The North Star (jig) on The Session

Flook Key

what is Flook’s original key??

I think Brian played it on an F Whistle which would put it in Bb.

Isn’t it just a half note higher?

Yes, just a half note higher. Brian played it on an Eb whistle. So the key becomes G sharp major.
I wonder why Flook needs to play in weird keys all the time.

Unorthodox keys / jig vs. waltz

Amongst other things, horns like F/C/Bb, classical violinists like Eb, Dmin or Gmin, singers often like A, etc. In short, things sit differently on different instruments and shifting to ‘unorthodox’ keys allows for ‘effects’ that would otherwise be difficult or impossible. Depending on if or how they were ‘schooled’, it might just be a little different sense of comradery?

On another note, am I the only one, or is this kind of like a jig with a waltz as the turn. Really a good tune, but that struck me the first time through. Maybe it’ll sound different if I pick up the tempo? (I’m pretty slow at sight-reading and wouldn’t suprise me if I’m dragging!)

Any thoughts?

I think the thing about all the weird keys could be in part because, of course, they sound pretty awesome a lot of the time, and also because Sarah Allen is usually playing an alto flute, or maybe, they just don’t want anybody to be able to play along with their albums… not that you can very easily anyways with the way Brian Plays…

I heard that Brian just likes the sound of the whistle he uses for this track - everyone else just has to keep up!

That seems like a more likely idea- There’s lots of stuff that Brian plays on his Eb whistle.