Tom Hanway - Posted - 12/16/2012:  16:35:14

I looked at the link to the Mel Bay page, and I'll have to get them to correct it, because it's not quite right. Here's the list of tunes from my second book (the topic of this thread) - the new book will be out in March 2013:



TUNE INDEX (CD CONTENTS)

JIGS

1  Battering Ram, The



2  Black Rogue, The



3  Blarney Pilgrim, The



4  Boys of the Town



5  Carraroe, The



6  Cliffs of Moher, The



7  Da Full Rigged Ship



8  Doed a Ddel



9  East at Glendart



10  Father O’Flynn



11  Gander in the Pratie Hole



12  Geese in the Bog, The



13  Gentleman Thief, The



14  Gerry’s Beaver Hat (Returned Yank)



15  Gillian’s Apples



16  Glandyfi



17  Happy to Meet and Sorry to Part



18  Humours of Glendart



19  Killavil Jig, The (Sligo Jig)



20  Lark in the Morning, The



21  Lilting Fisherman, The (Joe Derrane’s)



22  Miracle on the Hudson (Celtic Modal Tuning)



23  Monaghan Jig, The



24  My Darling Asleep



25  Paddy’s Return



26  Rambling Pitchfork, The



27  Rose in the Heather, The



28  Saddle the Pony



29  Sliabh Russell



30  Sligo Jig, The (Ryan’s Favourite)



31  Swallowtail Jig, The



32  Tenpenny Bit, The



33  Tros y Garreg (Over the Stone)



34  Wandering Minstrel, The

REELS



35  Angus Campbell



36  Big John McNeil



37  Boys of Malin, The



38  Bucks of Oranmore, The



39  Castle Kelly



40  Crooked Road to Dublin, The



41  Cup of Tea, The



42  Donald Blue (Shetland)



43  Donegal Reel, The



44  Drowsy Maggie (Celtic Modal Tuning)



45  Earl’s Chair, The



46  Eighth of January, The



47  Father Kelly’s



48  Galway Rambler, The



49  Gravel Walk, The



50  Greig’s Pipes



51  Hare’s Paw, The



52  High Reel, The (A Mixolydian)



53  High Reel, The (A Mixolydian - Capo 2)



54  Humours of Tulla, The



55  Jack Broke da Prison Door



56  Jackie Coleman’s Reel



57  Man of the House, The



58  Miss Thompson’s



59  New Copperplate, The



60  Old Copperplate, The



61  Reconciliation, The



62  Rolling in the Ryegrass (Shannon Breeze)



63  Silver Spire, The



64  Swallow’s Tail, The



65  Toss the Feathers (D Mixolydian - D Major)



66  Toss the Feathers (E Dorian)



67  Wise Maid, The



68  Woman of the House, The

Edited by - Tom Hanway on 12/16/2012 16:36:23

Tom Hanway - Posted - 12/16/2012:  16:46:05

quote:

---

Originally posted by peter somerville

hey Tom I've just been working on 'toss the feathers', the one in D, I like your version but it's fairly different from the version i here on youtube, mainly by the corrs. i'm wondering is your version the most common one round sessions in Ireland? i haven't got anybody to play it with here except a friend who learnt the Corrs version. just wondering.

---

Peter:  I know what you mean.  Well, my version (one of them) is an older Irish version. The Corrs version, from the vid, is sweet, but not what a lot of trad fiddlers or flute players would play.  I have two versions in my book.  I must have half a dozen tabs for the D Mixolydian/D Major version.   There's a vid of the Corrs doing it with some real trad heads, and you can see them making funny eye contact, possibly about what the Corrs are (not) playing.  It's on youtube somewhere....



But I do love that Corrs version.  It's breathtaking, and they nail it.  I made a point not to steer clear of those note choices and overall arrangement, because it's pop, almost New-Age-oriented, not the most traditional version, though it is lovely and rockin', and I have a tab based on it (just not published)!   So, I hear you!  

Go back and listen to Horslips, and you get closer to an old Irish version, it's a song they do, I have to think about that title, which has Sword of Light ('Toss the Feathers').  This is Irish rock at its best, old school.

