Na Píobairí Uilleann

cj dixon · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 10 Location: Canada

I thought that posting your favorite airs would be a great resource for all pipers.

Here are a few:
Danny boy Smile

If ever you were mine
Si Beag Si Mor

Cheers,
CJ
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CJ DIXON Celtic Instruments

ausdag · Joined: 13 Mar 2006 Posts: 9 Location: Brisbane, AUSTRALIA

Isn't Si Beag Si Mhor more of a 'Planxty' than an air? I've only ever heard it played like a waltz, ie, Planxty's version and someone on 'Bringin it all Back Home' playing it quite fast on low whislte accompanied by Michael O Suillibhain (??) on piano. I know Martin Hayes does is really,really slowly though Very Happy

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DavidG

http://home.iprimus.com.au/ausdag

cj dixon · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 10 Location: Canada

Hi David,
I think you are right in that it is debateable. I am not too concerned about the label/timing of any given song. I think that many songs, regardless of being an "air" or not can be played at a slow tempo and I guess that is what I meant. Smile

ATB,
CJ
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CJ DIXON Celtic Instruments

PReid · Joined: 01 Jan 1970 Posts: 1 Location:

Dark and Slender Boy
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DBoling · Joined: 01 Jan 1970 Posts: 11 Location:

Bonny Bunch of Roses, and Green Fields of Canada (had to get that last one in before Lewis discovers this site Very Happy

)

dave boling
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PCannady · Joined: 01 Jan 1970 Posts: 6

By the River of Gems
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"He's puncturing the tires, Ted".

DBoling · Joined: 01 Jan 1970 Posts: 11 Location:

John O'Gara · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 1 Location: Fair Haven, MI

"May Morning Dew"

Harry · Joined: 01 Jan 1970 Posts: 4 Location:

The one that's running thru my mind a lot recently (especially since Frank Harte- who sang the song so well- passed away) is The Wounded Hussar.

Ennis is the source of the instrumental version, Frank sang it on the double CD My Name is Napoleon Bonaparte.

I've often wondered where Ennis heard it. He's quoted as saying that he didn't know the words, and his version of the air is quite different to the way I've heard it sung.

Regards,

Harry.
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PeterL · Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 7:54 am Post subject:

I think Padraig O Keeffe was Ennis' source for the tune. I have an early (acetate disc by the sound of it) recording of him playing the tune which is superior to the one on Drones & Chanters

Pibydd · Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 10:16 am Post subject:

When I decided to pick up the pipes I wasn't sure that I would ever be able to play the dance music. Now that I can play a couple of stuttering reels and spasmodic jigs in something approximating waltz time, my confidence has picked up a bit. But airs were what I originally wanted to play. I didn't quite understand about the arhythmical sean nos style slow airs when I formulated my aim, but still there were a few tunes that I had in mind. Sean O'Riadas's Mna Na hEireann, Women of Ireland, was one that I had in mind, and that I'm learning at the moment. Also Gol Na Mban San Ar, Lament of the Women at the Battle or Slaughter. I first heard this on Seamus Ennis' Bonny Bunch of Roses CD, on whistle, but there is also a very straight version of it on Tomas o'Canainn's Slow Airs of Ireland.

What should I be doing to ornament fairly simple airs liek these?

Pob Hwyl,

Andrew

Harry · Joined: 01 Jan 1970 Posts: 4 Location:

Andrew,

The subtlties of, for example, the slight variations on phrasing that a competant or good player will employ to make the performance of an air sound stylisitically 'authentic' cannot really usefully be expressed on the staff or by written word IMO (i.e. useful with a view to the reader reproducing it expressively as performance standards require).

While the root melody can certainly be learned, or learned in part, from a written transcription I think its down to work with the ear and the instrument to get the general variable effects required going in a performance.

All great air players that I know of invariably learnt these pieces by a process of appreciative immersion. The airs 'sank in' and/or were learned conciously, and certain possibilities within the melodies revealed themselves through repeat playing and/or listening to other inerpretations of same.

So, to answer your question from this perspective, listen others play the airs, take what you like and adapt it. It is generally a more 'organic', less concious process if your ear and appreciative awarenesses are developed within the context of the genre. You will probably be told to listen to singers as well, this certainly has it's place, but it might be worth bearing in mind that there have been marked differences in approaches to air playing and singing for quite some time. Oddly, there isn't a great deal of scandal when singers adapt songs/ airs to their own fancy???

All the best,

Harry.
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ausdag · Joined: 13 Mar 2006 Posts: 9 Location: Brisbane, AUSTRALIA

The Rocks of Bawn
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DavidG

http://home.iprimus.com.au/ausdag

JohnMorris · Joined: 01 Jan 1970 Posts: 3 Location:

My favourite has to be Very Happy

"Sliabh na Mban" Very Happy

as played by Liam O'Flynn on his album The Pipers Call.- An absolutely beautiful piece in my opinion. The general notation is in Tomas O Cannaing's Book Slow Airs of Ireland but Liam's version of it is top class
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GregoryG · Joined: 01 Jan 1970 Posts: 7 Location: Toronto

I'd say my favourite air at the present would have to be David Power's version of "Eanach Dhuin". Powerful, emotive, dark. Admittedly, I haven't heard another piper play the tune, so it's totally new to me. Sends a chill down the spine, especially when you consider what it commemorates.
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Gregory Graham