I just received the following email. I don't have an answer for him and thought the detectives from the mustard board might have a clue.
Hello John
My name is Nicholas and as a very young boy of 6 or 7 I used to see a music video (this was the late 70s when the form was very new) on the ABC featuring an amazing instrument I now know to be the bodhran.
The video was used as a breaker or time filler, and featured a three or four piece band, the band members wearing ´traditional´garments and there may have been dancing involved. The tune I have never forgotten.
I won´t whistle it for you here, as I´m in Guadalajara.
Define "help"?
There are all sorts of professionals in various modalities who can offer all kinds of "help" -
These may include, but are not limited to, psychoanalysis, past-life regression, waterboarding, electroshock treatments, caning, sleep deprivation, the Persian water torture, and even banjo lessons.
Was it Charlie Drake and his Hot Water Bottle Stompers doing their legendry jamshed be-bop rendition of ‘My Boomerang Won’t Come Back’ to a special Francis Vincent Zappa arrangement featuring Ernest Tubbs (baritone euphonium), Leapy Lee (alpine horn) and the Dagenham Girl Pipers? Of course originally it was to have the massed Blythe Hill Goatskin Bashers but they were called away on the day of the recording by Benny Hill to contribute to ‘Little White Bull’ by Tommy Steele- SyrupStik supply direct from the Wanstead factory. If you listen to the stereo version using OOPs (out of phase) technology, you can hear Rolf Harris and Lemmy faahrting, playing backwards harmonium and talking loudly in F mixolydian. Much as I love Matt Monro and Capt Beefheart’s collaborations in the same vein, one can’t forget their fabulous Potter’s Wheel quadruple album with added B&W tele bits.
"Well spoken for his age" ... if this refers to "Nicholas", the quote in the OP was that Nicholas said he was 6 or 7 in the late 70s, so that puts him in his late 30s, or possibly very early 40s, now.
Guadalajara is in Spain, near Madrid: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Province_of_Guadalajara
Wait a few months if you want to visit, way too hot this month!
However, I've never seen a bodhran or a kangaroo there.
Guadalajara is in Mexico. And it's not particularly surprising, for me, to hear a question like this. The Irish are part of Mexican history and even helped Mexico fight against the USA during the Mexican-American War of 1846 to 1848. As a matter of fact, there are several streets and some establishments in Tijuana which I can attest to the fact have Irish names, including O'Higgins (I have relatives, who, in TJ, live on O'Higgen's street...at the end of the street, is a hotel being used as a makeshift barricaded police station). So, again the question is not particularly surprising although admittedly obscure...
I do not know the tune you ask about Senor McKnowall, but good luck in finding your answer!
I wrote to the ABC and their archivist sent me a reply ...
¨I believe that that particular clip was for a Mike Oldfield’s ‘Portsmouth’ (female Morris dancers, ye olde instruments getting the odd close up), the ABC ran the clip as a filler in the 70s/even into the early 80s. I hope that this helps.¨
... and what´s amazing is that he was hardly snide or demeaning at all!
Thanks John, and Senor Whistle. The rest of you can get <comment deleted>
The Irish are part of Mexican history and even helped Mexico fight against the USA during the Mexican-American War of 1846 to 1848.
It wasn't really 'The Irish' (as in Ireland-the country-it's government-it's people) but a US Army brigade brigade consisting of Irish immigrants and Irish Americans who were sent down to fight against Mexico but saw it for the land grab that it was and turned against the US. Huzzah to them for doing the right thing!
This concludes todays history lesson you may go back to bashing bodhrans....
Yes. The town itself is named after the famous Irish revolutionary Guadal O'Hara, but the spelling has since been mexicanised...this is true, isn't it?
Can we help this person?
Can we help this person?
I just received the following email. I don't have an answer for him and thought the detectives from the mustard board might have a clue.
Hello John
My name is Nicholas and as a very young boy of 6 or 7 I used to see a music video (this was the late 70s when the form was very new) on the ABC featuring an amazing instrument I now know to be the bodhran.
