Hmmm, interesting review, Sa'rah. They seem to have left out the Cd I have been listening to constantly--Irish Music in America, The East Coast. I wonder why. I like it very much.
The Ed Reavy one I also like, but it is hard to really sink my teeth (ears) into until the melodies become more familiar. There a couple Ed Reavy tunes not on there that I wish were on there. I don't think I have the expertise to critique it further though. Wonder what everyone else thinks.
Most traditional genres are saddled with grouchy, self-appointed arbiters of what is truely traditional. I suspect that even most native-born Irish musicians would find the review of the quality of the performance on these CD's anal and pedantic. That being said, I fit their description of American Irish performer to a T, being polyglot (polyglotish, polyglotty?) rather than monoglot (uniglot, sologlot?). I am glad that someone out there keeps the flame, so to speak, I just don't want to be stuck in a broken elevator with them.
All in all, I expect American musicians to develop their own local style of Irish music playing.... that's only natural. I can't speak to the specific complaints of the critic regarding the recordings, but I think that Americans do tend to blend cultures in our melting pot and I'm not surprised at all that the sound of the music is changed by players over here in the US.
I haven't heard those recordings, so I don't know how accurate the reviews are. But the Mike Rafferty cds I have are splendid, and he plays an Olwell wooden flute. I didn't know that Mike had every played a silver flute, and that makes me wonder if the reviewers heard a whistle and didn't know the difference. (How's that for foisting my ignorance on someone who's not here and can't defend themselves?
One person's idea of a critique is another person's lunacy. Trying to pin a general label on anyone's playing is a dicey proposition, even in Ireland; trying to determine a singular "Irish American" music style would be like trying to nail jello to a tree or attempting to herd cats. Not that that will stop anyone from trying it out. So critiquing a single album (or three) to me is basically simply saying you don't care for those players, their style, and/or their album, and what's it got to do with all the Irish music in America as a whole? Anyway, being a bit more of a purist than mandocaster, I have to say that I don't *feel* stuck in a broken elevator.
P.S. To say that Liz Carroll and Seamus Egan play with jazz influences I think misrepresents the "pure drop" music they both routinely crank out. Yes, they both "jazz" up some tunes now and then, but it's hardly a constant feature of their playing. And I don't think Liz and Seamus represent the whole of American Irish musicians. There are plenty of other players on this side of the pond who are primarily influenced by trad Irish music, whose playing is not immediately discernible from players in Ireland.
What a BS review this is! These two definately had large cacti lodged squarely up their collective @$$ when writing this review. Never have I heard such negativity about such brilliant musicians. Does anybody know who these folks are? And if they are so good as to be critical of such legendary players, then why haven't we heard their music yet?
Cjros
Critique of Irish music in America
Critique of Irish music in America
What are your opinions concerning this critique? http://www.mustrad.org.uk/reviews/irish_am.htm
# Posted on January 19th 2003 by Sa'rah
Re: Critique of Irish music in America
Hmmm, interesting review, Sa'rah. They seem to have left out the Cd I have been listening to constantly--Irish Music in America, The East Coast. I wonder why. I like it very much.
The Ed Reavy one I also like, but it is hard to really sink my teeth (ears) into until the melodies become more familiar. There a couple Ed Reavy tunes not on there that I wish were on there. I don't think I have the expertise to critique it further though. Wonder what everyone else thinks.
# Posted on January 19th 2003 by Andee
Re: Critique of Irish music in America
Most traditional genres are saddled with grouchy, self-appointed arbiters of what is truely traditional. I suspect that even most native-born Irish musicians would find the review of the quality of the performance on these CD's anal and pedantic. That being said, I fit their description of American Irish performer to a T, being polyglot (polyglotish, polyglotty?) rather than monoglot (uniglot, sologlot?). I am glad that someone out there keeps the flame, so to speak, I just don't want to be stuck in a broken elevator with them.
# Posted on January 19th 2003 by mandocaster
Re: Critique of Irish music in America
All in all, I expect American musicians to develop their own local style of Irish music playing.... that's only natural. I can't speak to the specific complaints of the critic regarding the recordings, but I think that Americans do tend to blend cultures in our melting pot and I'm not surprised at all that the sound of the music is changed by players over here in the US.
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by aliceflynn
Re: Critique of Irish music in America
I haven't heard those recordings, so I don't know how accurate the reviews are. But the Mike Rafferty cds I have are splendid, and he plays an Olwell wooden flute. I didn't know that Mike had every played a silver flute, and that makes me wonder if the reviewers heard a whistle and didn't know the difference. (How's that for foisting my ignorance on someone who's not here and can't defend themselves?
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by Will CPT
Re: Critique of Irish music in America
One person's idea of a critique is another person's lunacy. Trying to pin a general label on anyone's playing is a dicey proposition, even in Ireland; trying to determine a singular "Irish American" music style would be like trying to nail jello to a tree or attempting to herd cats. Not that that will stop anyone from trying it out.
So critiquing a single album (or three) to me is basically simply saying you don't care for those players, their style, and/or their album, and what's it got to do with all the Irish music in America as a whole? Anyway, being a bit more of a purist than mandocaster, I have to say that I don't *feel* stuck in a broken elevator.
Zina
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: Critique of Irish music in America
P.S. To say that Liz Carroll and Seamus Egan play with jazz influences I think misrepresents the "pure drop" music they both routinely crank out. Yes, they both "jazz" up some tunes now and then, but it's hardly a constant feature of their playing. And I don't think Liz and Seamus represent the whole of American Irish musicians. There are plenty of other players on this side of the pond who are primarily influenced by trad Irish music, whose playing is not immediately discernible from players in Ireland.
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by Will CPT
Re: Critique of Irish music in America
What a BS review this is! These two definately had large cacti lodged squarely up their collective @$$ when writing this review. Never have I heard such negativity about such brilliant musicians. Does anybody know who these folks are? And if they are so good as to be critical of such legendary players, then why haven't we heard their music yet?
Cjros
# Posted on January 26th 2003 by ChrisLaughlin