"Traditional music enjoys a certain schizophrenic existence. On the one hand, the soloist is revered but on the other, it's the energy of the session that lures countless pretenders to the tunes".
This was written by Sibhain Long in today's Irish Times.
Given the recent debates about solo playing and such, I think it could be spot on.
Looks from the newspaper link as if Altan'll just have to buckle to and play Country & Irish if they're to make a living in Ireland. They could bring it into the 19th century. Then it could wow Yurp.
I don't really see any problem with this. I like that there's more than one way to approach and appreciate the music. Sessions are great fun and listening to soloists is fun too. I'd be sad to lose either aspect of the music, but fortunately I've nothing to worry about there.
The term Schizophrenic is being grossly misused here. Multiple personality disorder constitutes a different type of disorder to the impairment in perception and expression into reality that is generally diagnosed under the umbrella of scz. Unfortunately the press article is equally to blame here, but I suppose it is just using term adopted in common speech. Doesn't do anything to dispell any stigma attached to people who have this condition though, and neither do some of the comments made here.
I'm not impressed with this article at all. I share Danny's sentiments about their usage of the term schizophrenia, which is patently inaccurate and its pejorative connotations here aren't really helpful for people actually suffering from this condition. Describing different interpretations and approaches to art or music with words like schizophrenia is just nonsensical.
Secondly, why should engaging with the music on different levels be regarded negatively? I appreciate the solo musician as much as the next guy (if I put iTunes on shuffle 60% of the tracks which come up are solo pipes and the other 40% is everything else) but sessions and other types of ensemble playing are fun. The beauty of the session is that you don't have to be a world class player to participate in one. Seriously, you wouldn't really want to sit and listen to my solo playing. Does that make me a "pretender?" I suppose since most people on this website are not the next Liam O'Flynn, we are all pretenders.
My last issue is that the body of the article has b*gger all to do with the first paragraph, insofar as I can make it out. It goes on to discuss all the brilliant things Altan have done. That has nothing to do with solo playing, or sessions for that matter. Is the implication here that ensemble playing is only acceptable when you are as good as the members of Altan? It seems a bit daft to start an article making sweeping, pejorative statements about the vast majority of Irish musicians in the world and then not even back up your argument, but rather discuss the accomplishments and career of one of the top Irish trad bands in a way that pretends the opening paragraph didn't even happen.
Siobhain Long likes the thundering sound of her own verbiage a bit too much. She tries to do a Fintan V job but lack the insight and content. That's what I think anyway.
It's obvious that a writer has submitted the piece, or been commissioned, and when it passed across the news editor's desk, he added a bit to the beginning to "sex it up", as they say. It's part of the news editors job. It's then the sub editor's job is to patch over the joins.
Expecting accuracy, political correctness and honesty via this process is asking too much.
And it's the sub editors job to take out such meaningless fancy alliteration as "filigree fiddle". Me thinks the writer was struggling with the required word count.
I think the use of the word "pretenders" means newcomers given the context. I believe she was making the point that it is the alleged "craic" at a session that attracts newcomers, rather than solo performance in concert.
i think its a sad day for irish music when people start actually LISTENING to what siobhan long has to say. In my opinion she's a 'sit on the fence' reviewer who has her favourites and has a poor writing style, flittering around what she tries to say and ends up with no real opinion at all. stop wasting your time on her, people get drawn to the music for various things, its silly to say its because of one single thing. everybody's different.
i'm doing a masters in journalism and it isn't , and shouldn't, be the editors job to add to the piece. the reason for the fancy writing is simply down to siobhan herself and you'd know if you read any other of her pieces, as i described in my last comment there.i seriously doubt that either the editor or sub-editor had a look at this piece. otherwise a huge amount of pointless techniques like what you pointed out llig (which should never ever be used in journalism, read anything by george orwell and you'll understand) would have been done away with.
If I were Eamonn McCann I'd be sleeping uneasily tonight, being not sure where to put my Christmas bonus for helping out the Belfast Telegraph - Blue Chip, gold bullion or property abroad - Bulgaria or Cyprus? Decisions, decisions, times are hard, man....
Hey tradmusic, I'm not knocking your course, but it won't be the first time a course does not reflect the real world.
Whether it should or shouldn't be the section editor's job to add to the piece is irrelevant. They do.
It maybe that the overall editor of the paper might not read every word that is printed, but the section editors have to be responsible for the copy under their remit. And they will often tack on a sexier intro to a dull, non consequential story.
And the poor underpaid subs will often not give a feck and just cut from the end to fit. Hence sh*te like "filigree fiddle" ends up being published.
Eamon McCann is a particular hero and friend of mine.
Glad to hear it. Next time you meet for a Cuban-coffee-organic-milk-cappuchino, just keep on whispering in his ear, Northern Cypus. It'fs fvcken up for grabs, mate. They want to get into the EU, so they're selin rock bottom just ta get som euros and dollars. Ten years time that little 1 acre plot you bought you can sell to some facken 'otelier.
