I am interested in other musicians views on tunes written by a Scot, living in Scotland, but the tunes have an Irish feel to them, should they be considered as Scottish or Irish or something else.
Well, this is a problem we all live with in post modern, international society:
Influences from all over the world, all kind of music all kind of styles. So if you want to stick to one traditional style - the one of your own country/region or one that you choose to borrow - then it's up to you to restrict yourself. If you don't, the music can turn into anything. Music by a scot that sounds irish or music by a german sounding swedish or japanese or anything
The old regional/national styles derived from the fact that the musicians never had international influences the way we have. Their styles were - at least partly - a result of isolation.
So traditional musicians of today has to make some kind of stand. Stay within one tradition, facing the risk of being anemic. Jump out in the World Music Ocean, facing the risk of being totally lost. Or something inbetween.
But to tell the truth. I have no idea wether the music you describe should be called Scottish, Irish or something else
Interesting idea, this notion of attaching a nationality to a tune, written by someone from a different place. It isn't a new thing. What comes to mind is a tune Eion O' Riabhaigh teaches called Reavey's reel. It was written long ago by an American, but it is known better in Ireland. Also, Eoin plays a set of pipes made by the Taylor brothers of Pennsylvania in the 1850's. I have heard Irish tunes played in a style that is unmistakably bluegrass, even "Si Bheag Si Mhor." Even "Amazing Grace" has a tune adopted from African folk songs sung by American slaves. Of course the poem was written by an Englishman, John Newton. Irish music has been and still is an international phenomenon. So why fret about whether your compositions are Irish? Write them, call them your own, and let history decide. Perhaps it will be popular in Ireland, perhaps in Scotland, and maybe it will become the national anthem of the fledgling world power - Afghanistan. If you write a tune, and you are willing to teach it to me, then this American would be happy to play it on a set of Irish pipes made partly in Cork, and partly in Missouri.
I appreciate your interesting replies to my discussion. Dirk, I really enjoy the Irish pipes. What type of tunes do you prefer playing, Jigs, reels etc. Let me know and I'll write something for you.
Merry Christmas Y'all. Dexy
Hello Dexy,
Merry Christmas to you. It just turned Christmas here fifteen minutes ago, and I'm just finishing up my Santa duties for the kids.
I'd be very pleased to play a tune or two that you write. I like reels and jigs about the same amount. Zina sometimes gets agravated that I like the multi-part jigs that are tough to teach. Also, the world just doesn't have enough well-known slip jigs, in my humble opinion. Feel free to send me the tune in abc, or an mp3, or whatever. Do you play an instrument or more? If so, which ones?
Re Dirk's comments, tunes assigned the name "Reavy's" ,(and there are many), were usually compositions of the late fiddler ED REAVY, who although he spent most of his life in Philadelphia, was most assuredly of Irish nationality, having been born in Co.Cavan in 1898.
Scottish or Irish
Scottish or Irish
I am interested in other musicians views on tunes written by a Scot, living in Scotland, but the tunes have an Irish feel to them, should they be considered as Scottish or Irish or something else.
# Posted on December 16th 2001 by Dexy
Re: Scottish or Irish
Well, this is a problem we all live with in post modern, international society:
Influences from all over the world, all kind of music all kind of styles. So if you want to stick to one traditional style - the one of your own country/region or one that you choose to borrow - then it's up to you to restrict yourself. If you don't, the music can turn into anything. Music by a scot that sounds irish or music by a german sounding swedish or japanese or anything
The old regional/national styles derived from the fact that the musicians never had international influences the way we have. Their styles were - at least partly - a result of isolation.
So traditional musicians of today has to make some kind of stand. Stay within one tradition, facing the risk of being anemic. Jump out in the World Music Ocean, facing the risk of being totally lost. Or something inbetween.
But to tell the truth. I have no idea wether the music you describe should be called Scottish, Irish or something else
# Posted on December 18th 2001 by lars
Re: Scottish or Irish
Interesting idea, this notion of attaching a nationality to a tune, written by someone from a different place. It isn't a new thing. What comes to mind is a tune Eion O' Riabhaigh teaches called Reavey's reel. It was written long ago by an American, but it is known better in Ireland. Also, Eoin plays a set of pipes made by the Taylor brothers of Pennsylvania in the 1850's. I have heard Irish tunes played in a style that is unmistakably bluegrass, even "Si Bheag Si Mhor." Even "Amazing Grace" has a tune adopted from African folk songs sung by American slaves. Of course the poem was written by an Englishman, John Newton. Irish music has been and still is an international phenomenon. So why fret about whether your compositions are Irish? Write them, call them your own, and let history decide. Perhaps it will be popular in Ireland, perhaps in Scotland, and maybe it will become the national anthem of the fledgling world power - Afghanistan. If you write a tune, and you are willing to teach it to me, then this American would be happy to play it on a set of Irish pipes made partly in Cork, and partly in Missouri.
# Posted on December 20th 2001 by dirk
Re: Scottish or Irish
I appreciate your interesting replies to my discussion. Dirk, I really enjoy the Irish pipes. What type of tunes do you prefer playing, Jigs, reels etc. Let me know and I'll write something for you.
Merry Christmas Y'all. Dexy
# Posted on December 21st 2001 by Dexy
Re: Scottish or Irish
Hello Dexy,
Merry Christmas to you. It just turned Christmas here fifteen minutes ago, and I'm just finishing up my Santa duties for the kids.
I'd be very pleased to play a tune or two that you write. I like reels and jigs about the same amount. Zina sometimes gets agravated that I like the multi-part jigs that are tough to teach. Also, the world just doesn't have enough well-known slip jigs, in my humble opinion. Feel free to send me the tune in abc, or an mp3, or whatever. Do you play an instrument or more? If so, which ones?
# Posted on December 24th 2001 by dirk
Re: Scottish or Irish
Re Dirk's comments, tunes assigned the name "Reavy's" ,(and there are many), were usually compositions of the late fiddler ED REAVY, who although he spent most of his life in Philadelphia, was most assuredly of Irish nationality, having been born in Co.Cavan in 1898.
# Posted on December 26th 2001 by Kenny