Just replying to a querie made me think about sessions.
The chap I was quoting thought that a successful session was one that "the participants should have the opportunity to join in as much as possible" - everybody plays everything. And then I rembered an enjoyable session where it was taken in turn to provide a 'party piece' and others could join in if they wished the second or third time around. I suppose the first kind of session would be a regular one where the people would remain fairly constant attenders and the second kind where people were together just for that ocaision. Still it's interesting to hear the odd 'new' tune or old tune played in a new way, and the tradition was supposed to have originally been a solo one.
The PERFECT session? Good lord. Guess it depends on my mood. But right now the perfect session would be one in a fairly quiet pub with just enough appreciative people listening, one or two singers, a bunch of really fun people who happen to play the music, and
Mmmm ... The perfect session. Anyone has ever been in one?
My ideal session would be: no strange instruments not designed to play ITM (which eventually lead their players to play non-ITM); a fairly quiet pub (as Zina said); a good bunch of players from different areas so everyone can learn new tunes or settings; a small representation of several instruments (4 fiddles or 4 whistles can be as annoying as 4 bodhráns or 4 guitars, can't they?); a good tempo, neither too fast nor too slow; plenty of time to enjoy the craic; and of course .. some pints of creamy stout.
I don't think it's asking too much, isn't it?
I specially enjoy the session when the players start to 'chain' tunes without being previously settled up. I mean, when they're getting to the end of tune someone calls up another tune to be played, and so on. I've been playing like this for more than 20 minuts, and I once saw a session (unfortunately I wasn't playing) where they played a set 30 minuts long. It's a lot of fun and the audience gets mad.
Perfect session, 2 fiddles, 1 banjo, 1 concertina, 1 box, bazouki, bodhran, loads of pints, and a lovley quite pub - dont think there is such a pub here IRELAND JUST DREW WITH GERMANY!!!!!
ooopppps!! Your right - totally forgot to mention it - cause at that exact time we drew with germany and I went a bit mental - absolutley flute and pipes, what was I thinking!!
Of course, in a perfect world, everybody else in the perfect session would be mighty players AND I'd be able to keep up with them. *grin* So much for perfection...
Maybe the perfect session is the one you're sitting in at the time...
Yeah - but if I'm in a mighty session and the tunes are really brilliant & I'm not on form or dont know many of the tunes I still get a thrill. I know alot of people who wouldnt get any satisfaction sitting in a session if they didnt know the tunes etc, but I dont feel that way at all. It can still be a perfect session....(ok Zina - I think we may be getting a little deep!)
There are some folks who come to a session, or I guess what we have more here in my neck of the woulds would be called a jam, just to try to show how much they know. Which they generaly wind up showing how little they do know. (I have been guilty of that on more than one occasion)
The hardest thing for me to learn was to show up and be willing NOT to play. Once I could be happy just listening and not feeling as though I had to play all the time, I guess I could say it became a good session for me.
As for finding the perfect session or jam, I guess it's like my search for the perfect Chicken Fried Steak. It's a lot of fun looking for it.
Yeah - I'm quite happy listening to an awesome session - its almost like I can feel myself learning just by being there.....I have never heard of a chicken fried steak though )
Tony, I'd love to know what you have got against non ITM instruments playing the music. I would say that, as long as the tunes have that indefineable flow, it doesn't matter what they are played on. I know a woman who plays her arse off on the descant recorder - her musicianship is incredible! I'm trying to learn them on the 'cello. I believe passionately that any instrument is "allowed" to play ITM, providing the players make a good job of it. Surely it's the beauty of the melodies, and how they are phrased, that is important?
Hmmm,, Chicken Fried Steak, breaded and battered Round steak fried in a pan, mashed spuds and white gravy and fried okra. Good stuff.
I once sat in with some fellows, one of which was playing a cello, and he was actually playing the fire out of that thing! Reels, jigs, hornpipes, etc. It was a neat sound. Interesting, fun to watch, but a neat sound all the same.
