To everyone who I thought had their fingers up their ..well anyway, I finally met that bodhran player that knows every tune and each tune is at the same tempo, rhythm and volume. I now fully understand.
The Irish lad I saw into the Lomond in (East Brunswick) Melbourne on Monday night with his mates was brilliant. Subtle, not too loud, knew the tunes, didn't play all the time, really added something. The locals playing drums were pretty good too, what a difference from the legions of bashers you usually get. Maybe they'll head over your way Joze - they're not all bad you know
I know of some that are very good, there is a young girl who can play in tune and is grossly underrated by some locals. One or two frequent here by the way.
Yet the one who ought to be taken out the back and shot is treated with respect and awe by many who know better.
I like the bodhran, dont get me wrong. Its the way people play with no respect towards others that gets me.
As I have said before the only instrument which can be heard over the bodhran is a ships fog horn.
Bliss, I have that problem with all of 'em, but do I complain. At the risk of being repetitive, tune players deeply resent being kept honest by percussionists and require therapy. Their idea of the therapy is that the bodhran player should hide in the corner until they finally get things together and then and only then quietly slip into the tune, mine is everyone should get stuck into it and have fun.
Sorry!
Again, SORRY!, I'll stop playing for a while and keep asking what was the name of that tune? and saying Fantastic, Gee you're a fantastic player, have another quiet beer out of the elitist's way and sneak back into the session whilst no-one is watching. SORRY SORRY bloody SORRY!
It's good that people feel they have to take sides on this ...
As a quick glance, for those who know this music, at what would be described as "tune players" and "percusive accompanists" instantly sorts it out.
As you often point out Michael, there are very few good bodhran players but loads of good fiddlers. Must be something to do with the degree of difficuly. So by your reckoning, on a rarity value, one good bodhran player must be worth about 500 fiddlers.
Well ... for starters, it's all easy, fiddle/bodhran, makes no difference. So degree of dificulty doesn't come into it.
But, as usual, I have to point out your lapse of logic. Yes, good bodhran players are rare. I'll accept one to 500 fiddlers. But the argument has never been about complaining of bad bodhran players. It's about the futility of being good at it. Most people realise this and that's why there are so few good bodhran players.
If some fiddle players ever get thier way there will no other instruments except fiddles at sessions . Would nt that be great .If you dont like someones playing go somewhere else or just tell him/her what the problem is. Accom. is about keeping the melody player happy so a potenialy good bodhran player should love to get feedback good or bad. Just be carefull how you say it and the problem should be solved.
Hey llig and BBliss - do you guys really believe that there are loads and loads of really good fiddle players? I must be hanging out at the wrong places.
I apologise
I apologise
To everyone who I thought had their fingers up their ..well anyway, I finally met that bodhran player that knows every tune and each tune is at the same tempo, rhythm and volume. I now fully understand.
I am so sorry.
# Posted on March 7th 2007 by Joze
Re: I apologise
Don't want to beat a dead goat or anything but I know what you mean.
# Posted on March 7th 2007 by Bodhi
Re: I apologise
The Irish lad I saw into the Lomond in (East Brunswick) Melbourne on Monday night with his mates was brilliant. Subtle, not too loud, knew the tunes, didn't play all the time, really added something. The locals playing drums were pretty good too, what a difference from the legions of bashers you usually get. Maybe they'll head over your way Joze - they're not all bad you know
# Posted on March 7th 2007 by Bren
Re: I apologise
BUT, does he/she have more than one tipper???
# Posted on March 7th 2007 by pastrings
Re: I apologise
No they're not all bad, Bren, but I seem to encounter the bad ones with alarming frequency.
# Posted on March 7th 2007 by Hanley
Re: I apologise
I have that problem with pipers.
# Posted on March 7th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: I apologise
I know of some that are very good, there is a young girl who can play in tune and is grossly underrated by some locals. One or two frequent here by the way.
Yet the one who ought to be taken out the back and shot is treated with respect and awe by many who know better.
I like the bodhran, dont get me wrong. Its the way people play with no respect towards others that gets me.
As I have said before the only instrument which can be heard over the bodhran is a ships fog horn.
# Posted on March 8th 2007 by Joze
Re: I apologise
Bliss, I have that problem with all of 'em, but do I complain. At the risk of being repetitive, tune players deeply resent being kept honest by percussionists and require therapy. Their idea of the therapy is that the bodhran player should hide in the corner until they finally get things together and then and only then quietly slip into the tune, mine is everyone should get stuck into it and have fun.
Sorry!
# Posted on March 8th 2007 by mcknowall
Re: I apologise
Again, SORRY!, I'll stop playing for a while and keep asking what was the name of that tune? and saying Fantastic, Gee you're a fantastic player, have another quiet beer out of the elitist's way and sneak back into the session whilst no-one is watching. SORRY SORRY bloody SORRY!
# Posted on March 8th 2007 by mcknowall
Re: I apologise
*grin* I never said EVERYONE is disrespectful towards other players, and I meant that as in any instrument.
# Posted on March 8th 2007 by Joze
Re: I apologise
It's good that people feel they have to take sides on this ...
As a quick glance, for those who know this music, at what would be described as "tune players" and "percusive accompanists" instantly sorts it out.
# Posted on March 8th 2007 by llig leahcim
Re: I apologise
Do you REALLY know this music Michael?
# Posted on March 8th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: I apologise
And as any "tune Player" knows a good "percussive accompianist" is worth their weight in gold.
# Posted on March 9th 2007 by flossie
Re: I apologise
Aye, but is a good "percussive accompianist" worth his weight in tune players?
# Posted on March 9th 2007 by llig leahcim
Re: I apologise
As you often point out Michael, there are very few good bodhran players but loads of good fiddlers. Must be something to do with the degree of difficuly. So by your reckoning, on a rarity value, one good bodhran player must be worth about 500 fiddlers.
# Posted on March 9th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: I apologise
Up him Spot, he's not my dog.
# Posted on March 9th 2007 by mcknowall
Re: I apologise
Well ... for starters, it's all easy, fiddle/bodhran, makes no difference. So degree of dificulty doesn't come into it.
But, as usual, I have to point out your lapse of logic. Yes, good bodhran players are rare. I'll accept one to 500 fiddlers. But the argument has never been about complaining of bad bodhran players. It's about the futility of being good at it. Most people realise this and that's why there are so few good bodhran players.
# Posted on March 9th 2007 by llig leahcim
Re: I apologise
That's what they told Mozart.
# Posted on March 9th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: I apologise
If some fiddle players ever get thier way there will no other instruments except fiddles at sessions . Would nt that be great .If you dont like someones playing go somewhere else or just tell him/her what the problem is. Accom. is about keeping the melody player happy so a potenialy good bodhran player should love to get feedback good or bad. Just be carefull how you say it and the problem should be solved.
# Posted on March 10th 2007 by Saint
Re: I apologise
Hey llig and BBliss - do you guys really believe that there are loads and loads of really good fiddle players? I must be hanging out at the wrong places.
# Posted on March 10th 2007 by bb
Re: I apologise
Well, yes. Edinburgh has the most extraordinary concentration of really good fiddle players. I'd make a list, but dow, quite rightly, would censure it
# Posted on March 11th 2007 by llig leahcim