Between the Jigs and the Reels by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh
Between the Jigs and the Reels by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh
Has anyone read Between the Jigs and the Reels by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh? Worth getting? If it's a collection of sheet music, it won't be much use to me. But I was hoping to find history and background on Donegal fiddle. Where can you get it in the U.S.?
Re: Between the Jigs and the Reels by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh
Hello there,
As far as I know, this is more a book about tradition (history, biographies, personal styles, dances etc.) than a collection of tunes. Caoimhin is an all-round scholar (he also plays the fiddle brilliantly), and is very inquisitive in his research of the tradition and history of Irish music. I'd second Ptarm's advice here.
Re: Between the Jigs and the Reels by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh
I have it and yes it is very much worth getting if you're interested in the Donegal fiddle tradition. If you want to know more than that, say so and I'll dig it out and give you a potted synopsis, or at least chapter headings.
Re: Between the Jigs and the Reels by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh
Table of Contents: Intro, History of Donegal Fiddle Music, Influences, Folklore, Donegal Fiddle Music Collections, Dancing, The North West, The North, Inishowen, The East, Travelling Fiddlers, Central Donegal, Southwest, South, The Future, A Donegal Fiddle Discography, Glossary.
I bought my copy at The Galway Trader in Seattle a couple years ago. published in 1994.
Re: Between the Jigs and the Reels by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh
I have it and have found it to be a terrific reference, especially as I keep playing with the 'who played what when' puzzle. It's no "E! True Hollywood Story" or Tansey Masterpiece Theatre, but it gets the job done.
Re: Between the Jigs and the Reels by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh
You've learned more about Donegal fidd from E!?
It's an exhaustive book. Even Donegal musicians who were rumored/legendary are brought in. He reminds me of Francis O'Neill in that regard.
Caomhin has a new one out - The Scribe, about James O'Neill, who wrote out tunes for Francis O.
Re: Between the Jigs and the Reels by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh
Oh yes. E!'s biographical mastery knows no bounds.
Why, did you know that Neilidh Boyle was a child actor? Despite having "the very best tutors", the pressures placed on him by his cold, star-crazed mother pushed him to start huffing paint and drinking cheap brandy to deal with it all. Then he hit rock bottom. He checked himself into a comfortable clinic somewhere in Arizona, found Jesus and Buddha all in the same day, and then rebuilt his career, becoming a fixture on the Small Town Gazebo series. Then he had a relapse and went on a rampage, (puportedly after a gig in a gazebo which had a been spruced up with a coat of Krylon White the day before), which caused him to spend some time in jail. There he started the Neilidh Boyle Reformed Sinners Ceilidh Band, which went to win the All-Penal a record 5 times. Some say the band lost its heart when Neilidh was paroled.
Re: Between the Jigs and the Reels by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh
I haven't been able to find a copy, does anyone know if a fiddler by the name of John "Simmey" Doherty is mentioned? His father was my great granduncle and he was evidently a well known Donegal fiddler.
Between the Jigs and the Reels by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh
Between the Jigs and the Reels by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh
Has anyone read Between the Jigs and the Reels by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh? Worth getting? If it's a collection of sheet music, it won't be much use to me. But I was hoping to find history and background on Donegal fiddle. Where can you get it in the U.S.?
# Posted on October 9th 2006 by joelynch
Re: Between the Jigs and the Reels by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh
I'd heard it was out of print & copies hard to find - but I hope I'm wrong.
As I remember it is packed full of "history & background" so my advice joelynch would be, get it, if you can!
# Posted on October 9th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Between the Jigs and the Reels by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh
Hello there,
As far as I know, this is more a book about tradition (history, biographies, personal styles, dances etc.) than a collection of tunes. Caoimhin is an all-round scholar (he also plays the fiddle brilliantly), and is very inquisitive in his research of the tradition and history of Irish music. I'd second Ptarm's advice here.
Try at:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/1873437080/ref=dp_olp_0/102-1255804-9224920?ie=UTF8&condition=all
# Posted on October 9th 2006 by Janek
Re: Between the Jigs and the Reels by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh
I have it and yes it is very much worth getting if you're interested in the Donegal fiddle tradition. If you want to know more than that, say so and I'll dig it out and give you a potted synopsis, or at least chapter headings.
# Posted on October 9th 2006 by Jeeves Tones
Re: Between the Jigs and the Reels by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh
Kenny's on-line bookshop in Galway at www.kennys.ie has a copy for 13 euro.
# Posted on October 9th 2006 by Prof. Prlwytzkofski
Re: Between the Jigs and the Reels by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh
Table of Contents: Intro, History of Donegal Fiddle Music, Influences, Folklore, Donegal Fiddle Music Collections, Dancing, The North West, The North, Inishowen, The East, Travelling Fiddlers, Central Donegal, Southwest, South, The Future, A Donegal Fiddle Discography, Glossary.
I bought my copy at The Galway Trader in Seattle a couple years ago. published in 1994.
# Posted on October 9th 2006 by Stewart
Re: Between the Jigs and the Reels by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh
I have it and have found it to be a terrific reference, especially as I keep playing with the 'who played what when' puzzle. It's no "E! True Hollywood Story" or Tansey Masterpiece Theatre, but it gets the job done.
# Posted on October 10th 2006 by _Steph_
Re: Between the Jigs and the Reels by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh
You've learned more about Donegal fidd from E!?
It's an exhaustive book. Even Donegal musicians who were rumored/legendary are brought in. He reminds me of Francis O'Neill in that regard.
Caomhin has a new one out - The Scribe, about James O'Neill, who wrote out tunes for Francis O.
# Posted on October 10th 2006 by KLR
Re: Between the Jigs and the Reels by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh
You can get a much better price on the book than what is offered at Amazon by doing a search for ISBN# 1873437080 at BookFinder.com.
# Posted on October 10th 2006 by tpedersn
Re: Between the Jigs and the Reels by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh
Oh yes. E!'s biographical mastery knows no bounds.
Why, did you know that Neilidh Boyle was a child actor? Despite having "the very best tutors", the pressures placed on him by his cold, star-crazed mother pushed him to start huffing paint and drinking cheap brandy to deal with it all. Then he hit rock bottom. He checked himself into a comfortable clinic somewhere in Arizona, found Jesus and Buddha all in the same day, and then rebuilt his career, becoming a fixture on the Small Town Gazebo series. Then he had a relapse and went on a rampage, (puportedly after a gig in a gazebo which had a been spruced up with a coat of Krylon White the day before), which caused him to spend some time in jail. There he started the Neilidh Boyle Reformed Sinners Ceilidh Band, which went to win the All-Penal a record 5 times. Some say the band lost its heart when Neilidh was paroled.
# Posted on October 10th 2006 by _Steph_
Re: Between the Jigs and the Reels by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh
I've heard that an update to this book will be printed at some point in the future, so there's hope that you'll be able to get the book..
# Posted on October 11th 2006 by FiddleCrazy
Re: Between the Jigs and the Reels by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh
I haven't been able to find a copy, does anyone know if a fiddler by the name of John "Simmey" Doherty is mentioned? His father was my great granduncle and he was evidently a well known Donegal fiddler.
# Posted on September 6th 2007 by jdhfl