I think Toni was mainly talking about an attitude more than an instrument. We've had QUITE a lot of discussion about non-trad instruments playing trad (or a version of trad thereof) on previous threads. Anyone can play ITM on any instrument, but there's certainly lots of instruments I don't want to hear it on -- tuba comes to mind. *grin* Check out the previous discussions if you're interested. We got quite heated and vociferous (surprise) about it.
bb: chicken fried steak -- lovely stuff, makes me hungry just to think about it, especially with mashed potatoes and chicken gravy with lots of pepper -- but it's the kind of thing that makes your arteries clang shut just smelling the steam off the plate.
Ive been part of sessions which i thought were pretty perfect, most of them happened at a fiddle course in scotland called BLAZIN' IN BEAULY. It had all the important things: lots of fiddlers my age, loads of great tunes, the members of Blazin' Fiddles, some smirnoff ( forget pints of creamy stout), and best of all it had Wackadoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
Tommy's Tarbukas on a Tuba. Hmmm,, the mental picture is not pretty.
The Cello Fellow's name was Earl Hearn. He passed away a couple of years ago. His main instrument was fiddle, but he played many other instruments as well. He had some great stories of playing barn dances and such in the 1930's and 40's.
Jonathan – Last fall I went to a concert by the great Scottish fiddler, Alasdair Fraser, and for part of the concert, he played with a cellist. (They played all traditional tunes.) It was very well received by the audience. He explained that in the past, the cello was frequently used for traditional music in Scotland. No Irish angle here, but if it was good enough for Alasdair Fraser….
I’ve been to two types of singing sessions that sound like the tune sessions described above. One type is group singing, with everyone joining in as much as possible. The other involves everyone taking a turn to sing solo. My own preference is for the first type. I’ve never really understood why a bunch of people who love to sing (or play) would get together for a few hours and then spend 95% of their time not singing or playing! (The solo singers’ session always operates this way; it’s not just a one-time get together.) Well, I do enjoy listening too, and it’s a good way to hear new material you may want to learn. But I still prefer the first type. Most sessions I’ve been to involved everyone playing as much as they can, but someone told me about a session in Cape Breton in which each person took a turn playing solo. Does anyone know if this is typical in CB?
This strikes me as a god point for some rubbish jokes bout instruments.
Definitions
glissando: a technique adopted by string players for difficult runs
subito piano: indicates an opportunity for some obscure orchestra player to become a soloist
detaché: an indication that the trombones are to play with their slides removed
senza sordino: a term used to remind the player that he forgot to put his mute on a few measures back
conductor: a musician who is adept at following many people at the same time
half step: the pace used by a cellist when carrying his instrument
diatonic: low-calorie Schweppes
How do you get a cellist to play fortissimo?
Write pp, espressivo.
What is a gentleman?
Somebody who knows how to play the accordian, but doesn’t.
How do you get the viola section to sound like the horn section?
Have them miss every other note.
What’s the difference between a soprano and a pit bull?
The jewelery.
There were two people walking down the street. One was a musician. The other didn’t have any money either.
Jonathan, I have a cd titled Crossing to Scotland that features cellist Abby Newton playing jigs, reels, strathspeys, and airs. Alasdair Fraser joins in on a few tracks, but this really is a cello cd. Put out on Culburnie Records (in the U.S. ph: 800-830-6296 in Nevada City, California; culburni@oro.net. In the UK, ph: 0141-636-4414 in Jedburgh Scotland; 1746@compuserve.com). I'm not plugging it, just offering a source for hearing Celtic cello.
I had a very interesting session at our last camp out. Clarinet's and Tubas. I can't say it was a good session but what the heck. We had already played for two days straight. It was destined to happen.
I wish to thank Jeffrey Barns for the wind contributions. If anyone could have made it work - it was him. It still didn't work.
A clarinet sounds great with a bit of keyboard and drums behind it and i know this as my cousin plays it. Also classical flute sounds nice. Or a saxophone or harmonica. My perfect session would include all of these as well as your basic fiddles (love 'em) pipes (uilleann or highland) and flute bodhrán bazouki and a banjo. my god. what am i like?
