Hello hello. I'm a bit of a lurker and like to read the discussions here... But today I actually have a question!
I've been practising my fiddle like crazy over the last few months and have seen lots of improvement. However; I don't get to play with many people and there's no local session that I know of :(
I really love the Irish style, but am worried that my playing is too "straight" and I'm not very good at knowing where to add ornamentation etc...
I figured I just need to immerse myself in the music and keep on listening 'til it's under my skin. Could any of you guys recommend Irish folk groups / players to listen to? Particularly focusing on the fiddle would be nice as that's what I really need to listen out for.
Welcome to the party sore fingers! You're on the right track with the "immersion method." If you have an i-Pod and i-tunes, you can have quick access to loads of this music. Have a listen to Tommy Peoples, Frankie Gavin, Martin Hayes and Kevin Burke for starters - those names will lead to more and more leads and you should have a pretty good library to listen to in short order. Where do you live? You'd be surprised to see how many Irsh music players lurk out there once you start snooping around. If no sessions are around, you could always post an add and host a session of your own in your kitchen. Good luck!
There's a great old recording called Star Above the Garter that has the playing of two great fiddle players -- Denis Murphy and Julia Clifford. You can get it on CD.
Slight sense of deja vu to your first post, sore fingers - see Identity Crisis! Good luck with your practice - I can't add a lot more, but at least you chose a more appropriate instrument than my mandolin!
I know, Isn't it just! I first came across it when bidding for the Bobby Casey album, it went at 45£ I think, I lost ... but were all winners now thanks to the host who is a member here! thanking you kindly ; http://www.thesession.org/members/display/59067
Once you've got all of the stuff from Dragut Reis' site, you want to get hold of the Coen Brothers. Not those Coen brothers, Jack and Charlie Coen, the Branch Line is the name of the record. Stick that in your ear and see what happens.
Jon has mentioned a great recording that is very accessable for learning the tunes and getting into the rhtyhm.For the fiddle there is no recording better to work with than An Buachaill Dreoite by Joe Ryan.
Wow wow wow. I wasn't expecting so many responses, it'll take me ages to get through all that stuff! But thanks
As for starting a session in my kitchen, I was actually planning on the living room. If you think there's any particular advantage to the kitchen... ;) But yeah, I was going to get a few friends together (hopefully) but I have a sinking feeling none of them will be *quite* as enthusiastic as me. Oh well, I can but try!
I wouldn't recommend Liz Carroll to beginners, her playing takes more liberties than most players with the tunes. her versions aren't necessarily session friendly (though we play Road to Recovery at the local session here) and somebody trying to replicate her style could get very easily flustered
I find there is a human characteristic that the more people play together the more they treat it like work, & forget about everything else. Eating & drinking is just as important as music. Playing in the kitchen might be a good reminder that music goes along with the other essential elements of life.
Earl, if you think Liz Carroll is not session friendly you need to listen to more of her tunes. Also, she is one of the best people to have at a session.
Random. I doubt if Earl has any doubt that Liz C is wonderful. He is ,of course, correct in his view that her tunes and her music would probably not suit what the OP had in mind.
"I really love the Irish style, but am worried that my playing is too "straight" and I'm not very good at knowing where to add ornamentation etc...
I figured I just need to immerse myself in the music and keep on listening 'til it's under my skin. Could any of you guys recommend Irish folk groups / players to listen to? Particularly focusing on the fiddle would be nice as that's what I really need to listen out for."
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5232287February 24, 2006 - "Irish-American fiddler Liz Carroll joins guitarist John Doyle on her latest CD, In Play. Her music made it from the American Midwest into the canon of Irish traditional tunes. Carroll talks to Melissa Block about the satisfaction of hearing her songs (sic) played at Irish fiddle sessions."
That sounds stupid..Sorry. Nothing wrong with listening to Liz anytime! Maybe there are other fiddlers that would be more beneficial.Actually feck it you might be right Random
big_tab, I can appreciate Earl's point that Liz Carroll, who is a prolific composer, has many tunes which you are not likely to hear played in sessions. Also, listening to any recording is not the same as hearing a player in person. I cannot imagine not going to hear her anytime she is in town. & that might be the more important part; listening to the tunes in person. Liz has been known to play a session after her shows. I don't think she is taking liberties in those sessions at all.
