What songs. . .

So what are your favorite songs to play. I'm curious because I'm mostly an old-time fiddler but I'm teaching myself Irish tunes and I'm always willing to learn new ones. My favorite tunes are: (in no particular order)

The Humours of Lissadell
Canadian Waltz (aka Ootpik Waltz)
Coleman's March
Go Home with the Girls in the Morning
John Stinsons
Tom and Jerry
Ashokan's Farewell
Cold Frosty Morn
and, of course
Orange Blossom Special

There are not really any particular songs that I like to play...I like them all. There are so many that are out there that not only do I play to, but listen to as well.

I would have a hard time narrowing my favorites down to a few dozen.

Funny thing, musicfan, out of all you listed, I know the titles and about half the tunes, but none of them I really play. Of the lot, Ootpik is closest. I have a friend that plays that. I should be able to nail it with little effort.

I suggest that we all go to thesession.org, Click on "Members", then click on the "tunebook" tab. The tunes are in order by how many tunebooks they are in, which is a pretty good indicator of popularity. List the one's you know, and learn the one's you don't. I wouldn't bother trying to learn more than one tune at a time.

"Learn" or "know" a tune can mean a lot of different things: For now , let's say "Get to where you can play through without looking at the music." We can work on speed and interpretation later.

I'd still like to hear about the tunes you play. Or we can play "round-robin" until we get a core repertory.

We can definitely do it that way. I pick things up by ear. Ask Gandalf how many tunes I can start versus how many I can play. Or how many names I know. A friend who wants me to play with her on stage is as bad about song names as I am. Once when we were just playing together she started this waltz I knew it and joined her we stood for ten minutes trying to remember the name, couldn't. Then I go and ask the group if anyone knows Shepherd's Wife's Waltz, and the guitarist looks at me and goes, 'that's what ya'll just played'.

Round robin would be fun, we can 'noodle' in our sessions until we all have the general gist of a few tunes together. I'm not to worried about speed or anything like that.

Musicfan is not kidding about the fact that she can start a tune and not remeber what it is called. Hey She is not the only one. My parents and I will play something and will sit there and try to come up with a name. I really hate when that happens. Of course it doesn't happen in this world, I have brain farts with band music. That is when I will get the funny looks. I hate not being able to remember.

This is very encouraging. I'm not to the point that I can "wing" whatever I can think of; incredible as it seems, sometimes. I covered myself with "other -than - glory" at band rehearsal Saturday trying to demonstate the roll in Packy Dolan's "Keel Row". Then it occured to me that I may not have played Keel Row in 15 years. Pulled the same stunt with "Britches Full Of Stiches" - forgot I never played it on the Vielle before. I got it sorted out eventually, but.....

A lot of the sessions around here start out taking turns and then it eventually breaks down or gets stalled trying to figure out whose turn it is. Not a bad way to begin, but you can sure waste a lot of time that way.

It has been said that everybody brings their own agenda to a session. I'm sure that was metaphorical, but literally it might be a good idea to spend a few minutes beforehand to make a short list of things you want to make sure gets played. If you can remember the title you may want to make a short abc of the first couple of measures.

Later,

you really need to come to glen rose on mother's day weekend. There is almost non stop jamming until, what time do you say musicfan, 1:00am? It can be a lot of fun.

That's a long time off. Remind me sooner to the date.

Gladly, musicfan and I work behind the raffle booth all weekend, so We will make sure there are notices about Glen Rose on this messege board.

I'll look for you there, then, maybe.

I'm predominately a Cape Breton style fiddler, so I'm not sure where I'd fit in.. [shrugs]
I know a few Irish tunes, but my repetoire is slim.

"I'm predominately a Cape Breton style fiddler, so I'm not sure where I'd fit in.. "

Well there are a lot of crossover tunes, I have a few recordings. It would be interesting to find some common tunes and compare styles.

I'm primarily an old-time fiddler, I'm adding Irish tunes as an additional style. If we can ever get together we'll just play whatever.

"Confidential" to maurylorraine:

I have a Winnie Chafe lp somewhere, she was a major Cape Breton player in the 60's and 70's. The whole album was herself on fiddle and her daughter on piano. I was at somebody's house the other day and they pulled out the Cape Breton stuff and although I had been keeping up to some extent, I was astonished (and gratified) at how much there was. It's quite a bit more "interesting" these days with all the MacMasters and MacIsaacs and so forth.

Are you aware of S.M.U.S.H. the Denton fiddle club? Although they are a Scottish Fiddle Club, they would be really interested in your Cape Breton material.

How did you get started with that, may I ask? Do you have some connections? or a teacher?

Are you aware of S.M.U.S.H. the Denton fiddle club? Although they are a Scottish Fiddle Club, they would be really interested in your Cape Breton material.

How did you get started with that, may I ask? Do you have some connections? or a teacher?

I am most certainly not aware of the Denton fiddle club. Denton isn't that convenient of a location for me unfortunately. Occasionally, I make it down to the Trinity Hall pub in Dallas, where they have open sessions, but they really only play Irish, so I'm lost all of the time. x___X

As for how I got started with Cape Breton fiddle.. My parents went on a vacation 7 or 8 years ago to Nova Scotia. As they were driving along the Cabot Trail (the road that encircles half of Cape Breton), they saw and heard a piper playing on the side of the road. So, of course, they stopped, being the touristy folks they are. They found themselves at the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts. They got there just in time for an afternoon teacher ceilidh. Their description impressed me when they told me about it. I was probably in about fourth grade at that time. I think that's what inspired my dad to start violin, and I followed suit about six months later.

Fast forward to four years ago. I was looking for a violin or fiddle camp of some sort. I remembered my parents description of the Gaelic College, and mentioned it in passing to my dad, but didn't think of it as a viable option. It is, after all, a freaking long way away. However, my dad looked into it and decided I could go! Sooo... I've attended classes there three summers now, and I have had some of the greatest experiences of my life. Two years ago, my parents actually bought a summer-house of sorts up there, so that makes everything so convenient.

I. Love. Cape Breton.