Top 10 fiddle tunes please

Subject: RE: Top 10 fiddle tunes please
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 01:51 PM

Malcolm gives sage advice because there are no top 10.
If your interest is Celtic/Scottish Cape Breton is where to look.
   You will find many tunes here:

http://www.cranfordpub.com/tunes/sample_tunes.htm

Subject: RE: Top 10 fiddle tunes please
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 01:30 PM

. . . and Bacca Pipes.

Subject: RE: Top 10 fiddle tunes please
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 01:28 PM

First 10

Glorishears
Rusty Gulley
Mr Isaac's Maggot
Highland Mary
Scan Tester's Country Stepdance
Walter Bulwer's No 2
Iron Legs
Cheshire/Shropshire Rounds
Sir Sidney Smith's March
Kempshott Hunt

Second 10

Michael Turner's Waltz
Maiden Lane
Princess Royal
Old Tom Of Oxford
Stoney Steps Hornpipe
Peacock Followed The Hen
Sweet Jenny Jones
Banks Of The Dee
Jon O'Grouts (Jon Brenner)
Horses Never Smile (Jackie Oates)

All English/All Trad (except where indicated)

Subject: RE: Top 10 fiddle tunes please
From: GUEST,Laz
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 08:53 AM

I'm not a player but love to hear the 'Morpeth Rant' played on the fiddle. Goes well with 'Soldiers Joy'.

Subject: RE: Top 10 fiddle tunes please
From: Sorcha
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 08:48 AM

Uh, yes, Pauline. That's why it's called the Fiddler's Fake Book.

Subject: RE: Top 10 fiddle tunes please
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 08:35 AM

There are some suggestions for English and Irish session tunes in the uk.music.folk FAQ

Subject: RE: Top 10 fiddle tunes please
From: Effsee
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 08:31 AM

I was asked to conduct a wee survey amongst the members of the regular session her in Thurso in the very far north of Scotland.
These are the two lists of choices I still have.

Fiddler one.
Barrowburn Reel
John Keith Lang
Jenny dang the weaver
The high road to Linton
The High Drive
Jig of slurs
Rory MacLeod
Calliope House
Donald MacLean's farewell to Oban
Father John MacMillan of Barra

Fiddler two.
Barrowburn Reel
Merry blacksmith
Spootiskerry
The lark in the morning
The ten penny bit
The Conundrum
The Banshee
The high road to Linton
The silver spear

Subject: RE: Top 10 fiddle tunes please
From: Jack Campin
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 08:17 AM

I have an ABC file of 40 basic Scottish tunes on my website - http://www.purr.demon.co.uk/jack/ . The idea is that they are all tunes you can guarantee somebody in any Scottish tune session will know.

Subject: RE: Top 10 fiddle tunes please
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 06:07 AM

Many thanks this is excellent. I like the idea of beginner leading to intermediate etc. The fiddle player who asked the question is a competent classical violinist in the UK who wishes to delve into the world of folk fiddle. At the moment they are interested to learn and play in all styles and traditions.
Thanks again and please keep your ideas coming

Subject: RE: Top 10 fiddle tunes please
From: Nick
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 05:43 AM

Calliope House
Out on the Ocean
Galway Hornpipe
Floating to Skerry
Canyon Moonrise
Ashokan Farewell
Neil Gow's Lament for his second wife
Arran Boat
Road to Lisdoonvarna
Lanigan's Ball

Subject: RE: Top 10 fiddle tunes please
From: Pauline L
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 03:07 AM

I have a more fundamental question? What the hell is meant by "fiddle tune"? I play fiddle, and I think that every tune I play (except Beethoven, etc.) could be considered a fiddle tune. When a banjo player asks me what fiddle tunes I like to play, I have no idea how to answer him. Is every tune in the Fiddler's Fake Book considered a fiddle tune?

Subject: RE: Top 10 fiddle tunes please
From: Mooh
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 07:21 PM

Anything from the Fiddler's Fake Book (Oak Publications) might be suitable.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Top 10 fiddle tunes please
From: Sorcha
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 06:25 PM

Oh, yes, Sorry Malcolm!! I also forgot Stephen Foster. Most all of his are pretty easy and very well known. Also, check out American Civil War songs.

I know a banjo player in Wyoming who knows hundreds of tunes. While on vacation he met a banjo player from Arkansas who also knew hundreds of tunes. They had 3 tunes in common.

Of course, the Wyoming one plays tenor banjo tuned like a guitar with a plectrum. The Arkansas one plays open back mountain banjo frailing style.

Subject: RE: Top 10 fiddle tunes please
From: GUEST,Cruiser
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 06:15 PM

Again, Sorcha, excellent additions. You would enjoy those tunes you said you did not know. Also I cannot spell...that should have been:

My Home's Across the Smokey Mountains

Mr. Douglas gave the suggestion on style and location.