The most enjoyable sessions ive played in have had a good variety of instruments, but not too many that a sesison sounds like a symphony!
There has to be a decent crowd that appreciate the music and dont compete with the sessions with their own talking and yelling.
Definately dancers. My regular session attracts a set dancing mob (which i happen to be in too!) and its great to play for them when they get up and get into it.
variety of tunes and songs is important, as playing fast dance tunes can be tiring after a while.
I quite like it when dancers turn up as well, not all the time - sometimes i just like a quite tune, but I do like it when the set dancers come along anyways. But I'm sorry bodhranbasher - I do not share your enthusiasm for those other instruments - no offence meant at all. Dont get me wrong - I quite like cello backing tunes - I used to play with a lovely cellist (?) anyhow I'm pretty set in my trad ways - Its one of my many faults! One last question - does Fried Chicken steak have anything to do with chicken at all??? )
God,
I didn't mean to start a discussion here about non ITM instruments. I was just throwing out some om my anger.
Jonathan: I have nothing against any instrument ... but there's a fella in our session who comes with a hurdy-gurdy. By the time he has the instrument in tune a whole pint could be gently swallowed, and then he starts playing non ITM music in very weird keys, so no one can join in. If he does that (and be sure he does it) three or four times, half the session is spoiled that way.
I was thinking of that when I said 'non ITM' instruments. Sorry if I made any offence.
We were all talking about the perfect session before - I had a near experience last night - it was far too loud, smoky, hot, there were 4(!) fiddles, pipes, box, banjo, 2 flutes, bodhran - couldnt hear a thing - but......what a class bunch of people - it was the atmosphere & I havent enjoyed a session like that in ages - so I changed my mind - its all about the people ) (oh...and the pints of course)
Pbbbbbthththththtthhhhhht to you two. *grin* It's a joke. Because I don't have a middle name. Heh. Besides, remember, I'm a figment of Jeremy's imagination.
It was Indian food. He's always happy when we do Indian food. I'm happy because the lesson with George was great -- not so happy because, of course, after a lesson with a new teacher, I always come away feeling horrible because there's just so much that I have to learn to sound the way I want, which I don't even come close to yet. More playing more stuff slowly, paying more attention to my bowing! Aaack!
Dunno, Wayne -- sometimes it's more pain than fun! Only joking, though -- I do love this stuff, God help me, and every ounce of pain is worth it if it gets me closer to where I want to be. I think of it sort of like a fact of life -- like, you don't truly mature at all until you go through some pain -- for some reason, pain is a really good teacher, which means that it's not all negative, right?
Had the second lesson with George Keith today -- he's such a great player, and so encouraging while at the same time giving great critiques. I've got sooooooo much stuff to work on. Lots of bowing work, mainly, although of course the other stuff needs work too, but mainly the bowing... *sigh*
Then a great session with An Cuigear at Conor O'Neill's in Boulder -- a lot of fun, nice to hear the Boston tunes, and damn, those guys are good. My husband says he doesn't even like the banjo, but Dave Cory "totally rocks"! Of course, all five of them are grand players.
*yawn* Well, I was up at 4:30 am working in order to get done in time to take a lesson with George...so I'm off to bed! Nighty night, all.
Talk about pain I found it tonight. Just got back from playing a Contra dance and my bow hand hurts. The caller did some kind of old english waltz so we wound up playing 15 minutes vvvveeeeerrrryyyyyy ssssssssssllllllllllllllllllooooooooooooooowwwwww! Then when that was over, he claimed,, "Last waltz and see ya'll in a couple of weeks." We looked at each other, played a bit of Far and Away, then took off on Cooly's/ Tam Lin/ Banshee/ Masons/ and Wizards walk. My word by the time we got to the last one we were far exceeding the ability of all involved. Needless to say the dancers had stopped and were all staring at us in disbelief.
Oh you are so right, the pain is worth the fun.
