Note, Cut and Strike Detection for Traditional Irish Flute Recordings

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Note, Cut and Strike Detection for Traditional Irish Flute Recordings Technological University Dublin ARROW@TU Dublin 6th International Workshop on Folk Music Papers Analysis, 15-17 June, 2016 2016-6 Note, Cut and Strike Detection for Traditional Irish Flute Recordings Islah Ali-MacLachlan Birmingham City University, [email protected] Maciej Tomczak Birmingham City University, [email protected] Carl Southall Birmingham City University, [email protected] See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://arrow.tudublin.ie/fema Part of the Musicology Commons Recommended Citation Ali-MacLachlan, I., Tomczak, M., Southall, C., Hockman, J. (2016). Note, cut and strike detection for traditional Irish flute ecorr dings.6th International Workshop on Folk Music Analysis, Dublin, 15-17 June, 2016. This Conference Paper is brought to you for free and open access by the 6th International Workshop on Folk Music Analysis, 15-17 June, 2016 at ARROW@TU Dublin. It has been accepted for inclusion in Papers by an authorized administrator of ARROW@TU Dublin. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License Authors Islah Ali-MacLachlan, Maciej Tomczak, Carl Southall, and Jason Hockman This conference paper is available at ARROW@TU Dublin: https://arrow.tudublin.ie/fema/12 FMA 2016 Workshop NOTE, CUT AND STRIKE DETECTION FOR TRADITIONAL IRISH FLUTE RECORDINGS Islah Ali-MacLachlan, Maciej Tomczak, Carl Southall, Jason Hockman DMT Lab, Birmingham City University islah.ali-maclachlan, maciej.tomczak, carl.southall, jason.hockman @bcu.ac.uk ABSTRACT =1/8 Note frequency This paper addresses the topic of note, cut and strike detection in frequency Irish traditional music (ITM). In order to do this we first evalu- time ate state of the art onset detection methods for identifying note cut strike time boundaries. Our method utilises the results from manually and automatically segmented flute recordings. We then demonstrate how this information may be utilised for the detection of notes and single note articulations idiomatic of this genre for the pur- poses of player style identification. Results for manually anno- tated onsets achieve 86%, 70% and 74% accuracies for note, cut and strike classification respectively. Results for automatically frequency segmented recordings are considerably, lower therefore we per- frequency form an analysis of the onset detection results per event class to time time establish which musical patterns contain the most errors. long roll short roll Figure 1: Frequency over time of cut and strike artic- ulations showing change of pitch. Long and short rolls 1. INTRODUCTION are also shown with pitch deviations (eighth note lengths shown for reference). 1.1 Background Irish Traditional Music (ITM) is a form of dance music played on a variety of traditional instruments including 1.2 Related work the flute. Within the tradition of ITM, players from dif- The approach undertaken in this paper utilises onset detec- ferent backgrounds are individuated based on their use of tion as a crucial first step in the identification of notes and techniques such as ornamentation, a key factor alongside ornaments. There are relatively few studies in the litera- melodic and rhythmic variation, phrasing and articulation ture that deal specifically with onset detection within ITM, in determining individual player style (McCullough, 1977; particularly with reference to the flute. Hast & Scott, 2004). Onsets were found by Gainza et al. (2004) using band- To automatically detect a player’s style in audio signals, specific thresholds in a technique similar to Scheirer a critical first step is to detect these notes and ornamenta- (1998) and Klapuri (1999). A decision tree was used to tion types. In this paper we evaluate both notes and single determine note, cut or strike based on duration and pitch. note ornaments known as cuts and strikes. Both ornaments Kelleher et al. (2005) used a similar system to analyse or- generate a pitch deviation: a cut is performed by quickly naments on the fiddle within Irish music, as bowed instru- lifting a finger from a tonehole then replacing it; a strike in- ments also produce slow onsets. volves momentarily covering the tonehole below the note K¨ok¨uer et al. (2014) also analysed flute recordings being played. We also analyse the cut and strike elements through the incorporation of three kinds of informationand of multi-note ornaments known as short roll and long roll. a fundamental frequency estimation method using the YIN Figure 1 shows the pitch deviation for cuts and strikes. algorithm by De Cheveign´e& Kawahara (2002). As in Long and short rolls are also displayed, showing the in- Gainza et al. (2004) a filterbank with fourteen bands opti- clusion of cut and strike figures. A long roll occupies the mised for the flute was used. More recently, Janˇcoviˇcet al. same duration as three eighth notes whereas a short roll is (2015) presented a