Hey,
as I just said in another discussion, I'm a fairly new player and have really enjoyed reading the great advice on this site and taking advantage of the wealth of info here. Thanks so much.
I just returned from one day at the Irish Fest where there was, of course, some great music. I was surprized by a group of young musicians named Anam Ri with a terrific flute player. I thought Bohola (Sean Clelland, Jimmy Keane, one other) was great too. And I got to sit in on a very small session led by a melodian player named Pat Cooney, an old gentleman from Ireland. Being there inspired a few questions I have:
1. Do any of you know anything about Pat Cooney? I really enjoyed talking to him for the short time I could, and he had a CD with him I couldn't get at the time. Just curious.
2. Is it considered obnoxious at all to show up at a session with different instruments? I tend to play whistle on tunes I know really well, divert to the flute on slow tunes or ones I'm just learning (since it's quieter), then divert to bodhran on tunes I don't know melody on at all. I intend to start going to some outside sessions (I play with some friends normally) and I don't want to be obnoxious. Forgive me if this has been discussed before.
I think it's fine to switch instruments and most people won't complain until you start pulling out the djigeridoo or (horror!) the 5-string banjo from your bag. Many fiddlers will pull out a whistle from time to time, for example.
I do the other way around, though. My flute is a lot louder than my whistles, so i tend to switch to whistle when it's something i'm trying to learn.
I can hardly wait to talk to folks who went to Milwaukee! It's always a blast, I'm hoping to go next year if my teaching schedule will allow it.
Well, be careful with the bodhran thing, Colleen -- I've often been told that the best bodhran players will listen and learn the tunes before they'll play on them. It's an easy trap to get into the "I can play bodhran on tunes I don't know" thing which is, frankly, part of what gives bodhran players such a bad rap. (ow, sorry, I didn't see that til after I typed it. ) If there's more than one bodhran already at a session, don't get out the drum. (A good rule of thumb for most regular open sessions is that there should generally be only one bodhran player per 7-10 other players.) You don't have to play on every tune, after all, and remember that listening is a very good thing in Irish music.
Other than that, many multi-instrumentalist players bring more than one instrument to sessions, though most will tend to have one instrument that's their "main" instrument.
The third member of bohola is Pat Broaders. You can find info on bohola at http://www.bohola.com.
Whats your problem with the djig, Glauber???????? Pick on someone else's national instument (tee-hee). Sounds great in Tam Lin and it is not an intrusive instrument at all. Not like a saxaphone.
I personally don't have a problem; i was just commenting that you'll need to be in a session that's
(1) very open-minded
or
(2) meeting in Australia
if you want to pull one out without being razzed. If i ever go to Australia, i'll bring one. That boomerang thing is pretty nice too, it comes back to your hand, right?
I think it's pretty funny that the 4-string banjo is ok but the 5-string is an abomination.
Bodhran: i'm sure it's a fine instrument, but i often have a problem when there's so much fine drumming going on that i can't hear the melody! A couple of enthusiastic Bodhranists can easily drown out a pubfull of whistles and fiddles, especially in ye olde traditional noisy and reverberating beer temple.
Hi Glauber, long time no talk, sorry to burst your bubble but I pity the poor soul who walks into a session in sydney with a didj. Not at the sessions I play at anyway, there are a few folkie ones around that wouldnt mind, but def not the trad ones )
bb
I didn't say they'd be welcome at an ITM session. Did I? Just don't pick on djigs, that's all! I am sure Glauber would take it in the light heart that it was meant (*grin*).
A friend and I once had a fabulous little session through the partitions of the dressing rooms at a multicultural gathering with an Aboriginal dance group. They were definitely not adverse to joining in with some ITM on music sticks. The resulting music was very multiculturally appropriate and lovely.
I hope you enjoy your time in Sydney bb. Quite a change from Galway, I would have thought. Then where? Maybe to the Irish Fest in Milwaukee.