There are many versions and variants of 'Toss the Feathers'; it's just one of those titles that has lots of different tunes under it.  It's really old, and I asked flute player Noel Sweeney about it a while, and he used to play me his preferred version, and he has a bunch of them!  He's an All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil Champion.  

Best ~ Tom

Edited by - Tom Hanway on 12/16/2012 17:00:58

Tom Hanway - Posted - 12/16/2012:  17:01:38

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tom Hanway

quote:

---

Originally posted by peter somerville

hey Tom I've just been working on 'toss the feathers', the one in D, I like your version but it's fairly different from the version i here on youtube, mainly by the corrs. i'm wondering is your version the most common one round sessions in Ireland? i haven't got anybody to play it with here except a friend who learnt the Corrs version. just wondering.

---

Peter:  I know what you mean.  Well, my version (one of them) is an older Irish version. The Corrs version, from the vid, is sweet, but not what a lot of trad fiddlers or flute players would play.  I have two versions in my book.  I must have half a dozen tabs for the D Mixolydian/D Major version.   There's a vid of the Corrs doing it with some real trad heads, and you can see them making funny eye contact, possibly about what the Corrs are (not) playing.  It's on youtube somewhere....



But I do love that Corrs version.  It's breathtaking, and they nail it.  I made a point to steer clear of those note choices and overall arrangement, because it's pop, almost New-Age-oriented, not the most traditional version, though it is lovely and rockin', and I have a tab based on it (just not published)!   So, I hear you!  

Go back and listen to Horslips, and you get closer to an old Irish version, it's a song they do, I have to think about that title, okay, it's Sword of Light ('Toss the Feathers').  This is Irish rock at its best, old school.

There are many versions and variants of 'Toss the Feathers'; it's just one of those titles that has lots of different tunes under it.  It's really old, and I asked flute player Noel Sweeney about it a while back, and he used to play me his preferred version, and he has a bunch of them!  He's an All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil Champion.  

Best ~ Tom

---

Corrections in red.  Go to the link here, and this is where I first heard it.  I changed a sentence above and wound up with a double negative, and said exactly the opposite of what I was trying to say.  It's corrected here, in red.  

Also, the song is Sword of Light ('Toss the Feathers') by Horslips.  Go to this link, it's the business.  This song is based on the traditional tune,;it rocks, and it's been in my head for years, since 1979, from Tristan, an old girlfriend, who used to read Tarot cards, and then some....

Best ~ Tom

Edited by - Tom Hanway on 12/16/2012 17:17:46

peter somerville - Posted - 12/16/2012:  17:31:09

thanks for clarifying that Tom. i had listen to horslips, yeah it's the same tune isn't it. my youtube investigation of toss the feathers was very dominated by the corrs and perhaps it's the popular version over here but i don't get to enough sessions to be too well informed.
the Em version in your book is nice too.
good luck with the new book Tom, i expect i'll order it when it's available.

Tom Hanway - Posted - 02/06/2013:  06:33:36

quote:

---

Originally posted by peter somerville

thanks for clarifying that Tom. i had listen to Horslips, yeah it's the same tune isn't it. my youtube investigation of toss the feathers was very dominated by the Corrs and perhaps it's the popular version over here but i don't get to enough sessions to be too well informed.

the Em version in your book is nice too.

 

Good luck with the new book Tom, I expect I'll order it when it's available.

---

Thanks Pete.  Listen, my friend, I think it's my turn to send you a copy!  And it's hard not to look at the Corrs, that's for sure!

I appreciate your generous outpouring of Celtic materials, which are top-notch, with great tune selections.  Celtic fingerstyle banjo is coming into its own.  It’s not old-time, not bluegrass, not Keith/Thompson (melodic), or Reno (single-string) style.  Celtic fingerstyle banjo is an emerging style that may incorporate ideas and techniques from all these traditions, yet it has a language, regional dialects and a broad vocabulary of its own.  

