I just came across this wonderful video this morning. This young lady is an absolute joy to behold & her music, a pure delight!
The Tradition is surely in very safe hands, when it is producing such talented musicians, although, I couldn't help wondering how well I'd be playing my own Fiddle now, if I'd been handed one .... in my Pram!
Yes it's very nice.
Unfortunately I was confronted by watching the plight of the 1000 Irish Traveller residents of Dale Farm in Essex, England, who are about to be evicted from THEIR OWN LAND: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JAyI-oB5dc
It's green belt land, but already some green belt land nearby to there is being given over to new housing so why not this community?
I'm sorry danny that you've had your morning spoiled by the plight of the travellers at Dale Farm.
May I suggest that this is not the place to debate the rights or wrongs (as there undoubtedly are) of the situation.
I am certain that 'race' issues will or do affect us all one way or another whatever our background/heritage but intruding on this discussion is not the way to raise public awareness or influence public opinion.
She looks like she's played this stuff for 40 years - not just flash but real feel and she so obviously loves what she' doing. We'll have to watch her progress
This is so refreshing to watch & is just like so many of the very young Irish Dancers I've seen. When they are young, they often smile & laugh as they dance, which is a joy to watch.
Sadly when they get older, like so many of us session musicians, they tend to look ..... Oh So Serious!
I watched a YouTube recently of a session, which was clearly being filmed by someone standing at the bar & you can clearly hear someone nearby saying ..... "Miserable Buggers!"
It's kind of a shame in some ways, that more of us can't actually display the joy we feel, when we are playing ..... says me, who looks more miserable than most, when I play!
I used to play regularly with Co. Antrim Flute player Dee Havlin & she is a delight to watch, because quite apart from her brilliant music, she looks so happy when she plays that all eyes are drawn to her.
I'm not saying we should all be grinning like Country & Western musicians ..... just that, when it comes naturally, it is such a great advert for the music.
Cheers
Dick
P.S. Aye Jim, & you still haven't told us which birthday you celebrated in style, recently!
The word that comes to mind when watching this delightful young musician is presence. She is so comfortable, so centered in what she's doing. A pleasure to behold.
The second thought that came into my mind when I watched the video was that no one could have ever told her it was supposed to be difficult. The first thought was that playing of that quality is an example for us all.
What about the wee mite in the middle of this polka band? www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3CDgX-SvZA&feature=channel
She appears to be playing all the notes and having a good look round as well
Still, you know she has worked hard to make it sound so easy!
Our kids here don't play quite that well (that's no insult!), but they have that confidence to put the tune across and that sense of rhythm that will never quite come to many of us who took it up older.
They're still willing to play with us old goats, and I love it when they play rings around me and can't see what the fuss is about!
I bet she's still taking lessons.....It's hard to believe she's been playing more than twice as long as I have, yet is still young. I read she started playing at 2 years old - if everyone did that, music would be very different!
The ideal way to start a Spring Morning!
The ideal way to start a Spring Morning!
I just came across this wonderful video this morning. This young lady is an absolute joy to behold & her music, a pure delight!
The Tradition is surely in very safe hands, when it is producing such talented musicians, although, I couldn't help wondering how well I'd be playing my own Fiddle now, if I'd been handed one .... in my Pram!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ3YJV3ZHaY
Does anyone know if this young lady, who must have reached the grand old age of 12 or 13 by now, is still enchanting audiences with her music?
The advert says the future is Orange ....... I'd say it's GREEN!
Mind you, is anyone else feeling just a little bit .... OLD today?
Cheers
Dick
# Posted on March 20th 2010 by Ptarmigan
Re: The ideal way to start a Spring Morning!
She's called Mairéad Hickey and she's the All-Ireland U-12 fiddle champion for 2008.
http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_304_3_mairead_hickey_plays_two_reels_in_a_street_session/
I'm feeling old and I'm 20
# Posted on March 20th 2010 by D.J.F.
Re: The ideal way to start a Spring Morning!
That's lovely, thank you.
# Posted on March 20th 2010 by gam
Re: The ideal way to start a Spring Morning!
Yep...after listening to that, feeling very old and superfluous.
A rare combination of technique and almost instinctive understanding of the music I would say.
Whoever she is I sincerly hope she is still playing today.
# Posted on March 20th 2010 by john knoss
Re: The ideal way to start a Spring Morning!
Yes it's very nice.
Unfortunately I was confronted by watching the plight of the 1000 Irish Traveller residents of Dale Farm in Essex, England, who are about to be evicted from THEIR OWN LAND:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JAyI-oB5dc
It's green belt land, but already some green belt land nearby to there is being given over to new housing so why not this community?
# Posted on March 20th 2010 by Rudall the time
Re: The ideal way to start a Spring Morning!
"I sincerly hope she is still playing today." ... indeed John, & so say all of us!
Thanks for the info & excellent link D.J.F. It's great to see she's going from strength to strength!