Good night all, Yesterday was my 41st birthday so hoist a Beamish, Guiness, Harp, or whatever your fancy to me for surviving this long and then one to yourselves for being keepers of the music.
The very very best session I ever was at was in The Remotest Pub in Scotland which is only accessible by boat....it was absolutely jam packed with people before 30 of us from Sabhal Mor Ostaig arrived. It was one of those night when even the bar staff were dancing on the tables, and the musicians had to stand on tables to make room for the dancers.
Also like Wackadack , I agree that BLAZING IN BEAULY had immense sessions though I am very surprised she can actually remember any of them ......
a good session to me.... is a group of strangers and a few friends getting together anywhere playing the normal session tunes as well as a few solos from thoses wishing to spread their tunes around, with everyone enthusiastic and full of energy. It doesn't really matter what instruments anyone plays to me as long as they all make an equal contribution!
Well thats what i think.
Jo
kinds of sessions
kinds of sessions
Just replying to a querie made me think about sessions.
The chap I was quoting thought that a successful session was one that "the participants should have the opportunity to join in as much as possible" - everybody plays everything. And then I rembered an enjoyable session where it was taken in turn to provide a 'party piece' and others could join in if they wished the second or third time around. I suppose the first kind of session would be a regular one where the people would remain fairly constant attenders and the second kind where people were together just for that ocaision. Still it's interesting to hear the odd 'new' tune or old tune played in a new way, and the tradition was supposed to have originally been a solo one.
Any ideas on the perfect session?
# Posted on June 4th 2002 by Alancorsini
Re: kinds of sessions
The PERFECT session? Good lord. Guess it depends on my mood. But right now the perfect session would be one in a fairly quiet pub with just enough appreciative people listening, one or two singers, a bunch of really fun people who happen to play the music, and
# Posted on June 4th 2002 by Zina Lee
OOPS --
and, I was about to add, nowhere to be or deadlines to have to make for three weeks. Maybe four.
Zina
# Posted on June 4th 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: kinds of sessions
Mmmm ... The perfect session. Anyone has ever been in one?
My ideal session would be: no strange instruments not designed to play ITM (which eventually lead their players to play non-ITM); a fairly quiet pub (as Zina said); a good bunch of players from different areas so everyone can learn new tunes or settings; a small representation of several instruments (4 fiddles or 4 whistles can be as annoying as 4 bodhráns or 4 guitars, can't they?); a good tempo, neither too fast nor too slow; plenty of time to enjoy the craic; and of course .. some pints of creamy stout.
I don't think it's asking too much, isn't it?
I specially enjoy the session when the players start to 'chain' tunes without being previously settled up. I mean, when they're getting to the end of tune someone calls up another tune to be played, and so on. I've been playing like this for more than 20 minuts, and I once saw a session (unfortunately I wasn't playing) where they played a set 30 minuts long. It's a lot of fun and the audience gets mad.
# Posted on June 4th 2002 by Toni Ribas
Re: kinds of sessions
Perfect session, 2 fiddles, 1 banjo, 1 concertina, 1 box, bazouki, bodhran, loads of pints, and a lovley quite pub - dont think there is such a pub here
IRELAND JUST DREW WITH GERMANY!!!!!
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by bb
Re: kinds of sessions
No flute, bb? Gotta have a fluter...and maybe a piper...
zls
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: kinds of sessions
ooopppps!! Your right - totally forgot to mention it - cause at that exact time we drew with germany and I went a bit mental - absolutley flute and pipes, what was I thinking!!
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by bb
Re: kinds of sessions
Of course, in a perfect world, everybody else in the perfect session would be mighty players AND I'd be able to keep up with them. *grin* So much for perfection...
Maybe the perfect session is the one you're sitting in at the time...
Zina
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: kinds of sessions
Yeah - but if I'm in a mighty session and the tunes are really brilliant & I'm not on form or dont know many of the tunes I still get a thrill. I know alot of people who wouldnt get any satisfaction sitting in a session if they didnt know the tunes etc, but I dont feel that way at all. It can still be a perfect session....(ok Zina - I think we may be getting a little deep!)