method for transcription of ITM flute equivalent to two eighth notes. In practice, ITM follows a recordings with ornamentation using hidden Markov mod- swing rhythm—while there is a regular beat, swing follows els. an irregular rhythm and therefore each eighth-note section Unlike the above flute-specific methods, which rely on may not be of equal duration in normal playing (Schuller, signal processing based onset detection algorithms, state 1991). of the art generalised onset detection methods use proba- 30 FMA 2016 Workshop bilistic modelling. The number of onset detection meth- these are also important in class distinction. The change ods using neural networks has substantially risen since in timbre is caused by player’s fleeting finger motion as a Lacoste & Eck (2005). OnsetDetector by Eyben et al. tonehole is temporarily opened or closed. This results in a (2010) uses bidirectional long short-term memory neural unique timbre that differs from notes. For that purpose we networks, and performs well in a range of onset detection extract 13 Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs), tasks including solo wind instruments. excluding the first coefficient, and 12 chroma features fea- In this paper we perform an evaluation using several tures to accommodate for timbre and pitch changes in each modern onset detection algorithms and a dataset comprised of the articulations. of 79 real flute performances of ITM. We then demonstrate To extract features from the audio segments the input how this information may be utilised towards the determi- audio (mono WAV files) is down sampled to 11,025 Hz. nation of notes and single note ornamentations. Following the approach in Mauch & Dixon (2010) we cal- The remainder of this paper is structured as follows: culate the MFCC and chroma features using a Hanning Section 2 details the method of segmentation, feature ex- window of 1024 samples with 50% overlap. The extracted traction and classification. In Section 3 we discuss evalua- features are then normalised to the range [0,1] for every tions of a range of onset detection methods and classifica- corresponding feature type. Each audio segment is as- tion of notes, cuts and strikes. Results of the studies into signed to its class Ω (e.g. note). An n x 26 matrix FΩ is onset detection and ornament classification are presented created, where n represents the number of segments with in Section 4 and finally conclusions and further work are 26 features (i.e., MFCCs, chroma, durations). discussed in Section 5. Each FΩ segment appears in the context of musical pat- terns such as rolls, shakes or just consecutive notes in the recording. To account for the rhythmic, timbral and pitch 2. METHOD changes of each event type in the context of these patterns, Figure 2 shows an overview of the proposed method. We we concatenate the first derivatives of all features into ev- extract features from audio segments representing events ery FΩ segment. (notes, cuts, strikes) and propose an event type classifica- tion approach using the segmented event features. 2.2 Neural network classification For a fully automated method we use onset detection Audio segments are then classified into note, cut and strike for segmentation. Event features are then extracted from classes using a feed-forward neural network. inter-onset intervals (IOI). These features are used in a su- pervised learning algorithm to classify the segments as one of three distinct classes: notes, cuts and strikes. For onset input 1 2 3 detection, we attempt to use the top-performing algorithm w a1 w a2 w a3 output from the evaluation presented in Section 3.2, and in the fol- features lowing discuss only the remaining feature extraction and 1 2 3 classification stages. b b b Figure 3: Neural network architecture containing two hid- den layers a1 and a2, with weights w and biases b. Event Feature Extraction Event Classification notes The proposed neural network, shown in Figure 3, con- feature ornament segmentation cuts sists of two hidden layers containing 20 neurons each. extraction classification Back propagation is used to train the neural network, up- strikes dating the weights and biases iteratively using scaled con- jugate gradient of the output errors. A maximum iteration limit is set to 10,000 and the weights and biases are ini- Figure 2: Overview of the proposed classification method tialised with random non-zerovalues to ensure that training of notes, cuts and strikes in flute signals. The first phase commenced correctly. A validation set is used to prevent shows feature extraction from segmented audio events and over-fitting and cross entropy is used for the performance the second phase shows classification of the events. measure. The output for each layer of an L layered neural net- work can be calculated using: 2.1 Feature extraction (l) (l 1) l l a = fl(a − (t)W + b ), (1) In order to capture the differences between each event type where, al is the outputat layer l and W and b are the weight we extract features related to rhythm, timbre and pitch.
