 2008 7:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
I respect people's privilege to hold their beliefs, whatever those may be (within reason), but respect the beliefs themselves? You gotta be kidding!
My YouTube channel
My FB photo albums
Low Bb flute: 2 reels (audio)
Flute & Music Resources - helpsheet downloads
My YouTube channel
My FB photo albums
Low Bb flute: 2 reels (audio)
Flute & Music Resources - helpsheet downloads
- jemtheflute
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Martin/Bothrops, I just listened to your two latest - nothing to add to previous comments, really - fingerwiseand tunewise your playing is going just fine. Tone is the big issue, and subsidiary to that there are some intonation difficulties. Much as you (like most of us) enjoy the quick tunes, you'd be doing yourself a favour to concentrate on slow stuff for a while - even if it is the jigs and reels slowed down - and work on keeping a well focussed embouchure/tone. If you can get rid of most of that spilt-breath hissiness you will also improve your intonation control. Back to the long tones and incremental step-shifts!
I respect people's privilege to hold their beliefs, whatever those may be (within reason), but respect the beliefs themselves? You gotta be kidding!
My YouTube channel
My FB photo albums
Low Bb flute: 2 reels (audio)
Flute & Music Resources - helpsheet downloads
My YouTube channel
My FB photo albums
Low Bb flute: 2 reels (audio)
Flute & Music Resources - helpsheet downloads
- Rob Sharer
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Alert
Lads, anyone who likes this thread where it is on the forum page should vote in the "Stickies Round 2" poll, lest we be consigned to some invisible realm.
Rock the vote!
Rob
Rock the vote!
Rob
- Darren
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jemtheflute, that flute sounds sooooo nice! Really sweet sound from it.
Martin, I really think you are progressing nicely. I listened to your youtube song right after you got the Tipple and think that with these 2 latest you are improving a lot. Your tone on Tobin's Favourite sounds much better.
I've been at it for about 6 weeks now and think I am doing well with my tone but there is no way I am going to make a recording to post here. I don't come from a background in Irish music and anything I play would would either butcher it or wouldn't be Irish. :p
Keep on posting your playing though, Martin. It is great to hear your progression, especially since you already seem to know the music, just working on the flute sound. Great stuff.
Martin, I really think you are progressing nicely. I listened to your youtube song right after you got the Tipple and think that with these 2 latest you are improving a lot. Your tone on Tobin's Favourite sounds much better.
I've been at it for about 6 weeks now and think I am doing well with my tone but there is no way I am going to make a recording to post here. I don't come from a background in Irish music and anything I play would would either butcher it or wouldn't be Irish. :p
Keep on posting your playing though, Martin. It is great to hear your progression, especially since you already seem to know the music, just working on the flute sound. Great stuff.
space for rent
- Darren
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btw, I am sure that everyone here knows about this but am just posting it in case anyone else is new like me.
I found these 20 mp3's at tradschool.com,
http://tradschool.com/index.php?option= ... =4&lang=en
You download as a zip file.
I really like The First House on Connaught and The Merry Blacksmith. I have all of them on my mp3 player though and love listening to them.
I found these 20 mp3's at tradschool.com,
http://tradschool.com/index.php?option= ... =4&lang=en
You download as a zip file.
I really like The First House on Connaught and The Merry Blacksmith. I have all of them on my mp3 player though and love listening to them.
space for rent
- Bothrops
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jemtheflute and Darren: Thank you very much!! I'll continue with the excercises to improve my tone, of course, although I find them boring, I know they're useful
Oh, and thanks a lot for that link, Darren. I downloaded the file and those recordings sound great. I think I'll put them on my mp3 player too
Regards,
Martin
Oh, and thanks a lot for that link, Darren. I downloaded the file and those recordings sound great. I think I'll put them on my mp3 player too
Regards,
Martin
- JeffS
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Here's a few tunes I recorded this AM
Reel of Mullinivat
http://www.box.net/shared/nvf71lwggs
The First Light of Day or From Galway to Dublin (hornpipe)
http://www.box.net/shared/8yoxpyjokc
Barrell Rafferty's (reel)
http://www.box.net/shared/shsepwjoks
Reel of Mullinivat
http://www.box.net/shared/nvf71lwggs
The First Light of Day or From Galway to Dublin (hornpipe)
http://www.box.net/shared/8yoxpyjokc
Barrell Rafferty's (reel)
http://www.box.net/shared/shsepwjoks
"Where I came from, to get enough to eat was an achievement. To get enough to get drunk was a victory" (Brendan Behan)
- mahanpots
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Nice clips JeffS. I especially liked the last one.
Michael
Michael
Olwell Pratten.
Paddy Cronin's Jig
Limestone Rock, Silver Spear
Blasting, billowing, bursting forth with the power of 10 billion butterfly sneezes
Paddy Cronin's Jig
Limestone Rock, Silver Spear
Blasting, billowing, bursting forth with the power of 10 billion butterfly sneezes
- ImNotIrish
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Here's a couple of reels I enjoy playing. These are played on my Hawkes & Son.
Arbo
http://www.box.net/shared/ktueuylz44
(primrose lass/green grow the rushes)
Arbo
http://www.box.net/shared/ktueuylz44
(primrose lass/green grow the rushes)
- jemtheflute
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JeffS - I second Michael - nice tunes and nice playing. Only two reservations: it sounds as though you are playing too close to whatever microphone you are using - I'd suggest backing off a couple of feet and then it would sound a bit less "bottley" and hissy; your hornpipe doesn't have enough lilt to it - sounds more like a gently played reel - sure, hornpipes can be played "straight" rhythm as well as dotted, but they still need that hint of dottiness to feel right. I'd be interested to know your source - a recording or another player(s) by ear or from notation? (Funnily enough, Mullinavat can have a tendency to feel hornpipey despite its title, though not in your rendition, a bit like Paddy on the Railroad a.k.a The Merry Blacksmith can.)
Arbo, I'd say almost the reverse is true in your reel set - you are playing them more as hornpipes than as reels. Lovely sound from your Hawkes, though your recent clips are using a bit much reverb for my taste.
Arbo, I'd say almost the reverse is true in your reel set - you are playing them more as hornpipes than as reels. Lovely sound from your Hawkes, though your recent clips are using a bit much reverb for my taste.
I respect people's privilege to hold their beliefs, whatever those may be (within reason), but respect the beliefs themselves? You gotta be kidding!
My YouTube channel
My FB photo albums
Low Bb flute: 2 reels (audio)
Flute & Music Resources - helpsheet downloads
My YouTube channel
My FB photo albums
Low Bb flute: 2 reels (audio)
Flute & Music Resources - helpsheet downloads
- ImNotIrish
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Jem, thanks for listening. I guess I was just in a 'hornpipey' mood that day. I struggle with control of the reverb (garageband- not the flexibility that I had with my old Pro Tools program). Yes, I too love the sound I get out of the Hawkes! Kick ass flute that one. BTW, I love the boxwood flute tunes. Nice instrument, and lovely playing.jemtheflute wrote:
Arbo, I'd say almost the reverse is true in your reel set - you are playing them more as hornpipes than as reels. Lovely sound from your Hawkes, though your recent clips are using a bit much reverb for my taste.
Jeff S- I agree with Michael and Jem. Really enjoyed your clips. I too, preferred the last clip. Just seemed to appeal to me more. Keep up the great work!
Arbo
- gorjuswrex
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- gorjuswrex
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