I was looking back through old discussions on this site and stumbled upon this kunumdrum. Pleas discuss!!!
'Are there any genuine new styles out there on the box?
Remember when Dermot Byrne came on the scene?
He was new fresh and you knew it was him when you heard him.'1
1. The initial question was posted by 'eurbanjo' in 2007
Dunno about new styles on the box, not being a player but there are some great young box players in the Glasgow scene just now including Paddy Callaghan and Martin Hunter. I find Paddy's playing particularly easy to spot as it is very rounded and bouncy, lovely happy music.
In fact Glasgow is blessed with a miriad of great box players just now.
Admittedly not a new figure on the scene but there can't be any box player with a sound as unique as Lawrence McIlhenny - I just love his playing.
From my personal viewpoint it has to be Darren Breslin from Fermanagh. I got a copy of his CD a few months ago and immediately felt that this is the way a box should be played. The tempo was perfect, ornamentation not overdone and his repertoire was a nice balance between new tunes and some of the old reliables. There was a bit of a discussion on Darren a few days ago at http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/21645.
Yeah I'd second Darren Breslin for sure, he has a very unique style. Another is Paul Finn who used to be in Teada. His playing is instantly recognisable because it's so different to anyone else. Also Josephine Marsh, although she has been around for a while, certainly fits the criterion of a new/unique style.
Personally I don't think there are any new styles out there, but in relation to No Cause For Alarm's comments, there definitely is a trend with up and coming box players, the styles they play and in particular, where they come from. Take the UK for example, you have the already mentioned Paddy Callaghan from Scotland, then English players like Tim Edey and Damien Mullane...their playing consists of brilliant modern tunes, lively tempo and rhythm with classy variations.
Then take Ulster, the widely known Darren Breslin fom Fermanagh, along with Chris Maguire, and mighty box players Michael Curran and Stephen Hayden from Tyrone...their music is more laid back, keeping it traditional with steady tempo and slower speed, yet with good subtle variations.
Yet I will contradict myself, there are other box players like Martin Quinn and Beoga who are from Ulster as well who play a different style altogether, so maybe you could say the county they come from plays a part in their style of music.
Great forum I think, does anyone agree with my comments, what are your views?
I would have to say that the box players with Beoga are not a style of their own but simply a copy of Mairtin O Connor. The type of tunes, style, sound etc. Not that that's a bad thing as I really admire Mairtin's music but copying it puts you in dodgy water....
I might disagee on Beoga. Had a chance to see Beoga play somewhat informally. And yes the style is as you refer. But after, Damian McKee did a bit of playing on the side.
He is a superb individual box player and has his own approach.
Sometimes when a person is playing with a band, a listener has to differentiate the band's 'brand' which may be one style-or sometimes ITM 'top forty' with improv, and then listen to the individuals as solo players.
Fair enough zippydw. I've never heard them informally as individual musicians. All I'm going on is what they brand as 'Beoga' and I'll stick to my comment, in fact it's a pity that such good musicians which clearly they are, don't find some new sound. I think that this is so common with new bands in the contemporary Irish music scene. Tradmaniac's original comment stated that Beoga play a different style altogether in relation to accordion music... def not true in my opinion.
It is a characteristic of the late 20th and early 21st century: the obsession with the new. It isn't an obsession that I personally share. In fact (or at least IMHO) it is a destructive obsession in many areas of modern life. The new automatically valued over the old "new labour", "new towns", the latest tendy theory of literary criticism etc etc. Quite often the "new" is patently inferior to the old, but we are expected to prefer it simply because it is "new"
In contrast to this obsession with the new, Trad musicians have always valued individual expression, e.g. listen to Tony MacMahon talking about the advice he got from his mentors: play like yourself, don't copy other players style. Individual styles were appreciated on their own merits, when they were good they were good. Not as some new trend. Pervesely celebrating the "new" merely creates another orthodoxy which will one day be looked on as "the old".
I think this emphasis on a personal style is different from the need for something "new", which can be (IMHO) rather artificial.
I don't want to slavishly copy someone else, I want to express myself in my own playing. I couldn't give a tinker's about creating something new though.
I'd say don't obsess over the "new", don't force your playing to be deliberately different. Play what feels right to you and you will express your own style.
Beiga played Celtic fest in Chicago last summer. anyone who has been to Chicago has probably experienced its weather changes (sometimes minute to minute). Beautiful when the weather is great. When it rains, it floods.
Thats what happened . The rain was unbeleivable. The musicians, what ones showed up to play- actually quite a number- retreated to some of the tents intended for workshops and the more intimate venues- btw a great part of the Chicago Fest features.
Beoga took over the pipes tent. They did their Beoga faux 1920's swingy/pop stuff. But when that stuff ended and some of the members went looking for dry clothes, the others just played, with some of them coming in and going.
At face value for what it is 'Beoga' music is well crafted. But individuals showed a tremendous amount of skill and musicianship just playing The Music which they were just winging for the few of us who toughed the weather out.
Damian McKee was showing off his new Vander Aa boxes (his saltarelle was truly well worn) and he even offered to let me play it. The man can play.
2 years on, has anything changed
2 years on, has anything changed
I was looking back through old discussions on this site and stumbled upon this kunumdrum. Pleas discuss!!!
'Are there any genuine new styles out there on the box?
Remember when Dermot Byrne came on the scene?
He was new fresh and you knew it was him when you heard him.'1
1. The initial question was posted by 'eurbanjo' in 2007
# Posted on May 26th 2009 by thepringles08
Re: 2 years on, has anything changed
Dunno about new styles on the box, not being a player but there are some great young box players in the Glasgow scene just now including Paddy Callaghan and Martin Hunter. I find Paddy's playing particularly easy to spot as it is very rounded and bouncy, lovely happy music.
