ok so I have just come back from my regional fleadh. (tenor banjo) how stupid was I, I got penalised for playing an English tune (one I heard of an Irish music cd) furthermore my adjudication sheet said I played to fast and wasn’t quite traditional enough. I was in the 15-18 cat. I came third however and I still qualified with 70 percent.
my question is how come they still put me threw I thought it was only 1st and second that went through. But the steward said I was still good enough even though I came third to go through and that’s why I passed. He said he has seen cases where there’s been a dozen competitors but only 1 person qualified. Is this true, how does the actual marking work?? Is irt on a basis on whos good or on the basis of whos came 1st and second ????? I don’t know these things because I am not a comhaltas member so I went into the competition blind.
I keep thinking my eyes keep tricking me but my adjudication sheet definitely says qualified and I definitely remember the adjudicator when he announced the results saying the top 3 qualified because everyone was still good enough.And I know for sure I picked up a medal at the end for 3rd prize and the announcer said everyone who has an award goes to the all Britain????????
????? pls some veteran fleadh ppl help outline how it all works. lol cheers
In my opinion (without sounding to egotistical) I thought I was far better than my fellow competitors but I think it was a case that they stuck to traditional techniques etc……. so I think I have learned from my arrogance, aloofness and foolishness and hope to go to all Britain with a more traditional traditional traditional mind set.
Hmm... I've never heard of a third place qualifying, but I could be wrong. Maybe. In the Comhaltas Fleadh rules, I believe it just states that first and second places qualify, so I don't know if a judge would have the right to say that more than that qualified... it sounds a bit fishy to me. If I were you, I would contact your region's fleadh office, or a Comhaltas branch in your area. Good luck.
Hi Stacey,
in a Comhaltas fleadh competition those who come 1st and 2nd automatically go through to the next round, the one who comes 3rd only goes through if they are recommended(i.e. if the judge thinks their playing is of a high enough standard) no one beyond 3rd place qualifies no matter how good they are. So congratulations on qualifying and I hope that makes it clearer how the fleadh rules work.
Congratulations Stacey. As far as I know it's common practice to qualify third place at County (or Regional in Britain) level providing the performance is of the required standard which in your case it obviously was. At the Provincial level, however, it's strictly only the first and second that qualify for the All-Ireland.
As you've got over two months to prepare for the All-Britain in Preston you should be well ready for what will be a tougher competition. Good steady traditional Irish music always works best at a Fleadh and my recommendation for banjo would be anything by Kieran Hanrahan. Hopefully, you'll get more suggestions from the Yellow Board experts!
Irrespective of what may or may not have happened when Kieran won the All-Ireland, he is without doubt one of the all time greats on the instrument as demonstrated by his key role in the super trad group, Stockton's Wing, back in the late seventies and eighties.
Being in a group means nothing, apart from making a decision to play prodessionally. Unfortunately I played for a number of years with two banjo players, both better than Kieran, in my opinion, but beauty in the eye of the beholder and all that. Just as I did not like Stockton's Wing, a bit "cabaret" ITM for me, too much swing.
It is not competitive, just a matter of taste and preference. I think Maradonna was the best footballer I ever saw, some may say the same about Georgie. It is just discussion.
Well done Stacey...
In your last paragraph.
Technique, and far better etc...
Its not much to do with technique, and traditional, and the tune choice.
I think its whether it has a certain swing, bounce or feel. Technique is not too difficult on the banjo, but the rythem is, and understanding of the tunes is.
Did you get those albums yet???
You'll know what I'm talkin about when you hear those.
It is not unusual for a third competitor to qualify. However, judges are not obliged to qualify anyone for subsequent rounds if they don't think the standard was high enough. (I once heard an abnoxious judge refuse to do this, deliveing a santimonious lecture on standards of play. Young guy he was too.).
In Britain, usually all 3 qualify to the All Britain. It is rare for all three NOT to qualify.
You should be playing irish tunes, as it is an irish music competition. Judges are likely to penalise for playing English, or Scottish, or any other type of tune. At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter if who you personally think is better, it is up to the adjudicator. As they often say, on a different day with a different adjudicator the results could have been different. They just need to base it on how they think each person performed on that particular occasion.
just back from regional fleadh
just back from regional fleadh
ok so I have just come back from my regional fleadh. (tenor banjo) how stupid was I, I got penalised for playing an English tune (one I heard of an Irish music cd) furthermore my adjudication sheet said I played to fast and wasn’t quite traditional enough. I was in the 15-18 cat. I came third however and I still qualified with 70 percent.
my question is how come they still put me threw I thought it was only 1st and second that went through. But the steward said I was still good enough even though I came third to go through and that’s why I passed. He said he has seen cases where there’s been a dozen competitors but only 1 person qualified. Is this true, how does the actual marking work?? Is irt on a basis on whos good or on the basis of whos came 1st and second ????? I don’t know these things because I am not a comhaltas member so I went into the competition blind.
I keep thinking my eyes keep tricking me but my adjudication sheet definitely says qualified and I definitely remember the adjudicator when he announced the results saying the top 3 qualified because everyone was still good enough.And I know for sure I picked up a medal at the end for 3rd prize and the announcer said everyone who has an award goes to the all Britain????????
