Session Report, June 23, 2007

We started the afternoon with a master class given by whistle player Tony Higgins. The early part focused on the musicality of the whistle, beyond technique.

Tony uses GoldWave software to study recordings. He recommended taking a tune and slowing it down so that you can hear the myriad of ornamentation applied by the masters.

Musicians
Jaya-whistle and bodhran
Tony-whistle
Scott-whistle and mandolin
Teri-whistle
Suzanne-bodhran
Bo-whistle
Linda-fiddle
Sharon-fiddle
Chris-bodhran
Dan-octave mandolin, guitar, fiddle

Tunes (in order)
Many other tunes were played but not listed.

King of the Fairies
Cristy Berry's Set
Kid on the Mountain
Flowing Tide
Fisher's Hornpipe / Galway Hornpipe / Delmonte Hornpipe
Britches Full of Stitches / . . . /Ballydesmond Polkas
Bank of Turf
. . . / . . . / Dennis Murphy's / . . . Shannon Bells
Home Ruler
Cook in the Kitchen
Take My Hand (Give me your Hand) [from The Chieftain's 5]
Rose in the Heather
Cliffs of Mohr
Terry Bingham's
Maids of Mounty Kisko
Mist Covered Mountains (jig)
Pull the Knife Out and Stick It In Again (Tony told the story of the name.)
Whistling Postman
Willie Colleman's
Up In The Air
Smash the Windows
Trip to Durrow
Tony's Song on an A whistle
The J.B. Reel
Calliope House
Bobby Casey's Hornpipe a.k.a. Porthole of the Kelp
Illean Kern / Catharsis / Reconciliation
Blarney Pilgrim / Kerflunken / . . . / The Bucks of Oranmore
Garret Barry / Greg Fratis the Handyman / The Works All Done
Peacocks Feathers (second setting)
Boys of Blue Hill
Peacocks Feathers (first setting)
George White's Fancy
Silver Spire / Silver Spear
Cup of Tea
Woman of the House
Sweeny's Buttermilk ("Hardest tune I know." Tony Higgins)
White Petticoat (must learn this sweet tune)
Frieze Breeches
Humours of Ballyloughlan
I Ne'er Shall Wean Her
The Choice Wife
King of the Pipers
The Monigue Jig
Dunmore Lasses