Cheers
Glauber, I think (though I am no expert) that some of them (boomerangs) do come back, but "first you've got to throw 'em". They can also be rubbed together in some way to make an interesting kind of humming whirring sound. But I'm not sure how.
This is getting thousands and thousands of miles away from the Irish Fest in Milwaukee, that I would have loved to have gone to listen to.
Me too. Damn. Missed it again, and i'm within driving distance. Oh well, will catch it next year... Like a boomerang, it keeps coming back.
Kangaroos are pretty cool too. One of the zoos here has a few (poor things). From my education in TV cartoons, i had thought they were taller. The ones in the 'toons also usually wear read boxing gloves.
Lots of good flute makers in Australia. Lots of Irish there, many exported by the British 200 years ago. My Boehm flute has a wooden head made by Mark Hoza (http://www.woodenflutemaker.com), which sounds incredible and was a real steal at the price he charges. Terry McGee is there too, what else is there to say?
mike grinter???? Sorry jill, I wasnt having a go, I live didj's in their place, ie - I wouldnt walk into a coroberee for a start (as I am a girl!) And I wouldnt play trad at one, even if I was a boy! I wasnt trying to be offensive, I just know what I like and didj in trad isnt it...sorry! It was meant to be lighthearted!
I just had an encounter with a grey kangaroo walking home from the session about an hour and a half ago. It was eating grass about 10metres from my back door. It didn't run away, just kind of stood up and watched me walk past. No red boxing gloves, but. People get the idea that kangaroos are hopping all around the place here in Australia. Well, where I live they are (a small mob of them). My backyard is big and doesn't have any fences - noone hassles the roos and they just eat the grass and keep their distance. There is also a radical wooden flute maker called Terry McGee sometimes seen grazing around this part of the world. (Mark Hoza, I think, must be more than a few hundred miles away up the coast). The flutes look beautiful Glauber but somehow they'd look a tad ridiculous in my fiddle case. Which end do you bow anyway?
Cheers
Hi, Colleen. I did not get to IrishFest this year, but I have had the honor of knowing Patrick Cloonan for over a year. You know from listening to him that he is a wonderful button box player, and a lovely gentleman, as well. He attends a beginner session, where I met him, and an intermediate session as well, in Madison, WI. (He likes them because they are in smoke-free environs.) I have learned plenty of tunes from him. He can spin out tunes and stories with equal aplomb. His CD is called "Thanksgiving," and is very nice, indeed. I could go on and on. If you are close to Madison, let me know, and I'll give you the details of the sessions I attend. Come and meet Patrick and the other wonderful people I have met.
Cassie
Wow, thanks Cassie. I had definitely given up on anyone knowing (about) him (and was wondering if I was the only mid-westerner on this site). I just loved hearing how he grew up speaking Irish - he's definitely one of few remaining, I'm sure. Thanks for the session invite, too!
Colleen
Irish Fest in Milwaukee
Irish Fest in Milwaukee
Hey,
as I just said in another discussion, I'm a fairly new player and have really enjoyed reading the great advice on this site and taking advantage of the wealth of info here. Thanks so much.
I just returned from one day at the Irish Fest where there was, of course, some great music. I was surprized by a group of young musicians named Anam Ri with a terrific flute player. I thought Bohola (Sean Clelland, Jimmy Keane, one other) was great too. And I got to sit in on a very small session led by a melodian player named Pat Cooney, an old gentleman from Ireland. Being there inspired a few questions I have:
1. Do any of you know anything about Pat Cooney? I really enjoyed talking to him for the short time I could, and he had a CD with him I couldn't get at the time. Just curious.
2. Is it considered obnoxious at all to show up at a session with different instruments? I tend to play whistle on tunes I know really well, divert to the flute on slow tunes or ones I'm just learning (since it's quieter), then divert to bodhran on tunes I don't know melody on at all. I intend to start going to some outside sessions (I play with some friends normally) and I don't want to be obnoxious. Forgive me if this has been discussed before.
