# Ask the person who knows a lot about Irish traditional music. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 13, 2005, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-person-who-knows-a-lot-about-irish-traditional-music/284541 "2005-01-13T11:44:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-person-who-knows-a-lot-about-irish-traditional-music/284541/41 "2005-01-14T10:39:20Z")
> [@Lathe of Heaven](#): > > I’d be most grateful if you could elucidate for me the differences between: > > 1. jigs, slides, and double slides, > 2. strathspeys and reels. Thanks **Northern Piper** for helping out. These things can be tricky to explain, even though I tell you which is which when I hear them. So in addition to what was already explained. Your jig is the run of the mill 6/8 Irish tunes. Well, we write it in 6/8 but the “swing” is harder to capture. Irish music doesn’t notate well and you always have to listen to get the real idea. Slides are mainly popular in Sliabh Luachra (an area in North Kerry and Cork) or with people who like to play that in particular style. The are is also reknowned for liking polkas a lot down there. It’s kind of “half a jig” if you will in 3/2. They’re usual shorter and have a more “angular” feel. It’s hard to explain it better. I don’t quite agree with them being the same thing as Slip Jig. A Slip Jig is a 9/8 tune which is more like a jig and half. If you here something that sounds like a jig but then seems to go over the bar line a bit you probably have a Slip Jig on your hands. They drive novice bodhran players/spoons players/guitarists crazy. 🙂 I’ll admit to not having heard of a double slide. That would be a jig again IMO. Reels is you common garden variety 4/4 Irish tune. Extremely popular. Strathspeys are a Scottish thing, really, but you will hear them in Donegal style music where there’s a big Scottish influence. They have a more dotted rhythm compared to reels. A reel with tend to gallop along whereas a strathspey kind of skips. A bit like a hornpipe in that way, but the rhythm and emphasis are different. Hope that clears it up a tiny bit. It’s hard to describe these things without having some sound examples to hand. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-person-who-knows-a-lot-about-irish-traditional-music/284541/42 "2005-01-14T12:29:41Z")
And yet another whistle player chiming in as well! The fingerings are really simple if you know how to play the recorder – that’s how I made the transistion at any rate. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-person-who-knows-a-lot-about-irish-traditional-music/284541/43 "2005-01-14T12:59:30Z")
> [@PookahMacPhellimey](#): > > I’ll admit to not having heard of a double slide. That would be a jig again IMO. Okay, I’ve had a brainwave here of what it might be. In most Irish tunes you play the A part twice and then the B part twice but there are some were you just play each part once and we do refer to those as single tunes. So a single slide would be A part, then B part and a double slide A part twice, B part twice. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-person-who-knows-a-lot-about-irish-traditional-music/284541/44 "2005-01-17T23:58:59Z")
Well, today I bought a jar of kimchi (Korean pickled cabbage), after a thread on IMHO tempted me to try it, and I also bought a tin whistle on the recommendations of this thread! The SDMB is always exposing me to new things! I hit two local music stores, and they only had ONE whistle between them: a Feadog tin whistle in the key of D, golden with a green mouthpiece. No Clarkes, no Generations, no selection other than this single one. I hope I made a wise choice, even though there wasn’t much of a choice to make! I already taught myself that little phrase from the beginning of the love theme from Titanic–NOT because I like the song, but just because it was a familiar tin whistle melody. I need to work on keeping my pitch up, and I’m sure that will come with practice. I’m horribly out of practice on my sax, too. Anyway, slainte! ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-person-who-knows-a-lot-about-irish-traditional-music/284541/45 "2005-01-18T21:56:48Z")
What’s the name of that “Irish music?” You know, the one that goes: DI-da-dee DI-da-dee DI-da-dee Di-da-dee DI-da-dee DI-da-dee DI-da-dee Di-da-dee etc. Does it have words? ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-person-who-knows-a-lot-about-irish-traditional-music/284541/46 "2005-01-19T07:49:59Z")
> [@Earl Snake-Hips Tucker](#): > > What’s the name of that “Irish music?” You know, the one that goes: > DI-da-dee DI-da-dee DI-da-dee Di-da-dee > DI-da-dee DI-da-dee DI-da-dee Di-da-dee > etc. > > Does it have words? Unless I’m being whooshed, that sounds a bit like “Drowsy Maggie.” ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-person-who-knows-a-lot-about-irish-traditional-music/284541/47 "2005-01-19T10:05:17Z")