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by bb
Re: kinds of sessions
I guess it depends on why you go to the session.
There are some folks who come to a session, or I guess what we have more here in my neck of the woulds would be called a jam, just to try to show how much they know. Which they generaly wind up showing how little they do know. (I have been guilty of that on more than one occasion)
The hardest thing for me to learn was to show up and be willing NOT to play. Once I could be happy just listening and not feeling as though I had to play all the time, I guess I could say it became a good session for me.
As for finding the perfect session or jam, I guess it's like my search for the perfect Chicken Fried Steak. It's a lot of fun looking for it.
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by flyinfiddler
Re: kinds of sessions
Yeah - I'm quite happy listening to an awesome session - its almost like I can feel myself learning just by being there.....I have never heard of a chicken fried steak though
)
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by bb
Re: kinds of sessions
Tony, I'd love to know what you have got against non ITM instruments playing the music. I would say that, as long as the tunes have that indefineable flow, it doesn't matter what they are played on. I know a woman who plays her arse off on the descant recorder - her musicianship is incredible! I'm trying to learn them on the 'cello. I believe passionately that any instrument is "allowed" to play ITM, providing the players make a good job of it. Surely it's the beauty of the melodies, and how they are phrased, that is important?
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by Jonathan
Just realised, this could be a whole new thread . . .
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by Jonathan
Re: kinds of sessions
Hmmm,, Chicken Fried Steak, breaded and battered Round steak fried in a pan, mashed spuds and white gravy and fried okra. Good stuff.
I once sat in with some fellows, one of which was playing a cello, and he was actually playing the fire out of that thing! Reels, jigs, hornpipes, etc. It was a neat sound. Interesting, fun to watch, but a neat sound all the same.
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by flyinfiddler
Re: kinds of sessions
Wow - I'd love to meet this cello fellow!
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by Jonathan
Cello
Me too. It would be neat as an accompanyment instrument as well.
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by glauber
Re: kinds of sessions
I think Toni was mainly talking about an attitude more than an instrument. We've had QUITE a lot of discussion about non-trad instruments playing trad (or a version of trad thereof) on previous threads. Anyone can play ITM on any instrument, but there's certainly lots of instruments I don't want to hear it on -- tuba comes to mind. *grin* Check out the previous discussions if you're interested. We got quite heated and vociferous (surprise) about it.
Zina
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by Zina Lee
bb: chicken fried steak -- lovely stuff, makes me hungry just to think about it, especially with mashed potatoes and chicken gravy with lots of pepper -- but it's the kind of thing that makes your arteries clang shut just smelling the steam off the plate.
Zina
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: kinds of sessions
Hmmm . . . tuba . . . at least you could make yourself heard in a noisy, Friday night session!
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by Jonathan
Re: kinds of sessions
Now, the quest to find the Perfect Tiramisu....THERE's a fun time for you. Heh.
Zina
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: kinds of sessions
Or the quest to find the perfect tuba!
so many quests, so little time.
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by glauber
Re: kinds of sessions
Ive been part of sessions which i thought were pretty perfect, most of them happened at a fiddle course in scotland called BLAZIN' IN BEAULY. It had all the important things: lots of fiddlers my age, loads of great tunes, the members of Blazin' Fiddles, some smirnoff ( forget pints of creamy stout), and best of all it had Wackadoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by Wackadack
Re: kinds of sessions
Tommy's Tarbukas on a Tuba. Hmmm,, the mental picture is not pretty.
The Cello Fellow's name was Earl Hearn. He passed away a couple of years ago. His main instrument was fiddle, but he played many other instruments as well. He had some great stories of playing barn dances and such in the 1930's and 40's.
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by flyinfiddler
Re: kinds of sessions
Jonathan – Last fall I went to a concert by the great Scottish fiddler, Alasdair Fraser, and for part of the concert, he played with a cellist. (They played all traditional tunes.) It was very well received by the audience. He explained that in the past, the cello was frequently used for traditional music in Scotland. No Irish angle here, but if it was good enough for Alasdair Fraser….
