Donegal Fiddle Styles
In this course, Aidan passes down the skills, knowledge and repertoire from the great Donegal fiddlers to the fiddle students of OAIM. All the tunes taught are firmly rooted in the Donegal tradition; stalwarts such as 'The Glen Road to Carrick', 'Bundle and Go', 'The Cat that Kittled in Jamie's Wig' and 'Séan sa Cheo' feature amongst others. The fiddling and musical legacy of the Dohertys, the McConnells, James Byrne, Francie Dearg O'Beirn, Con Cassidy, Vincent Campbell and Danny Meehan are frequently referred to throughout Aidan's thirteen tutorials. Bowing techniques feature prominently - the use of the up-bow, tight bowing, open and closed triplets and cranns. Various droning techniques are also taught - the use of finger drones, octave drones and double stops, This is all rounded off with teachings on position playing, octave playing and finger plucking! This course is a 'must' for any student interested in the fiddle styles of Donegal or advanced Irish fiddle techniques.
James Byrne's Reel
In this introductory lesson to the course 'Donegal Fiddle Styles', Aidan teaches James Byrne's Reel, with focus on the bow hand and the 'up-bow' technique.
The Jig 'Bundle and Go' is taught by Aidan in this lesson. He will continue his study of the bow hand and the 'up-bow' technique.
In this lesson, the tune 'The Glen Road to Carrick will be taught. Aidan will be introducing two types of triplets - the 'open' and 'closed'.
Aidan will teach the tune 'The Teelin Highland' in this lesson. He will continue with his study of triplet playing with an introduction to the half triplet.
In this lesson the Highland 'The Cat that Kittled in Jamies Wig' will be taught. This tune provides a great opportunity to practice tight bowing!
Aidan will teach the well known reel 'Séan sa Cheo' in this lesson. He will introduce the technique of position playing in the teaching of the tune.
The tune 'Bean an Tí Ar Lar' will feature in this lesson. Aidan will use this tune to demonstrate finger drones.
In this lesson, Aidan will teach the tune 'The Glasha Highland'. He will use this tune to discuss the concept of octave-playing.
'Mickey Doherty's Reel' is the tune taught in this lesson. Cranns will be the focus of this class; Aidan will demonstrate the difference between melodic and percussive cranns.
In this lesson 'The Low Level Hornpipe' will be taught in the key of B♭. major.
In this lesson 'Alec McConnell's Waltz' will be taught. Aidan will continue his study of bow control and will also show how to incorporate 'plucking' into the tune.
In this lesson 'Danny Meehan's Reel' will be taught. Aidan will introduce the concept of octave droning in the tune.
This lesson will feature the jig 'Trip to the Cottage'. Aidan will focus on the rhythmic effects of double-stopping in this tutorial.
- James Byrne's Reel
- Bundle and Go
- The Glen Road to Carrick
- The Teelin Highland
- The Cat that Kittled in Jamies Wig
- Sean se Cheo
- Bean an Tí Ar Lar
- Glasha Highland
- Mickey Doherty's
- The Low Level
- Alec McConell's Waltz
- Danny Meehan's Reel
- Trip to the Cottage
Tutor Info
Aidan O'Donnell
TG4 Young Musician of the Year 2010 Aidan O'Donnell has been described as one of the finest young Irish musicians at present. He began his music making at the age of 12, and since then has performed with some of traditional music's finest artists, including Donal Lunny, Micheal Ó' Suilleabháin and the Chieftains. In 2007, he won the prestigious ‘Oireachtas na Geailge' fiddle title, and has been a regular tutor at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, at the University of Limerick for the past number of years......[Read More]
