These are original double jigs, and two of my favorite tunes since I heard them play them in the Catskills a couple of years ago. Indeed, there is a lot of room in Irish music for improvising within the structure of the tune, but with the two sisters sounding like one fiddle, you can bet this performance itself is not improvised. Great stuff altogether.
Miglow it’s possibly because these girls are from Galway; the fingering, the flat minor keys and tunes are all somehow heightened with holding the fiddle lower on the chest. They do however use shoulder rests. I’ve played many of these sisters’ tunes, and I can attest to holding the fiddle lower helping. Not sure why it just does make the style. In contrast, a northern style such as Donegal has many more sharp keys and fast music. Holding the fiddle low isn’t necessarily advantageous.
What he said. They are indeed violins. I myself hold the instrument sometimes lower dependent on the tune and bowing I want. Sometimes lower and angled more inwards, higher and outwards. It makes tonal differences too . I stopped using a shoulder rest a few years ago. After making adjustments in my hold, I've found it to be just as comfortable and more versatile.
