Field Guide to the Irish Music Session by Barry Foy Drawings by Rob Adams 1999 - 95 pages. Very funny and amuzing. You need never again tread the delicate ground of explaining to a fellow musician how you think he or she is obstuctiong the session; instead offer them this book as a gift. For those who are unsure of the generally accepted ground rules for participating in a session, this is essential reading. Contents: Author's Note, Introduction, The Basics: The nature of the session, How it starts, Session instruments, Location, Types of tunes, Repetions, Tune names, Stringing tunes together, How boring Irish music is, Tuning, Tempo, Dynamics, Accompaniment, Pauses, Playing and listening, Repertoire, When and what not to play, Punctuality, Encouragement, Discouragement, Singing, Facing Facts, The importance of sessions, Some of the Finer Points: Answers to some often asked questions, Do it yourself tune names, The hornpipe question, The question of key. This is New/Old Stock in MINT condition.
This may be the same one you mentioned,... but there is a title difference.
THE HEARTBEAT OF IRISH MUSIC.BY CHRISTY MCNAMARA AND PETER WOODS. Copyright 1997 - 152 pages with several pages of great sepia color pictures. Part One - From the 20's-50's, Part Two - From the 50's -70's, Part Three - The 80's and the 90's, Part Four - Between the Generations. Experience the warmth of traditional music straight from the heart and soul of Ireland. Irish music is rooted in its people ordinary working people who live off the land and whose lives it enriches and sustains. This is the story of that music: how it has been passed down, collected and added to; how it lives on through immigrations, social changes and new technologies. Told in a compelling style through several generations of one family, this lively tale coveys both the deep spirit of the music itself, and the rich and troubled history of Ireland's people. The marvelous photography and lyrical text recall images of old folks dancing in the kitchen, musicians at a wake, hurling matches and pub sessions, beautifully re-creating the rhythms of life in Ireland from the 1920's to the 1990's, and imparting a vivid experience of this rich musical legacy.
Yep, IR, the field guide is the one whose title & author I forgot, and the Heartbeat is the same as I meant but I omitted to put the other half of the title.
For a sociological dissertation on the music, read The Northern Fiddler by Allen Feldman and Eamonn O'Doherty (Oak Publications). It includes wonderful line drawings and some nice photos of players and places in Doengal and Tyrone, and the transcriptions of conversations with John and Simon Doherty, the Byrne Brothers, Con Cassidy, Peter Turbit, and the yarns of John Loughran are well worth reeading and re-reading. Lots of descriptions of kitchen dances, house sessions, raking down the lane, etc. of interest not just to fiddlers. Plus the dots for a bunch a tunes.
Notes from the Heart by P.J. Curtis. Torc publ., 1994, ISBN 1 898142 0 76.
1st part of the book: 40 pages about the history of ITM since 1900, 20 about 'emigration and ITM' and last but not least , 16 about dancing.
The 2nd part of the book consists of stories about 'Clare musicians' (not necessarily Clare style, also Clare residents).
This includes Tommy Peoples, Willie Clancy, Sharon Shannon,
Noel Hill, Johnny Doran, Tony Linnane, Frank Custy and Paul Brock.
Some fine pictures.
I have Last Night's Fun on our coffee table downstairs in the "pub" but have only read a few pages. I used to be an avid reader, devouring a book a week. But since I started playing Irish wooden flute, I haven't read a single book. I've heard various opinions on Barry Foy's book and hope to also check that one out....I wish I could read at work during my slow times. Well, in 45 minutes, I can go play my flute. Tunes for lunch!
Look out for a new one, published this summer... a book all about Willie Clancy Week, with photos by my friend Tony Kearns and from the archives, and written by... I've forgotten. Anyway, if you go to Willie Week you'll hopefully see it around.
I think this site is now ready for another category in addition to the Tunes, Recordings, links, Discussions, etc. A category for Books on The Music, not only the many already mentioned on this particular thread, but tutors, and books of printed music. When you have the time, Jeremy ....!
Trevor
The Companion to Irish Traditional Music, ed. Fintan Vallely
I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet. It is to the player or enthusiast of Irish Traditional Music what the Readers Digest Family Medical Adviser is to the hypochondriac.
Gearoid O'Halmhurain (sp?) has a small but interesting book on the history of ITM. I don't have my copy handy for the details. He grew up in Clare and I believe is now in St. Louis in the U.S.
Between the Jigs and the Reels, - The Donegal Fiddle Tradition, by Caoimhin Macaoidh." It offers a fuller picture of the tradition, noting where it came from, who were the persons and influences that shaped it, how it fitted into the ordinary lives of the people and the huge depth of associated folklore with Donegal fiddling which in most other areas has since been lost."
ISBN 18734437080 Drumlin Publications 1994
Books about The Music
Books about The Music
Can anyone add to, amend, or make (useful) comments on, this list:
Last Night's Fun - Ciar
# Posted on May 26th 2003 by Rudall the time
Re: Books about The Music
Often found on ebay. I have a copy in transit.
Field Guide to the Irish Music Session by Barry Foy Drawings by Rob Adams 1999 - 95 pages. Very funny and amuzing. You need never again tread the delicate ground of explaining to a fellow musician how you think he or she is obstuctiong the session; instead offer them this book as a gift. For those who are unsure of the generally accepted ground rules for participating in a session, this is essential reading. Contents: Author's Note, Introduction, The Basics: The nature of the session, How it starts, Session instruments, Location, Types of tunes, Repetions, Tune names, Stringing tunes together, How boring Irish music is, Tuning, Tempo, Dynamics, Accompaniment, Pauses, Playing and listening, Repertoire, When and what not to play, Punctuality, Encouragement, Discouragement, Singing, Facing Facts, The importance of sessions, Some of the Finer Points: Answers to some often asked questions, Do it yourself tune names, The hornpipe question, The question of key. This is New/Old Stock in MINT condition.
