This week's winner is Farewell to Whiskey (Scottish Air) Be sure to go to www.thesession.org to read all about this tune. On the sessions, it is being called a polka, but there is some discussion about the. This is another Niel Gow tune. Here is the ABC from www.thesession.org X: 1 T: Farewell To Whisky M: 2/4 L: 1/8 R: polka K: Gmaj |:EGG/2B/2A/2G/2|BEEG/2E/2|DGB/2A/2G/2A/2|d2Bd| e/2f/2g/2e/2dB|c/2B/2A/2G/2AB|DGB/2A/2G/2A/2|BGG2:| |:dB/2d/2gf/2g/2|e/2f/2g/2e/2dB|dB/2d/2gf/2g/2|efg2| e/2f/2g/2e/2dB|c/2B/2A/2G/2AB|DGB/2A/2G/2A/2|BGG2:|| Here is Nigel Gatherer's take on it However, I encourage you to search around and see if you can find other versions.
Good choice.
Farewell to whiskey???? That is ANATHEMA.
I do believe even Gow found it anathema, as he subsequently wrote "Return of Whiskey". Live and learn...
Hi folks! I'm new to the Song a Week Social Group and am a older beginner. Any thoughts on good tunes to start with? I really love celtic music.
It appears you couldn't have joined on a better week then. This tune is pretty straightforward and definitely Celtic. Welcome.
I like the sound quality of my multitracked tunes so much better than my webcam videos so here's Farewell to Whiskey with photos of whiskey, Neil Gow, Blair Atholl and Scotland.
This is heady stuff, David. In every sense of the word.
Beautifully played David and a cracking videologue to go with it.....
My version comes from the Merlin Music Session Book Four http://www.merlin-music.com/tunebooks.htm . As you may notice, I got a red hat!
David and Tosh, very very nice! Tosh, what instrument are you playing?
Thanks Barbara, the instrument is a Paul Shippey Cherry Model, which I got second hand although in great condition. I love Paul's work and he is currently building me a 10 string with a Black Top finish. It's not too far off, going through the lacquering and staining process, so I'm looking forward to picking it up in a month or so.... http://www.paulshippey.co.uk/index.htm
Those are both lovely guys! David - everything about that video was just so much better than any of the other versions I managed to find on YouTube the other day - brilliant all round! John.
Wow David, knees at 1:40! What peaceful renditions, all. Oh man, so hard to resist a Neill Gow air... Must! Not! Print! Notation!
Not to worry Bertram, it's ok those are Eddie's knees. He's wearing a disguise.
Some lovely versions already, folks. Tried it as a slow tune then as a faster one and could not decide which to go for, so combined them - two for the price of one or buy one get one free!
I like both John. The O.M. sounds great.
Great stuff John, as Jim says both are great. Interestingly enough, I was checking Dagger Gordons book out tonight and there is a version in there in B flat! That is a tough key.....
John, that's a comforting two-part story you're telling: Part 1: Whisky is gone Part 2: Whisky returns!
Thanks all for comments. Jim, my octave is now 4 years old - I built in in April 06 - and the sound has been maturing nicely. Bertram, there was indeed the thought of brightening up the mood in the second part, and Tosh, stick a capo on at the first fret and play in A if you do not want to get into the complexities of Bb on the mandolin. Just a thought! Niel Gow did write some really great music which we are lucky enough to have inherited, including this lament for the failure of the barley crop in 1799 which led to the non-distilling of whisky that year.
The story of my life... Whiskey you're the devil, You've led me astray. Over hills and mountains and to Americay.
I like the ornamentation everyone's adding to this one. It's interesting how many variations there are on this melody.
John, I love the second faster version! Sounds great
Thanks, Kyle. The slow first version prepares the way for the move to the faster one. It is all in the anticipation of what is to come! When you remove the stopper from the bottle and have that first wee dram there is a lightening of the spirits (no pun intended!). As the golden nectar goes down you can truly say farewell to whisky!
