Jewels of the Ocean

Jewels of the Ocean by Allan MacDonald

Stuck on a Log

Andy Reiner of Tuneswappers wrote and taught me this cool old-timeyish crooked tune in 3.

Valse des Poêles (100th Tune!)

Today I learned a beautiful waltz written by Simon Riopel, a quebecois fiddler.

Corsican Waltz

Sometimes things get a little weird around here. Today I learned a Corsican waltz from a Venezuelan violinist. So. That's odd, right? But I listened to lots of versions of this waltz. And I have to say, Eddy Marcano is a god of the violin and his was the best.

Vals Etter Ingebrigt Djupdal

Yeah I have no CLUE how to say the name of this tune. Norwegian speakers? I'm sorry. Anyway, I learned this off a new-ish (2008) album I just found by John Ole Morken. It's beautiful mostly solo fiddle playing tunes from around Hessdalen, Haltdalen, and Islands. I think. The name of the album is "Slåtter Fra Hessdalen, Haltdalen Og Ålen" and it's on Amazon. It got nominated for a grammy and it's definitely worth the $9.

The Wave Sweeper

In between bowls of noodles, (I'm carb loading.  Not because I want to.  Tomorrow I may die in a half-marathon) I learned a crazy composition by the whistle player/piper John McSherry. It's in that new genre that uber trad people probably can't stand... like a pop Celtic, or new Celtic. Neltic. Jazzy Irish. Jirish. Okay I should stop. Anyway, it's full of syncopation, which, if you listen to his recording, is emphasized even more by his back up rhythm section. Super cool. 

La Bétaille

I'm sure this word means something, but I'm not sure what.  The full name of this tune is "La Bétaille dans le 'tit arbre" (the ---- in the little tree.)  What the ---- is I'm not sure.

Wade's Waltz

Confession: I watch Discovery's Swamp People.  It's about alligator fishermen in Louisiana and Florida.  It's everything you want it to be: alligators, drama, danger, that smooth Cajun accent (ça c'est bon!), and lots of gumbo and fried frogs.  But there's one big problem that drives me crazy in every episode.  The opening and closing credits are backed by a fiddler who's playing KENTUCKY old-time style.  Oooh, it makes my blood boil. *