With the publication of Easy Irish and Celtic Melodies for 5-String Banjo: Best-Loved Jigs and Reels, will be up to three books/CDs published by Mel Bay.  That’s 200 Celtic tunes transcribed for 5-string banjo.   I’ve been at this for twenty years now, and I’m still learning, still going back and re-working tunes, thinking of variations, drone and ornamental possibilities, and use of chords, which I used to ignore, being concerned with strict melody and embellishment ideas.

Funny, I’ve been playing the ‘The Maid Behind the Bar’ since the mid-nineties, yet it’s in none of my collections!

I'm actually opened to ‘Maid Behind the Bar’ in your book and noticing the similarities and differences in our arrangements.  Your triplet variation on the A and B notes in the first measure – where you play AAB as a triplet using a forward roll – has two blocked A notes followed by a ringing open B string.  This creates a slightly dissonant ring out of the banjo.   One could also block that B note at the fourth fret of the third string, using the ring finger, to take out that ring and give it more punch (less overtones).  But I'm not saying that what you're playing is wrong.  I like it; it one way of doing things.



Yours is a rhythmic variation of the basic melody (just A and B as eighth notes), and one could add an intervallic variation, using the open B string, followed by a blocked D note using the middle finger on the second string.  It doesn’t leave the B note hanging (ringing), and gives a different kind of punch to the tune.   I’ll follow up with a tab later.  



This type of rhythmic-intervallic variation is specific to the 5-string banjo in G tuning, and it’s one of those variations that recommends our instrument for playing Irish and Celtic tunes, demonstrating its unique timbre (sound) and ornamental possibilities.  We’re onto something really good here!   This is exciting for the 5-string banjo!

Best ~ Tom 

peter somerville - Posted - 02/06/2013:  14:31:48

hi Tom, thanks for pointing out that triplet thing. yes it's better to fret the 4th fret on the 3rd. i was being lazy!

just emailed you some tabs including an updated version of maid behind the bar. i've updated that book i sent you and play lots of tunes differently now

Tom Hanway - Posted - 02/07/2013:  21:12:32

quote:

---

Originally posted by peter somerville

Hi Tom, thanks for pointing out that triplet thing. yes it's better to fret the 4th fret on the 3rd. i was being lazy!

just emailed you some tabs including an updated version of maid behind the bar. i've updated that book i sent you and play lots of tunes differently now

---

Pete:  I got that, and thanks a million!  You are not lazy, far from it!  You keep me on my toes!  

In Celtic fingerstyle, there is typically an option between playing an open string or blocking a note, depending on whether one wants to have a ringing string and its overtones, or instead, cut out certain overtones for a more punchy staccato sound.  I'm working on a set of examples for this thread, but I'm in the middle of proofing my next book, and I ran out of ink in my printer.  So, not tonight, but in a few days, I'll give some examples, when I get ink.



I made a mistake in my last post, I meant to put in the most recent book title, and I gave the wrong title, typing too quickly and not proofing, haha.

It's a new set of popular historic tunes, plus a companion CD which will be coming out in March 2013, and on the shelves by St. Patrick's Day.  These are big tunes (32 in all), many of them songs which came from auld Celtic airs, not just Irish airs, but Scottish, Welsh and English melodies which have informed Celtic traditions.

The tunes are all very well known, and this work is designed for beginners.  I haven't added any ornamentation; it's all bare bones melodies, though some of the tunes have ornamentation built into them, e.g., Raglan Road, The Stack of Barley, Down by the Salley Gardens, thirty-two tunes in all, and it's the addition of this collection that brings my total number of transcribed tunes with Mel Bay up to 200 over three collections.

My third Mel Bay publication is the most accessible collection of tunes that I've produced, and they're fun and straightforward.  I am under contract for another collection, and I've started on it....

All will be revealed. 

This latest collection is all about playing the melody, and making technique serve the melody, as are all my works.

EASY IRISH AND CELTIC MELODIES FOR 5-STRING BANJO:  

BEST-LOVED AIRS AND SESSION TUNES

(MEL BAY PUBLICATIONS:  MB 21598 BCD and eBook)

Edited by - Tom Hanway on 02/07/2013 21:27:35

Tom Hanway - Posted - 02/11/2013:  12:49:45

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tom Hanway

quote:

---

Originally posted by peter somerville

Hi Tom, thanks for pointing out that triplet thing. yes it's better to fret the 4th fret on the 3rd. i was being lazy!

just emailed you some tabs including an updated version of maid behind the bar. i've updated that book i sent you and play lots of tunes differently now

---

Pete:  I got that, and thanks a million!  You are not lazy, far from it!  You keep me on my toes!  