Years ago I heard a great trad musician do this song in a pub. It’s the only time I’ve ever heard it but I loved it so much I still have good memory of it. I had to leave the pub before her set was done so I never got a chance to ask her about it- though I’m quite certain she announced it as being an old song that she “found” while working with other folkies so I at least know that she didn’t write it. I also know that she never recorded it. The song tells the story of a young girl who’s romantic dreams are repeatedly extinguished due to a unique problem. Each verse follows this model but each verse has a different boy’s name (as she has to keep looking for a new love each time): _(from memory this isn’t exact)_ > [@](#): > > I’m in love with Johnny but > Ne’er shall we be wed > I’d love to marry Johnny but > My father dear has said: > > “Sure it breaks my heart to tell you > for you mother never knew > but Johnny is a son of mine > and so he’s kin to you.” This goes on for about three verses then there is a bridge. In the bridge the girl expresses frustration and anger that her father has ruined her chances at a love life. Out of spite and vengence she resolves to tell her mother the whole story, thus outting her father’s dark past. In the final verse, she tells her mother her problem and her mother reponds: Now, your father is a rambler and For sure he’s had his fill But he’s not the one who seeded you so Marry who you will ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-person-who-knows-a-lot-about-irish-traditional-music/284541/48 "2005-02-01T13:41:07Z")
this may not be traditional, but it’s been driving me crazy for years. I’m listening to Van Morrison right now, Avalon Sunset. The song is ‘Coney Island’. It’s one of those songs where he talks about wandering around Ireland, I guess. The lyric is “on and on and over the hill and the \*\*\*crack \*\* \* is good, on towards Coney Island.” Crack?? What is that he’s referring to, i can’t imagine it’s what I think it is. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-person-who-knows-a-lot-about-irish-traditional-music/284541/49 "2005-02-01T13:51:57Z")
“Craic” (pronounced “Crack”) - “a certain ‘spirit’ found in bars and gatherings” - From _Drone On! The High History of Celtic Music_, by Winnie Czulinski. A feeling of good times, revelry; associated with ceilidhs and sessions. ---
**Author:** ![Xerxes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d2c977/32.png) [@Xerxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xerxes)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-person-who-knows-a-lot-about-irish-traditional-music/284541/50 "2005-02-01T13:53:58Z")
I don’t know the Gaelic spelling, but it’s often spelled ‘Craick’. It means conversation, or good times; i.e. you’ll have a good craick, it’s a great craick etc. Nothing (that I know of :D) to to with ‘crack’… ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-person-who-knows-a-lot-about-irish-traditional-music/284541/51 "2005-02-01T14:03:44Z")
Ack! Coney Island!! Van Morrison droning on about pickled herrings and rain. Even worse was the Liam Neeson cover of it. As for playing the spoons, I used to play the spoons in the style of playing the bones. would love to get good at it again, but it’s impossible to sit in on a good session playing the spoons without some joker ordering you a bowl of soup. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-person-who-knows-a-lot-about-irish-traditional-music/284541/52 "2005-02-01T14:10:02Z")
Since we’ve revived this Thread, I’d like to point out that the question I’d like answered is on the first page, Post#47. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lathe\_of\_Heaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Lathe\_of\_Heaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lathe_of_Heaven)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-person-who-knows-a-lot-about-irish-traditional-music/284541/53 "2005-02-01T19:45:17Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > Years ago I heard a great trad musician do this song in a pub. It’s the only time I’ve ever heard it but I loved it so much I still have good memory of it. > > The song tells the story of a young girl who’s romantic dreams are repeatedly extinguished due to a unique problem. It’s modern. My friends and I usually call it “Johnny Be Fair”. Written by Buffy Sainte Marie, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-person-who-knows-a-lot-about-irish-traditional-music/284541/54 "2005-02-02T08:53:21Z")
> [@Lathe of Heaven](#): > > It’s modern. My friends and I usually call it “Johnny Be Fair”. Written by Buffy Sainte Marie, I believe. [That’s it exactly](http://www.lyricsondemand.com/s/saintemariebuffylyrics/johnnybefairlyrics.html), **Lathe of Heaven**! You’re awesome! Could I ask for a “Spoil Buffy Sainte Marie for me” post in this Thread? ---
**Author:** ![Profane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@Profane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profane)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-person-who-knows-a-lot-about-irish-traditional-music/284541/55 "2005-02-02T12:43:16Z")
I’m looking for a few good recommendations. My favorite album is Silly Wizard “Live Wizardry” and I’m looking for stuff along that line. I prefer no vocals, and a live or not too polished sound. I like The Chieftans, but with so many albums I’m not sure where to start. Any ideas keeping my guidelines in mind? For the Bodhran players, give [Steve Holloway](http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/sholloway) a listen. He plays Bodhran (and other percussion) so it’s featured stongly on the CD. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-person-who-knows-a-lot-about-irish-traditional-music/284541/56 "2005-02-02T17:36:09Z")