I'd say it's pretty a press release dressed up as an article. How it works is: Siobhan probably got the release [most of the story and perhaps even a few canned sounding quotes likely come from that...]....then she got on the phone for a couple more ho hum quotes -- and bob's yer uncle.
I see this stuff all the time. The Web supplies all the other stuff...and has made the life of "journalists" even more dreary/mostly meaningless than it already is.
The deck [or subhead] or whatever you people call it across the pond has nothing to do with the story of course. It's the desk/section editor's opinion and quite obviously written by someone other than Siobhan Long. That's why it's kind of funny....if the *deck* were there article we might actually have an interesting, scrappy piece!
Another example of why newspapers are dying perhaps.
But then everyone's a writer and there are no shortage of opinions...just look at Twitter.....or should that be Twits?
I already own most of Famagusta so I will not be buying much more of Northern Cyprus. If they get into the EEC it will be as one country so a family is likely to turn up at your doorstep saying "this is my house".
We do not drink filthy Cuban capitalist coffee, we stick to Nicaraguan.
I wonder if the well known socialist Ralph Nader will buy all of Europe.
As I said, even socialists are allowed to work and be rich.
Schizophrenic music?
Schizophrenic music?
"Traditional music enjoys a certain schizophrenic existence. On the one hand, the soloist is revered but on the other, it's the energy of the session that lures countless pretenders to the tunes".
This was written by Sibhain Long in today's Irish Times.
Given the recent debates about solo playing and such, I think it could be spot on.
What do you reckon?
# Posted on November 8th 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: Schizophrenic music?
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2008/1108/1225925561821.html
# Posted on November 8th 2008 by Prof. Prlwytzkofski
Re: Schizophrenic music?
Looks from the newspaper link as if Altan'll just have to buckle to and play Country & Irish if they're to make a living in Ireland. They could bring it into the 19th century. Then it could wow Yurp.
# Posted on November 8th 2008 by nicholas
Re: Schizophrenic music?
I'm in two minds....
# Posted on November 8th 2008 by Kenny
Re: Schizophrenic music?
"Altan have taken highly-polished ensemble playing in traditional music to new plains"
Does that mean we will be seeing them in Saskatchewan?
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by oldstrings
Re: Schizophrenic music?
I'm not schizophrenic, and neither am I.
I don't really see any problem with this. I like that there's more than one way to approach and appreciate the music. Sessions are great fun and listening to soloists is fun too. I'd be sad to lose either aspect of the music, but fortunately I've nothing to worry about there.
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by Marklar
Re: Schizophrenic music?
Sessions are for when you don't want to hear what your playing actually sounds like.
Maybe it's highly-Polished ensemble playing Altan have been picking up on...
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by nicholas
Re: Schizophrenic music?
The term Schizophrenic is being grossly misused here. Multiple personality disorder constitutes a different type of disorder to the impairment in perception and expression into reality that is generally diagnosed under the umbrella of scz. Unfortunately the press article is equally to blame here, but I suppose it is just using term adopted in common speech. Doesn't do anything to dispell any stigma attached to people who have this condition though, and neither do some of the comments made here.
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by Rudall the time
Re: Schizophrenic music?
I'm not impressed with this article at all. I share Danny's sentiments about their usage of the term schizophrenia, which is patently inaccurate and its pejorative connotations here aren't really helpful for people actually suffering from this condition. Describing different interpretations and approaches to art or music with words like schizophrenia is just nonsensical.
Secondly, why should engaging with the music on different levels be regarded negatively? I appreciate the solo musician as much as the next guy (if I put iTunes on shuffle 60% of the tracks which come up are solo pipes and the other 40% is everything else) but sessions and other types of ensemble playing are fun. The beauty of the session is that you don't have to be a world class player to participate in one. Seriously, you wouldn't really want to sit and listen to my solo playing. Does that make me a "pretender?" I suppose since most people on this website are not the next Liam O'Flynn, we are all pretenders.
My last issue is that the body of the article has b*gger all to do with the first paragraph, insofar as I can make it out. It goes on to discuss all the brilliant things Altan have done. That has nothing to do with solo playing, or sessions for that matter. Is the implication here that ensemble playing is only acceptable when you are as good as the members of Altan? It seems a bit daft to start an article making sweeping, pejorative statements about the vast majority of Irish musicians in the world and then not even back up your argument, but rather discuss the accomplishments and career of one of the top Irish trad bands in a way that pretends the opening paragraph didn't even happen.
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Schizophrenic music?
Siobhain Long likes the thundering sound of her own verbiage a bit too much. She tries to do a Fintan V job but lack the insight and content. That's what I think anyway.
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by Prof. Prlwytzkofski
Re: Schizophrenic music?
