we have all played at different sessions - looking back at the ones you enjoyed the most, which session did you enjoy the most, and why?
Speaking for myself, it was a small session in Enistymon in Co Clare a few years ago. The musicians were very friendly and welcoming (I was still a beginner then), and they were good at their various instruments, there was a nice mixture of music, good guinness, I was on holidays and in good form, and the atmosphere in the pub was great. Of these, looking back, I would say that the most important of these was of course the musicians and the tunes they played and how friendly there were.
So thats my own vote!
I don't know if I could pick the best session, but I think, in general, sessions aer best when:
* There is collegial conversation between playing tunes.
* There is a flow, all the musicians seem to be on the same wavelength, someone starts a song and everybody knows it.
* The crowd is really into the music, not loudly, not boistrously, but appreciately.
It's difficult to say. I've had a few great session in the Cobblestones recently with a certain fiddle player and a certain flute player who are really top class. O'Donoghue's have a lovely session at Friday lunchtime too. Really difficult to pick one of so many but if I'm pushed to it, I would have to say a great session down in the Cúlthurlann in Monkstown last year. I was in the bar (not drinking) and Vincent Jordon asked me to join him and the bunch from Birmingham Comhaltas for a session in front of the fireplace. The session was brilliant. Really nice tunes and it was very tight. It was no surprise that a lot of them where members of the Sruleen Ceili Band! Having said that, there are plenty more session which were important but that one stick out among them all.
Still, I could not leave it at that without mentioning another fantastic session had in Monkstown with Donal De Barra amongst others about 2 years ago. That was fantastic too.
The best sessions happen when you're not expecting them, when you bump into a few friends and have a spontaneous session or when you meet musicians you've never played with before and just hit it off immediately.
I've had two truly memorable session experiences that stood out. Both happened during Willy Clancy Week.
One was a huge session with many top class players. It had an incredible lift to it and was the closest thing to a trad orchestra I've ever experienced. Often huge sessions can be messy but this one was just right, everything synched perfectly.
The other was just a few musicians and was outside at night-time. During this session I felt like some ancient spirits had taken us over (not alcoholic spirits!).
I've been trying to find those spirits ever since. I've had many good sessions before and after that one but I still hunger after those spirits that took us over that night.
Thats Hard = Donegal - Mooneys / Rosscommon- Lennons/
Dundalk - O'connors / Clare - Tommy peoples,,
Sorry about name droping but they where all that Good..
We just had a great one a few weeks ago. We played after the local Ancient Order of Hibernians had a heritage day. Folks remained for hours after we played tune after tune. They were not your typical punters but were really interested in the music.
The musicians were young and old, and some memebers of the Ancient Order joined us in lots of tunes. There were songs, too. It was quiet enough, the setting by the fireplace was ideal, and food (they ordered several pizzas for us) and drinks were more than we could consume. There were emotional connections between the musicians (some met for the first time), between the musicians and the listeners and even between the listeners. It was fun but also very profound.
Its got to be a mixture of venue ,musicians and the right time its impossible to predict, hard to replicate.
But places like the Dolphin and the Ship in Whitby ,Naties in Tubbercurry and the Cumberland in Newcastle all have had there moments for me .
Usually about six at most people all good .Playing in an unhurried way just for the joy of playing. Sometimes with out beer even .
I'm just a beginner and I've only been to my local session. The key great moments include:
- the times I got over my fear and played in front of everybody and didn't die
- the times I actually managed to play a whole tune up to speed
- the times I started tunes and the others joined in
- the times others started tunes specifically for my benefit because they knew I knew them
- the times when the others made me feel genuinely welcomed and accepted, pushing me beyond my comfort level and saying encouraging words even when I messed up
All you mean people, take note. Being nice will grow the tradition.
The session I'll always remember is one when a group of beautifully-dressed people from Kenya were spending the evening at the pub. The matriarch was the publican's mother. Something about the music really got to them, and they were dancing these wonderful bouncing-type dances (I assume from their tradition) and pulling people up off of barstools to dance with them. The matriarch was thrilled when I invited her to sit beside me and got me to write out a list of recordings of ITM.
what was your best session - and why?
what was your best session - and why?
we have all played at different sessions - looking back at the ones you enjoyed the most, which session did you enjoy the most, and why?
Speaking for myself, it was a small session in Enistymon in Co Clare a few years ago. The musicians were very friendly and welcoming (I was still a beginner then), and they were good at their various instruments, there was a nice mixture of music, good guinness, I was on holidays and in good form, and the atmosphere in the pub was great. Of these, looking back, I would say that the most important of these was of course the musicians and the tunes they played and how friendly there were.
So thats my own vote!
