Rosbeg reel

This great tune, written by Brian Finnegan, was recorded in Bb: played on an F whistle
with G "fingers." I was not allowed to choose "air" and so labelled it as a reel to get the
4/4 time signature. It’s definitely a reel. The rhythm to the B-part is uneven and yet
the note lengths fit into a 4/4 form. I didn’t try to write it down with varying time signtures.
I’d love for someone to work out the alto-flute harmony part.

There’s a few nice variations:

from 2nd measure in A part: | (3EFG AB ED E.B | dAB G- {c}GF dF |

in B part, 1st ending: |1 dG DA- AF de | fd2g f{d}e2d :|

the 3rd line above should read: "it’s definitely NOT a reel."

Great tune but it doesn’t feel as if it’s written in G. What’s the name of the record this is on?

I just transposed the melody to the alto clef for Viola / Mandola but haven’t attempted the harmony for it yet. And you’re right, definately not a reel.

This tune isn’t a reel, or a slow air, or any other classification of standard Irish dance tune - it’s simply a love song, and one of my faves to play and hear, too! Thanks for putting it up! It also wasn’t meant to be played in G on a D flute or whistle, although it can be done so. The key of Bb is, IMHO, an essential part of what this tune is - if one takes the time to explore the different keys & tonalities in which we play on our diatonic flutes, whistles and uilleann pipes, one may find that each key becomes its own ‘instrument’, in a way. I’m sure Brian had this in mind when writing the tune in Bb.

True indeed. On virtually every instrument each note has its own special tone colour, provided by the harmonics, and the key you decide on for a tune will determine to a large extent the harmonics and how they interact. Even more so with the stringed instruments because of its natural reverberations.
Trevor

I understand the comments about the "special tone color" of each note and how on a
particular instrument the key of G is much different from the key of Bb. In this case however
the tune is played on an instrument designed to play F as the tonic. The harmonic structure
of the overtones would be such that an F on an F whistle has the same pattern as a D on a
D whistle (if my physics is up to snuff). In addition, the nature of diatonic instruments, like
whistles, cause the gymnastics involved in fingering a tune in some weird key to completely
ruin the experience of playing the tune, not to mention ornamenting it "properly". That’s why
I set the ABC’s in G, because those are the notes that I play - the instrument transposed the
tune for me. If you play any other instrument than the F whistle I wholeheartedly recommend
transposing this tune to the key it was written in, Bb.

I love this tune! It can be a bit tricky with the rythm at times - my advice; forget the notes to this one and just play along Mr. Finnegan. I play it on a keyless D flute in G - and although it doesn’t sound quite like Flook 😉 it still sounds ok. What guitar chords would you guys put on it (in G)?

X:1
T: Rosbeg
C:
L:1/8
Q:1/4=140
M:4/4
K:Bb
|: B2 BA FB AF | (3GAB cd GF Gd | dc2B BA FA |
B3A FB AF | (3GAB cd eG FA | AB2c cd cB :||
|: cd eG Gc Bd | dB ef eg B2 | BB2c dc df |1
fB Fc cA fg | af2c dF2G :|2 fB Fc cA GF | FF F6 |]

Cheers

Could anybody with a really good ear help in at least getting a general guitar accompaniment to this tune?… I wish I could even begin to do something even remotely similar to Boyd, but I know that won’t be happening…

I’d like to first say that although I wouldn’t be able to pick any favorites, this tune is definitely on my top played list for Flook…the first few posts on this tune were about how to classify it. Unfortunately, I haven’t the slightest idea on that. the Idea that I do have is that the feel for the second half is most certainly 5/4. I didn’t know if that’s what jdicarlo meant during his first comment with the varying time signatures but I thought I might say it anyway.

~708

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK5HFbgl7PQ

play video

Hi, really want to learn this tune for a wedding but I have a standard D key flute…haven’t tried playing using notes but assume it would sound awful. Any suggestions?

Hey guys,
I’ve been working on this one for a couple of days now, playing it over and over to get the feel. Seems to be 12/8 in the first half and 10/8 in the second - or at least that’s what makes sense to me.

I’ve added a new setting to show you what I mean.
Let me know what you think - I’ve left ornamentation up to you.
Evan

Perfect transcription Evan! I loved it!

Here’s a great version of this tune. Brian does some nice variations as well. They follow it with another of Brian’s tunes If Only a Little.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvvFM9pzzjY

play video