Speaking of box players, some folks might like to take a listen to a new record on Green Linnet by a fellow named Johnny Connolly, called Johnny Box here in Portland. The record is great, Johnny's a fantastic player and he has some pretty good accompanists. Aidan Brennan plays on most of it, Kevin Burke plays on a few tracks, and a few other folks, all good folks from Portland.
I know, I should put it in the recordings. Some time when I feel like typing in all the names of the tunes, maybe I will. In the meantime, it's worth finding.
Although I hesitate to describe myself as a real player (you know, that hints at acutal competency), I dearly love my Salterelle. I've been working on Reel Beatrice, and like it a lot. I also play the concertina, and that is what I take to sessions with me. It would be great fun to be in touch with other aspiring squeezebox players!
I have one or two b/c boxes laying about the house, currently overloaded with trying to learn too many tunes at once, so I'm going to to square one and learning them one at a time and working out efficient fingering system, a la Billy McComisky. Currently alternating right now between a Cairdin and a Boxeen (Jim Coogan's newest venture). Latest works in progress: Lady Anne Montgomery, Miss Monaghan, Queen of May.......what's everyone else playing (systems and makes I mean)
Help me. I'am a piano accordeon player who recently started to learn the box. I used "The Box" by David C. Hanrahan as a quide, but I'am looking for a guide-book with more theory and more practice. And a book, that pays a little attention to the left hand also. Thank you
Fabian from Holland.
Am I mistaken in having heard that the left hand is usually something that comes a lot later after you've got the melody tune playing thing down? In Irish, anyway. And -- I know this isn't very helpful, but when I asked about theory, I was told to forget about it and just play. Theory, I was told, was something that I could work on later when I could actually play the stuff, or on the side if I had extra time in which to worry about non-essentials. This was all said in that rather tongue-in-cheek air that has a healthy soupcon of that slightly peculiar look that tells you that someone is only partly joking.
Geez, Zina, are we treading far afield, you and I daring to post in a thread on box tunes? I've never even touched a button box!
But your question is overwhelming my better sense of discretion...one of my pet peeves is players who start messing around with Irish tunes without understanding the "theory" or musical structure that underlies them. So you get melodic variations that completely derail any reasonable chordal progression, or chord accompaniment that disregards the finer nuances of the tune, or endless medleys of Em tunes with no suspense or resolve.
Other than that, I completely agree that beginners have enough just to learn the notes and the mechanics of playing Trad Irish on their chosen instrument. Theory can come later, or interspersed as time allows (and, borrowing from a good rule of thumb for parenting, when the student actually raises the question...no sense teaching theory--or sex ed--if the pupil isn't ready).
I've touched a button box, but then the owner took it away from me. *grin*
Now, see, I'm just starting to get into all that chord progression stuff. I'd imagine that piano accord. types have to work with that right along with the tune itself. What do you boxers have to say about the whole chordal thing?
Never played one (artfully), but I've seen it done. The button player at the session I go to just slaps his fingers across a couple of buttons and drones along with the pipes. I prefer that to the oompah oompah of chording along. The old timers I've seen use the left hand in short bursts emphasizing certain notes or punctuating phrases. I don't think I've ever seen someone trying to pump out a constant rhythm and "chord along" in the sense that a guitar would. Also, there can usually only be one person at our sessions pumping out a steady stream of chords, or it's a free-for-all of violently conflicting interpretations of the mood of the song. Some tunes can have either major OR minor chords fit equally well, but it's a cacophany when they happen at the same time.
box tunes
box tunes
any box players out there
# Posted on November 2nd 2001 by gerry
Re: box tunes
I'm not a box player, but I love box tunes! C'mon all you boxers, speak up!
Zina
# Posted on November 2nd 2001 by Zina Lee
Re: box tunes
Speaking of box players, some folks might like to take a listen to a new record on Green Linnet by a fellow named Johnny Connolly, called Johnny Box here in Portland. The record is great, Johnny's a fantastic player and he has some pretty good accompanists. Aidan Brennan plays on most of it, Kevin Burke plays on a few tracks, and a few other folks, all good folks from Portland.