# Posted on May 26th 2003 by irish ruff
Re: Books about The Music
This may be the same one you mentioned,... but there is a title difference.
THE HEARTBEAT OF IRISH MUSIC.BY CHRISTY MCNAMARA AND PETER WOODS. Copyright 1997 - 152 pages with several pages of great sepia color pictures. Part One - From the 20's-50's, Part Two - From the 50's -70's, Part Three - The 80's and the 90's, Part Four - Between the Generations. Experience the warmth of traditional music straight from the heart and soul of Ireland. Irish music is rooted in its people ordinary working people who live off the land and whose lives it enriches and sustains. This is the story of that music: how it has been passed down, collected and added to; how it lives on through immigrations, social changes and new technologies. Told in a compelling style through several generations of one family, this lively tale coveys both the deep spirit of the music itself, and the rich and troubled history of Ireland's people. The marvelous photography and lyrical text recall images of old folks dancing in the kitchen, musicians at a wake, hurling matches and pub sessions, beautifully re-creating the rhythms of life in Ireland from the 1920's to the 1990's, and imparting a vivid experience of this rich musical legacy.
# Posted on May 26th 2003 by irish ruff
Re: Books about The Music
Yep, IR, the field guide is the one whose title & author I forgot, and the Heartbeat is the same as I meant but I omitted to put the other half of the title.
Sorry and thanks,
Danny.
# Posted on May 26th 2003 by Rudall the time
Re: Books about The Music
Oh... and Woods always refers to our stuff as The Music....
# Posted on May 26th 2003 by Rudall the time
Re: Books about The Music
For a sociological dissertation on the music, read The Northern Fiddler by Allen Feldman and Eamonn O'Doherty (Oak Publications). It includes wonderful line drawings and some nice photos of players and places in Doengal and Tyrone, and the transcriptions of conversations with John and Simon Doherty, the Byrne Brothers, Con Cassidy, Peter Turbit, and the yarns of John Loughran are well worth reeading and re-reading. Lots of descriptions of kitchen dances, house sessions, raking down the lane, etc. of interest not just to fiddlers. Plus the dots for a bunch a tunes.
Another quasi-scholarly approach is Tom
# Posted on May 26th 2003 by Will Harmon
Re: Books about The Music
Notes from the Heart by P.J. Curtis. Torc publ., 1994, ISBN 1 898142 0 76.
1st part of the book: 40 pages about the history of ITM since 1900, 20 about 'emigration and ITM' and last but not least , 16 about dancing.
The 2nd part of the book consists of stories about 'Clare musicians' (not necessarily Clare style, also Clare residents).
This includes Tommy Peoples, Willie Clancy, Sharon Shannon,
Noel Hill, Johnny Doran, Tony Linnane, Frank Custy and Paul Brock.
Some fine pictures.
# Posted on May 26th 2003 by Henk Bos
Re: Books about The Music
"Set Dances of Ireland, Tradition and Evolution" by Larry Lynch. ISBN 0-9623366-0-2 (USA), ISBN 0-9514848-0-X (Republic of Ireland). Published by S
# Posted on May 26th 2003 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Books about The Music
I have Last Night's Fun on our coffee table downstairs in the "pub" but have only read a few pages. I used to be an avid reader, devouring a book a week. But since I started playing Irish wooden flute, I haven't read a single book. I've heard various opinions on Barry Foy's book and hope to also check that one out....I wish I could read at work during my slow times. Well, in 45 minutes, I can go play my flute. Tunes for lunch!
# Posted on May 27th 2003 by JMH
Re: Books about The Music
Look out for a new one, published this summer... a book all about Willie Clancy Week, with photos by my friend Tony Kearns and from the archives, and written by... I've forgotten. Anyway, if you go to Willie Week you'll hopefully see it around.
# Posted on May 27th 2003 by Nell
Re: Books about The Music
I think this site is now ready for another category in addition to the Tunes, Recordings, links, Discussions, etc. A category for Books on The Music, not only the many already mentioned on this particular thread, but tutors, and books of printed music. When you have the time, Jeremy ....!
Trevor
# Posted on May 27th 2003 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Books about The Music
The Companion to Irish Traditional Music, ed. Fintan Vallely
I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet. It is to the player or enthusiast of Irish Traditional Music what the Readers Digest Family Medical Adviser is to the hypochondriac.
# Posted on May 28th 2003 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Books about The Music
the 'companion to irish music' is indeed great. but look out for the sticker shock.
sarah
# Posted on May 28th 2003 by sarahc
Re: Books about The Music
Gearoid O'Halmhurain (sp?) has a small but interesting book on the history of ITM. I don't have my copy handy for the details. He grew up in Clare and I believe is now in St. Louis in the U.S.
# Posted on May 28th 2003 by KenC
Re: Books about The Music
Trip To Sligo by Bernard Flaherty, regional settings , geographical and historical insights into the lives of musicians from this area.
# Posted on May 29th 2003 by Seasider
Re: Books about The Music
Between the Jigs and the Reels, - The Donegal Fiddle Tradition, by Caoimhin Macaoidh." It offers a fuller picture of the tradition, noting where it came from, who were the persons and influences that shaped it, how it fitted into the ordinary lives of the people and the huge depth of associated folklore with Donegal fiddling which in most other areas has since been lost."
ISBN 18734437080 Drumlin Publications 1994
# Posted on May 30th 2003 by ricthewhistle
Re: Books about The Music
Aiming for the heart- Andy irvine. Interesting reading and music for some of his more unknown stuff
# Posted on June 12th 2003 by Celtic1234