Recommended publications
  • The Commissioned Flute Choir Pieces Presented By
    THE COMMISSIONED FLUTE CHOIR PIECES PRESENTED BY UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE FLUTE CHOIRS AND NFA SPONSORED FLUTE CHOIRS AT NATIONAL FLUTE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONVENTIONS WITH A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FLUTE CHOIR AND ITS REPERTOIRE DOCUMENT Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Musical Arts in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Yoon Hee Kim Graduate Program in Music The Ohio State University 2013 D.M.A. Document Committee: Katherine Borst Jones, Advisor Dr. Russel C. Mikkelson Dr. Charles M. Atkinson Karen Pierson Copyright by Yoon Hee Kim 2013 Abstract The National Flute Association (NFA) sponsors a range of non-performance and performance competitions for performers of all ages. Non-performance competitions are: a Flute Choir Composition Competition, Graduate Research, and Newly Published Music. Performance competitions are: Young Artist Competition, High School Soloist Competition, Convention Performers Competition, Flute Choirs Competitions, Professional, Collegiate, High School, and Jazz Flute Big Band, and a Masterclass Competition. These competitions provide opportunities for flutists ranging from amateurs to professionals. University/college flute choirs perform original manuscripts, arrangements and transcriptions, as well as the commissioned pieces, frequently at conventions, thus expanding substantially the repertoire for flute choir. The purpose of my work is to document commissioned repertoire for flute choir, music for five or more flutes, presented by university/college flute choirs and NFA sponsored flute choirs at NFA annual conventions. Composer, title, premiere and publication information, conductor, performer and instrumentation will be included in an annotated bibliography format. A brief history of the flute choir and its repertoire, as well as a history of NFA-sponsored flute choir (1973–2012) will be included in this document.
    [Show full text]
  • Folk/Värld: Europa
    Kulturbibliotekets vinylsamling: Folk/Världsmusik: Europa Samlingar F 2269 ASIEN (s) Dances of the world's peoples vol. 4 (Grekland, Turkiet, Israel, Armenien ) F 2269 EUROPA (s) Dances of the world's peoples vol. 4 (Grekland, Turkiet, Israel, Armenien ) F 2269 GREKLAND (s) Dances of the world's peoples vol. 4 (Grekland, Turkiet, Israel, Armenien ) F 2270 Europa Dances of the world's people vol 1: Grekland, Rumänien, Bulgarien, Makedonien. Albanien F 4248 ALBANIEN (s) Folk music of Albania F 5837 ALBANIEN (s) Folkdanser från norra Albanien (Pllake me kenge dhe muzike shqiptare) F 5836 ALBANIEN (s) Folksånger från Albanien F 5835 ALBANIEN (s) Folksånger från Albanien F 5834 ALBANIEN (s) Folksånger från Albanien F 5838 ALBANIEN (s) Folksånger från mellersta Albanien F 5839 ALBANIEN (s) Folksånger från norra Albanien F 5833 ALBANIEN (s) Folksånger från norra Albanien F 5832 ALBANIEN (s) Folksånger från norra Albanien och Peshkopiatrakten F 5831 ALBANIEN (s) Kärlekssånger från mellersta Albanien F 5840 ALBANIEN (s) Nutida populära sånger med motiv från dagens Albanien F 5841 ALBANIEN (s) Nutida sånger med motiv från dagens Albanien F 5842 ALBANIEN (s) Populära sånger från dagens Albanien F 3784 ALBANIEN (s) Songs and dances of Albania (Orchestra of Radio Pristina) Armenien F 4853 ARMENIEN (s) Armenien (Armenie, Musique de tradition populaire) F 4784 ARMENIEN (s) Medeltida liturgisk sång från Armenien F 2269 ASIEN (s) Dances of the world's peoples vol. 4 (Grekland, Turkiet, Israel, Armenien ) F 2269 EUROPA (s) Dances of the world's peoples vol. 4 (Grekland, Turkiet, Israel, Armenien ) F 2269 GREKLAND (s) Dances of the world's peoples vol.
