I have enjoyed browsing through some of the old articles posted on the Comhaltas archive, and came across these bits, from 1968:
"Somebody . . . remarked that he sought in vain at Clones for the bodhran and piano-accordeon. 'Lucky man' said I to myself."
"I am convinced that only a musician of extraordinary ability could produce anything resembling good traditional jigs and reels on the piano-accordeon. Someone with whom I discussed this question recently argued very indignantly, 'You, purists, were not prepared to accept the button-accordeon until you heard what Paddy O'Brien could do with it!'"
"There is a tendency, especially among young musicians, to copy the tunes played most recently on radio and television by popular musicians"
"Traditional music has entered an era where tunes are passed on mainly via radio and tape-recorder."
"The alert musician will be playing Tuesday's new tune . . . with great gusto at the Fleadh on the following Sunday. But will this result in the elimination of local and county styles?"
No real point, other than that even our arguments are traditional!
Great quotes. If you had told me these were quote from last month, I would probably have believed you.
Well, if I had my way, I would quit my job, move to County Clare, and find myself a mentor or two to guide my learning. Sigh. We'll have to see what retirement brings.
Until then, I'll have to stick with learning how I can.
Incidentally, and I'm sure llig will be thrilled to hear this, I am now completely divorced from the devil dots.
I know a bloody brilliant piano accordion player of jigs and reels as it happens. I didn't think it was possible. The lad was musing to me that he may even have met Michael at some point...
I've worked with three different accordion players.
I'm trying to avoid a fourth encounter.
Cue jokes about the difference between an accordion and a cowpat.
Also definition of perfect pitch.
You know the rest.
"I am convinced that only a musician of extraordinary ability could produce anything resembling good traditional jigs and reels on the piano-accordeon"
I've heard that expressed as far back as I can remember. It was always said by people who couldn't play the piano accordion, and mostly by people who couldn't play at all (the hurlers on the ditch)
There was always been, and still is, a small clique within Traditional Music who take it on themselves to decide what is good and what is bad. Over the years they have successfully alienated many good musicians and with them went many great ceili bands. They suceeded in taking much of the fun out of the music by turning it into a competition where everyone seems to strive to be better than the other player. Who gave them the right to dictate how we should play 'our inherited music'. I've often been guided towards listening to recordings of Michael Colman (for instance) and his interpretation of various tunes. I don't play the fiddle but if Michael Colman was around today he would be way down my list of favourite fiddlers
(the ultimate sacrilege)....then again what the feck do I know about the music.....I never won an All Ireland for a start.........?
Those are some great finds Jameson Stew, hilarious! The more things change and all that.
The only piano accordion session experience I ever had was a poor one, but this was not due to the instrument, I think, but rather it was due to the player not following a cardinal rule: Blend in with the other players, don't smack them all upside the head with your giant, horking wall of sound.
Then again, isn't that the point of a PA? A giant, horking wall of sound? Ho ho ho.
Jimmy Keane rocks on the stomach steinway. It is a wall of sound, but what a wall of sound! It can be done, but you have to be a) a genius and b) very hardworking.
There are plenty fine players of Irish music on the PA.
Many in Scotland where PAs abound.
Much as I like Breatnach, his disparaging of the "button accordeon" and melodeon players always reads to me like the civil servant in him raging that the plebs and peasants aren't behaving like it says they should in the official rule book.
The PA has been a target for even more undeserved stick down the years.
The more things change . . .
The more things change . . .
I have enjoyed browsing through some of the old articles posted on the Comhaltas archive, and came across these bits, from 1968:
"Somebody . . . remarked that he sought in vain at Clones for the bodhran and piano-accordeon. 'Lucky man' said I to myself."
"I am convinced that only a musician of extraordinary ability could produce anything resembling good traditional jigs and reels on the piano-accordeon. Someone with whom I discussed this question recently argued very indignantly, 'You, purists, were not prepared to accept the button-accordeon until you heard what Paddy O'Brien could do with it!'"
"There is a tendency, especially among young musicians, to copy the tunes played most recently on radio and television by popular musicians"
"Traditional music has entered an era where tunes are passed on mainly via radio and tape-recorder."
"The alert musician will be playing Tuesday's new tune . . . with great gusto at the Fleadh on the following Sunday. But will this result in the elimination of local and county styles?"
No real point, other than that even our arguments are traditional!