The video was used as a breaker or time filler, and featured a three or four piece band, the band members wearing ´traditional´garments and there may have been dancing involved. The tune I have never forgotten.
I won´t whistle it for you here, as I´m in Guadalajara.
Do you happen to know what I´m talking about?
Nicholas Searle
# Posted on July 7th 2010 by mcknowall
Re: Can we help this person?
At least my seven year old has better tatse
# Posted on July 7th 2010 by ...
Re: Can we help this person?
Waht sort of 'traditional garments'? Would that be the traditional Australian shorts and grubby vest?
# Posted on July 7th 2010 by skreech
Re: Can we help this person?
Define "help"?
There are all sorts of professionals in various modalities who can offer all kinds of "help" -
These may include, but are not limited to, psychoanalysis, past-life regression, waterboarding, electroshock treatments, caning, sleep deprivation, the Persian water torture, and even banjo lessons.
# Posted on July 7th 2010 by Piece
Re: Can we help this person?
He needs to whistle the tune to you. Even I could work out a way of doing that and sending it and I know nothing.
# Posted on July 7th 2010 by Steve Shaw
Help through wig glue therapy...
Was it Charlie Drake and his Hot Water Bottle Stompers doing their legendry jamshed be-bop rendition of ‘My Boomerang Won’t Come Back’ to a special Francis Vincent Zappa arrangement featuring Ernest Tubbs (baritone euphonium), Leapy Lee (alpine horn) and the Dagenham Girl Pipers? Of course originally it was to have the massed Blythe Hill Goatskin Bashers but they were called away on the day of the recording by Benny Hill to contribute to ‘Little White Bull’ by Tommy Steele- SyrupStik supply direct from the Wanstead factory. If you listen to the stereo version using OOPs (out of phase) technology, you can hear Rolf Harris and Lemmy faahrting, playing backwards harmonium and talking loudly in F mixolydian. Much as I love Matt Monro and Capt Beefheart’s collaborations in the same vein, one can’t forget their fabulous Potter’s Wheel quadruple album with added B&W tele bits.
# Posted on July 7th 2010 by yhaalhouse
Re: Can we help this person?
@ skreech: “Waht sort of 'traditional garments'? Would that be the traditional Australian shorts and grubby vest?”
What, like this?
(Come on, fess up, mcknowall, is *that you*??
It is, isn’t it.
This is a set-up isn't it!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3039/2727917622_17af6cf01f.jpg?v=0
# Posted on July 7th 2010 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Can we help this person?
Well, this video features TWO of those "amazing instruments" ....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRLZYD4R8B4
Hmm... "Duelling Bodhrans" - was that band called "Llig and the Double Troubles", by any chance? ...
# Posted on July 7th 2010 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Can we help this person?
... or was it one of these guys? ...
http://www.arkive.org/death-watch-beetle/xestobium-rufovillosum/video-09a.html
# Posted on July 7th 2010 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Can we help this person?
Wrong ABC.
# Posted on July 7th 2010 by gam
Re: Can we help this person?
And where is Guadalajara?
# Posted on July 7th 2010 by mcknowall
Re: Can we help this person?
This looks like a job for (dum dum duuuum!) Captain Wind-Up!
# Posted on July 7th 2010 by AlBrown
Re: Can we help this person?
Guadalajara Bay.
That's where they take session.org wind-up terrorismos, isn't it?
# Posted on July 7th 2010 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Can we help this person?
The beasties in the video clip referenced from my last post are accompanying this tune:
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6567
# Posted on July 7th 2010 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Can we help this person?
...and session.org desperados too.
# Posted on July 7th 2010 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Can we help this person?
Well spoken fot his age, I smell a wind up.
# Posted on July 7th 2010 by Antikhntr
Re: Can we help this person?
it's in the wind
# Posted on July 7th 2010 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Can we help this person?
there's more wind-up here than an air raid siren altogether now.