    [Show full text]
  • 11 Troskarilåtar
    11 TROSKARILÅTAR ARRANGERADE FÖR TVÅ SVENSKA SÄCKPIPOR I E/A Troskarispelmännen i Malung har lämnat många bra låtar efter sig, flest genom Troskari Erik Persson (1830-1922), men också (indirekt) genom hans bror Troskari Per (1813-1880) och Pers dotterson, Troskari Mats (1869-1972) som blev 102 år och lär ha spelat ända till slutet. Alla tre spelade fiol. Troskari Erik finns med i Olof Anderssons samling 'Svenska låtar' (Dalarna, Malung). Andersson tecknade ner 24 låter efter Erik 1907, efter att ha imponerats av hans "ålderdomliga spel" på spelmanstävlingen i Gesunda året före. Dessförinnan hade Einar Övergaard hälsat på, 1897, och tecknat ner 26 låtar till sin folkmusiksamling. Övergaard betraktade Erik som en av de absolut bästa spelmännen han hade träffat på under sina nedteckningsresor i landet. De flesta kända Troskarilåtar finns samlade på en skiva från 1994 med Kalle Almlöf och Anders Rosén, "Troskarilekar" (HURV KRCD-17). Skivan har också ett informativt spelhäfte, om både spelmännen och låtarna, på svenska och engelska. Många av Troskarilåtarna passar bra på säckpipa, och det är knappast en slump – de levde i säckpipstrakter, även om de själva spelade fiol. Jag har här samlat 11 av dessa låtar (två av dem i två versioner), lätt redigerade och anpassade för två svensk säckpipor i E/A. Andrastämmorna är bara förslag – det finns inga andrastämmor i nedteckningarna efter Troskarispelmännen, och personligen tycker jag egentligen att andrastämmor blir bäst om de får improviseras fram. Låtarna har källhänvisningar som följer: SvL<nr> anger låtnummer i Anderssons 'Svenska låtar', Dalarna. AR<nr> anger spår på skivan "Troskarilekar". ÖG<nr> anger låtnummer i Övergaards folkmusiksamling.
    [Show full text]
  • Old Stock List
    04 November 2018 SAUNDERS RECORDERS BRISTOL www.saundersrecorders.com PRODUCTS For more information contact:- [email protected] The price of an out of stock item is likely to be different when it comes back into stock. 8 - Sheet Music, is visible for historic information, only. (Most prices are from January 2015.) System Product Price (£) In Order 1 - Recorder 01 Recorder Sundries Code Code Inc.VAT Stock Status 1 - Recorder 01 Recorder Sundries Antikondens 25027 MOL6138 2.50 Coolsma Thumb Rest. pearwood 34159 E005D 5.00 Cork Grease (cup) 31776 MOL6130 0.90 Cork Grease, lipstick style. 26185 MOL6131 2.25 Hard Case, Descant & Treble. 20930 2HC 84.95 Hard Case, Quartet (NSAT) 19972 4HC 145.00 Hard Case, Trio (NSA) 19941 3HC 80.00 Instrument Hire 36658 IH Instrument Loan 41669 IL Instrument Loan - Bass 41690 ILB Instrument Loan - Tenor 41683 ILT Instrument Loan - Treble 41676 ILA Instrument Service etc. 6606 JNE Kung Recorder Case, 6 Slot. 42017 KNG9964 175.00 Moeck Maintenance Kit (alt) 18241 KITa 19.95 Moeck Maintenance Kit (sopran) 31370 KITs 19.99 Moeck Recorder catalogues/leaflets. Small bundle! 41102 41102 Mollenhauer Recorder Maintenance Kit 43663 MOL6132 15.00 Mollenhauer Soft case for S+A, black 43496 MOL7710 21.50 Mollenhauer Teaching Aids pack 43090 MOL6233 14.60 Recorder Oil 31493 OIL 1.00 Recorder Unspecified 2783 R Roll Bag 12 Pocket 7450 86801 54.95 Sling, SR custom spare. 43731 SLING 6.00 Special Service (Moeck) 38430 38430 Thumb Hole Bushing 23993 THB 35.00 Thumb Rest Adjustable brass with ring. 43052 MOL6211 40.38 Thumb Rest, brass with ring.
