The Lasher reel

This is maybe a love it or hate it tune, I remember a discussion about it before. It’s everything some folk don’t like - modern, syncopated, and all over the place. Personally I love it. Great fun for the whistle. It was written by Brendan Ring.

Here’s a clip of it being played by the man himself. Slightly different from the version I’ve put here which I got from his recording with a band called New Celeste where he plays slightly slower and on a low F whistle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1T2LZqrbzY

play video

I hate it

🙂 Like I said, it’s not for everyone.

I don’t like it either but it does have its audience!

And who do you think “it’s audience” is Paddy?

People who like the modern type of traditional music. Many young musicians I know personally in Ireland, these days, would love this tune. They love something ‘out of the ordinary’, whether or not it sounds melodic. It’s funky. For me, it doesn’t do anything. I like simpler type tunes or else, complicated tunes with a nice melody (ala Ed Reavy).

I don’t mind people who plays these types of tunes. I just think it’s a bit of a shame when their repertoire is 90% made up of modern tunes and a lot of the old gems are discarded. But if they’re enjoying playing them, then who am I to argue.

I’m with you there Paddy, modern tunes can be fun but that should never be at the expense of the old gems.

Go to England, Paddy, where young second or third generation Irish musicians stick to old gems.

Is that really the case, Paddy ? - “ a repertoire of 90% modern tunes”. I’ve always found that young Irish musicians who play “modern” tunes, still know all the old ones. It’s Scotland where you find “90% modern”.

Well, there’s plenty of friends of mine who wouldn’t know the likes of McKenna’s reels, or any Coleman sets, or great Kerry reels or any of those tunes played on the Dublin or London scene going back half a century. Yet, they have heaps of tunes from Niall Vallely, Brendan Ring, Liz Carroll etc

Yes 90% is just n exagerration to stress a point. But you’d really be surprised at the lack of musicians who have a solid repertoire of golden oldies. Though a lot of them do have tunes by Fahy, Reavy and John Brady….

It is a generalisation but something that I’ve come across all too often. 😏

I find that very depressing , Paddy.

I just listened to the youtube performance, and I like it very much. I think this transcription is incorrect, so I’ll post a better one here unless someone else beats me to it. Thanks for posting this tune, I’m happy to add it to my book.

Sean, like I said, the transcription is not from the youtube, it’s from a recorded track which is a different version. You can post the youtube version if you like but I prefer the one from the recording, that’s why I posted it.

I like the first tune on this set….a slow reel, i think…

Some how have thi sheet?

Transposed down to A for Scottish chanters.