In Celtic fingerstyle, there is typically an option between playing an open string or blocking a note, depending on whether one wants to have a ringing string and its overtones, or instead, cut out certain overtones for a more punchy staccato sound.  I'm working on a set of examples for this thread, but I'm in the middle of proofing my next book, and I ran out of ink in my printer.  So, not tonight, but in a few days, I'll give some examples, when I get ink. *snip*

... a new set of popular historic tunes, plus a companion CD which will be coming out in March 2013, and on the shelves by St. Patrick's Day.  These are big tunes (32 in all), many of them songs which came from auld Celtic airs, not just Irish airs, but Scottish, Welsh and English melodies which have informed Celtic traditions. *snip*

The tunes are all very well known, and this work is designed for beginners.  I haven't added any ornamentation; it's all bare bones melodies, *snip* thirty-two tunes in all, and it's the addition of this collection that brings my total number of transcribed tunes with Mel Bay up to 200 over three collections.

My third Mel Bay publication is the most accessible collection of tunes that I've produced, and they're fun and straightforward.  I am under contract for another collection, and I've started on it.... *snip*

This latest collection is all about playing the melody, and making technique serve the melody, as are all my works.

EASY IRISH AND CELTIC MELODIES FOR 5-STRING BANJO:  

BEST-LOVED AIRS AND SESSION TUNES

(MEL BAY PUBLICATIONS:  MB 21598 BCD and eBook)

---

Okay, I said I'd post some examples of 'The Maid Behind the Bar', here with a B-note that is either played as a ringing open string (examples by Somerville, MacLachlan, Johnson) or played as a blocked note (examples by Somerville and me). Here are some different versions, including Peter Somerville's newest version that he sent me a few days ago.  

I want to thank all these 5-string authors for sending me their books and keeping me up to date on the state of the art of Celtic fingerstyle banjo.  All these versions are playable examples of Celtic fingerstyle banjo.  I suggest people try these out for themselves on the 5-string, before we do anything else.  Enjoy!   Best ~ Tom

Edited by - Tom Hanway on 02/11/2013 13:00:27

peter somerville - Posted - 02/11/2013:  17:25:48

interesting checking out these different versions. more than one way to skin a cat (apologies to those who like felines)

the second version of mine is how i tend to find the notes these days. it seems more intuitive and less left hand movement than the more expected, perhaps, melodic approach.

Edited by - peter somerville on 02/11/2013 17:30:30

Tom Hanway - Posted - 02/11/2013:  18:41:54

All these settings capture the melody in different ways.  A more melodic approach isn't bad either, depending on the sound one wants to get.  I like it when notes "bleed" into one another for certain tunes and passages; at other times, I prefer not to have certain overtones ringing and prefer the notes to die before others begin.  It's very subjective, very personal, and it boils down to artistic license and personal taste, which can change at will.



I've gone more and more in the direction of setting up my variations by not being stuck in a single approach, and I play variations (not shown here) using more staccato, and at other times, more legato approaches.  It's still about melody and ornamentation in Celtic fingerstyle.

Tom Hanway - Posted - 03/02/2013:  05:24:01

quote:

---

Originally posted by peter somerville

interesting checking out these different versions. more than one way to skin a cat (apologies to those who like felines)

the second version of mine is how i tend to find the notes these days. it seems more intuitive and less left hand movement than the more expected, perhaps, melodic approach.

---

Pete, notice how your latest version and my ornamented version are virtually identical in the first part.  



I agree with you about a more intuitive, streamlined approach, i.e., not trying to squeeze the tunes into the "melodic-style" positions or relentless "single-string" boxes, but going after and being faithful to the melody, with our without ornamentation, which employs both the picking and the fretting hands.  

