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Recordings with lots of Airs (flute preferred but not necessary)


Recordings with lots of Airs (flute preferred but not necessary)

Hi all,
I am getting more interested in playing/listening to airs, especially renditions of Sean Nos songs, these days.
Looking for recommendations of albums that feature these predominantly, if they exist as such 🙂

Thanks!

Re: Recordings with lots of Airs (flute preferred but not necessary)

I have these albums - both great and specifically AIRs.

Fiodhne Gardiner (low whistles, various keys D/F/Eb)
https://thesession.org/recordings/4592
I have the PDF book/download with the story and score for these - DM me if you’d like me to send.

Gavin Whelan (pipes and whistle)
https://thesession.org/recordings/4475

Re: Recordings with lots of Airs (flute preferred but not necessary)

It’s on uilleann pipes, but I love the album

Ancient Voice Of Ireland

It’s entirely slow airs. I can’t find the album at the moment, I think the piper is Mick O Brien.

Re: Recordings with lots of Airs (flute preferred but not necessary)

This lovely album has lots of airs and was posted here by Kenny 8 years ago:
https://thesession.org/recordings/1532
It’s Shady Woods by Desi Wilkinson. Here’s part of what Kenny wrote about it: ’It’s almost all airs and slower tunes from several traditions - even the last set of reels are slowed down. A unique - and very bold album, as it must have been very difficult to market a traditional Irish flute album with no jigs, hornpipes, and only 2 slow reels on it.
He plays a variety of flutes made by Sam Murray, Martin Doyle and Patrick Olwell.’
Chet

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Re: Recordings with lots of Airs (flute preferred but not necessary)

Thanks for the reminder cac! I’ve got Desi’s album on the device in my very hands this moment but haven’t listened to it for many years.

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Re: Recordings with lots of Airs (flute preferred but not necessary)

You’re welcome, Alex. I find I re-listen to it pretty regularly. For the original poster, here is a beautiful slow air played by Seamus Egan, ‘The Dark Slender Boy’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3Nu6I8CmfQ


And here is another beautiful air, Brendan’s, played by Aimear McGeown:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnDKXCPlmfg

Here is a video of her playing the air on a bamboo flute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Q18eKDT6c

Somewhere on youtube there is another video of her playing the tune on a blackwood flute by Martin Doyle. I can’t find it now. Maybe it is on Martin Doyle’s website.

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Re: Recordings with lots of Airs (flute preferred but not necessary)

The Celtophile label has a CD called ‘Putting on Airs’. It’s a collection of ‘Celtic Airs’ by various artists, including Altan, James Keane, Cherish the Ladies, Kevin Burke, and others.

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