I’ve been to two types of singing sessions that sound like the tune sessions described above. One type is group singing, with everyone joining in as much as possible. The other involves everyone taking a turn to sing solo. My own preference is for the first type. I’ve never really understood why a bunch of people who love to sing (or play) would get together for a few hours and then spend 95% of their time not singing or playing! (The solo singers’ session always operates this way; it’s not just a one-time get together.) Well, I do enjoy listening too, and it’s a good way to hear new material you may want to learn. But I still prefer the first type. Most sessions I’ve been to involved everyone playing as much as they can, but someone told me about a session in Cape Breton in which each person took a turn playing solo. Does anyone know if this is typical in CB?
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by Zhenya
Re: kinds of sessions
A tuba would be interesting.....but imagine a bassoon!
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by Wackadack
Re: kinds of sessions
This strikes me as a god point for some rubbish jokes bout instruments.
Definitions
glissando: a technique adopted by string players for difficult runs
subito piano: indicates an opportunity for some obscure orchestra player to become a soloist
detaché: an indication that the trombones are to play with their slides removed
senza sordino: a term used to remind the player that he forgot to put his mute on a few measures back
conductor: a musician who is adept at following many people at the same time
half step: the pace used by a cellist when carrying his instrument
diatonic: low-calorie Schweppes
How do you get a cellist to play fortissimo?
Write pp, espressivo.
What is a gentleman?
Somebody who knows how to play the accordian, but doesn’t.
How do you get the viola section to sound like the horn section?
Have them miss every other note.
What’s the difference between a soprano and a pit bull?
The jewelery.
There were two people walking down the street. One was a musician. The other didn’t have any money either.
Hope these dont offend anyone.
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by Wackadack
Re: kinds of sessions
Them are pretty good there Wackadack. Mind if I add some to my banjokes page?
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by flyinfiddler
Re: kinds of sessions
Jonathan, I have a cd titled Crossing to Scotland that features cellist Abby Newton playing jigs, reels, strathspeys, and airs. Alasdair Fraser joins in on a few tracks, but this really is a cello cd. Put out on Culburnie Records (in the U.S. ph: 800-830-6296 in Nevada City, California; culburni@oro.net. In the UK, ph: 0141-636-4414 in Jedburgh Scotland; 1746@compuserve.com). I'm not plugging it, just offering a source for hearing Celtic cello.
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by Will Harmon
Re: kinds of sessions
That CD is in amazon.com, and there are sound samples there:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?H39512001
And Will, is there anything you don't know?
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by glauber
Tubas!
I had a very interesting session at our last camp out. Clarinet's and Tubas. I can't say it was a good session but what the heck. We had already played for two days straight. It was destined to happen.
I wish to thank Jeffrey Barns for the wind contributions. If anyone could have made it work - it was him. It still didn't work.
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by Mark Cordova
Try the "Crossing to Ireland" track.
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by glauber
Crossing to Ireland
I mean, for the Cello thing (2 messages above). Doh!
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by glauber
Re: kinds of sessions
Ah. Glauber, I didn't know that the cd was available at Amazon.com, and I *still* haven't figured out how to make my fiddle sound like Bobby Casey's.
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by Will Harmon
Re: kinds of sessions
How the heck do you take a tuba on a campout, fer catssake? *grin* The backpack must've been terrible lumpy. Heh.
Will doesn't know what my middle name is.
Zina
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: kinds of sessions
A clarinet sounds great with a bit of keyboard and drums behind it and i know this as my cousin plays it. Also classical flute sounds nice. Or a saxophone or harmonica. My perfect session would include all of these as well as your basic fiddles (love 'em) pipes (uilleann or highland) and flute bodhrán bazouki and a banjo. my god. what am i like?
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by bodhránbasher
oh i forgot. A tuba, obo and an electric bass. wow, what a sound!