Tom Hanway - Posted - 03/04/2013:  04:39:28

Folks, in my last post I'm referring to Example 3 (Peter Somerville's ornamented version) and Example 6 (my ornamented version) in the above tablature for The Maid Behind the Bar, a tune that almost everybody knows at traditional sessions in Ireland, Scotland, in the Celtic diaspora (e.g., Canada, US, and Australia), and wherever tunes are played.  

I'll be returning to this tune shortly, tabbing out the second part, and when that's done, I'll upload the whole tune to the BHO Tablature files.  All will be revealed.

Oh, I keep meaning to add this information and link so people can get an idea of how widespread this tune is; please read what the Fiddler's Companion (mainly about North American fiddle tunes), has to say about this tune, including the handy ABC Notation:

MAID BEHIND THE BAR [1], THE (An Gearrchaile taobh thiar den Bheár). AKA and see "The Barmaid," “The Bartender,” "The Green Mountain [2]," "The Haymaker (Reel) [1],” “Indy’s Favorite,” “Little Judy,” "Judy's Reel," "The Maid Behind the Barrel,” “The Maid Behind the Counter,” “The Maids of Castlebar." See also related 'C' part of "Snoring (Mrs.) Gobeil." Irish, Reel. D Major (most versions): C Major (Cranitch). Standard. AABB (most versions): AA'BB (Bain). The tune was popularlized through the recording by Sligo fiddle master James Morrison and has become one of the most ubiquitous tunes in modern Irish sessions. The melody appears earliest in print as “Indy’s Favorite” and “Judy’s Reel” in Ryan’s Mammoth Collection (1883). O’Neill prints the tune also under the title “Maid of Castlebar,” but title may be a corruption of “Maid Behind the Bar,” or vice-versa. Philippe Varlet believes that a recording for Columbia Records by accordion player James Murphy in 1920 is the first time that the use of the title “Maid Behind the Bar” can be documented. He notes that accordion player John “Dutch” Kimmel recorded the tune the same year as “The Bartender” and that flute player John Sheridan waxed it as “Maid Behind the Barrel” in 1928. Sources for notated versions: fiddler Frank Ferrel (Seattle/Boston) [Brody]; Elmer Robinson (b. c. 1910, Mounty Pleasant, now resides in Woodstock, West Prince County, Prince Edward Island) [Perlman]; Larry Redican [O’Malley]. Bain (50 Fiddle Solos), 1989; pg. 12. Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; pg. 181. Cranitch (Irish Fiddle Book), 1996; No. 68, pg. 151. Cranitch (Irish Session Tunes: Red Book), 2000; 67. Harker (300 Tunes from Mike Rafferty), 2005; No. 4, pg. 1. Mallinson (Essential), 1995; No. 21, pg. 9. Martin & Hughes (Ho-ro-gheallaidh), 1990; pg. 34. O’Malley (Luke O’Malley’s Collection of Irish Music, vol. 1), 1976; No. 70, pg. 35 (appears as “The Barmaid”). Perlman (The Fiddle Music of Prince Edward Island), 1996; pg. 73. Sullivan (Session Tunes), vol. 2; No. 7, pg. 4. Tubridy (Irish Traditional Music, vol. 1), 1999; pg. 20. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. NMAS 1972, Natalie MacMaster - "Fit as a Fiddle" (1993). Coleman Music Center CHC 009, whistle player Jim Donoghue – “The Coleman Archive, vol. 2: The Home Place” (2005. Various artists). Flying Fish FF 70572, Frank Ferrel – “Yankee Dreams: Wicked Good Fiddling from New England” (1991). Gael Linn CEF 175, Colm Murphy - "The Irish Drum/An Bodhran." Green Linnet 1022, Michael and Andrew Carnase‑ "Irish Music: The Living Tradition, vol. 2." Green Linnet SIF 1040, Touchstone - "The New Land." Green Linnet SIF 1131, Tom Doherty - "Take the Bull by the Horns." Green Linnet 3008, "Matt Molloy." Green Linnet 3098, Brendan Power - "New Irish Harmoica." Green Linnet SIF 3051, Frankie Gavin – “Frankie Goes to Town” (appears as “Maid Behind the Barrel”). Mulligan 004, "Matt Molloy." Ossian OSS 6, Matt Cranitch - "Irish Fiddle Music 2: Give It Shtick!" Voyager 320‑S, Frank Ferrel‑ "Fiddle Tunes."

