What's the most difficult tune you've learned on the pipes? And do you still have it under your fingers? I am learning/muddling through "The Milliner's Daughter" from Cormac Cannon's NPU Tutor video. It's certainly the equivalent of a tongue-twisting mouthfully divil of a tune. The C naturals are throwing me off. Once I learn it I think I'll take a nap.
Here's the link:
http://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryI ... iaId=26121
K
Most difficult tune you've learned
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Coffee
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Re: Most difficult tune you've learned
Most difficult tune I've ever learned *successfully* on the pipes?
Well, that's a toss-up between Caber Feidh and End of the Great Bridge
Well, that's a toss-up between Caber Feidh and End of the Great Bridge
"Yes... yes. This is a fertile land, and we will thrive. We will rule over all this land, and we will call it... This Land."
Re: Most difficult tune you've learned
If C natuarals are getting you twisted up, a good one to practice is 'The Maid in the Cherry Tree'/'The Curragh Races.' Joe Doyle teaches it on NPU's site.
To add extra 'finger twisting' there is the 'common' fiddle version of the B part which returns to Cnat instead of the A. (c2 ec gcec | c2 eg dBGB in place of c2 eA gAeA | c2 eg dBGB) This way is taught as a variation by Nollaigh McCarthy on 'The Art of Uilleann Piping vol 3'
To add extra 'finger twisting' there is the 'common' fiddle version of the B part which returns to Cnat instead of the A. (c2 ec gcec | c2 eg dBGB in place of c2 eA gAeA | c2 eg dBGB) This way is taught as a variation by Nollaigh McCarthy on 'The Art of Uilleann Piping vol 3'
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Coffee
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Re: Most difficult tune you've learned
Oh! Oh, of course you meant uilleann.......
Still new to 'em. Most difficult I've learned on them is The Heather Breeze, I'm afraid.
Still new to 'em. Most difficult I've learned on them is The Heather Breeze, I'm afraid.
"Yes... yes. This is a fertile land, and we will thrive. We will rule over all this land, and we will call it... This Land."
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kathaleenypoopa
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Re: Most difficult tune you've learned
Yes! I do mean uilleann. I'm sure there are some doozies on highland pipes, too. Now that you mention it, though Coffee, I think probably the hardest tune I ever learned was the first one. 
And yes, I enjoy the challenge of twisty bits and C-natural surprises, so I will look at Joe Doyle's tutors. I might very well have that volume 3! Good thoughts, thanks.
K
And yes, I enjoy the challenge of twisty bits and C-natural surprises, so I will look at Joe Doyle's tutors. I might very well have that volume 3! Good thoughts, thanks.
K
Re: Most difficult tune you've learned
Coffee - have you heard the 'Rakish Paddy' Reel? It's a fairly simple 2-part reel that you can still add a lot to that's derived from 'Caberfeidh.' Willie Clancy's versions are renowned & worth seeking out if you haven't heard them.
edit- also, see Johnny Doran's
edit- also, see Johnny Doran's
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KJM
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Re: Most difficult tune you've learned
Hmm that's a tough question because it really depends on how you play the tune and what your ornamentation/variation choices are.
I'd probably say the Queen of the Fairies but it's more a reed issue than a tune-difficulty issue getting to the d' note. And don't let the slower tempo fool you -- hornpipes can be some of the trickiest tunes out there.
Other ones that are tricky are tunes that require keys or half-holing. Porthole of the Kelp?
In general though, neglecting ornamentation you could probably toss out any non-pipe friendly tune like fiddle or box tunes in Amix that jump to the top hand second octave notes, or bounce off the c natural. Things like this: gcacgc
I'd probably say the Queen of the Fairies but it's more a reed issue than a tune-difficulty issue getting to the d' note. And don't let the slower tempo fool you -- hornpipes can be some of the trickiest tunes out there.
Other ones that are tricky are tunes that require keys or half-holing. Porthole of the Kelp?
In general though, neglecting ornamentation you could probably toss out any non-pipe friendly tune like fiddle or box tunes in Amix that jump to the top hand second octave notes, or bounce off the c natural. Things like this: gcacgc
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oliver
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Re: Most difficult tune you've learned
Dinky's, Musical priest, Sweeney's buttermilk are but a few...
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rorybbellows
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Re: Most difficult tune you've learned
I found flight of the bumblebee quite tricky.
RORY
RORY
I'm Spartacus .
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oliver
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Re: Most difficult tune you've learned
rorybbellows wrote:I found flight of the bumblebee quite tricky.
RORY
Come on, come on, it's not so difficult !
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benhall.1
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Re: Most difficult tune you've learned
It'd OK. Rory's just particularly waspish today.oliver wrote:rorybbellows wrote:I found flight of the bumblebee quite tricky.
RORY
Come on, come on, it's not so difficult !
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An Draighean
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Re: Most difficult tune you've learned
Perfect piece to demonstrate the "Hive of Honeyed Sound"!rorybbellows wrote:I found flight of the bumblebee quite tricky.
RORY
Deartháir don phaidir an port.
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kathaleenypoopa
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Re: Most difficult tune you've learned
In the end, I guess it's the one that trumps you, whether it include bees, hives, maids, priests, kelp, or buttermilk!
K
K
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meuritt
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Re: Most difficult tune you've learned
The Groves Hornpipe,
Re: Most difficult tune you've learned
I find there are tunes that are technically difficult (for whatever reason); there are tunes that are difficult because one can never seem to get the lift into them; there are tunes that are really simple that only come alive for a select few; and there are tunes that I can never remember what comes next. Slow airs are always difficult because I usually have a particular singer's rendition going through my head while I'm playing and I am trying to give voice to that. Try sounding Caoineadh na dTrí Mhuire in the manner that Joe Éinniú (Joe Heaney) sang it.
In the first category I'd put Tommy Reck's version of The Scholar. In the second, I'd put Langstrom's Pony and The Silver Spear. In the third I'd include The Harvest Home and The Dusty Miller (Colm Ó Caoidháin's version). In the last, there's Colonel Frazer.
But it's all part of the search and the enjoyment. If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.
In the first category I'd put Tommy Reck's version of The Scholar. In the second, I'd put Langstrom's Pony and The Silver Spear. In the third I'd include The Harvest Home and The Dusty Miller (Colm Ó Caoidháin's version). In the last, there's Colonel Frazer.
But it's all part of the search and the enjoyment. If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.