# Posted on July 7th 2010 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Can we help this person?
i.n.c.o.m.i.n.g...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OaBcXElyAA
# Posted on July 7th 2010 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Can we help this person?
I believe it was a side project of the legendary U.S. rock and roll outfit known as KISS. Peter Criss on bodhran. Yaaaaaaayyyyyy!
# Posted on July 7th 2010 by Jimmy B
Re: Can we help this person?
"Well spoken for his age" ... if this refers to "Nicholas", the quote in the OP was that Nicholas said he was 6 or 7 in the late 70s, so that puts him in his late 30s, or possibly very early 40s, now.
# Posted on July 7th 2010 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Can we help this person?
Guadalajara is in Spain, near Madrid: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Province_of_Guadalajara
Wait a few months if you want to visit, way too hot this month!
However, I've never seen a bodhran or a kangaroo there.
# Posted on July 7th 2010 by Ramiro
Re: Can we help this person?
don't speak too soon, ramiro.
# Posted on July 7th 2010 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Can we help this person?
Isn't there also a Guadalajara in Mexico?
# Posted on July 8th 2010 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Can we help this person?
Guadalajara is in Mexico. And it's not particularly surprising, for me, to hear a question like this. The Irish are part of Mexican history and even helped Mexico fight against the USA during the Mexican-American War of 1846 to 1848. As a matter of fact, there are several streets and some establishments in Tijuana which I can attest to the fact have Irish names, including O'Higgins (I have relatives, who, in TJ, live on O'Higgen's street...at the end of the street, is a hotel being used as a makeshift barricaded police station). So, again the question is not particularly surprising although admittedly obscure...
I do not know the tune you ask about Senor McKnowall, but good luck in finding your answer!
# Posted on July 8th 2010 by Petey_Whistle
Re: Can we help this person?
I wrote to the ABC and their archivist sent me a reply ...
¨I believe that that particular clip was for a Mike Oldfield’s ‘Portsmouth’ (female Morris dancers, ye olde instruments getting the odd close up), the ABC ran the clip as a filler in the 70s/even into the early 80s. I hope that this helps.¨
... and what´s amazing is that he was hardly snide or demeaning at all!
Thanks John, and Senor Whistle. The rest of you can get <comment deleted>
PS the song is ´Portsmouth´arranged by MIke Oldfield, available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycuT9iFPAvo
# Posted on July 8th 2010 by nicholas_s
Re: Can we help this person?
I didn't know the bodhran was a traditional English instrument.
# Posted on July 8th 2010 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Can we help this person?
"... and what´s amazing is that he was hardly snide or demeaning at all! "
No, they would not be.
Anyway, the archivist at the ABC was probably there when the clip was running back in the 70s and 80s. Bless 'em.
# Posted on July 8th 2010 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Can we help this person?
" I didn't know the bodhran was a traditional English instrument."
Oh yes. It's every bit as much part of the English tradition as synthesisers, electric bass and female morris dancers.
# Posted on July 8th 2010 by skreech
Re: Can we help this person?
The Irish are part of Mexican history and even helped Mexico fight against the USA during the Mexican-American War of 1846 to 1848.
It wasn't really 'The Irish' (as in Ireland-the country-it's government-it's people) but a US Army brigade brigade consisting of Irish immigrants and Irish Americans who were sent down to fight against Mexico but saw it for the land grab that it was and turned against the US. Huzzah to them for doing the right thing!
This concludes todays history lesson you may go back to bashing bodhrans....
# Posted on July 8th 2010 by shanty
Re: Can we help this person?
Yes. The town itself is named after the famous Irish revolutionary Guadal O'Hara, but the spelling has since been mexicanised...this is true, isn't it?
# Posted on July 8th 2010 by Rudall the time
Re: Can we help this person?
Strange how all the blokes in the band look exactly the same, but a ripper tune.
# Posted on July 9th 2010 by mcknowall
Re: Can we help this person?
That's fun! Nice visual ideas too - I love the halo effect of the window behind him when he's playing the kettledrums...
# Posted on July 10th 2010 by Mark Harmer