I know, I should put it in the recordings. Some time when I feel like typing in all the names of the tunes, maybe I will. In the meantime, it's worth finding.
# Posted on November 3rd 2001 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: box tunes
Johnny Connolly was here in Denver not too long ago -- people really enjoyed the concert! Unfortunately, I couldn't make it that night. :(
zls
# Posted on November 3rd 2001 by Zina Lee
Re: box tunes
Although I hesitate to describe myself as a real player (you know, that hints at acutal competency), I dearly love my Salterelle. I've been working on Reel Beatrice, and like it a lot. I also play the concertina, and that is what I take to sessions with me. It would be great fun to be in touch with other aspiring squeezebox players!
# Posted on November 3rd 2001 by woman of the house
Re: box tunes
I have one or two b/c boxes laying about the house, currently overloaded with trying to learn too many tunes at once, so I'm going to to square one and learning them one at a time and working out efficient fingering system, a la Billy McComisky. Currently alternating right now between a Cairdin and a Boxeen (Jim Coogan's newest venture). Latest works in progress: Lady Anne Montgomery, Miss Monaghan, Queen of May.......what's everyone else playing (systems and makes I mean)
# Posted on November 4th 2001 by stardog
Re: box tunes
Help me. I'am a piano accordeon player who recently started to learn the box. I used "The Box" by David C. Hanrahan as a quide, but I'am looking for a guide-book with more theory and more practice. And a book, that pays a little attention to the left hand also. Thank you
Fabian from Holland.
# Posted on November 5th 2001 by Boheemen
Re: box tunes
Am I mistaken in having heard that the left hand is usually something that comes a lot later after you've got the melody tune playing thing down? In Irish, anyway. And -- I know this isn't very helpful, but when I asked about theory, I was told to forget about it and just play. Theory, I was told, was something that I could work on later when I could actually play the stuff, or on the side if I had extra time in which to worry about non-essentials. This was all said in that rather tongue-in-cheek air that has a healthy soupcon of that slightly peculiar look that tells you that someone is only partly joking.
Comments on that, anyone?
Zina
# Posted on November 5th 2001 by Zina Lee
Re: box tunes
Geez, Zina, are we treading far afield, you and I daring to post in a thread on box tunes? I've never even touched a button box!
But your question is overwhelming my better sense of discretion...one of my pet peeves is players who start messing around with Irish tunes without understanding the "theory" or musical structure that underlies them. So you get melodic variations that completely derail any reasonable chordal progression, or chord accompaniment that disregards the finer nuances of the tune, or endless medleys of Em tunes with no suspense or resolve.
Other than that, I completely agree that beginners have enough just to learn the notes and the mechanics of playing Trad Irish on their chosen instrument. Theory can come later, or interspersed as time allows (and, borrowing from a good rule of thumb for parenting, when the student actually raises the question...no sense teaching theory--or sex ed--if the pupil isn't ready).
# Posted on November 5th 2001 by Will Harmon
Re: box tunes
I've touched a button box, but then the owner took it away from me. *grin*
Now, see, I'm just starting to get into all that chord progression stuff. I'd imagine that piano accord. types have to work with that right along with the tune itself. What do you boxers have to say about the whole chordal thing?
zls
# Posted on November 5th 2001 by Zina Lee
Re: box tunes
Never played one (artfully), but I've seen it done. The button player at the session I go to just slaps his fingers across a couple of buttons and drones along with the pipes. I prefer that to the oompah oompah of chording along. The old timers I've seen use the left hand in short bursts emphasizing certain notes or punctuating phrases. I don't think I've ever seen someone trying to pump out a constant rhythm and "chord along" in the sense that a guitar would. Also, there can usually only be one person at our sessions pumping out a steady stream of chords, or it's a free-for-all of violently conflicting interpretations of the mood of the song. Some tunes can have either major OR minor chords fit equally well, but it's a cacophany when they happen at the same time.
# Posted on November 5th 2001 by Kerri Brown