Cheers
Dick
# Posted on March 20th 2010 by Ptarmigan
Re: The ideal way to start a Spring Morning!
Tnx for the CCE link, two of my all time favourites and beautifully played..
Ah, youth, sure an' all, tis wasted on the young. Not that I'm jealous or disgruntled you understand.
# Posted on March 20th 2010 by john knoss
Re: The ideal way to start a Spring Morning!
I'm sorry danny that you've had your morning spoiled by the plight of the travellers at Dale Farm.
May I suggest that this is not the place to debate the rights or wrongs (as there undoubtedly are) of the situation.
I am certain that 'race' issues will or do affect us all one way or another whatever our background/heritage but intruding on this discussion is not the way to raise public awareness or influence public opinion.
# Posted on March 20th 2010 by john knoss
Re: The ideal way to start a Spring Morning!
She looks like she's played this stuff for 40 years - not just flash but real feel and she so obviously loves what she' doing. We'll have to watch her progress
# Posted on March 20th 2010 by eiluned
Re: The ideal way to start a Spring Morning!
Thanks Ptarmy! Great video.
# Posted on March 20th 2010 by AlBrown
Re: The ideal way to start a Spring Morning!
Yes Dick -- Beware EVERYBODY - That plays a Fiddle -- lol.
She even has time to smile and look away at the cartoon's on the Wall -- Magic.....
AND .. You said,, Dick--
< Mind you, is anyone else feeling just a little bit ....
OLD today? >
I do,, but then I even Look it ! --- lol.....
jim,,
# Posted on March 20th 2010 by FIDDLE4
Re: The ideal way to start a Spring Morning!
I think one of things I really love about this video, is the fact that Mairéad is smiling as she plays & just looks so relaxed.
This is so refreshing to watch & is just like so many of the very young Irish Dancers I've seen. When they are young, they often smile & laugh as they dance, which is a joy to watch.
Sadly when they get older, like so many of us session musicians, they tend to look ..... Oh So Serious!
I watched a YouTube recently of a session, which was clearly being filmed by someone standing at the bar & you can clearly hear someone nearby saying ..... "Miserable Buggers!"
It's kind of a shame in some ways, that more of us can't actually display the joy we feel, when we are playing ..... says me, who looks more miserable than most, when I play!
I used to play regularly with Co. Antrim Flute player Dee Havlin & she is a delight to watch, because quite apart from her brilliant music, she looks so happy when she plays that all eyes are drawn to her.
I'm not saying we should all be grinning like Country & Western musicians ..... just that, when it comes naturally, it is such a great advert for the music.
Cheers
Dick
P.S. Aye Jim, & you still haven't told us which birthday you celebrated in style, recently!
# Posted on March 20th 2010 by Ptarmigan
Re: The ideal way to start a Spring Morning!
The word that comes to mind when watching this delightful young musician is presence. She is so comfortable, so centered in what she's doing. A pleasure to behold.
# Posted on March 20th 2010 by sara505sings
Re: The ideal way to start a Spring Morning!
I love the way she broke into the reel. Totally unexpected and never flicked her hair once. Great stuff.
# Posted on March 20th 2010 by Free Reed
Re: The ideal way to start a Spring Morning!
The second thought that came into my mind when I watched the video was that no one could have ever told her it was supposed to be difficult. The first thought was that playing of that quality is an example for us all.
# Posted on March 21st 2010 by Trevor Jennings
Re: The ideal way to start a Spring Morning!
What about the wee mite in the middle of this polka band? www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3CDgX-SvZA&feature=channel
She appears to be playing all the notes and having a good look round as well
# Posted on March 21st 2010 by deeor
Re: The ideal way to start a Spring Morning!
Still, you know she has worked hard to make it sound so easy!
Our kids here don't play quite that well (that's no insult!), but they have that confidence to put the tune across and that sense of rhythm that will never quite come to many of us who took it up older.
They're still willing to play with us old goats, and I love it when they play rings around me and can't see what the fuss is about!
# Posted on March 22nd 2010 by curamach
Re: The ideal way to start a Spring Morning!
We started this spring morning with snow. In Georgia! That's just not right. I'm sure it was meant for Montana. Probably a zip code error.
# Posted on March 22nd 2010 by Bob himself
Re: The ideal way to start a Spring Morning!
Hmph. Here in Montana it's 60 F. and sunny.
(But the forecast for tonight is snow and wind, and some dark, too.)
# Posted on March 22nd 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: The ideal way to start a Spring Morning!
I wonder if Ms Hickey gives lessons.....
# Posted on March 22nd 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: The ideal way to start a Spring Morning!
I came across this a while back, too, and have been pondering how she makes it look so lovely. And sound so lovely.
# Posted on March 23rd 2010 by Michele Sims
Re: The ideal way to start a Spring Morning!
I bet she's still taking lessons.....It's hard to believe she's been playing more than twice as long as I have, yet is still young. I read she started playing at 2 years old - if everyone did that, music would be very different!
# Posted on March 23rd 2010 by enirehtac