Any other great experiences at this fest?
Thanks for your input,
Colleen
# Posted on August 19th 2002 by cdavick
Re: Irish Fest in Milwaukee
I think it's fine to switch instruments and most people won't complain until you start pulling out the djigeridoo or (horror!) the 5-string banjo from your bag. Many fiddlers will pull out a whistle from time to time, for example.
I do the other way around, though. My flute is a lot louder than my whistles, so i tend to switch to whistle when it's something i'm trying to learn.
# Posted on August 19th 2002 by glauber
Re: Irish Fest in Milwaukee
I can hardly wait to talk to folks who went to Milwaukee! It's always a blast, I'm hoping to go next year if my teaching schedule will allow it.
Well, be careful with the bodhran thing, Colleen -- I've often been told that the best bodhran players will listen and learn the tunes before they'll play on them. It's an easy trap to get into the "I can play bodhran on tunes I don't know" thing which is, frankly, part of what gives bodhran players such a bad rap. (ow, sorry, I didn't see that til after I typed it. ) If there's more than one bodhran already at a session, don't get out the drum. (A good rule of thumb for most regular open sessions is that there should generally be only one bodhran player per 7-10 other players.) You don't have to play on every tune, after all, and remember that listening is a very good thing in Irish music.
Other than that, many multi-instrumentalist players bring more than one instrument to sessions, though most will tend to have one instrument that's their "main" instrument.
The third member of bohola is Pat Broaders. You can find info on bohola at http://www.bohola.com.
Zina
# Posted on August 19th 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: Irish Fest in Milwaukee
Whats your problem with the djig, Glauber???????? Pick on someone else's national instument (tee-hee). Sounds great in Tam Lin and it is not an intrusive instrument at all. Not like a saxaphone.
# Posted on August 19th 2002 by Jill
Re: Irish Fest in Milwaukee
I personally don't have a problem; i was just commenting that you'll need to be in a session that's
(1) very open-minded
or
(2) meeting in Australia
if you want to pull one out without being razzed. If i ever go to Australia, i'll bring one. That boomerang thing is pretty nice too, it comes back to your hand, right?
I think it's pretty funny that the 4-string banjo is ok but the 5-string is an abomination.
Bodhran: i'm sure it's a fine instrument, but i often have a problem when there's so much fine drumming going on that i can't hear the melody! A couple of enthusiastic Bodhranists can easily drown out a pubfull of whistles and fiddles, especially in ye olde traditional noisy and reverberating beer temple.
# Posted on August 19th 2002 by glauber
Re: Irish Fest in Milwaukee
Hi Glauber, long time no talk, sorry to burst your bubble but I pity the poor soul who walks into a session in sydney with a didj. Not at the sessions I play at anyway, there are a few folkie ones around that wouldnt mind, but def not the trad ones
)
# Posted on August 19th 2002 by bb
Re: Irish Fest in Milwaukee
bb
I didn't say they'd be welcome at an ITM session. Did I? Just don't pick on djigs, that's all! I am sure Glauber would take it in the light heart that it was meant (*grin*).
A friend and I once had a fabulous little session through the partitions of the dressing rooms at a multicultural gathering with an Aboriginal dance group. They were definitely not adverse to joining in with some ITM on music sticks. The resulting music was very multiculturally appropriate and lovely.
I hope you enjoy your time in Sydney bb. Quite a change from Galway, I would have thought. Then where? Maybe to the Irish Fest in Milwaukee.
Cheers
# Posted on August 19th 2002 by Jill
Re: Irish Fest in Milwaukee
Glauber, I think (though I am no expert) that some of them (boomerangs) do come back, but "first you've got to throw 'em". They can also be rubbed together in some way to make an interesting kind of humming whirring sound. But I'm not sure how.
This is getting thousands and thousands of miles away from the Irish Fest in Milwaukee, that I would have loved to have gone to listen to.