Subject: RE: Top 10 fiddle tunes please
From: Sorcha
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 05:59 PM

IMO, both Billy and Red Haired are more for Intermediate at least. Billy IS a good tune to learn to play on the low strings
Red Haired Boy can be tough if you have trouble with the hornpipe rhythm. I can do long/short (hornpipe) but I can't do short/long (scotch snap)

Beginner:
Old Joe Clark
Cripple Creek
Boil/Bile Them Cabbage Down
Cluck Old Hen
Golden Slippers without ornaments
Angeline the Baker
Swallowtail Jig, no ornaments
Amazing Grace
Star of the County Down
When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Darling Nelly Gray

Intermediate:
Gal I Left Behind/Brighton Camp
Soldiers Joy
Arkansas Traveller
Harvest Home
Road to Lisdoonvarna with some ornaments
Chinese Breakdown
Over the Waterfall
Westphalia Waltz
Rakes of Mallow, or this could be Beginner
Jesse James

Now, my comments on Cruisers' List:
NOTE! This is just MY opinions on his suggestions!!!


Cripple Creek--OK, see above
Old Joe Clark--OK, see above
Red River Valley-Good Beginner
Filimiooriay--don't know it, no opinion
Rig A Jig Jig-Same
Flop-Eared Mule--Intermediate, the schottische rhythm can be diff.
Old Rosin, The Beau--I'd say Intermediate because of the 'snap'
Crossing Over To Ireland--don't know it
Home on the Range-Easy
Black-Eyed Susie--don't know it, at least under this title
Crawdad--Fairly easy
Bowling Green--don't know it
Cumberland Gap--Easy, good vocal for beginners
Fly Around My Blue-Eyed Girl--OK, but just keep it slow
More Pretty Girls Than One--don't know it
Ground Hog--I see this as more Talkin Blues, not a lot of melody
My Home's Across The Somky Mountains--don't know it
Sail Away, Ladies--Intermediate
Sally Ann--Depends on which one!! (smile)
Red Apple Juice-OK, as are most of the modal tunes
Sally Goodin--This one is VERY diff for ME...just can't get it
Sourwood Mountain--OK
The Wabash Cannonball--Easy, good for learning double stops
Salty Dog--Easy
Nine Hundred Miles--Is this same as 500 Miles? That is easy
Arkansas Traveler--Just watch the speed and ornaments
The Gal I Left Behind Me--see my list
Mountain Dew--Good for double stops, also, Do Lord
The Irish Washerwoman--Intermediate, also watch the speed
Garryowen--rhythm is a bugger all, IMO
Turkey In the Straw (ol' Zip Coon)--Watch the speed. Good for double   
    stops, wants to be fast
Ragtime Annie--The rag rhythm can be diff, B part is fairly easy

So many tunes, so little time. Another very good book is the Fiddlers Fake Book by David Brody. Gives optional ornaments, several settings, discography and it used to come with an optional CD, I think.

Not intending to offend anyone, but we all have different opinions on what is 'easy' or 'common/popular'. Cruiser is correct that location and style are big considerations.

Subject: RE: Top 10 fiddle tunes please
From: Cruiser
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 05:40 PM

pdq,

Excellent additions. There are just so many tunes, endless really, that are neat to play on the fiddle.

I forgot to add Cajun tunes so someone can add those.

Subject: RE: Top 10 fiddle tunes please
From: pdq
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 05:33 PM

Add "Billy In The Low Ground" and "Red Haired Boy".

Subject: RE: Top 10 fiddle tunes please
From: Cruiser
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 05:26 PM

There is a book called Kidfiddle by Jerry Silverman (Mel Bay) that may still be in print. The cassette tape is out of print, unfortunately since it added greatly to learning.

There are 46 Easy Folk Songs any young fiddler will love to play. My favorites that give the student the chance to learn to play in all the basic keys are:

Cripple Creek
Old Joe Clark
Red River Valley
Filimiooriay
Rig A Jig Jig
Flop-Eared Mule
Old Rosin, The Beau
Crossing Over To Ireland
Home on the Range
Black-Eyed Susie
Crawdad
Bowling Green
Cumberland Gap
Fly Around My Blue-Eyed Girl
More Pretty Girls Than One
Ground Hog
My Home's Across The Somky Mountains
Sail Away, Ladies
Sally Ann
Red Apple Juice
Sally Goodin
Sourwood Mountain
The Wabash Cannonball
Salty Dog
Nine Hundred Miles
Arkansas Traveler
The Gal I Left Behind Me
Mountain Dew
The Irish Washerwoman
Garryowen
Turkey In the Straw (ol' Zip Coon)
Ragtime Annie

There are many more...you pick 10, I cannot.

This is a delightful little book any beginning fiddler, old or young, will treasure.

Subject: RE: Top 10 fiddle tunes please
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 05:12 PM

To an extent that would depend on where in the world that young fiddle player lives, and what kind of fiddle music he or she is interested in playing. There are many styles and traditions, after all, so it would probably help to narrow it down a bit.

Subject: Top 10 fiddle tunes help
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 04:58 PM

If you were to learn or recommend your top 10 favourite fiddle tunes what would they be please?
This will be very helpful to a young fiddle player who has recently asked me the very same question.
Thanks in advance