Hi all,
For flute players. - What is your favourite tune to play and why?
For other players - what’s your favourite tune to hear/play along with on the flute and why?
Looking for inspiration for new tunes….
Thanks…
Matt
Airs: The History Man or The Abbess, both by Andy Cutting.
Schottische Kerlou by Calum Stewart
Forgot to put why. Because they’re Wonderful tunes that are great to play on flute! (and low whistle too)
I’ve always liked O’Connell’s Farewell to Dublin. It was one of the first multi-part tunes I learned on flute because it grabbed my ear as a beautiful tune, it’s not terribly difficult to play, and it works as either a “slow reel” as recorded by John Skelton, or you can play it at a livelier pace.
https://thesession.org/tunes/4090
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r62G85SsCCM
At the moment “Farrel O’Gara” . It’s the tune that made me want to play this music. For all time, Ravel’s “Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte” (flute and piano) because it just is and that’s all I’m going to say about it.
At the moment.
Kid on the Mountain. Nothing to not like.
That’s a really good question! At the moment the Finn/swede tune Himlens polska and Tralee Gaol that John Frances Flynn plays are by far my favorite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GgsxaYx9E8
Currently: The Old Monaghan Twig
Inspired by this recording of Emer Mayock:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyyX4ToQuhA
One day I’m gonna play it at that speed AND sound good lol
I only play one tune on the flute. Sometimes it even refuses to be played. It’s ‘The Harsh February’ by Phil Cunningham. Why? I heard John from Tyrone play it in Strokestown many years ago and it sounded great. There you are - that’s my tuppence worth!
The Battering Ram, played old style, with no apologies for shortness of breath. As my fiddle-playing brother used to say “when I’m looking for the phrasing and turns, I just listen for where the flute players breathe”.
Many favourites but one I’m playing at the moment is -
The Tooth Fairy/Fraher’s Jig - John Wynne on flute from 2.27 here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyCIuonRr5k
Also anything by Brid O’Gorman
So many tasty tunes with very minimal but lovely accompaniment.
You forgot to mention played to near perfection. As good as it gets.
I like Monaghan Jig and Helvic Head.
My showoff set is Edmonton Airbus and Stevenson’s #1.
This takes me to the zone instantly and I don’t come back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC76pIunnW8
Thanks all for these tunes… There were some real crackers!
So the tune I stumbled across outside of this thread was ‘The maid of Selma’
There are two outstanding versions - one by The incredible Shannon Heaton and the other by the equally awesome Caitlin Warbelow
https://fb.watch/d3JdCEZPx_/
https://open.spotify.com/track/2BYg5hN20CNnI0tfvLcQay?si=bgfbCi9EQleyqt0SiaSPsg
Nearly forgot this :
https://youtu.be/oNEa3i674II
