The following is copied from the Rules for Competition for the US Midwest Fleadh Cheoil which has been discussed recently on ITRAD; the same rules apply to the east coast competition in NY and to the All-Ireland. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES "Fleadh Cheoil" is the official title for a musical festival sponsored by a unit of Comhaltus Ceoltoiri Eireann. Fleadhanna Cheoil shall be held to propagate, consolidate and perpetuate our Irish traditional music, both vocal and intrumental, by presenting it in a manner worthy of its dignity, and in accordance with the aims and objects of Comhaltus. It is not intended that competitions should be merely a means by which a competitor may gain a prize or defeat a rival, but rather as a medium in which competitors may pace each other on the road to excellence. COMPETITION RULES 1. Though all competitions are open to all competitors, qualified by age, theyh are aimed at those willing to travel to Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann. Only those who have secured First or Second Prize at the Midwest fleadh are eligible to compete at the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in August 1994. (Note: This rule as stated is only for the Midwest Fleadh. To generalize, you must be awarded 1st or 2nd in whatever Regional fleadh you compete in to qualify for the All-Ireland. In the US there are two regional Fleadhs, the Midwest and the East Coast. CMoses) 2. Only traditional Irish music will be accepted in all competiitons. 3. Each tune shall be played twice only. 4. Electronic or amplified instruments are not permitted in any category. 5. A satisfactory standard is necessary fro the awarding of First or any other prize. 6. Entry must reach the fleadh committee.... 7. The fleadh secretary may request proof of age for those competing in under 18 categories. 8. The Adjudicator is the sole judge of merit; in all other matters, the dicision of the fleadh committee shall be final. Any complaingt must be accompanied by a $50 fee; refunds will be at the discretion of the Fleadh Committee. Complaints will be reviewed by the Fleadh Executive Commttee immediately following the fleadh. 9. No communication with the adjudicator is permitted on the day of the competition, except through the steward. 10. Competitors not present when called may be disqualified. 11. A copy of the adjudication sheet, for the competitors own entry only, are $1 per sheet. Requests should be made on the day of the fleadh. 12. In duets and trios, full names and addresses of all participants must by listed on the back of the entry form. Having qualified, no substitution is allowed. 13. In solo competitions, a compeitor must compete in own age group only. In duets, trios and ceili bands, a competitor may play in a higher age group, but can play in only one of the aformentioned competitions on the same instrument. 14. Including competitions for miscellaneous instruments, compettors are allowed to compete on one instrument only in any one competition. 15. Tape recording is not permitted. COMPETITION FEES $7 per entrant for one solo competition; $3 for each additional solo competition. (A family will not have to pay more than $50 in fees.) Entry fee for Ceili Bands and Groupai Cheoil is $30. Entry fees for Duets, Trios, Marching Bands, and Pipe Bands is $3 per member. CLASSES OF MUSIC Air (slow or lively), Jig (double, single, slip), Slide, Reel, Polka, Hornpipe, March, Set Dance GRADE (AGE CLASSIFICATION) (Age as of January 1, 1994) "a" = under 12 years old "b" = 12-15 "c" = 15-18 "d" = Over 18 "e" = Any age "f" = Under 18 SOLO COMPETITION CATEGORIES 1. Fiddle a/b/c/d 2. Two Row Buttom Accordian a/b/c/d 3. Concert Flute a/b/c/d 4. Tin Whistle (6 hole penny whistle styles only) a/b/c/d 5. Piano Accordian a/b/c/d 6. Concertina a/b/c/d 7. Uilleann Pipes a/b/c/d 8. Harp a/b/c/d 9. Mouth Organ a/b/c/d 10. Banjo a/b/c/d 11. Mandolin a/b/c/d 12. Piano a/b/c/d 13. One Row Melodian (Old Style) a/b/c/d 14. Bodhran