In fact Glasgow is blessed with a miriad of great box players just now.
Admittedly not a new figure on the scene but there can't be any box player with a sound as unique as Lawrence McIlhenny - I just love his playing.
# Posted on May 26th 2009 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: 2 years on, has anything changed
I've never heard a player in session concert or CD that I enjoyed listening to more than Lawrence. On any instrument.
- chris
# Posted on May 26th 2009 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: 2 years on, has anything changed
From my personal viewpoint it has to be Darren Breslin from Fermanagh. I got a copy of his CD a few months ago and immediately felt that this is the way a box should be played. The tempo was perfect, ornamentation not overdone and his repertoire was a nice balance between new tunes and some of the old reliables. There was a bit of a discussion on Darren a few days ago at http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/21645.
# Posted on May 26th 2009 by Bannerman
Re: 2 years on, has anything changed
Yeah I'd second Darren Breslin for sure, he has a very unique style. Another is Paul Finn who used to be in Teada. His playing is instantly recognisable because it's so different to anyone else. Also Josephine Marsh, although she has been around for a while, certainly fits the criterion of a new/unique style.
# Posted on May 26th 2009 by kjay_bc_box
Re: 2 years on, has anything changed
Personally I don't think there are any new styles out there, but in relation to No Cause For Alarm's comments, there definitely is a trend with up and coming box players, the styles they play and in particular, where they come from. Take the UK for example, you have the already mentioned Paddy Callaghan from Scotland, then English players like Tim Edey and Damien Mullane...their playing consists of brilliant modern tunes, lively tempo and rhythm with classy variations.
Then take Ulster, the widely known Darren Breslin fom Fermanagh, along with Chris Maguire, and mighty box players Michael Curran and Stephen Hayden from Tyrone...their music is more laid back, keeping it traditional with steady tempo and slower speed, yet with good subtle variations.
Yet I will contradict myself, there are other box players like Martin Quinn and Beoga who are from Ulster as well who play a different style altogether, so maybe you could say the county they come from plays a part in their style of music.
Great forum I think, does anyone agree with my comments, what are your views?
# Posted on May 27th 2009 by tradmaniac
Re: 2 years on, has anything changed
I would have to say that the box players with Beoga are not a style of their own but simply a copy of Mairtin O Connor. The type of tunes, style, sound etc. Not that that's a bad thing as I really admire Mairtin's music but copying it puts you in dodgy water....
# Posted on May 27th 2009 by csparpd
Re: 2 years on, has anything changed
csparpd
I might disagee on Beoga. Had a chance to see Beoga play somewhat informally. And yes the style is as you refer. But after, Damian McKee did a bit of playing on the side.
He is a superb individual box player and has his own approach.
Sometimes when a person is playing with a band, a listener has to differentiate the band's 'brand' which may be one style-or sometimes ITM 'top forty' with improv, and then listen to the individuals as solo players.
# Posted on May 27th 2009 by zippydw
Re: 2 years on, has anything changed
Fair enough zippydw. I've never heard them informally as individual musicians. All I'm going on is what they brand as 'Beoga' and I'll stick to my comment, in fact it's a pity that such good musicians which clearly they are, don't find some new sound. I think that this is so common with new bands in the contemporary Irish music scene. Tradmaniac's original comment stated that Beoga play a different style altogether in relation to accordion music... def not true in my opinion.
# Posted on May 27th 2009 by csparpd
Re: 2 years on, has anything changed
It is a characteristic of the late 20th and early 21st century: the obsession with the new. It isn't an obsession that I personally share. In fact (or at least IMHO
) it is a destructive obsession in many areas of modern life. The new automatically valued over the old "new labour", "new towns", the latest tendy theory of literary criticism etc etc. Quite often the "new" is patently inferior to the old, but we are expected to prefer it simply because it is "new"
In contrast to this obsession with the new, Trad musicians have always valued individual expression, e.g. listen to Tony MacMahon talking about the advice he got from his mentors: play like yourself, don't copy other players style. Individual styles were appreciated on their own merits, when they were good they were good. Not as some new trend. Pervesely celebrating the "new" merely creates another orthodoxy which will one day be looked on as "the old".
I think this emphasis on a personal style is different from the need for something "new", which can be (IMHO) rather artificial.
I don't want to slavishly copy someone else, I want to express myself in my own playing. I couldn't give a tinker's about creating something new though.
I'd say don't obsess over the "new", don't force your playing to be deliberately different. Play what feels right to you and you will express your own style.
My 2c anyway, YMMV and no offence intended
- chris
# Posted on May 27th 2009 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: 2 years on, has anything changed
Beiga played Celtic fest in Chicago last summer. anyone who has been to Chicago has probably experienced its weather changes (sometimes minute to minute). Beautiful when the weather is great. When it rains, it floods.
Thats what happened . The rain was unbeleivable. The musicians, what ones showed up to play- actually quite a number- retreated to some of the tents intended for workshops and the more intimate venues- btw a great part of the Chicago Fest features.
Beoga took over the pipes tent. They did their Beoga faux 1920's swingy/pop stuff. But when that stuff ended and some of the members went looking for dry clothes, the others just played, with some of them coming in and going.
At face value for what it is 'Beoga' music is well crafted. But individuals showed a tremendous amount of skill and musicianship just playing The Music which they were just winging for the few of us who toughed the weather out.
Damian McKee was showing off his new Vander Aa boxes (his saltarelle was truly well worn) and he even offered to let me play it. The man can play.
# Posted on May 28th 2009 by zippydw