I'm not having a problem with my technical ability, so please don't hold back on good music for that reason. If this Liz Carroll is going to help appreciate the style I should be / would like to be playing, I want to hear her! (Just looked her up on youtube... Very nice )
You will have sore fingers after a few of Liz's tunes." This Liz Carroll" will help you. You were right Random!I I have this sillly idea that it is better to start with the most traditional music and the basic tunes and its not practical as most musicians start to appreciate this music from some music on the edge of the tradition before they get to the root of it.
Well, whatever it's called, I have pretty much sussed it out . I'm a big fan of the 24-hour method, forsaking work and social obligations, sleep, and food until the tune is learnt .
It would be nice to be able to call it something other than "that Yvonne Casey tune I learned off of YouTube."
Steve, you'll just have to suffer through the 24-hr method like I did (not the most straight-forward tune I've ever tried to learn, either). But, when you're in love, you're in love. : - )
No worries, I just get a kick out of the comments on the last YouTube. A couple of questions about the group & the tune names after it's scrolling across the screen at the beginning of the clip. Don't know the one's you & Steve are asking about, but brill, for sure.
Full immersion...
Full immersion...
Hello hello. I'm a bit of a lurker and like to read the discussions here... But today I actually have a question!
I've been practising my fiddle like crazy over the last few months and have seen lots of improvement. However; I don't get to play with many people and there's no local session that I know of :(
I really love the Irish style, but am worried that my playing is too "straight" and I'm not very good at knowing where to add ornamentation etc...
I figured I just need to immerse myself in the music and keep on listening 'til it's under my skin. Could any of you guys recommend Irish folk groups / players to listen to? Particularly focusing on the fiddle would be nice as that's what I really need to listen out for.
# Posted on August 23rd 2010 by sore fingers
Re: Full immersion...
Welcome to the party sore fingers! You're on the right track with the "immersion method." If you have an i-Pod and i-tunes, you can have quick access to loads of this music. Have a listen to Tommy Peoples, Frankie Gavin, Martin Hayes and Kevin Burke for starters - those names will lead to more and more leads and you should have a pretty good library to listen to in short order. Where do you live? You'd be surprised to see how many Irsh music players lurk out there once you start snooping around. If no sessions are around, you could always post an add and host a session of your own in your kitchen. Good luck!
# Posted on August 23rd 2010 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: Full immersion...
There's a great old recording called Star Above the Garter that has the playing of two great fiddle players -- Denis Murphy and Julia Clifford. You can get it on CD.
# Posted on August 23rd 2010 by John Culhane
Re: Full immersion...
Liz Carroll
# Posted on August 23rd 2010 by Ben Steen
Re: Full immersion...
tacoman, you beat me to it. That's the one. Pure magic.
# Posted on August 23rd 2010 by timmy!
Re: Full immersion...
The Comhaltas website is full of good videos - videos are really helpful if you don't have someone to show you ornamentation and bowing. There are some tutorials (some are also on youtube) like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0bcIq6GNGQ&feature=related
You can also search by instrument: http://comhaltas.ie/music/tag/Fiddle
and a session.org member has uploaded many excellent recordings here: http://ceolalainn.blogspot.com/
make sure you look at the earlier posts
# Posted on August 23rd 2010 by airport
Re: Full immersion...
Agreed, timmy! Its the one that I got me started on this music.
# Posted on August 23rd 2010 by John Culhane
Re: Full immersion...
Follow some of the Links on this recent discussion -
And you'll be playing Irish Style in no time --
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/25349
jim,,,
# Posted on August 23rd 2010 by FIDDLE4
Re: Full immersion...
Slight sense of deja vu to your first post, sore fingers - see Identity Crisis! Good luck with your practice - I can't add a lot more, but at least you chose a more appropriate instrument than my mandolin!
# Posted on August 23rd 2010 by ian stock
Re: Full immersion...
Download these albums and listen to them over and over and over and over and over and over and over.
