Favourite slow airs?

T Blackmore · Post by **T Blackmore** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 10:37 am

Being an air-head as I am (that is, a tin whistler not good enough to play reels), how about your favourite 1000 tunes (give or take)...

TB
SDG

Unseen122 · Post by **Unseen122** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 11:36 am

I remember back when I was an "air-head" myself now I can play reels but still get joy from the old airs. Here are my favorites in no particular order:
For ireland I would not Speak Her Name (probably my all time favorite)
Give me your Hand
Cariickfergus (hard on whistle but I now have the skill to play it)
The New Dresser (a new tune I found in Merlin Music's session Book 2
http://www.merlin-music.com)
Westomoreland
The Dark Isle
Sir John Fenwick
The twisting of the Maypole (english title can't spell the Gaelic one)
The Heart is True (very very hard to play but a very nice tune worth the effort)
The South Wind

Now for all the O'Carolans:
Si Bheag Si Mhor
Hewlett
Planxty Irwin
O'Caolans Draught
The Wounded Hussar (in G minor [two flats] the only version I have it is very hard)
Blind Mary
O'Carolan's Concerto

That is all I can remember right now there might be more.

Will O'B · Post by **Will O'B** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 11:42 am

Favorite airs? My lord, where do I start . . .

Buachaill on Eirne
An Ghaoth Aneas
Baidin Fheidhlimidh
Fainne Geal an Lae
Eanach Chuin
Gile Mear
Carrickfergus
Coinleach Ghlas an Fhomair
Sally Gardens
The Snowy Breasted Pearl

There are dozens of others I like that I can't think of right now. Some, to me, sound better on the whistle than, say, the fiddle -- but that's just my opinion.

Will O'Ban

susnfx · Post by **susnfx** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 12:24 pm

Inisheer is a pretty one.

One I love to play and sounds much "wilder" to my ear than Inisheer is Ar thaobh na Carraige (By the side of the rock) from the Dossan of Heather tunebook.

Susan

SteveShaw · Post by **SteveShaw** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 7:37 pm

Banks of Sullane (as played by Jackie Daly).

Steve

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 9:36 pm

My current favorites are Poor Irish Boy, An Raibh Tu ag an gCarraig, Fair Maid of Wicklow, Ardaigh Cuain and Month of January.

izzarina · Post by **izzarina** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 10:13 pm

Will O'B wrote:Favorite airs? My lord, where do I start . . .

Buachaill on Eirne
An Ghaoth Aneas
Baidin Fheidhlimidh
Fainne Geal an Lae
Eanach Chuin
Gile Mear
Carrickfergus
Coinleach Ghlas an Fhomair
Sally Gardens
The Snowy Breasted Pearl

We have similar taste it seems Will

Many of yours are my favorites too. As of late, I've been working on "The Parting Glass" which I think is also very pretty.

Will O'B · Post by **Will O'B** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 10:18 pm

izzarina wrote:We have similar taste it seems Will Many of yours are my favorites too. As of late, I've been working on "The Parting Glass" which I think is also very pretty.

"The Parting Glass" is nice. I also like Kate Hepburn.

Will O'Ban

P.S.: Since changing your avatar, Izzy, it makes my liking Kate Hepburn comment (concerning our similar tastes) seem out of place.

ErikT · Post by **ErikT** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 10:21 pm

The Dawning of the Day and Cliffs of Doneen.

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 10:25 pm

When Larry Nugent plays them, I like Spailpin's Lament and Banks of the Suir and Cape Clear.

Will O'B · Post by **Will O'B** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 10:30 pm

ErikT wrote:The Dawning of the Day and Cliffs of Doneen.

Two more of my favorites.

"Fainne Geal an Lae " I believe is roughly translated as "The Dawning of the Day." Yet, I think they are two separate tunes. Does anyone know if this is correct?

Will O'Ban

ErikT · Post by **ErikT** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 11:09 pm

Will O'B wrote:
ErikT wrote:The Dawning of the Day and Cliffs of Doneen.
Two more of my favorites.

"Fainne Geal an Lae " I believe is roughly translated as "The Dawning of the Day." Yet, I think they are two separate tunes. Does anyone know if this is correct?

Will O'Ban

It's funny that you mention it. It wasn't but a couple week ago where I was reading the notes of "The Dawning of the Day" in some book and thought, 'Hey, I know that tune". Of course, I knew it as Fainne Geal an Lae, but as I was writing my post I couldn't remember how to spell that. So, for the sake of this post, the one that I like is Fainne Geal an Lae... if they're the same tune, then I like "The Dawning of the Day" too.

Oh, and I didn't see it in your initial list or I wouldn't have put it in mine

Will O'B · Post by **Will O'B** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 11:33 pm

ErikT wrote:Oh, and I didn't see it in your initial list or I wouldn't have put it in mine

That's quite alright . . . we're all entitled to like the same tunes.

I just thought I've seen music for "Fainne Geal an Lae" and "The Dawning of the Day" and they seemed like different tunes in spite of having roughly the same name. Or maybe I'm mistaken?

Will O'Ban

ErikT · Post by **ErikT** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 12:05 am

Phew, I'm glad

I might as well be the first to add The Skye Boat Song. I know, I know. It's like saying Danny Boy, but I can't help but like it.

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 2:53 am

ErikT wrote:Phew, I'm glad

I might as well be the first to add The Skye Boat Song. I know, I know. It's like saying Danny Boy, but I can't help but like it.

I like the Arran Boat Song.