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A halloween party tune, I have another one for a few weeks time, but this is to get the ball rolling
Its a tune by Horslips from the book of invasions which I mentioned to Emily in another thread, its about the fairy folk in Ireland which gave birth to all the legends of Banshees and everything else to do with the underworld.
Cant beat a sunny day
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@stringy -
VERY NICE!
Wow, unexpectedly solemn - I enjoyed listening!
Also, I looked up the lyrics to "Sideways to The Sun" (paints a poignant picture, like you described).
Know it's too hard to sing with a fiddle under chin. When I think of all the wonderful songs I hear, I entertain the idea of a little call & response... but nope, I'm not going there.
...have you tried playing Horslips' Mad Pat?
Thanks for starting this year's Halloween Party! 🎃
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Thanks for the comment and taking a look Emily. It is a great tune iisnt it. The lyrics and tune by Horslips are excellent.
Not tried mad pat, I will take a look at that one, I had been messing about with this one for a while, but I do have another for later in the party. Bit more traditional though and I may do some kind of vid with it but the weather for filming anything over here has now gone very bad, (been terrible all summer) so filming outside might be difficult, but gives something to do anyway. 
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That was really nice. So much feeling in it. Thanks.
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stringy
Well played, as usual, good tune, I was unaware of.
Thanks for introducing it.
Mark
Master the Frog and you have mastered the bow.
Albert Sammons
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well done @stringy ! I enjoyed watching and seeing what people can play for this party!
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Thanks mouse Mark And a bitrusty.
This was just to start it off. I came across an absolute cracker of a tune yesterday that I had never even heard of before so I have been working on that one today, just hope no one does it it would be just my luck. I am now dedicating 99 percent of my playing time to trad tunes, rather than grinding through classical ones.
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@stringy lovely tune, and great playing!
I be joining the party—just won’t be until after the 18th or so—but I’ll get in before Halloween!
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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Thanks sharon, been away for a bit, got back for two days and have to go to london tomorrow
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Had a bit of time today so just learned this new one, bit rough but I have only run through it a couple of times, I had never heard it before. The middle part is phenomenally tricky so you will have to forgive that. This is the oldest tune I have ever done and has amazing history which I will put below the vid.
When I iron out the roughs I may do this again with the leccy fiddle and reverb.
The witches reel.
The Witches’ Reel is a song from 1591 and the North Berwick Witch Trials during the reign of King James VI of Scotland. The words came from the transcripts of one of the trials in connection with a plot by Francis Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, and others to kill the king. It is the first written record of a reel in Scotland
Cummer gae ye afore, cummer gae ye,
Gin ye winna gae, cummer let me,
Ring-a-ring-a-widdershins
Linkin lithely widdershins,
Cummers carlin cron and queyn
Roun gae we.
Cummer go ye before, cummer go ye
Gif ye willna go before, cummer let me
Ring-a-ring-a-widdershins
Loupin’ lightly widdershins
Kilted coats and fleein’ hair
Three times three
Cummer go ye before, cummer go ye
Gif ye willna go before, cummer let me
Ring-a-ring-a-widdershins
Whirlin’ skirlin’ widdershins
De’il tak the hindmost
Wha’er she be
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Love that.
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Thanks mouse, 
Cant beat a sunny day
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@stringy -
I LOVE this version - GREAT playing! 🤗
Felt like I heard this before, went back to early in my bookmarks to find Joshua Rex did a video of this version (his 174th Fiddle Tune-a-day), but had forgotten about it - pretty sure it was too early in my learning to try back then.
Anyway, I've been playing 'The Warlocks Strathspey' - it's usually followed by the Witches reel, but I haven't liked the versions usually played... think yours fits MUCH better! THANK YOU for sharing this!
Very cool about the history of this reel... amazing the song is traced back to 1591, but I usually find it sung more like a chant, so I'm wondering if anyone really knows what the original tune was used along with the lyrics. The lyrics tell how this particular reel is danced. Unwinding the Witches’ Reel: History, Lyrics, and Meaning talks of this chant being set to 'gyllatripes', but I can't find any explanation for what this music is!
I believe 'linkin lithely' refers to 'linked hands/dancing lightly'. 'Widdersins' is 'counterclockwise', there's a whole superstition around it... and a Scottish Country Dance - "Widdershins (Martlew)". Info about both at Scottish Country Dance of The Day.
I'm interested in Witches (strictly as 'folklore') & a few weeks ago I watched National Geographic's, "Witches - Truth Behind The Trials". There are 6 episodes (that I know of), 'Salem' history I grew up with, but learned about the earlier Germany/Scotland/England/Sweden & Ireland trials. Much I was familiar with, the one that surprised me was Sweden. Interesting timeline at the companion website for Brian P. Levack's books on Witchcraft & Trials.
Really appreciate you're keeping up the enthusiasm... have to get back to Birthday party prep for my youngest Grandson this coming weekend, then maybe I can relax & try to record a few tunes. 🤞
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Thanks for the comments and taking a look Emily. I came across this one purely by chance, I am very interested in folklore as well, and was browsing the web, I got the music for this from the same site as the history of it. The earl of bothwell was involved in the witches plot apparently.
I will be honest, most of the language they used is beyond me, you know more than I do about that, but I did listen to a few gaelic, scots gaelic that is, versions and songs of tis tune and was a bit baffled because they are completely different to this one, excellent tunes themselves.
Heard about the Warlocks tune you mentioned but havent given that one a listen yet.
I have had a time off from playing for over a week, I have been away, but I think its done me some good, I was getting very fed up to be truthful, but I couldnt wait to get back into it.
I hope you do get some time to get something together I enjoy your playing and its been some time, but then again it can be difficult to find the time, especially with grand kids, hope the party goes well, and there is enough cake to go round;)
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@stringy I have not forgotten this. I have been a bit busy, but I think there might be a song that is appropriate for Halloween in my cello book, not positive. I will have to learn it. I will have to do audio only, if i can get it right, I have issues with videos. If the cello song I am of is too hard to learn, I will do a violin, anything I do on violin is scary and sounds scary, right now! 😂
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@stringy -
Sorry, think I edited my post too late with a link to history you may not have seen - I found it interesting.
So much wonderful music has been inspired by folklore, superstitions, and unfortunately horrid tragedies... from all over the World!
I think there's a curse on the fiddle... seems a long, treacherous, journey to unravel it's secrets & break it (the curse, not the fiddle). 🎃
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hi @stringy... hope this will work for a party vid. Best i can do right now.
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@ABitRusty That was so fun!
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