# Posted on August 20th 2002 by Jill
Milwaukee and Australia
Me too. Damn. Missed it again, and i'm within driving distance. Oh well, will catch it next year... Like a boomerang, it keeps coming back.
Kangaroos are pretty cool too. One of the zoos here has a few (poor things). From my education in TV cartoons, i had thought they were taller. The ones in the 'toons also usually wear read boxing gloves.
Lots of good flute makers in Australia. Lots of Irish there, many exported by the British 200 years ago. My Boehm flute has a wooden head made by Mark Hoza (http://www.woodenflutemaker.com), which sounds incredible and was a real steal at the price he charges. Terry McGee is there too, what else is there to say?
g
# Posted on August 20th 2002 by glauber
Re: Irish Fest in Milwaukee
mike grinter???? Sorry jill, I wasnt having a go, I live didj's in their place, ie - I wouldnt walk into a coroberee for a start (as I am a girl!) And I wouldnt play trad at one, even if I was a boy! I wasnt trying to be offensive, I just know what I like and didj in trad isnt it...sorry! It was meant to be lighthearted!
# Posted on August 20th 2002 by bb
Re: Irish Fest in Milwaukee
I just had an encounter with a grey kangaroo walking home from the session about an hour and a half ago. It was eating grass about 10metres from my back door. It didn't run away, just kind of stood up and watched me walk past. No red boxing gloves, but. People get the idea that kangaroos are hopping all around the place here in Australia. Well, where I live they are (a small mob of them). My backyard is big and doesn't have any fences - noone hassles the roos and they just eat the grass and keep their distance. There is also a radical wooden flute maker called Terry McGee sometimes seen grazing around this part of the world. (Mark Hoza, I think, must be more than a few hundred miles away up the coast). The flutes look beautiful Glauber but somehow they'd look a tad ridiculous in my fiddle case. Which end do you bow anyway?
Cheers
# Posted on August 20th 2002 by Jill
Re: Irish Fest in Milwaukee
Try blow instead of bow.
# Posted on August 20th 2002 by glauber
Re: Irish Fest in Milwaukee
So that's my problem!!! Blow, not bow!
See, bb, I'm thick as a brick. Derrrrrrrr Everyone is lighthearded *grin*. No offence meant or taken.
Cheers
# Posted on August 20th 2002 by Jill
Re: Irish Fest in Milwaukee
Thanks for the advice, Glauber and Zina. I can't believe no one else on this list went to the Irish Fest (or maybe just still recovering
.
Colleen
# Posted on August 20th 2002 by cdavick
Re: Irish Fest in Milwaukee
Hi, Colleen. I did not get to IrishFest this year, but I have had the honor of knowing Patrick Cloonan for over a year. You know from listening to him that he is a wonderful button box player, and a lovely gentleman, as well. He attends a beginner session, where I met him, and an intermediate session as well, in Madison, WI. (He likes them because they are in smoke-free environs.) I have learned plenty of tunes from him. He can spin out tunes and stories with equal aplomb. His CD is called "Thanksgiving," and is very nice, indeed. I could go on and on. If you are close to Madison, let me know, and I'll give you the details of the sessions I attend. Come and meet Patrick and the other wonderful people I have met.
Cassie
# Posted on August 21st 2002 by woman of the house
Re: Irish Fest in Milwaukee
Yeah, Cassie? And when are you putting those sessions into the new sessions section? Hmmm? ;)
I've been daydreaming about just wandering around during my vacations, going from session to session...
Zina
# Posted on August 21st 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: Irish Fest in Milwaukee
Wow, thanks Cassie. I had definitely given up on anyone knowing (about) him (and was wondering if I was the only mid-westerner on this site). I just loved hearing how he grew up speaking Irish - he's definitely one of few remaining, I'm sure. Thanks for the session invite, too!
Colleen
# Posted on August 22nd 2002 by cdavick