a/b/c/d 15. War Pipes a/b/c/d 16. Miscellaneous Instruments 9any instrument not listed above) a/b/c/d SOLO COMPETITION REQUIREMENTS Grades "a" and "b": One tune from each of TWO music classes listed above. Grade "c": One tune from each of THREE music classes. Grade "d": One tune from each of FOUR classes, but must include a Slow Air in the case of fiddle, tin whistle, concert flute, and uillean pipes. SOLO SLOW AIRS CATEGORIES 18. Fiddle a/b/c/d 19. Uillean Pipes a/b/c/d 20. Concert Flute a/b/c/d 21. Tin Whistle a/b/c/d SOLO SLOW AIR REQUIREMENTS (Only airs based on the tradtional airs and not on modern arrangements shall be accepted.) Grade "a": TWO airs. Grades "b" and "c": THREE Airs. Grade "d": Competitor submits a list of EIGHT Airs; the adjudicator selects THREE for the competitor to play. EMSEMBLES 22. Duet a/b/c/d 23. Trio a/b/c/d 24. Ceili Band a/b/c/d 25. Grupai Cheoil/Instrumental Group (as distinct from a ceili band a/b/c/d 26. Accordian Band f/d 27. Flute Band a/b/c/d 28. Miscellaneous f/d 29. Pipe Band e 30. Accompaniment a/b/c/d ENSEMBLE REQUIREMENTS Accompaniment: This competion is restricted to the following instruments: piano, harp, guitar, and bouzouki-type instrumnets. The aim of the competition is to adjudicate on the accompaniment only. Duets and Trios: A Senior Duet shall comprise two different instruments; a Senior Trio shall comprise at least two different instruments (not applicable to other grades). In the case of Duets and Trios, all participants must at all times play the melody of the tune. Grades "a" and "b" must play one tune from each of TWO music classes. Grade "c" must play one tune from each of THREE classes. Grade "d", one tune from each of FOUR classes. Ceili Bands: (Minimum of 5 menbers, maximum of 10.) Grades "a" and "b", one tune from each of TWO classes. Grade "c", two reels in succession plus one tune from each of TWO other classes. Grade "d": Two reels in succession plus a maximum of two tunes from each of THREE other classes. Grupai Cheoil: (Minimum of 4 members, maximum of 20 members.) Own choice of music for a maximum of seven minutes. Marks will be deducted for exceeding or falling short of this time. Whistlers and lilters may be included, as well as players of bodhrans and bones, but pianos and drums are not permitted. Efforts should be made to play tunes other than jigs, reels, and hornpipes, e.g., slow airs, set dances, old marches, and harp music, to give a good variety of music. Attention shoul also be given to instrumentation and presentation. Slow airs are to be played on solo instruments only. Marching Bands shall play two marches. (I'm not sure if this means #28 or not. CMoses) Pipe Bands Shall play TWO marches and ONE hornpipe. SOLO TRADITIONAL SINGING and OTHER COMPETITION CATEGORIES 30. Irish Singing: Ladies a/b/c/d 31. Irish Singing: Men a/b/c/d 32. English Singing: Ladies a/b/c/d 33. English Singing: Men a/b/c/d 34. Whistling a/b/c/d 35. Lilting a/b/c/d 36. Newly Composed Song: Irish a/b/c/d 37. Newly Composed Song: English a/b/c/d SOLO TRADITIONAL SINGING AND OTHER COMPETITION REQUIREMENTS Lyrics for newly composed songs must be submitted in writing with entry. (Songs in waltz time should be avoided at all grades.) Grade"a": Each competitor shall chosse and sing TWO full songs--slow and lively. No list of songs is required in this age group. Grades "b" and "c": Competitors shall submit to the adjudicator a list of FOUR songs--TWO slow and TWO lively (indicate shich are "lively"). Each competitor must sing two songs, one slow and one lively; the competitor shall select one song, the adjudicator will then select the song from the other category. Grade "d": Competitors submit to the adjudicator a list of SIX songs--Four slow and two lively (indicating which are "lively". The competitor shall select one song from either category, the the adjudicator will then select the second song from the other category. Thanks to Cliff Moses, who originally typed this in an posted it to Irtrad-L