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Flutey reels that kick arse at high speed


Flutey reels that kick arse at high speed

I’m a flute & whistle player many hundreds of reels deep, and I can play at very high speeds if called upon. But of course, some reels really shine at a brisk pace (125bpm or higher), and others just… don’t. I think the combo of high tempo and bouncy melody can make the tune a little muddy for the layperson. Other tunes might be pretty fast for the fingers but just don’t come off “feeling” that fast to a live audience. I’m hunting for the perfect balance of impressive and easy-on-the-ear.

A couple clips currently on my mind are:
Road to Errogie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKkfENutMQg&t=140s

Trip to Miriam’s: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWd6mIGsHoA&t=65s

Not sure what this tune is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4VBGhsNaXo&t=92s


Anyone know some other good ones?

Re: Flutey reels that kick arse at high speed

Looks like the video previews don’t start at the timestamp designated by the link, so click the link itself to jump to the bit I had in mind.

Re: Flutey reels that kick arse at high speed

My favorite such set is Merry Harriers/Glass of Beer/Jenny’s Chickens. It rocks at high speed, isn’t hard to play and all three are very melodic at any tempo.

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Re: Flutey reels that kick arse at high speed

Loadza reels, tunza speed. Each to their own, A? (No disrespect to the skills, natch.)

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Re: Flutey reels that kick arse at high speed

“Trip to Birmingham (which sounds a bit like Road to Errogie)”

Hadn’t noticed that before. Perhaps Adam Sutherland should sue Josie McDermott for transtemporal plagiarism.

Re: Flutey reels that kick arse at high speed

I like The Flogging Reel. Especially the version with F natural/F triad in the third part. Good fun at speed with a couple of flutes playing tightly together. https://thesession.org/tunes/195

Re: Flutey reels that kick arse at high speed

The one in the clip with Casey/McGodlrick/Kelly etc. is the Lilac Reel

Re: Flutey reels that kick arse at high speed

Creadur y mawn, transtemporal litigiousness is very underrated, yn wir. Plus, this is the reason I can’t play those two tunes within two months of each other, lest I accidentally launch into the B part of the unintended tune (it’s happened an embarrassing number of times).

Re: Flutey reels that kick arse at high speed

I think what often makes a tune really effective is what’s played before it.

The context can sap power, or add power, to a tune more than one might think.

So to me the question is “which sets of flute reels kick ____?”

For me the speed is irrelevant; some of the most powerful sets of reels I’ve heard were being played at moderate tempos. IMHO too fast a tempo can sucks the life out of reels, making them somewhat tuneless.

Re: Flutey reels that kick arse at high speed

“For the Sakes of Old Decency” is a very good tune at high speed.