Comments

Svengali

Svengali

Do you have a local player who is always raising the stakes with great tunes from the old repertoire ?

# Posted on July 31st 2009 by Patkiwi

Re: Svengali

Huh? In my session experience it's always the exact opposite of
that -- people bringing in new tunes to liven up the stale
repertoire. "Raising the stakes" does not mean dragging out
the Tarbolten for the 5,000th time.

However, I'm still learning the that old repertoire so I'm not as
bored with it as some others I know.

# Posted on July 31st 2009 by Hup

Re: Svengali

Hmm.

Isn't Pat talking about the 5001th time that someone plays the Tarbolton, and does it so outstandingly well - or differently - that you realise that you'd never quite heard it properly before.

Is that what you mean patkiwi? or is it just these pills making me see things differently?

# Posted on July 31st 2009 by showaddydadito

Re: Svengali

Yes, you mean, we've played X a million times and then Bob comes in and knocks our socks off with a nifty passionate version of X that we've never heard before?

Or, Bob hears Y on some groovy old album, or from visiting a session out of town, learns it, plays it for us at our session, we all dig it and learn it?

Or do you mean that Bob heard obscure tune Z just written yesterday by some twit and decides to inflict it on us remorselessly, despite our mutual group hatred of Z as a plastic throwaway vanity tune without any staying power?

Oops, my bias is showing, sorry, how indecent of me.

# Posted on July 31st 2009 by SWFL Fiddler

Re: Svengali

"Or do you mean that Bob heard obscure tune Z just written yesterday by some twit and decides to inflict it on us remorselessly, despite our mutual group hatred of Z as a plastic throwaway vanity tune without any staying power?"

Well since he said from the old repertoire, I presume he means one of you're first two options!

And yes it's great when it happens, or when someone plays an old classic that you had nearly forgotten!

# Posted on July 31st 2009 by tnoumarap

Re: Svengali

Not a local player - not even a session - but I heard a lovely version of the Pigeon on the Gate at the "Riches of Clare" concert at lunchtime, played by Oisin McDiarmada.
Familiar tune, new (to me) take = great music!
He said he got the version from a Sligo whistle player whose name has slipped my mind.

# Posted on July 31st 2009 by RockyRoader

Re: Svengali

Note to self: Drink 1st cup of coffee prior to posting

# Posted on July 31st 2009 by SWFL Fiddler

Re: Svengali

...but to answer the question, we have a few folks. Seems to me the most interesting musicians, regardless of skill level, always have something nifty for you, especially the friends I play with regularly at sessions.

# Posted on July 31st 2009 by SWFL Fiddler

Re: Svengali

Yes. I'd say more than one.

# Posted on August 1st 2009 by nicholas

Re: Svengali

{pout} I like the Tarbolton. And just because you've played it 5,000 times, doesn't mean the rest of us have (yet). I assume if you're bored by playing it, you could just not play it....

As I see it the "old repertoire" is really vast. And there are other folks at my session who bring out new/obscure stuff, so I don't feel bad about balancing it with the tried-and-true.

# Posted on August 1st 2009 by worthy

Re: Svengali

Do you mean maybe, someone who plays tunes that were once played at the session but everyone sort of forgot about and is delighted to be reminded of its existence? I love that moment where everyone sorta thinks 'I've heard this before...' and then realizes what it is and jumps in. It always amazes me the good tunes I sort of forget about, and I love being reminded.

# Posted on August 1st 2009 by dannym

Re: Svengali

Hey Patkiwi and Hup, are you pulling our collective legs??

I'm 59 soon and I am still in awe of much of the music of the generations that have come before and after me. Was the person who played the Tarbolton as old or older than me? Is there a bit of ageism creeping in here. Just asking.

I not part of a rotational session "scene" but love to take every opportunity to play with others. I think that I am doing well when I hear others are getting bored and starting to moan about playing or listening to tunes that have fallen off the reel hit parade.

I have adult and teenage kids who play rock music, irish music, sing all sorts of stuff or whatever. No problems. I have never proscribed what they or others should or should not play.

Have we become consumers of whatever tradition is available then tossing aside what we have no use for as being inferior.

Still not sure if I'm not having my leg pulled but hop on the train fellas and remember that no matter where you are on the ladder you are always looking at someone elses backside. Get used to it.

# Posted on August 2nd 2009 by bigyabby

Re: Svengali

I'd be happy to hear Oisin McDiarmada play any tune any
number of times!

# Posted on August 2nd 2009 by Hup

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