# Posted on March 12th 2008 by BanjoBongo
Re: what was your best session - and why?
I don't know if I could pick the best session, but I think, in general, sessions aer best when:
* There is collegial conversation between playing tunes.
* There is a flow, all the musicians seem to be on the same wavelength, someone starts a song and everybody knows it.
* The crowd is really into the music, not loudly, not boistrously, but appreciately.
That's my 2 cents worth!
# Posted on March 12th 2008 by Celtic Guitar
Re: what was your best session - and why?
It's difficult to say. I've had a few great session in the Cobblestones recently with a certain fiddle player and a certain flute player who are really top class. O'Donoghue's have a lovely session at Friday lunchtime too. Really difficult to pick one of so many but if I'm pushed to it, I would have to say a great session down in the Cúlthurlann in Monkstown last year. I was in the bar (not drinking) and Vincent Jordon asked me to join him and the bunch from Birmingham Comhaltas for a session in front of the fireplace. The session was brilliant. Really nice tunes and it was very tight. It was no surprise that a lot of them where members of the Sruleen Ceili Band! Having said that, there are plenty more session which were important but that one stick out among them all.
Still, I could not leave it at that without mentioning another fantastic session had in Monkstown with Donal De Barra amongst others about 2 years ago. That was fantastic too.
# Posted on March 12th 2008 by PaddyCmusic
Re: what was your best session - and why?
The best sessions happen when you're not expecting them, when you bump into a few friends and have a spontaneous session or when you meet musicians you've never played with before and just hit it off immediately.
I've had two truly memorable session experiences that stood out. Both happened during Willy Clancy Week.
One was a huge session with many top class players. It had an incredible lift to it and was the closest thing to a trad orchestra I've ever experienced. Often huge sessions can be messy but this one was just right, everything synched perfectly.
The other was just a few musicians and was outside at night-time. During this session I felt like some ancient spirits had taken us over (not alcoholic spirits!).
I've been trying to find those spirits ever since. I've had many good sessions before and after that one but I still hunger after those spirits that took us over that night.
# Posted on March 12th 2008 by The Transcriber
Re: what was your best session - and why?
I have to say i think the sessions at the All-Ireland fleadh are brilliant. You don't get much better than them.
# Posted on March 12th 2008 by Walnut Box
Re: what was your best session - and why?
Thats Hard = Donegal - Mooneys / Rosscommon- Lennons/
Dundalk - O'connors / Clare - Tommy peoples,,
Sorry about name droping but they where all that Good..
Oh! i hate this Question,,
jim,,,
# Posted on March 12th 2008 by FIDDLE4
Re: what was your best session - and why?
We just had a great one a few weeks ago. We played after the local Ancient Order of Hibernians had a heritage day. Folks remained for hours after we played tune after tune. They were not your typical punters but were really interested in the music.
The musicians were young and old, and some memebers of the Ancient Order joined us in lots of tunes. There were songs, too. It was quiet enough, the setting by the fireplace was ideal, and food (they ordered several pizzas for us) and drinks were more than we could consume. There were emotional connections between the musicians (some met for the first time), between the musicians and the listeners and even between the listeners. It was fun but also very profound.
# Posted on March 12th 2008 by feardearg
Re: what was your best session - and why?
Its got to be a mixture of venue ,musicians and the right time its impossible to predict, hard to replicate.
But places like the Dolphin and the Ship in Whitby ,Naties in Tubbercurry and the Cumberland in Newcastle all have had there moments for me .
Usually about six at most people all good .Playing in an unhurried way just for the joy of playing. Sometimes with out beer even .
# Posted on March 13th 2008 by bazouki dave and the real tooty flutey
Re: what was your best session - and why?
I'm just a beginner and I've only been to my local session. The key great moments include:
- the times I got over my fear and played in front of everybody and didn't die
- the times I actually managed to play a whole tune up to speed
- the times I started tunes and the others joined in
- the times others started tunes specifically for my benefit because they knew I knew them
- the times when the others made me feel genuinely welcomed and accepted, pushing me beyond my comfort level and saying encouraging words even when I messed up
All you mean people, take note. Being nice will grow the tradition.
# Posted on March 13th 2008 by sbhikes
Re: what was your best session - and why?
The session I'll always remember is one when a group of beautifully-dressed people from Kenya were spending the evening at the pub. The matriarch was the publican's mother. Something about the music really got to them, and they were dancing these wonderful bouncing-type dances (I assume from their tradition) and pulling people up off of barstools to dance with them. The matriarch was thrilled when I invited her to sit beside me and got me to write out a list of recordings of ITM.
# Posted on March 16th 2008 by cathrynb