    [Show full text]
  • Traditional Irish Instruments Facts the Fiddle and the Violin Are the Same Instrument! We Call It a Fiddle When It Is Used in Traditional Irish Music
    Traditional Irish Instruments Facts The fiddle and the violin are the same instrument! We call it a fiddle when it is used in traditional Irish music. The fiddle has 4 strings and it is played with a bow. It is one of the most popular instruments used in traditional Irish music. Traditional Irish Instruments Facts The flute is a woodwind instrument. It has been used in Irish music for many years. The Irish flute is usually made from wood and has 6 holes and up to eight keys. The Irish flute and the tin whistle have the exact same fingering. Many Irish flute players start off on the tin whistle before moving onto the flute because of this. Traditional Irish Instruments Facts The tin whistle is also known as the penny whistle. It was first used in traditional Irish music in the 19th century. The tin whistle is a small metal tube with 6 holes and a mouthpiece. It is considered a good starting instrument for traditional Irish musicians. Today, many children up and down the country are being taught how to play the tin whistle in school. Traditional Irish Instruments Facts The Irish word for elbow is ‘uillinn’. To produce a sound on the uilleann pipes, the piper must squeeze air into a bag with their elbow, while playing the pipes with their fingers. It is one of the more difficult traditional instruments to play. The uileann pipes are played sitting down. Traditional Irish Instruments Facts A melodeon is similar to an accordion. Music is produced by pressing buttons on either end of the melodeon and moving the instrument in and out, depending on what sound you want to achieve.
    [Show full text]
  • Info Sheet Piccolo 2 for an Article on Embouchure Holes) Should Be Used When Playing Traditional Irish Music
    STEVE TADD WOODWIND REPAIRS (.co.uk) 07734 543011 Traditional ‘Irish’ Marching Band and Session Flutes (Nov 2017) There is no such thing as a ‘traditional’ Irish Flute but there is a traditional style of playing (defined by metre, articulation, tone, and ornamentation) that is much easier to achieve on some instruments compared to others. Irish ‘Session’ Flutes These are simple system ‘concert’ flutes pitched in ‘C’ (originally used in concert bands and Orchestras) and are often used nowadays to play traditional Irish dance music. The naming system for these flutes is based on the orchestral naming system – the instrument is named according to what note is actually heard when the note referred to as ‘C’ on the instrument is played – so whether the lowest note is D or C these flutes are ‘in C’ (in contrast the note referred to as C on Tenor Sax actually sounds a Bb - so Tenor Saxes are ‘in Bb’). With study and close attention to detail the metres and articulation of traditional Irish dance music can be replicated on any Flute, it is the tone and ornamentation which is more problematic. A wooden Flute is considered to produce a more traditional tone and certainly at least a wooden head- joint (with a traditional embouchure – refer to Info sheet Piccolo 2 for an article on Embouchure holes) should be used when playing traditional Irish music. The ornamentation used in traditional Irish Flute playing ought to mimic the ornamentation used when playing the Tin whistle and Uillean pipes; not only is this different from modern Flute ornamentation but it is acoustically impossible to achieve on all but true Simple System Flutes.