# Posted on May 10th 2010 by Jameson Stew
Re: The more things change . . .
Great quotes. If you had told me these were quote from last month, I would probably have believed you.
Well, if I had my way, I would quit my job, move to County Clare, and find myself a mentor or two to guide my learning. Sigh. We'll have to see what retirement brings.
Until then, I'll have to stick with learning how I can.
Incidentally, and I'm sure llig will be thrilled to hear this, I am now completely divorced from the devil dots.
# Posted on May 10th 2010 by Jimmy B
Re: The more things change . . .
Excellent news Jimmy. And excellent thread Jameson Stew.
# Posted on May 11th 2010 by ...
Re: The more things change . . .
I know a bloody brilliant piano accordion player of jigs and reels as it happens. I didn't think it was possible. The lad was musing to me that he may even have met Michael at some point...
# Posted on May 11th 2010 by Steve Shaw
Re: The more things change . . .
the only bloody brilliant piano accordion player of Irish jigs and reels I know is a girl
# Posted on May 11th 2010 by ...
Re: The more things change . . .
Jeez, Gill, you know anything's possible these days.
# Posted on May 11th 2010 by Steve Shaw
Re: The more things change . . .
And leave the Beautiful Tweed out of this.
# Posted on May 11th 2010 by Steve Shaw
Re: The more things change . . .
Great stuff.
Does this count as decent piano accordion??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oqgcdmby5pI
# Posted on May 11th 2010 by cboody
Re: The more things change . . .
"The gramophone is ruining Irish music."
# Posted on May 11th 2010 by Phantom Button
Re: The more things change . . .
I've worked with three different accordion players.
I'm trying to avoid a fourth encounter.
Cue jokes about the difference between an accordion and a cowpat.
Also definition of perfect pitch.
You know the rest.
# Posted on May 11th 2010 by Guernsey Pete
Re: The more things change . . .
"Does this count as decent piano accordion??"
There is much duffness going on there underneath all the enthusiasm. I'd chuck 50p into their hat but I'll leave it at that I think.
# Posted on May 11th 2010 by Steve Shaw
Re: The more things change . . .
"I am convinced that only a musician of extraordinary ability could produce anything resembling good traditional jigs and reels on the piano-accordeon"
I've heard that expressed as far back as I can remember. It was always said by people who couldn't play the piano accordion, and mostly by people who couldn't play at all (the hurlers on the ditch)
There was always been, and still is, a small clique within Traditional Music who take it on themselves to decide what is good and what is bad. Over the years they have successfully alienated many good musicians and with them went many great ceili bands. They suceeded in taking much of the fun out of the music by turning it into a competition where everyone seems to strive to be better than the other player. Who gave them the right to dictate how we should play 'our inherited music'. I've often been guided towards listening to recordings of Michael Colman (for instance) and his interpretation of various tunes. I don't play the fiddle but if Michael Colman was around today he would be way down my list of favourite fiddlers
(the ultimate sacrilege)....then again what the feck do I know about the music.....I never won an All Ireland for a start.........?
# Posted on May 11th 2010 by Free Reed
Re: The more things change . . .
Those are some great finds Jameson Stew, hilarious! The more things change and all that.
The only piano accordion session experience I ever had was a poor one, but this was not due to the instrument, I think, but rather it was due to the player not following a cardinal rule: Blend in with the other players, don't smack them all upside the head with your giant, horking wall of sound.
Then again, isn't that the point of a PA? A giant, horking wall of sound? Ho ho ho.
# Posted on May 11th 2010 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: The more things change . . .
...and all that INDEED, I should say, to properly tie into the thread title.
# Posted on May 11th 2010 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: The more things change . . .
Jimmy Keane rocks on the stomach steinway. It is a wall of sound, but what a wall of sound! It can be done, but you have to be a) a genius and b) very hardworking.
# Posted on May 11th 2010 by Seosamh Ui Sinan
Re: The more things change . . .
Well said Free Reed.
There are plenty fine players of Irish music on the PA.
Many in Scotland where PAs abound.
Much as I like Breatnach, his disparaging of the "button accordeon" and melodeon players always reads to me like the civil servant in him raging that the plebs and peasants aren't behaving like it says they should in the official rule book.
The PA has been a target for even more undeserved stick down the years.
- chris
# Posted on May 12th 2010 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: The more things change . . .
That damn gramophone.
# Posted on May 15th 2010 by Pádraig