T:Maid Behind the Bar, The [1]

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

K:D

DE|FAAB AFED|FAAB A2 de|fBBA Bcde|faaf edBA|FAAB AFED|

FAAB A2 de|fBBA BcdB|AFEF D2:|

|:de|faag fdde|fdad fddf|efga beef|gebe geeg|faa2 b2 af|

defd e2 de|fBBA BcdB|AFEF D2:|

SOURCE: The Fiddler's Companion

Best ~ Tom

peter somerville - Posted - 03/11/2013:  04:30:49

looking forward to your B part Tom. not totally happy with mine. I've been working on lots more celtic tunes in the last few weeks so may put something on the hangout soon.

bmwooten - Posted - 03/13/2013:  16:31:11

Excellent Tom. I justr received my copy and I am so impressed. I have your original and found it a little challenging. This version is appropriate for my skill level. Best regards, Bill

Tom Hanway - Posted - 03/14/2013:  16:11:02

quote:

---

Originally posted by peter somerville

looking forward to your B part Tom. not totally happy with mine. I've been working on lots more celtic tunes in the last few weeks so may put something on the hangout soon.

---

Pete - I'll get that posted soon.  I have a few projects before that to finish, just did a TV commercial for Molson Canadian Beer, which will be aired in a month.      I'll try to post something in a week or two.  There's lots of ways of approaching the B part, but I'm opting for a bare bones version for which ornaments can be added on later without changing the basic note and string choices, involving fretting and picking-hand options that can be added or left out.  It's a fun puzzle, this one.  Best ~ Tom

Tom Hanway - Posted - 03/14/2013:  16:19:28

quote:

---

Originally posted by bmwooten

Excellent Tom. I just received my copy and I am so impressed. I have your original and found it a little challenging. This version is appropriate for my skill level. Best regards, Bill

---

Glad to hear it Bill.  Yeah the middle book is the beginner-intermediate book.  The first book/CD, Complete Book of Irish & Celtic 5-String Banjo is the intermediate-advanced book, and the most recent book/CD, Easy Irish and Celtic Melodies for 5-String Banjo: Best-Loved Airs and Session Tunes (thread here) is the beginner book.  



So, I compiled them in reverse order!  Go figure?  

Bill, let me know if I can help you with something.  Best ~ Tom

Tom Hanway - Posted - 04/09/2013:  17:33:33

The Mel Bay Blog (April 2013) is running an article where I talk about my experiences in Ireland and New York that led me to research and produce three tune collections of Celtic fingerstyle banjo with the publisher.  Mine are contemporary settings of traditional tunes, learned in the field by making and gathering recordings, meeting musicians, drinking Guinness, breaking the bread, and the like.  

I now have 200 transcriptions of traditional Irish and Celtic tunes, and I have another "Complete Book" to finish of Carolan (or O'Carolan) harp and other Celtic (especially Welsh) harp tunes.  All will be revealed....  

Great news:  Best-Loved Jigs and Reels (2012) is going into its second printing with some corrections of engraving and printing errors, e.g., with more than invisible page numbers in the Table of Contents, haha.  The tunes are already in alphabetical order, under Jigs, then Reels, so this really wasn't that big an issue, but I made sure that page numbers got added in the Contents for the second printing. 'The Blarney Pilgrim' , which got chopped (missing the final stave) has also been corrected.  It's lovely, revised, and made whole.  Let's see ... I also corrected the original Scruggs book, Shucking the Corn ... and, oh, never mind.  

Best-Loved Airs and Session Tunes (2013) is featured in this month's Mel Bay Blog (please click on the link below):

Tom Hanway – Irish and Celtic Music on a 5-String Banjo

butter9487 - Posted - 04/10/2013:  14:47:09

Tom I just received my copy and can't Waite to dive in. Thanks for your hard work.