    [Show full text]
  • Finale V25 Garritan Sounds.Indd
    Garritan Sounds in Finale WOODWINDS Marimba SECTION STRINGS Flute NEW! Orchestral Toms Violins Alto Flute Solo Percussion Toys KS Violins 1 Arco Bass Flute Solo NEW! Temple Blocks Violins 1 KS Flute Player 1 NEW! Timpani KS Violins 1 Pizzicato Flute Player 2 Tubular Bells KS Violins 1 Tremolo Flute Player 3 NEW! Wind Machine NEW! Violins 2 Arco Flute Solo NEW! Woodblocks NEW! Violins 2 KS Piccolo Solo Xylophone NEW! Violins 2 Pizzicato Oboes and English Horn Harp NEW! Violins 2 Tremolo English Horn Solo Harp KS Violas Oboe D’Amore Solo NEW! Harp 2KS Violas Arco Oboe Player 1 Keyboards Violas KS Oboe Player 2 Celesta Violas Pizzicato Oboe Player 3 NEW! Concert D Grand Piano Violas Tremolo Oboe Solo NEW! Glass Harmonica Cellos Clarinets Harpsichord Cellos Arco Bass Clarinet Solo Steinway Piano Cellos KS Bb Clarinet Player 1 Pipe Organ Cellos Pizzicato Bb Clarinet Player 2 NEW! Baroque Plenum Cellos Tremolo Bb Clarinet Player 3 Baroque Plenum Pedal Basses Contrabass Clarinet Solo Baroque Plenum Reeds Basses Arco Eb Clarinet Solo Church Organ Basses KS Bassoons NEW! Church Organ 2 Basses Pizzicato Bassoon Player 1 Hauptwerk All Stops Basses Tremolo Pipe Organ - Flutes Bassoon Player 2 Full Strings Bassoon Player 3 NEW! Prinzipal NEW! Utility Organ Full Strings Arco Bassoon Solo Full Strings KS Contrabassoon Solo SOLO STRINGS Full Strings Pizzicato Full Strings Tremolo BRASS Violin Choir French Horns Violin Player 1 Childrens Choir French Horn Player 1 Violin Player 2 Choir Ahs French Horn Player 2 Violin Player 3 Choir Oohs French Horn Player
    [Show full text]
  • Ambient Music the Complete Guide
    Ambient music The Complete Guide PDF generated using the open source mwlib toolkit. See http://code.pediapress.com/ for more information. PDF generated at: Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:43:32 UTC Contents Articles Ambient music 1 Stylistic origins 9 20th-century classical music 9 Electronic music 17 Minimal music 39 Psychedelic rock 48 Krautrock 59 Space rock 64 New Age music 67 Typical instruments 71 Electronic musical instrument 71 Electroacoustic music 84 Folk instrument 90 Derivative forms 93 Ambient house 93 Lounge music 96 Chill-out music 99 Downtempo 101 Subgenres 103 Dark ambient 103 Drone music 105 Lowercase 115 Detroit techno 116 Fusion genres 122 Illbient 122 Psybient 124 Space music 128 Related topics and lists 138 List of ambient artists 138 List of electronic music genres 147 Furniture music 153 References Article Sources and Contributors 156 Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors 160 Article Licenses License 162 Ambient music 1 Ambient music Ambient music Stylistic origins Electronic art music Minimalist music [1] Drone music Psychedelic rock Krautrock Space rock Frippertronics Cultural origins Early 1970s, United Kingdom Typical instruments Electronic musical instruments, electroacoustic music instruments, and any other instruments or sounds (including world instruments) with electronic processing Mainstream Low popularity Derivative forms Ambient house – Ambient techno – Chillout – Downtempo – Trance – Intelligent dance Subgenres [1] Dark ambient – Drone music – Lowercase – Black ambient – Detroit techno – Shoegaze Fusion genres Ambient dub – Illbient – Psybient – Ambient industrial – Ambient house – Space music – Post-rock Other topics Ambient music artists – List of electronic music genres – Furniture music Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric",[2] "visual"[3] or "unobtrusive" quality.
    [Show full text]
  • N O V E M B E R 2 0
    november 2005 Published by the American Recorder Society, Vol. XLVI, No. 5 XLVI, Vol. American Recorder Society, by the Published The world’s most dependable and chosen recorders are also the most playful that students are sure to enjoy. Sour Apple Green, Cotton Candy Blue and Bubble Gum Pink colors add that extra fun for students beginning their music education. Yamaha 20 Series Recorders are specially designed for beginning students and are easy to play in every range. They offer the ideal amount of air resistance for effortless control and an accuracy of intonation that provides a rich, full sound. Playful with serious quality Yamaha is known for, Yamaha Recorders are the thoughtful choice for teachers that care. ©2005 Yamaha Corporation of America www.yamaha.com EDITOR’S ______NOTE ______ ______ ______ ______ Volume XLVI, Number 5 November 2005 confess that one of my weaknesses is FEATURES Imass market paperback mysteries, A Posthumous Approach to the Baroque Masters . 8 which a local used bookstore sells at eight Sei Soli per Flauto senza Basso, for $5. The thought threshold required to by Matthias Maute read them is minimal enough that one mystery usually equals an evening or It’s Summertime . 15 weekend of pleasurable distraction. 4 Matthias Maute rethinks the Role of the Recorder, I usually look for authors I know can by Jen Hoyer write in an interesting style and can devise a clever plot—Stuart Kaminsky, Tony Cultivating the Graces on the Greens. 18 Hillerman and others writing geographical Developing a Family Program, mysteries, Victorian-set tales from Anne by Rebecca Arkenberg Perry, Ngaio Marsh, Ruth Rendell.