> [@Profane](#): > > I’m looking for a few good recommendations. My favorite album is Silly Wizard “Live Wizardry” and I’m looking for stuff along that line. I prefer no vocals, and a live or not too polished sound. I like The Chieftans, but with so many albums I’m not sure where to start. Any ideas keeping my guidelines in mind? That was one of my very first traditional albums. Excellent stuff. Er…you do know that Silly Wizard are Scottish, right? Recommendations on the basis of that: 1.Celtic Fiddle Festival\*. Christian Lemaitre from Brittany, Kevin Burke from Ireland (via London) and the late great Johnny Cunningham from Scotland play solo and together giving an excellent beginner’s introduction to different “celtic” fiddling styles. Johnny Cunningham was the fiddler in Silly Wizard. The trio made a self titled CD and then a follow up called _Encore_. Both are good. 1. Johnny’s brother Phil Cunningham (the piano accordeon player from Silly Wizard) pops up in Scottish music all the time. He made two very nice albums with fiddler Aly Bain (out of _The Boys of the Lough_ which you may also want to check out) _The Pearl_ and _The Ruby_. 2. Onto Irish music. You may like De Dannan (try _The Mist Covered Mountain_) and \*The Bothy Band \* (they’r self titled debut might be the best). Both are seminal Irish bands. They do both have some amount for vocals, but are absolute classics. _Planxty_ is another good band from the same era, but they have a lot more song oriented sound. 3. More modern stuff. The band Lunasa which I have already mentioned seems very popular with a younger Irish music crowd (don’t know if that’s you or not). In case you like the fiery accordeon aspect of Silly Wizard, try local legends (but not overly famous elsewhere) _The Lahawns_ who are fabulous. Find their best CD _Live at Winkles_ as well as a lot of the other stuff I mentioned at [Custy’s record shop](http://www.custysmusic.com) who also do mail order. 4. For a lively sound you could also do worse than to check out the numerous Ceili Bands. A ceili band is a bigger (about ten or so people) band of Irish musicians put together especially for dancing and usually involves drumkit and piano accompaniment. It’s something you either love or hate. Some of the good ones are The Tulla Ceili Band, The Kilfenora Ceili Band and the Turloughmore Ceili Band. ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-person-who-knows-a-lot-about-irish-traditional-music/284541/57 "2005-02-02T20:36:22Z")
I have friends who formed an Irish band a few years ago (for the love of the music, most of them are not Irish) and they have opened for Gaelic Storm, they were really fun to hear live. Very fun guys too. I enjoy listening to CD’s and all but there is nothing like hearing Irish music live, there is a spirit to it that you can’t get from a recording. Plus the beer. I’ll second the mention of Irish music getting stuck in your head, after going to a show I am singing along and humming for weeks. My infant son is often treated to Irish songs instead of lullabies or nursery rhymes :). I have played the sax and a little recorder, maybe I will have to learn the whistle and play along with my friends one of these days! ---
**Author:** ![Lathe\_of\_Heaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Lathe\_of\_Heaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lathe_of_Heaven)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2005, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-person-who-knows-a-lot-about-irish-traditional-music/284541/58 "2005-02-03T04:06:34Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > [That’s it exactly](http://www.lyricsondemand.com/s/saintemariebuffylyrics/johnnybefairlyrics.html), **Lathe of Heaven**! You’re awesome! Aw, thanks, I’m blushing! > [@](#): > > Could I ask for a “Spoil Buffy Sainte Marie for me” post in this Thread? Sure, but not by me: what I know about Ms. Ste.-Marie could fit into a thimble, with enough room left over… well, you get the idea. I do know that she’s Canadian, of Native descent, and was apparently quite popular in the Sixties. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2005, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-person-who-knows-a-lot-about-irish-traditional-music/284541/59 "2005-02-03T08:03:18Z")
[digression]Buffy Ste. Marie is originally from Saskatchewan. I saw her performing at Regina a few years ago. As an intro to one song, she commented that writing a song was like letting a bird out into the world. Sometimes they don’t do well, other times they just take off. Then she said, “and this one came home one day with an Oscar” and started playing “Up Where We Belong” from “An Officer and A Gentleman.” Rather a modest way to introduce it, I thought.[/digression] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-person-who-knows-a-lot-about-irish-traditional-music/284541.md?page=2)