Does anyone else feel that trad music may benefit from a little more percussion? I've heard cymbals used on different tracks here and there and of course the threatening thud of the bohran ( spell check ) adds so much, has anyone been accompanied by a less traditional percussion in any set they've done? I'll end this post with a tap on my triangle * ting *
Norma Waterson plays a lovely triangle - no, really, it has lovely curly ends.
And when we were last over in the States my SO brought her newly acquired ( second ) washboard to a session, and this encouraged another lady percussionist to say she would bring hers from now on.
You just have to remember that percussion is part of the music, but not leading it (or drowning it ). My motto is " one bodrhan, one guitar, is enough for any session."
Spoons, bones, tambourines, all can be grist to the mill.
The shaky egg remains outside the pale.
There are percussionists, and musicians who try to be percussionists, and dopey people who can't count.
It is not what they play, but how they play it.
Good music deserves good punctuation.
Washboards are wonderful, if you are interested go to
http;//www.mcknowall.com
Those are some sophisticated washboards, but $160 australian ! Don't come the raw prawn with me, sport !
You can always try http://www.washboard.com for more information.
I forgot to mention that we went on a washboard hunt when we were last in the States, and found eight in the Rochester , NY area in about two days of browsing; fron dinky little ones for your smalls to the most expensive, which was $35, but it had been cleaned up and wax-polished to perfection. We bought two more for the collection, and brought them back in the luggage - I can't imagine the reactions, you have to leave your luggage unlocked now so that it can be inspected by security, or if we had got stopped at Customs.
Over here you mainly see the glass ones, which don't have the same ring to them.It is de rigeur to customise then yourself.
Interesting.........went browsing on the web, couldn't be bothered to google, just yahooed, and items 19 and 22 were from this site.
Didn't find a dedicated shaky egg site on first glance, a couple of Hobgoblin ads, a side reference to Shakin' Stevens, several non-linked uses of the words shaky and eggs.....research continues.
A well-played bodhran adds a lot, but I'm with G.Pete when it comes to those wretched shakey eggs. I refer you to a previous disussion where these scourges come in for the derision they deserve!
Some interesting comments here. I think the percussion works really well in trad music. The djembe and darabuka are great in a session and also a snare drum can work a treat if played with consideration to the melody that's going on.
If percussion is played correctly (in a session) it can build the sound by introducing cross rhythms which can be interesting and really add to the over all sound
Yep cellodiva, I use a djembe with our group and in sessions if I don't have the fiddle - you can't really play it in the traditional African style though, otherwise you rip up the session. It's always funny to watch the looks of apprehension on people's faces whenever I take it out at a new session...have had a couple of people tell me to sling my hook before they've even heard anything, to which I always just ask for one set to show them.
percussion
percussion
Does anyone else feel that trad music may benefit from a little more percussion? I've heard cymbals used on different tracks here and there and of course the threatening thud of the bohran ( spell check ) adds so much, has anyone been accompanied by a less traditional percussion in any set they've done? I'll end this post with a tap on my triangle * ting *
# Posted on May 24th 2006 by reido
Re: percussion
Norma Waterson plays a lovely triangle - no, really, it has lovely curly ends.
And when we were last over in the States my SO brought her newly acquired ( second ) washboard to a session, and this encouraged another lady percussionist to say she would bring hers from now on.
You just have to remember that percussion is part of the music, but not leading it (or drowning it ). My motto is " one bodrhan, one guitar, is enough for any session."
Spoons, bones, tambourines, all can be grist to the mill.
The shaky egg remains outside the pale.
# Posted on May 24th 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: percussion
Uh...NO.
# Posted on May 24th 2006 by Mark Stone
Re: percussion
Does stomping a traditional foot count, or does it distract the dancers as well?
M. Flatley
# Posted on May 24th 2006 by Lint - upon - Tweed
Re: percussion
There are percussionists, and musicians who try to be percussionists, and dopey people who can't count.
It is not what they play, but how they play it.
Good music deserves good punctuation.
Washboards are wonderful, if you are interested go to
http;//www.mcknowall.com
# Posted on May 24th 2006 by mcknowall
Re: percussion
How come the web address didn't go brown?
# Posted on May 24th 2006 by mcknowall
Re: percussion
The curse of the semicolon;
http://www.mcknowall.com
# Posted on May 24th 2006 by Just a person
Re: percussion
Those are some sophisticated washboards, but $160 australian ! Don't come the raw prawn with me, sport !
You can always try http://www.washboard.com for more information.
# Posted on May 24th 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: percussion
I forgot to mention that we went on a washboard hunt when we were last in the States, and found eight in the Rochester , NY area in about two days of browsing; fron dinky little ones for your smalls to the most expensive, which was $35, but it had been cleaned up and wax-polished to perfection. We bought two more for the collection, and brought them back in the luggage - I can't imagine the reactions, you have to leave your luggage unlocked now so that it can be inspected by security, or if we had got stopped at Customs.
Over here you mainly see the glass ones, which don't have the same ring to them.It is de rigeur to customise then yourself.
# Posted on May 24th 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: percussion
Interesting.........went browsing on the web, couldn't be bothered to google, just yahooed, and items 19 and 22 were from this site.
Didn't find a dedicated shaky egg site on first glance, a couple of Hobgoblin ads, a side reference to Shakin' Stevens, several non-linked uses of the words shaky and eggs.....research continues.
# Posted on May 24th 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: percussion
to the original question: No.
# Posted on May 24th 2006 by showaddydadito
Re: percussion
Any more percussion?
I think not!
A well-played bodhran adds a lot, but I'm with G.Pete when it comes to those wretched shakey eggs. I refer you to a previous disussion where these scourges come in for the derision they deserve!
http://thesession.org/discussions/display/7465/comments#comment160216
# Posted on May 24th 2006 by domhnall.
Re: percussion
I think there is plenty of percussion in ITM these days, especially on the recordings. Percussion is nice, but a little goes a long way.
# Posted on May 24th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: percussion
Nice wind-up, reid-o.
# Posted on May 24th 2006 by Hanley
Re: percussion
It being Irish music and all, we like to use one of those shakey potatoes: http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/VEGI-POTATO.htm
<ducks & covers>
# Posted on May 24th 2006 by Tracie
Re: percussion
And of course, nothing adds rhythmic panache like this elegant item:
http://store.drumbum.com/skuN-12.html
# Posted on May 24th 2006 by fidkid
Re: percussion
Unless it's dancers or a well-played bodhran, no.
# Posted on May 24th 2006 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: percussion
I think the triangle is a much-maligned instrument. It light airyness is the perfect accompaniment for many an ITM tune.
# Posted on May 24th 2006 by Siansa
Re: percussion
Where's Michael Gill when you need him?
# Posted on May 24th 2006 by DrSilverSpear
Re: percussion
Some interesting comments here. I think the percussion works really well in trad music. The djembe and darabuka are great in a session and also a snare drum can work a treat if played with consideration to the melody that's going on.
If percussion is played correctly (in a session) it can build the sound by introducing cross rhythms which can be interesting and really add to the over all sound
# Posted on May 29th 2006 by cellodiva
Re: percussion
Yep cellodiva, I use a djembe with our group and in sessions if I don't have the fiddle - you can't really play it in the traditional African style though, otherwise you rip up the session. It's always funny to watch the looks of apprehension on people's faces whenever I take it out at a new session...have had a couple of people tell me to sling my hook before they've even heard anything, to which I always just ask for one set to show them.
# Posted on May 13th 2007 by Swift