    [Show full text]
  • An Interview with Mike Rafferty
    From A Guide to the Irish Flute. http://www.firescribble.net/flute/rafferty.htm An Interview with Mike Rafferty This interview was conducted in July, 2002 by Paul Wells and Mike Casey. Their introductions to the interview follow. Mike Rafferty is one of the great exponents of the old lyrical and flowing flute playing style from the East Galway region of Ireland. He was born in 1926 in the village of Larraga in Ballinakill parish, in the heart of a locality filled with great flute and fiddle players. Early on Mike learned much of his music from his father, Tom “Barrel” Rafferty, a flute player and piper, and from neighbors Tom Broderick and Jack Coughlan. He also listened to the renowned Ballinakill Ceili Band, which included flute players Stephen Moloney and Tommy Whelan, as they achieved national prominence through their radio Mike Rafferty and David Levine playing together in broadcasts and 78rpm recordings. In 1949 Nova Scotia. Photo by Paul Wells Mike emigrated to the United States, where he has lived since. He has performed at concerts and festivals throughout the country over the past 25 years including the Smithsonian's Bicentennial Festival in 1976. He has also taught at the Swannanoa Gathering in North Carolina, the Augusta Heritage Center in West Virginia, and at Boxwood (school for traditional flute) in Nova Scotia. Mike has released three recordings over the past six years—“The Dangerous Reel,” “The Old Fireside Music,” and “The Road From Ballinakill”—with his daughter Mary Rafferty, who was a member of the band Cherish the Ladies for many years.
    [Show full text]
  • A Field Guide to Irish Music
    A Field Guide to Irish Music Rosanne Santucci Table of Contents Table of Contents ............................................................................................................. 2 About Irish Music .............................................................................................................. 3 Guitar Chords ................................................................................................................... 7 Where to Listen ................................................................................................................ 8 Where to Learn ............................................................................................................... 10 Tunes .............................................................................................................................. 11 About This Book I wrote this out of sympathy for anyone who’s interested in playing Irish traditional music but has no idea where or how to start; in other words, someone like me as of a few years ago. I didn’t know what a session was like, and I didn’t understand why tunes sounded painfully lame when I played them verbatim off the page. One lazy summer day, I Googled “Boston Irish session” and found out about the early session at the Green Briar in Brighton. After mustering up my courage, I showed up and sat there, ears open and flute in my lap, every week for months until the tunes started to sink in and I saw what other players did to breathe life into them. Gradually I branched out to other sessions,
    [Show full text]
  • Suit Code: a Graphic Shorthand for Tin Whistle and Irish Flute Fingerings by Grey Larsen
    Suit Code: A Graphic Shorthand for Tin Whistle and Irish Flute Fingerings By Grey Larsen The Suit Code Symbols The four suit symbols in the deck of playing cards are familiar to almost everyone. Suit code uses them, plus an open circle, to represent the five fingering patterns used for the primary notes of the tin whistle (also known as a pennywhistle) and keyless Irish flute. ❍ ♦ ♥ ♣ ♠ I created suit code in 2019, and made extensive use of it in my instructional book First Lessons Tin Whistle. (See p. 3 for more information on this book.) Two Groups of Three Holes, and the Fingering Patterns We Use The notes that are easily played on the tin whistle and keyless Irish flute — their primary notes — are fingered by opening and closing various combinations of six finger holes. On the D whistle and the Irish flute in D these primary notes are D, E, Fs, G, A, B, C and Cs. These six finger holes naturally divide into two groups of three. The top three are controlled by the top hand (the hand closest to the whistle mouthpiece or flute embouchure hole) and the bottom three by the bottom hand. For each hand there are eight possible patterns of open and/or closed holes. Luckily, the bottom hand uses only four of these patterns. The top hand uses those same four, plus one more. This fifth pattern is used only when playing low C and high D (and only by the top hand). There are more wind instruments that also use this basic six-hole fingering system, such as renaissance, baroque and classical flutes and simple-system piccolos and fifes.
    [Show full text]