http://ceolalainn.blogspot.com/2010/06/josephine-keegan-reels-jigs-hornpipes.html
http://ceolalainn.blogspot.com/2010/03/jimmy-power-irish-fiddle-player-1976.html
http://ceolalainn.blogspot.com/2010/02/paddy-carty-paddy-fahey-traditional.html
http://ceolalainn.blogspot.com/2010/02/sean-ryan-pjmoloney-traditional-music.html
http://ceolalainn.blogspot.com/2010/02/brendan-mcglinchey-music-of-champion.html
http://ceolalainn.blogspot.com/2010/01/john-julia-clifford-humours-of-lisheen.html
http://ceolalainn.blogspot.com/2009/10/julia-john-billy-clifford-star-of.html
http://ceolalainn.blogspot.com/2009/10/john-mcgreevy-seamus-cooley-mcgreevy.html
http://ceolalainn.blogspot.com/2009/10/tommy-peoples-exciting-session-with-one_13.html
http://ceolalainn.blogspot.com/2009/10/martin-mulvihill-traditional-irish.html
http://ceolalainn.blogspot.com/2009/09/vincent-griffin-traditional-fiddle.html
http://ceolalainn.blogspot.com/2009/09/johnny-cronin-joe-burke-cronin-burke.html
http://ceolalainn.blogspot.com/2009/10/bobby-casey-taking-flight-1979.html
http://ceolalainn.blogspot.com/2009/10/paddy-canny-traditional-fiddle-music.html
http://ceolalainn.blogspot.com/2009/10/bobby-casey-bbc-archive-recordings-1966.html
The last three are especially important. If you can get your head around those you'll be flying it.
# Posted on August 23rd 2010 by Pot8os
Re: Full immersion...
Well done Buttermilk Road, I was just looking for that site to recomend. The three last links.. A++++ good man yrself
# Posted on August 23rd 2010 by piobagusfidil
Re: Full immersion...
tacoman
You are challenging our ex-lurker. Julia Clifford recordings are hard to come by. Worth the effort. Just hard to find.
# Posted on August 23rd 2010 by zippydw
Re: Full immersion...
Ceol Alainn is an amazing amazing resource.
# Posted on August 23rd 2010 by sara505sings
Re: Full immersion...
and so affordable!
# Posted on August 23rd 2010 by leoj
Re: Full immersion...
I know, Isn't it just! I first came across it when bidding for the Bobby Casey album, it went at 45£ I think, I lost ... but were all winners now thanks to the host who is a member here! thanking you kindly ;
http://www.thesession.org/members/display/59067
# Posted on August 23rd 2010 by piobagusfidil
Re: Full immersion...
zippydw -- I had no idea.
But here's a link to Humours of Lisheen from the Ceol Alainn site:
http://ceolalainn.blogspot.com/2010/01/john-julia-clifford-humours-of-lisheen.html
Celtic Grooves is a good source for hard to find recordings.
# Posted on August 23rd 2010 by John Culhane
Re: Full immersion...
I recommend Chulrua. Two really excellent melody instruments and really tasteful accompaniment playing tons of the good old tunes.
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by justjim
Re: Full immersion...
Once you've got all of the stuff from Dragut Reis' site, you want to get hold of the Coen Brothers. Not those Coen brothers, Jack and Charlie Coen, the Branch Line is the name of the record. Stick that in your ear and see what happens.
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: Full immersion...
Jon has mentioned a great recording that is very accessable for learning the tunes and getting into the rhtyhm.For the fiddle there is no recording better to work with than An Buachaill Dreoite by Joe Ryan.
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by big_tab
Re: Full immersion...
Couldn't agree more big-tab. Perfect playing, and not impossible to pick up tunes from either.
http://www.cic.ie/product.asp?idproduct=643&variables=
http://celticgrooves.homestead.com/CG_Ryan_Joe.html
http://www.musicscotland.com/cd/joe-ryan-an-buachaill-dreoite-musicscotland.html
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/joeryan
http://www.amazon.co.uk/An-Buachaill-Dreoite/dp/B002EXOWJQ
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by Dragut Reis
Re: Full immersion...
Wow wow wow. I wasn't expecting so many responses, it'll take me ages to get through all that stuff! But thanks
As for starting a session in my kitchen, I was actually planning on the living room. If you think there's any particular advantage to the kitchen... ;) But yeah, I was going to get a few friends together (hopefully) but I have a sinking feeling none of them will be *quite* as enthusiastic as me. Oh well, I can but try!
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by sore fingers
Re: Full immersion...
Dragut.. You have no idea the shock it induces when someone actually agrees with me here about something
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by big_tab
Re: Full immersion...
I prefer the kitchen - closer to the fridge and whatever goodies you might have there...
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by Pontus Adefjord
Re: Full immersion...
Breda Keville: The Hop Down
Vincent Griffin: Traditional Irish Fiddle Music (self-released in 2000; his 1977 Topic album was already mentioned above)
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by GaryAMartin
Re: Full immersion...
I wouldn't recommend Liz Carroll to beginners, her playing takes more liberties than most players with the tunes. her versions aren't necessarily session friendly (though we play Road to Recovery at the local session here) and somebody trying to replicate her style could get very easily flustered
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by Earl Cameron
Re: Full immersion...