It's obvious that a writer has submitted the piece, or been commissioned, and when it passed across the news editor's desk, he added a bit to the beginning to "sex it up", as they say. It's part of the news editors job. It's then the sub editor's job is to patch over the joins.
Expecting accuracy, political correctness and honesty via this process is asking too much.
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Schizophrenic music?
And it's the sub editors job to take out such meaningless fancy alliteration as "filigree fiddle". Me thinks the writer was struggling with the required word count.
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Schizophrenic music?
I think the use of the word "pretenders" means newcomers given the context. I believe she was making the point that it is the alleged "craic" at a session that attracts newcomers, rather than solo performance in concert.
I could be wrong.
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: Schizophrenic music?
i think its a sad day for irish music when people start actually LISTENING to what siobhan long has to say. In my opinion she's a 'sit on the fence' reviewer who has her favourites and has a poor writing style, flittering around what she tries to say and ends up with no real opinion at all. stop wasting your time on her, people get drawn to the music for various things, its silly to say its because of one single thing. everybody's different.
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by tradmoosic
Re: Schizophrenic music?
i'm doing a masters in journalism and it isn't , and shouldn't, be the editors job to add to the piece. the reason for the fancy writing is simply down to siobhan herself and you'd know if you read any other of her pieces, as i described in my last comment there.i seriously doubt that either the editor or sub-editor had a look at this piece. otherwise a huge amount of pointless techniques like what you pointed out llig (which should never ever be used in journalism, read anything by george orwell and you'll understand) would have been done away with.
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by tradmoosic
Re: Schizophrenic music?
I'm sure that Éamonn McCann and John Waters will be sleeping uneasily tonight!
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by MacCruiskeen
Re: Schizophrenic music?
I know what she means, but I'm inclined to think that the word Schizophrenic was used in the wrong context here. Maybe it was Journalistic Licence.
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by Free Reed
Re: Schizophrenic music?
...or ignorance.
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by Kenny
Re: Schizophrenic music?
If I were Eamonn McCann I'd be sleeping uneasily tonight, being not sure where to put my Christmas bonus for helping out the Belfast Telegraph - Blue Chip, gold bullion or property abroad - Bulgaria or Cyprus? Decisions, decisions, times are hard, man....
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by Rudall the time
Re: Schizophrenic music?
Eamon McCann is a particular hero and friend of mine.
Even committed socialists have to work.
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: Schizophrenic music?
Hey tradmusic, I'm not knocking your course, but it won't be the first time a course does not reflect the real world.
Whether it should or shouldn't be the section editor's job to add to the piece is irrelevant. They do.
It maybe that the overall editor of the paper might not read every word that is printed, but the section editors have to be responsible for the copy under their remit. And they will often tack on a sexier intro to a dull, non consequential story.
And the poor underpaid subs will often not give a feck and just cut from the end to fit. Hence sh*te like "filigree fiddle" ends up being published.
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Schizophrenic music?
i think you summed it up nicely llig, 'dull, non consequential story' describes that, and most of what she writes in my opinion, quite well! lol.
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by tradmoosic
Re: Schizophrenic music?
Eamon McCann is a particular hero and friend of mine.
Glad to hear it. Next time you meet for a Cuban-coffee-organic-milk-cappuchino, just keep on whispering in his ear, Northern Cypus. It'fs fvcken up for grabs, mate. They want to get into the EU, so they're selin rock bottom just ta get som euros and dollars. Ten years time that little 1 acre plot you bought you can sell to some facken 'otelier.
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by Rudall the time
Re: Schizophrenic music?
I'd say it's pretty a press release dressed up as an article. How it works is: Siobhan probably got the release [most of the story and perhaps even a few canned sounding quotes likely come from that...]....then she got on the phone for a couple more ho hum quotes -- and bob's yer uncle.
I see this stuff all the time. The Web supplies all the other stuff...and has made the life of "journalists" even more dreary/mostly meaningless than it already is.
The deck [or subhead] or whatever you people call it across the pond has nothing to do with the story of course. It's the desk/section editor's opinion and quite obviously written by someone other than Siobhan Long. That's why it's kind of funny....if the *deck* were there article we might actually have an interesting, scrappy piece!
Another example of why newspapers are dying perhaps.
But then everyone's a writer and there are no shortage of opinions...just look at Twitter.....or should that be Twits?
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by skin&bow
Re: Schizophrenic music?
sorry "pretty much" [first line]
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by skin&bow
Re: Schizophrenic music?
I already own most of Famagusta so I will not be buying much more of Northern Cyprus. If they get into the EEC it will be as one country so a family is likely to turn up at your doorstep saying "this is my house".
We do not drink filthy Cuban capitalist coffee, we stick to Nicaraguan.
I wonder if the well known socialist Ralph Nader will buy all of Europe.
As I said, even socialists are allowed to work and be rich.
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: Schizophrenic music?
Schizophrenic was definitely being misused inaccurately in this article.
# Posted on November 11th 2008 by fauxcelt