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by bodhránbasher
Re: kinds of sessions
The most enjoyable sessions ive played in have had a good variety of instruments, but not too many that a sesison sounds like a symphony!
There has to be a decent crowd that appreciate the music and dont compete with the sessions with their own talking and yelling.
Definately dancers. My regular session attracts a set dancing mob (which i happen to be in too!) and its great to play for them when they get up and get into it.
variety of tunes and songs is important, as playing fast dance tunes can be tiring after a while.
# Posted on June 5th 2002 by Amckay
Re: kinds of sessions
I quite like it when dancers turn up as well, not all the time - sometimes i just like a quite tune, but I do like it when the set dancers come along anyways. But I'm sorry bodhranbasher - I do not share your enthusiasm for those other instruments - no offence meant at all. Dont get me wrong - I quite like cello backing tunes - I used to play with a lovely cellist (?) anyhow I'm pretty set in my trad ways - Its one of my many faults!
One last question - does Fried Chicken steak have anything to do with chicken at all??? 
)
# Posted on June 6th 2002 by bb
Re: kinds of sessions
God,
I didn't mean to start a discussion here about non ITM instruments. I was just throwing out some om my anger.
Jonathan: I have nothing against any instrument ... but there's a fella in our session who comes with a hurdy-gurdy. By the time he has the instrument in tune a whole pint could be gently swallowed, and then he starts playing non ITM music in very weird keys, so no one can join in. If he does that (and be sure he does it) three or four times, half the session is spoiled that way.
I was thinking of that when I said 'non ITM' instruments. Sorry if I made any offence.
# Posted on June 6th 2002 by Toni Ribas
Re: kinds of sessions
Toni - you poor thing - that really would drive me insane.
# Posted on June 6th 2002 by bb
Re: kinds of sessions
Yes, but the part about the pint, that part was nice.
# Posted on June 6th 2002 by glauber
Re: kinds of sessions
We were all talking about the perfect session before - I had a near experience last night - it was far too loud, smoky, hot, there were 4(!) fiddles, pipes, box, banjo, 2 flutes, bodhran - couldnt hear a thing - but......what a class bunch of people - it was the atmosphere & I havent enjoyed a session like that in ages - so I changed my mind - its all about the people
) (oh...and the pints of course)
# Posted on June 7th 2002 by bb
Re: kinds of sessions
Tony - no offence taken!
# Posted on June 7th 2002 by Jonathan
Re: kinds of sessions
Zina Snort Lee, isn't it?
# Posted on June 7th 2002 by Will Harmon
Zeena, Warrior Pricess of the Chinese-Irish
I thought it was Zee Nah Lee, but i think you got it right.
# Posted on June 7th 2002 by glauber
Re: kinds of sessions
Pbbbbbthththththtthhhhhht to you two. *grin* It's a joke. Because I don't have a middle name. Heh. Besides, remember, I'm a figment of Jeremy's imagination.
Zina
# Posted on June 7th 2002 by Zina Lee
Infinite Recursion
On the other hand, Jeremy is a figment of Zina's imagination. Go figure
# Posted on June 7th 2002 by glauber
Re: kinds of sessions
Recursion works for me. I am a figment of my own imagination....
# Posted on June 7th 2002 by Will Harmon
Re: kinds of sessions
That's because you're a self-actualized person. I'm still a figment of Zina's imagination.
# Posted on June 7th 2002 by glauber
Re: kinds of sessions
Do you guys just have too much time on your hands, or, like me, are you just eager for any excuse not to be working? *grin*
zls
# Posted on June 7th 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: kinds of sessions
Yes.
# Posted on June 7th 2002 by glauber
Re: kinds of sessions
I thought this WAS work....
I am a self-virtualized person.
Which reminds me, they say you are what you eat. Does that mean the more you eat, the more you are?
And what is it about strings that makes balloons float?
(heh, heh)
# Posted on June 7th 2002 by Will Harmon
Re: kinds of sessions
*snort* You two. Off to lunch with my husband, and then to a fiddle lesson with George Keith! Very excited!
