Figure 1.--
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Figure 1.-- |
A musiscian provides a short assessment of the music used for sets, "1) Almost any polka, slide, reel, jig, hornpipe etc will work but some are more suitable for playing for sets than others 2) To find a suitable tune from scratch, play the required tune type at the recommended tempo and if it feels easy to play and the rhythm is good and solid sounds then use it! If it feels too slow/ too fast or the rhythm is hard to control at the required tempo - don't use it. When you find a suitable one, then try and match it with another (usually 2 or more are needed) A good match means each tune transitions easily from one to another without "appearing" to speed up or worse slow down. Some tunes when played at exactly the same tempo can appear to be much faster or slower in relation to each other. Key changes from tune to tune also adds to the quality. On a lighter note, there is also the "Ballykillferret Tune Triangle" where for example "Soldier's Joy" can be played as a Polka, a Reel or a Hornpipe just by changing the emphasis and the tempo. And some good musicians and dancers can not work out if "Walsh's Hornpipe is indeed a hornpipe or a slide. 3) Good solid rhythm on a piano/guitar/bodhran accompaniment can add to the quality. NEVER use bad accompaniment!! 4) The band leader or the Accompanist should use a "blinking" metronome to ensure a true start at the chosen tempo. 5) These are coomonly used tempos: a) Jigs 130 beats per minute (dotted quarter notes per minute) b) Slides 145 beats per minute (dotted quarter notes per minute) c) Polkas 140 beats per minute (quarter notes per minute) d) Flings 180-200 beats per minute (quarter notes per minute) e) Waltzes 180 beats per minute (quarter notes per minute) f) Hornpipes 200+ beats per minute (quarter notes per minute) This tempo
is tough so choose easy hornpipes!! g) Reels 230 beats per minute (quarter notes per minute) This tempo is tough so choose easy reels!!" As with dance steps, there is disagreement among the Irish dance community as to the music. Some would preper more modern music while others like the tradition involved.
A musiscian provides a short assessment of the music used for sets.
Almost any polka, slide, reel, jig, hornpipe etc will work but some are more suitable for playing for sets than others.
To find a suitable tune from scratch, play the required tune type at the recommended tempo and if it feels easy to play and the rhythm is good and solid sounds then use it! If it feels too slow/ too fast or the rhythm is hard to control at the required tempo - don't use it. When you find a suitable one, then try and match it with another (usually 2 or more are needed) A good match means each tune transitions easily from one to another without "appearing" to speed up or worse slow down. Some tunes when played at exactly the same tempo can appear to be much faster or slower in relation to each other. Key changes from tune to tune also adds to the quality. On a lighter note, there is also the "Ballykillferret Tune Triangle" where for example "Soldier's Joy" can be played as a Polka, a Reel or a Hornpipe just by changing the emphasis and the tempo. And some good musicians and dancers can not work out if "Walsh's Hornpipe is indeed a hornpipe or a slide.
Good solid rhythm on a piano/guitar/bodhran accompaniment can add to the quality. NEVER use bad accompaniment!! 4) The band leader or the Accompanist should use a "blinking" metronome to ensure a true start at the chosen tempo.
These are commonly used tempos: a) Jigs 130 beats per minute (dotted quarter notes per minute) b) Slides 145 beats per minute (dotted quarter notes per minute) c) Polkas 140 beats per minute (quarter notes per minute) d) Flings 180-200 beats per minute (quarter notes per minute) e) Waltzes 180 beats per minute (quarter notes per minute) f) Hornpipes 200+ beats per minute (quarter notes per minute) This tempo is tough so choose easy hornpipes!! g) Reels 230 beats per minute (quarter notes per minute) This tempo is tough so choose easy reels!!"
As with dance steps, there is disagreement among the Irish dance community as to the music. Some would preper more modern music. Some dancers believe that music heavy with the accordian feels rather dated. Some young dancers seem to prefer the sounds
>of Gaelic Storm and Glengarry Bhoys-- more drums and a full driving sound. Other dancers are more committed to tradition. A dancer writes, "While I enjoy these and other groups, I believe that part of the Joy of set dancing is the traditional ceili
music. Knowing that you are dancing to the same tunes, the same
dances as your forebearers have done at the crossroads and in their
small cottages and elsewhere is what helps put us in touch with the
past. having been to a number of set dancing weekends in Iteland, I
was most impressed with the number of younger people in their teens,
20s and 30s who are really into the sets, and understand the
connection to their past. While they may be at the disco's on other
nights, they are among the best lovers of set dancing and the music
that accompanies it. Try and get to a live music ceili, especially with a group from Ireland. there are also many fine ceili bands in the New York and Philadelphia areas (and no doubt elsewhere) which play regularly. Nothing like it. Try a set dancing weekend in the
Catskills in New York State--the besr of Irish and local bands."
Another dancer writes, ">What I like about the "old fashioned" sound as you call it, is that it is what it is, TRADITIONAL, and not old fashioned,but coming thru the years getting to us. Sure there is an abundance of accordian, flute, fiddle, concertina,bodhran and drums, not to mention keyboards, ullian pipes, tin whistle and lately, banjo., all traditional instruments. These might not be a driving sound you might be looking for, but to me they give a soulful lift to the spirit that makes me want to dance and dance and dance.....all night long.......easy on the ears and lively on
the feet These instruments are what my parents danced to when they were young in Ireland and here when they came out, and if they were around today, would love to be able to dance to Matt Cunningham and the Kilfenora........not to mention John Reidy, Sean Norman, Abbel Ceili Band, The Tulla Ceili Band, The Davey Band, Heather Breeze, and some I am forgetting. These bands will give todays youngsters a run for the money, if they can take it. You might have a good assortment of concert bands to listen to, but it takes special traditional musicians to be able to play "ceili" dancing music for sets. They might all not be loud and driving with heavy drums, but they are the BEST!! If you get a chance to hear the bands out from Ireland, go and listen , and see how the dancing is then. Thats the best way, LIVE music with LIFE in it!!"
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