Oh no you don't, I can't let you get away with that Feargal, I am by far & away, a much worse fiddle player & Concertina player & Bodhran player than you will ever be ..... & what's more, I can't even play the Piano - so there!
I do feel a bit like John Prescott - so I am going to come clean.
Once, a long time ago, I entered a fleadh competition. It was a youthful mistake. I could only have been the champion, if I had won, of those who competed - according to the judges.
I think, at the time, I forgot about the thousands of wonderful muscians who never enter competition but, nevertheless, contribute to the fabulous tapestry that makes up our music.
It's too bad that for so many of us the music that sings in our souls doesn't manage to find its way through the neural pathways, past our fine muscle coordination, to our instruments. I regularly produce noise though my intention is to produce music.
What are you talking about?!. Twenty years ago, I came home and went to a party. You were the piper, Márcus was on the flute. I played the guitar, badly. Loved your playing. You played like a young god. You were the only good player at the corner house in them days. You took the best from Malachi Comac's playing.
Alternative fleadhs. Making up the rules should be interesting. Here's an idea for some fiddle rules. Songs need to be 12 minutes minimum, points taken off for advancing past first position and points given for open strings. You can only go past first position if you play the entire piece on one string.
Vibrato is allowed only if a medical condition exists that cannot supress it (signed note from physician required). No sooner than the 11 minute mark, at the beginning of the last verse, contestant must yell "BIG FINISH" and finish the piece standing up.
When I was 5, I was entered into a local piano festival as part of a trio (all on one piano). Somewhere in the piece, I got lost and stopped playing. My part only consisted in one repeated note. My two colleagues, both several months my junior, and playing the 'difficult' parts, played impeccably.
Just the other day, I discovered a tape from 11 years ago, of my first 'traditional' band, in which I was the guitarist. It was some of the worst guitar playing I had heard - and I thought it was good at the time. I don't record myself anymore, lest I should listen back to it 11 years later.
I like to record myself. It helps me get better actually. If I lsten to the recording say a month later and hear how horrible I really was, than I know what to work on. It also helps me know how good/fast I have progressed.
"I like to record myself. It helps me get better actually"
I know - it makes good sense. But sometimes it's just too excruciating. I'd rather just play and enjoy it, make mytting any mistakes and forget about them. I may not be improving as fast as I could, but I don't think I'm getting any worse.
To hell with "who is the best?"
To hell with "who is the best?"
Must be honest - I declare myself the world's worst fiddle player, bodhran player, concertina player, piano player, and a miserable mediocre piper.
Can anyone top that?
# Posted on July 4th 2006 by Feargal French
Re: To hell with "who is the best?"
Did just think of another:
I am the person who gets the most enjoyment of ITM in the whole world.
# Posted on July 4th 2006 by Feargal French
Re: Who is the WORST?"
Oh no you don't, I can't let you get away with that Feargal, I am by far & away, a much worse fiddle player & Concertina player & Bodhran player than you will ever be ..... & what's more, I can't even play the Piano - so there!
# Posted on July 4th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: To hell with "who is the best?"
OK, we could have an alternative Fleadh, couldn't we?
Applications to:
http://www.worldsworst ITMmusicians.com
# Posted on July 4th 2006 by Feargal French
Re: To hell with "who is the best?"
Aye, & we could hand out "Golden ITM Raspberry Awards" or "ITM Razzies"!
# Posted on July 4th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: To hell with "who is the best?"
I do feel a bit like John Prescott - so I am going to come clean.
Once, a long time ago, I entered a fleadh competition. It was a youthful mistake. I could only have been the champion, if I had won, of those who competed - according to the judges.
I think, at the time, I forgot about the thousands of wonderful muscians who never enter competition but, nevertheless, contribute to the fabulous tapestry that makes up our music.
God! It's a bit like confessions this site.
# Posted on July 4th 2006 by Feargal French
Re: To hell with "who is the best?"