Zina
# Posted on June 7th 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: kinds of sessions
Your husband will be very happy.
# Posted on June 7th 2002 by glauber
Re: kinds of sessions
It was Indian food. He's always happy when we do Indian food.
I'm happy because the lesson with George was great -- not so happy because, of course, after a lesson with a new teacher, I always come away feeling horrible because there's just so much that I have to learn to sound the way I want, which I don't even come close to yet. More playing more stuff slowly, paying more attention to my bowing! Aaack! 
Zina
# Posted on June 7th 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: kinds of sessions
Aye but think of the fun yer havin'.
# Posted on June 7th 2002 by flyinfiddler
Re: kinds of sessions
Dunno, Wayne -- sometimes it's more pain than fun! Only joking, though -- I do love this stuff, God help me, and every ounce of pain is worth it if it gets me closer to where I want to be. I think of it sort of like a fact of life -- like, you don't truly mature at all until you go through some pain -- for some reason, pain is a really good teacher, which means that it's not all negative, right?
Had the second lesson with George Keith today -- he's such a great player, and so encouraging while at the same time giving great critiques. I've got sooooooo much stuff to work on. Lots of bowing work, mainly, although of course the other stuff needs work too, but mainly the bowing... *sigh*
Then a great session with An Cuigear at Conor O'Neill's in Boulder -- a lot of fun, nice to hear the Boston tunes, and damn, those guys are good. My husband says he doesn't even like the banjo, but Dave Cory "totally rocks"! Of course, all five of them are grand players.
*yawn* Well, I was up at 4:30 am working in order to get done in time to take a lesson with George...so I'm off to bed! Nighty night, all.
Zina
# Posted on June 8th 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: kinds of sessions
Talk about pain I found it tonight. Just got back from playing a Contra dance and my bow hand hurts. The caller did some kind of old english waltz so we wound up playing 15 minutes vvvveeeeerrrryyyyyy ssssssssssllllllllllllllllllooooooooooooooowwwwww! Then when that was over, he claimed,, "Last waltz and see ya'll in a couple of weeks." We looked at each other, played a bit of Far and Away, then took off on Cooly's/ Tam Lin/ Banshee/ Masons/ and Wizards walk. My word by the time we got to the last one we were far exceeding the ability of all involved. Needless to say the dancers had stopped and were all staring at us in disbelief.
Oh you are so right, the pain is worth the fun.
Good night all, Yesterday was my 41st birthday so hoist a Beamish, Guiness, Harp, or whatever your fancy to me for surviving this long and then one to yourselves for being keepers of the music.
May it never end.
# Posted on June 8th 2002 by flyinfiddler
Re: kinds of sessions
The very very best session I ever was at was in The Remotest Pub in Scotland which is only accessible by boat....it was absolutely jam packed with people before 30 of us from Sabhal Mor Ostaig arrived. It was one of those night when even the bar staff were dancing on the tables, and the musicians had to stand on tables to make room for the dancers.
Also like Wackadack , I agree that BLAZING IN BEAULY had immense sessions though I am very surprised she can actually remember any of them ......
# Posted on June 8th 2002 by Anna Helga
Re: kinds of sessions
Happy belated birthday, Wayne! And many happy returns. What a great birthday present -- playing!
Zina
# Posted on June 9th 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: kinds of sessions
a good session to me.... is a group of strangers and a few friends getting together anywhere playing the normal session tunes as well as a few solos from thoses wishing to spread their tunes around, with everyone enthusiastic and full of energy. It doesn't really matter what instruments anyone plays to me as long as they all make an equal contribution!
Well thats what i think.
Jo
# Posted on June 10th 2002 by jo
Speaking of Cello...
... there's some good ITM Cello work on the Geraldine Cotter CD i just added (Piano+):
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display.php/205
# Posted on June 11th 2002 by glauber
Re: kinds of sessions
happy birthday wayne....hope you had a great day
# Posted on June 12th 2002 by bb