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Thread: Christmas Gift Recommendations?

  1. #1

    Default Christmas Gift Recommendations?

    Hi all,

    My boyfriend is an intermediate mandolin/fiddle player with a background in bluegrass. Lately, he's really been enjoying playing more traditional Irish folk music. I would like to give him a book of Celtic or European folk music for Christmas. Any suggestions?

    Thanks!

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Christmas Gift Recommendations?

    I can't recommend a gift book for Celtic but I did just notice this music book promotion from Elderly's:

    Elderly's Book and CD sale

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  4. #3
    Registered User Randi Gormley's Avatar
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    Default Re: Christmas Gift Recommendations?

    check out the comhaltas website, they have music suggestions, videos, all sorts of stuff that he might find interesting. not to mention they put out books of session tunes that a lot of people use.
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    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: Christmas Gift Recommendations?

    In no particular order:

    Irish Traditional Fiddle Music (editors Miller and Perron)
    O'Neills Music of Ireland
    Irish Session Tunes (Ceolta Seisiuin na hEireann) (orange book and blue book)
    Fionn Seissiun (volumes 1, 2, & 3)
    The Fiddle Music of the Scottish Highlands Ceol Na Fidhle (volumes 1 though 6)
    William Marshall's Scottish Melodies (edited by Randy Miller)

    And this list is not comprehensive. There are others.
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    Registered User foldedpath's Avatar
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    Default Re: Christmas Gift Recommendations?

    If your boyfriend reads sheet music, I think the "Smoke in Your Eyes" book by Kevin Gow (otherwise known as the Seattle Session tune book) is still in print and available from Sweetheart Flutes. It's a bit closer to how tunes are played in sessions than some of the classic sources like O'Neill's.

    It's not a tune book, but I'd also recommend Barry Foy's "A Field Guide to the Irish Music Session" as a (partially) tongue-in-cheek insight into the Irish session scene. It's a fun read for anyone new to the music, who might want to get out there and play it with others.

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  10. #6
    Registered User Mike Snyder's Avatar
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    Default Re: Christmas Gift Recommendations?

    Portland Collection, 1,2, or 3. Or all of them, if he's been very good.
    Mike Snyder

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  12. #7

    Default Re: Christmas Gift Recommendations?

    Thank you all! I really appreciate you taking the time to respond, and I'll definitely look into your suggestions!

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    Default Re: Christmas Gift Recommendations?

    Here's a couple we use locally Dave Mallinsosn's English Pub Session Tunes -despite the name there's a lot of Irish in there, so uou get a bit of a 'toofer'

    I actually prefer Nick Barbers English Choice. a wider variety of tunes, but less Irish.

    In both of the above I think the 'English' refers to the pub as much as the origin of the tunes Flowery hat and bells on your trousers are optional.

    Maybe combine Nicks book with one of the other recommendations.

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    Default Re: Christmas Gift Recommendations?

    John McGann's octave mandolin book is excellent. It's not so much an instruction book as a collection of songs demonstrating lead and rhythm techniques common to the genre. I play the songs on mandolin (esp the melodies) more often than I do on OM. Comes with a CD.
    Chuck

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    Default Re: Christmas Gift Recommendations?

    Two books I have found very useful are:
    100 Essential Irish Session Tunes
    100 Enduring Irish Session tunes

    both edited by Dave Mallinson

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  19. #11
    Registered User CelticDude's Avatar
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    Default Re: Christmas Gift Recommendations?

    Mel Bay's Irish Session Tune Book is what the Connecticut Academy of Irish Music recommends. I've looked through it, and it looks pretty good, with all the standard tunes and then some.

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