????? pls some veteran fleadh ppl help outline how it all works. lol cheers
In my opinion (without sounding to egotistical) I thought I was far better than my fellow competitors but I think it was a case that they stuck to traditional techniques etc……. so I think I have learned from my arrogance, aloofness and foolishness and hope to go to all Britain with a more traditional traditional traditional mind set.
Stacey McMullen
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by S.McMullen
Re: just back from regional fleadh
sorry for my spelling by the way lol.
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by S.McMullen
Re: just back from regional fleadh
congratulations! Even if you didn't place 1st or 2nd, sounds like you played well and learned a lot from the experience.
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by azfiddle
Re: just back from regional fleadh
Hmm... I've never heard of a third place qualifying, but I could be wrong. Maybe. In the Comhaltas Fleadh rules, I believe it just states that first and second places qualify, so I don't know if a judge would have the right to say that more than that qualified... it sounds a bit fishy to me. If I were you, I would contact your region's fleadh office, or a Comhaltas branch in your area. Good luck.
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by alison kale
Re: just back from regional fleadh
Hi Stacey,
in a Comhaltas fleadh competition those who come 1st and 2nd automatically go through to the next round, the one who comes 3rd only goes through if they are recommended(i.e. if the judge thinks their playing is of a high enough standard) no one beyond 3rd place qualifies no matter how good they are. So congratulations on qualifying and I hope that makes it clearer how the fleadh rules work.
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by cathycook
Re: just back from regional fleadh
What was the english tune ?
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by bazouki dave
Re: just back from regional fleadh
Congratulations Stacey. As far as I know it's common practice to qualify third place at County (or Regional in Britain) level providing the performance is of the required standard which in your case it obviously was. At the Provincial level, however, it's strictly only the first and second that qualify for the All-Ireland.
As you've got over two months to prepare for the All-Britain in Preston you should be well ready for what will be a tougher competition. Good steady traditional Irish music always works best at a Fleadh and my recommendation for banjo would be anything by Kieran Hanrahan. Hopefully, you'll get more suggestions from the Yellow Board experts!
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by Bannerman
Re: just back from regional fleadh
The day Hanrahan won the competition was dreadful, no disrespect to Mr Hanrahan. as is usual, all the good players were at sessions.
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: just back from regional fleadh
Irrespective of what may or may not have happened when Kieran won the All-Ireland, he is without doubt one of the all time greats on the instrument as demonstrated by his key role in the super trad group, Stockton's Wing, back in the late seventies and eighties.
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by Bannerman
Re: just back from regional fleadh
Being in a group means nothing, apart from making a decision to play prodessionally. Unfortunately I played for a number of years with two banjo players, both better than Kieran, in my opinion, but beauty in the eye of the beholder and all that. Just as I did not like Stockton's Wing, a bit "cabaret" ITM for me, too much swing.
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: just back from regional fleadh
"Cabaret." Yes. That's why I lked 'em, Bliss - thanks for giving it a word. They were a lot of fun.
Now that I'm trying to play the banjo I can't say Kieran would be my favourite, but he is good.
This competitive musicianship always struck me as strange, but to each his own.
# Posted on April 28th 2007 by grego
Re: just back from regional fleadh
It is not competitive, just a matter of taste and preference. I think Maradonna was the best footballer I ever saw, some may say the same about Georgie. It is just discussion.
# Posted on April 28th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: just back from regional fleadh
No, no - I meant the fleadh stuff. I don't get the competition thing where they select the champion and so on.
# Posted on April 28th 2007 by grego
Re: just back from regional fleadh
Well done Stacey...
In your last paragraph.
Technique, and far better etc...
Its not much to do with technique, and traditional, and the tune choice.
I think its whether it has a certain swing, bounce or feel. Technique is not too difficult on the banjo, but the rythem is, and understanding of the tunes is.
Did you get those albums yet???
You'll know what I'm talkin about when you hear those.
S
# Posted on April 28th 2007 by Hugo Chavez
Re: just back from regional fleadh
It is not unusual for a third competitor to qualify. However, judges are not obliged to qualify anyone for subsequent rounds if they don't think the standard was high enough. (I once heard an abnoxious judge refuse to do this, deliveing a santimonious lecture on standards of play. Young guy he was too.).
- Chris
# Posted on April 28th 2007 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: just back from regional fleadh
Do the judges penalise you when you play Scottish tunes? Cos you know there are dozens out there pretending not to be.
# Posted on April 28th 2007 by bigfish
Re: just back from regional fleadh
In Britain, usually all 3 qualify to the All Britain. It is rare for all three NOT to qualify.
You should be playing irish tunes, as it is an irish music competition. Judges are likely to penalise for playing English, or Scottish, or any other type of tune. At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter if who you personally think is better, it is up to the adjudicator. As they often say, on a different day with a different adjudicator the results could have been different. They just need to base it on how they think each person performed on that particular occasion.
Best of Luck for the All Britain!
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by Rosh