It's too bad that for so many of us the music that sings in our souls doesn't manage to find its way through the neural pathways, past our fine muscle coordination, to our instruments. I regularly produce noise though my intention is to produce music.
# Posted on July 4th 2006 by FiddleFancy
Re: To hell with "who is the best?"
Fearghal, a chara
What are you talking about?!. Twenty years ago, I came home and went to a party. You were the piper, Márcus was on the flute. I played the guitar, badly. Loved your playing. You played like a young god. You were the only good player at the corner house in them days. You took the best from Malachi Comac's playing.
Go dhearna Dia ar an ainm dilis
# Posted on July 4th 2006 by Pól
Re: To hell with "who is the best?"
When I was four, I came "joint third" in a group of four at a dancing feis.
# Posted on July 4th 2006 by bosco
Re: To hell with "who is the best?"
Cool, alternative fleadhs - I'm sure nobody could challenge my position as worst flute player
- oh, how I would dazzle those judges;)
# Posted on July 4th 2006 by vanessa
Re: To hell with "who is the best?"
Alternative fleadhs. Making up the rules should be interesting. Here's an idea for some fiddle rules. Songs need to be 12 minutes minimum, points taken off for advancing past first position and points given for open strings. You can only go past first position if you play the entire piece on one string.
Vibrato is allowed only if a medical condition exists that cannot supress it (signed note from physician required). No sooner than the 11 minute mark, at the beginning of the last verse, contestant must yell "BIG FINISH" and finish the piece standing up.
# Posted on July 4th 2006 by nofrets
Re: To hell with "who is the best?"
Pól - wonderful how time distorts memory. Anyway, who exactly are you? As you can see, my memory has gone.
i must say that the Corner House was a bit of a Mecca at that time.
# Posted on July 4th 2006 by Feargal French
Re: To hell with "who is the best?"
When I was 5, I was entered into a local piano festival as part of a trio (all on one piano). Somewhere in the piece, I got lost and stopped playing. My part only consisted in one repeated note. My two colleagues, both several months my junior, and playing the 'difficult' parts, played impeccably.
# Posted on July 5th 2006 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: To hell with "who is the best?"
What IS the corner house? I'v heard that somewhere before...
# Posted on July 5th 2006 by irishfiddler
Re: To hell with "who is the best?"
Just the other day, I discovered a tape from 11 years ago, of my first 'traditional' band, in which I was the guitarist. It was some of the worst guitar playing I had heard - and I thought it was good at the time. I don't record myself anymore, lest I should listen back to it 11 years later.
# Posted on July 5th 2006 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: To hell with "who is the best?"
I like to record myself. It helps me get better actually. If I lsten to the recording say a month later and hear how horrible I really was, than I know what to work on. It also helps me know how good/fast I have progressed.
# Posted on July 5th 2006 by irishfiddler
Re: To hell with "who is the best?"
About 30 years ago I had the greatest little duo of xylaphone bashers in the world, and I've got them on tape to prove it.
# Posted on July 5th 2006 by Clear Drops
Re: To hell with "who is the best?"
"I like to record myself. It helps me get better actually"
I know - it makes good sense. But sometimes it's just too excruciating. I'd rather just play and enjoy it, make mytting any mistakes and forget about them. I may not be improving as fast as I could, but I don't think I'm getting any worse.
# Posted on July 5th 2006 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: To hell with "who is the best?"
Crowd of show-ons. I bet I'm less competitive than ANNY THREE OF YEZ.
# Posted on July 5th 2006 by LastToFinish
Re: To hell with "who is the best?"
I think you could be right, Luap.
# Posted on July 5th 2006 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: To hell with "who is the best?"
Don't make me get the bubble wrap!
# Posted on July 5th 2006 by Eliot
Re: To hell with "who is the best?"
For all that part, I like to play the fiddle when I'm drunk (offcourse, it helps when everyone in the radius of aprox. 20 miles is drunk to :D)
# Posted on July 6th 2006 by Dark Raven