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Do you actively seek out and learn tunes by a favourite(Trad) composer?
Do you actively seek out and learn tunes by a favourite(Trad) composer?
A bit of a clumsy title.. Sorry.
Basically, I'm wondering how many of you will actively seek out and learn newly composed or original tunes by a particular composer?
If so, what is the point of this for those who are predominantly session players?
Generally, I find that you'll get no more than a handful of tunes by individual composers which feature regularly in a session. For instance, how many Dave Richardson tunes can you immediately think of apart from McArthur Road and Calliope House and so on....?
Of course, many good Irish and Scottish players compose several great tunes but only a minority seem to crop up with great regularity.
I know some people here have reached the stage where they won't bother to find any new tunes at all. They'll wait for them to appear and then learn them "at full speed" within their local session(Considered to be the *proper way* to do things). Good for them but we don't all think along these lines.
Personally, I have made an effort to hear and learn more music from particular favourites and even purchased their tune books on occasion. I do realise that it's mostly for my own benefit and many won't get the chance to see the light of day in a session but what the hell?
Also, those people who regularly "perform" live might also wish to actively seek out different material too. How about you?
Re: Do you actively seek out and learn tunes by a favourite(Trad) composer?
I liked Otter's Holt so much that I looked up Knotted Cord and learned it too (both by Junior Crehan). Alas, I'm the only one around here who knows either of them, so it's more for my own personal enjoyment than anything.
Re: Do you actively seek out and learn tunes by a favourite(Trad) composer?
Hmm, upon reading the comments section for Knotted Cord, they say it's actually written by someone earlier. OK, they were both *associated* with Junior Crehan.
Re: Do you actively seek out and learn tunes by a favourite(Trad) composer?
Sometimes. I have the first volume of a Tom Anderson collection and am working my way through it, choosing which tunes I want to learn. What I do enjoy are the Mel Bay books of sheet music by great players. I like to see their bowings, accentuation, and such in the various tunes. Very enlightening at times to see their interpretations. Bonnie Rideout has at least one such book, as well as Natalie MacMaster.
Re: Do you actively seek out and learn tunes by a favourite(Trad) composer?
I´m a fan of Ed Reavy, Paddy Fahy and Paddy O´Brien (Nenagh) tunes. A good amount of their tunes are common enough these days but, even the lesser known tunes can yet be ´let out of their cage´. Saying that, I mean that there is nothing stopping anyone from introducing a new tune to their local session. It occasionally happens that I´ll run into a tune that, unbeknown to me, nobody knows and afterwards, there may be a positive or negative view on the tune. I remember recently I went from some tune in The Flower of the Flock, presuming most people would know it as it is quite popular. But I got looks of confusion and of ¨Oh yeah, I know that tune. I´ll get it now...¨ . The day afterwards, on meeting a few of the session crew, they wanted to learn it. So give it a go. Let one or two people hear it and see what they think.
Do you actively seek out and learn tunes by a favourite(Trad) composer?
Do you actively seek out and learn tunes by a favourite(Trad) composer?
A bit of a clumsy title.. Sorry.
Basically, I'm wondering how many of you will actively seek out and learn newly composed or original tunes by a particular composer?
If so, what is the point of this for those who are predominantly session players?
Generally, I find that you'll get no more than a handful of tunes by individual composers which feature regularly in a session. For instance, how many Dave Richardson tunes can you immediately think of apart from McArthur Road and Calliope House and so on....?
Of course, many good Irish and Scottish players compose several great tunes but only a minority seem to crop up with great regularity.
I know some people here have reached the stage where they won't bother to find any new tunes at all. They'll wait for them to appear and then learn them "at full speed" within their local session(Considered to be the *proper way* to do things). Good for them but we don't all think along these lines.
Personally, I have made an effort to hear and learn more music from particular favourites and even purchased their tune books on occasion. I do realise that it's mostly for my own benefit and many won't get the chance to see the light of day in a session but what the hell?
Also, those people who regularly "perform" live might also wish to actively seek out different material too. How about you?
# Posted on April 13th 2008 by Johannes J
Re: Do you actively seek out and learn tunes by a favourite(Trad) composer?
I liked Otter's Holt so much that I looked up Knotted Cord and learned it too (both by Junior Crehan). Alas, I'm the only one around here who knows either of them, so it's more for my own personal enjoyment than anything.
# Posted on April 13th 2008 by fliedermaus
Re: Do you actively seek out and learn tunes by a favourite(Trad) composer?
Hmm, upon reading the comments section for Knotted Cord, they say it's actually written by someone earlier. OK, they were both *associated* with Junior Crehan.
# Posted on April 13th 2008 by fliedermaus
Re: Do you actively seek out and learn tunes by a favourite(Trad) composer?
Sometimes. I have the first volume of a Tom Anderson collection and am working my way through it, choosing which tunes I want to learn. What I do enjoy are the Mel Bay books of sheet music by great players. I like to see their bowings, accentuation, and such in the various tunes. Very enlightening at times to see their interpretations. Bonnie Rideout has at least one such book, as well as Natalie MacMaster.
# Posted on April 13th 2008 by cathrynb
Re: Do you actively seek out and learn tunes by a favourite(Trad) composer?
I'm an Ed Reavey fan. So the answer is yes.
# Posted on April 13th 2008 by Henk Bos
Re: Do you actively seek out and learn tunes by a favourite(Trad) composer?
I´m a fan of Ed Reavy, Paddy Fahy and Paddy O´Brien (Nenagh) tunes. A good amount of their tunes are common enough these days but, even the lesser known tunes can yet be ´let out of their cage´. Saying that, I mean that there is nothing stopping anyone from introducing a new tune to their local session. It occasionally happens that I´ll run into a tune that, unbeknown to me, nobody knows and afterwards, there may be a positive or negative view on the tune. I remember recently I went from some tune in The Flower of the Flock, presuming most people would know it as it is quite popular. But I got looks of confusion and of ¨Oh yeah, I know that tune. I´ll get it now...¨ . The day afterwards, on meeting a few of the session crew, they wanted to learn it. So give it a go. Let one or two people hear it and see what they think.
# Posted on April 13th 2008 by PaddyCmusic
Re: Do you actively seek out and learn tunes by a favourite(Trad) composer?
¨into¨ The Flower of the Flock
# Posted on April 13th 2008 by PaddyCmusic
Re: Do you actively seek out and learn tunes by a favourite(Trad) composer?
"BAA-AAA-AA!!"
# Posted on April 13th 2008 by nicholas
Re: Do you actively seek out and learn tunes by a favourite(Trad) composer?
Ed Reavy, Sean Ryan
not forgetting Fergie McDonald, Freeland Barbour, Angus Fitchett, Willie Taylor and of course, Jimmy Shand.
# Posted on April 13th 2008 by geoffwright
Re: Do you actively seek out and learn tunes by a favourite(Trad) composer?
Charlie Lennon. Full Stop!!
# Posted on April 13th 2008 by galway-fiddle
Re: Do you actively seek out and learn tunes by a favourite(Trad) composer?
Liz Carroll
# Posted on April 13th 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Do you actively seek out and learn tunes by a favourite(Trad) composer?
Ah, I should not forget to add Finbarr Dwyer, who tops my list.
# Posted on April 14th 2008 by PaddyCmusic
Re: Do you actively seek out and learn tunes by a favourite(Trad) composer?
Yes - I certainly did so for Ronnie Cooper's tunes (after being prompted by various comments and recommendations on this Board).
# Posted on April 14th 2008 by domnull