With new strings on the OM and a bottle for support, I thought I might give it a try. However, it is more of a "Whisky Forever" anthem, but not meant to be a commercial It is true, the version from thesession.org is to be taken with a grain of salt. I play it rather like this: X: 1 T: Farewell To Whisky M: 4/4 L: 1/4 R: air K: Gmaj |:DGG/2B/2A/2G/2|BEEG/2E/2|DGB/2A/2G/2B/2|d2Bd| e/2f/2g/2e/2dB|c/2B/2A/2G/2AB|DGB/2A/2G/2A/2|BGG2:| |:dB/2d/2gf/2g/2|e/2f/2g/2e/2dB|dB/2d/2gf/2g/2|efg2| e/2f/2g/2e/2dB|c/2B/2A/2G/2AB|DGB/2A/2G/2A/2|BGG2:||
Good one, Bertram. Here's my version in GDGD tuning--how else could I play it? Played on a Gilchrist Model 1. I'm using my new H2 as a mic/interface so I can back up from the laptop and you don't hear the fan so much.
Don, that was great! A plus with your new recording set up, we get to see your face too!
Brilliant Don, and the CD is fantastic too, I love it. You inspired me to spend money!!!! I went to Trevor's emporium down in Brighton today and bought a Weber Gallatin Mandocello......it's beautiful. Now I have to learn how to play it!!!!
Barbara, I'm not sure that's a plus. But I did try to smile at the end. Tosh, congrats on the cello! Glad you liked the Hillbilly Chamber Music I just uploaded a live bluegrass album too if you like that kind of music. Sons Of Others at the El Morro Old School Gallery 03/13/10
Hi Don, I got the email re the bluegrass music and will go there in a mo.....got to give Eddie some credit for the 'cello inspiration too !!!!! Don, that is one awesome bluegrass album......great band you have there......
Congrats on the 'cello Tosh. Great music Don, I d/l it this morning
Here is my first attempt at playing for the camera. And I thought playing for people was hard!
Good one Tom! Recording will get easier with time as the camera's cold eye shrinks to a plastic aquarium of electrons. Clean tone and great volume. Say, is that a pink mandolin top?
It's a Kenducky 162 (honey amber finish). I'll mess with my lighting on future posts. I got this mando a year ago after becoming increasingly dissatisfied with playing the guitar. So, one year later, here I am. I'm beginning the research and try out phase as I save for a new instrument. Any suggestions?
This is one of the first tunes I ever learned. But, it was taught to me as more of a march than an Air. I couldn't understand why saying goodbye to whiskey shoould be so happy.
Fortunately I learned from all of you that it truely is a sad tune. Istill play it a little fast. Gary
Since Gary did such a nice job on this one and it was one of the first tunes I learned on mandolin, I thought I'd give it a go. I learned this from a "Beginning Mandolin" instructional DVD. It was taught to be played at 220 bpm, so I thought it was a bluegrass tune. It's taken me three years to get it to this speed, and I still can't get all the notes right. I've got my metronome playing in the background to keep me on pace. Jim
Very nice Jim. Seems that we learned from the same place. Your new mandolin sounds like it just wants to bust loose with sound. I bet after you play it for weeks, months, years it's going to open up to something amazing. Gary
It was not so fast on the octar, Gary, and at least you let it end in a blue chord Jim, you are the one who really makes it a happy teetotaler's march - which might not be what the composer had in mind, but it's funny anyway.
Theme song for the “Malt Whisky Group.” Thanks to all for your good examples. My effort here is heavily influenced (as in stolen) from John Kelly and Marla Fibish. Barbara - Thanks for the tip on getting more viewable screen.
Great version. Yes, I can hear the Kelly/Fibish a bit .... very, very nice.
Mike, thanks for the by-line! Your version has a lot of lift in it and I like your ornamentations.
Loretta, John - I’m glad you enjoyed this one. I appreciated your comments. Thanks.
Nice jaunty pickin' Mike.
O'Neill's Music of Ireland version of Farewell to Whiskey.
I heard this melody for the first time last week, and it was just too pretty not to learn. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAfqR2DVfDE
That's a really nice duet, I enjoyed it very much.
Always fun to watch you two. Greg [GHall] Hall and his daughter MandoGirl 88. [edited]
Thanks, again, GKWilson It's actually Greg and my daughter's name is Libby Really appreciate your kind comments. Learning to play music with my daughter has been a really awesome experience, and now my son is getting into it. We're havin' a blast! So happy to have found the Cafe, too. When I first got bit by the mandolin bug four years ago, I had no idea there were so many others - I thought I was the only one
Great stuff- Libby is a star on guitar and mandolin