Mandolin - Tune Unknown

Subject: Mandolin - Tune Unknown
From: GEST
Date: 26 Aug 09 - 02:09 PM

My friend Tony from the Isle of Man posted a YouTube video of himself playing a tune on his mandolin. The blurb is self-explanatory if anyone wants to help identify it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7YYJ0dhloY

Subject: RE: Mandolin - Tune Unknown
From: GUEST,Helen, cookieless
Date: 28 Aug 09 - 03:31 PM

I listened to it but don't recognise it. Maybe someone else will.

It doesn't sound like any classical piece I've heard. There was one small part, right at the beginning, where it sounded like a Turlough O'Carolan tune (Irish harper, 1700's) but then it wasn't the tune I thought it would be.

The thing about O'Carolan's music is that the tunes are deceptively simple, but really well crafted with beautiful tunes. There are a lot of his tunes I don't know, so it is a possibility. I'll listen again and see if it rings any bells.

Does your friend know any of the other tunes on the tape. Maybe we can track it down by searching for tune titles on some of the CD sites - if it is a commercial tape, and not a guitarist taping his/her own performance at home. Then you'd have little chance of finding it.

Good luck in your search.

Helen

Subject: RE: Mandolin - Tune Unknown
From: mandotim
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 03:11 AM

One idea; if it is a commercial recording, find someone with an i-phone and the 'Shazam' application. Hold the phone up to the speakers, and - hey presto - the phone will look up the tune on t'interweb and give you the title and the artist, lyrics if any and the year it was recorded. Not joking; this application is just astonishing.
Tim

Subject: RE: Mandolin - Tune Unknown
From: Frug
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 05:27 AM

There are very strong similarities to the Coolin although the metre is somewhat different............Try googling the coolin or You tube and listen and see what you think

Frank

Subject: RE: Mandolin - Tune Unknown
From: GUEST,Another mandolin player
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 05:56 AM

As Frug mentioned above it is a version of An Cúilfhionn (The Fair Haired One) or, simply, The Coolin. While written in waltz time, many players prefer to play this in a freer metre.

Richard

Subject: RE: Mandolin - Tune Unknown
From: GUEST,Helen, cookieless
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 05:15 PM

Well done, guys. I knew it had an Irish feel to it, but I don't know that tune at all.

Helen

Subject: RE: Mandolin - Tune Unknown
From: Frank Maher
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 03:58 PM

Hello all,
   I was lead to a site from the IRtrad & wooden flute lists that is great for people like me who can't remember tune names. It's

www.tunepal.org

All you have to do is play the tune (or first few bars) into your computer mike and the site will transcribe what you played into abc notation (you don't have to know how to read it, the program does it all) and then searches for the tune for you. I just gave it a try and it worked perfect.

Subject: RE: Mandolin - Tune Unknown
From: GUEST,Helen
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 03:43 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Mandolin - Tune Unknown
From: GUEST,Jimmy C
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 09:59 PM

Definitely the Coolin, except he throws in a few extra notes, especially in the second part.

Subject: RE: Mandolin - Tune Unknown
From: GUEST,Helen
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 03:53 AM

Hi Frank,

That sounds like a good site. I don't have a mike on my computer, but I imagine I could enter the notes in a music notation programme and use the midi for the same site. Might come in very handy for the Name That Tune threads which appear here regularly.

I'm hoping that the originator of this thread will return and marvel at how quickly the puzzle about the mystery tune has been solved.

I'll keep throwing it up the list as required until our mystery guest returns. I am not a member on YouTube, otherwise I would post a link to this thread on the page where Tony's video is.

Helen

Subject: RE: Mandolin - Tune Unknown
From: GUEST,Helen
Date: 03 Sep 09 - 05:50 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Mandolin - Tune Unknown
From: GUEST,Helen
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 03:33 AM

Still hoping the originator of this thread returns. Does anyone here belong to YouTube who could post a reply on the link above, directing Tony to this thread?

Subject: RE: Mandolin - Tune Unknown
From: GUEST,Helen
Date: 11 Sep 09 - 04:39 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Mandolin - Tune Unknown
From: GEST
Date: 25 Sep 09 - 04:30 PM

Guest, Helen ~ I see where you were able to post a message on Tony's page at YouTube. I also left him a message with the URL of this thread. I have nothing else to contribute except to say thank you to all the posters who helped my friend Tony. :-)