I find there is a human characteristic that the more people play together the more they treat it like work, & forget about everything else. Eating & drinking is just as important as music. Playing in the kitchen might be a good reminder that music goes along with the other essential elements of life.
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by Ben Steen
Re: Full immersion...
Earl, if you think Liz Carroll is not session friendly you need to listen to more of her tunes. Also, she is one of the best people to have at a session.
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by Ben Steen
Re: Full immersion...
Random. I doubt if Earl has any doubt that Liz C is wonderful. He is ,of course, correct in his view that her tunes and her music would probably not suit what the OP had in mind.
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by big_tab
Re: Full immersion...
"I really love the Irish style, but am worried that my playing is too "straight" and I'm not very good at knowing where to add ornamentation etc...
I figured I just need to immerse myself in the music and keep on listening 'til it's under my skin. Could any of you guys recommend Irish folk groups / players to listen to? Particularly focusing on the fiddle would be nice as that's what I really need to listen out for."
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by Ben Steen
Re: Full immersion...
There is no point in listening to liz c until the basic tunes are well under your skin.
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by big_tab
Re: Full immersion...
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5232287February 24, 2006 - "Irish-American fiddler Liz Carroll joins guitarist John Doyle on her latest CD, In Play. Her music made it from the American Midwest into the canon of Irish traditional tunes. Carroll talks to Melissa Block about the satisfaction of hearing her songs (sic) played at Irish fiddle sessions."
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by Ben Steen
**
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5232287
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by Ben Steen
Re: Full immersion...
That sounds stupid..Sorry. Nothing wrong with listening to Liz anytime! Maybe there are other fiddlers that would be more beneficial.Actually feck it you might be right Random
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by big_tab
Re: Full immersion...
big_tab, I can appreciate Earl's point that Liz Carroll, who is a prolific composer, has many tunes which you are not likely to hear played in sessions. Also, listening to any recording is not the same as hearing a player in person. I cannot imagine not going to hear her anytime she is in town. & that might be the more important part; listening to the tunes in person. Liz has been known to play a session after her shows. I don't think she is taking liberties in those sessions at all.
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by Ben Steen
Re: Full immersion...
Agreed Random.
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by big_tab
Re: Full immersion...
I'm not having a problem with my technical ability, so please don't hold back on good music for that reason. If this Liz Carroll is going to help appreciate the style I should be / would like to be playing, I want to hear her! (Just looked her up on youtube... Very nice
)
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by sore fingers
Re: Full immersion...
You will have sore fingers after a few of Liz's tunes." This Liz Carroll" will help you. You were right Random!I I have this sillly idea that it is better to start with the most traditional music and the basic tunes and its not practical as most musicians start to appreciate this music from some music on the edge of the tradition before they get to the root of it.
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by big_tab
Re: Full immersion...
Custy's Music
Eoin O'Neill in session
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BJzwKEaL-s
Re: 'minimalistic treatment'
Posted on November 18th 2007 by Will Harmon
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/15829/comments#comment328961
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by Ben Steen
Re: Full immersion...
Thanks for that Eoin O'Neill link, Random. Crackin' stuff. Just down the list when I was watching it on YouTube I saw this which I thought was was equally brill:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5ZydokUoAM&feature=related
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by Steve Shaw
Re: Full immersion...
Steve, what's that tune, btw?
# Posted on August 25th 2010 by sara505sings
Re: Full immersion...
Dunno, I'm hopeless with names though I seem to have heard it before. Tasty mando there I thought (all of it really).
# Posted on August 25th 2010 by Steve Shaw
Re: Full immersion...
Love it, whatever its name, but 'tis always nice to have a name. Anyone?
# Posted on August 25th 2010 by sara505sings
Re: Full immersion...
Would Tab know?
# Posted on August 25th 2010 by Prof. Prlwytzkofski
Re: Full immersion...
Well, whatever it's called, I have pretty much sussed it out . I'm a big fan of the 24-hour method, forsaking work and social obligations, sleep, and food until the tune is learnt .
It would be nice to be able to call it something other than "that Yvonne Casey tune I learned off of YouTube."
# Posted on August 26th 2010 by sara505sings
Re: Full immersion...
I wouldn't mind just knowing its name so that I can look up the dots.
It is a sweet clip though, innit.
# Posted on August 26th 2010 by Steve Shaw
Re: Full immersion...
Steve, you'll just have to suffer through the 24-hr method like I did (not the most straight-forward tune I've ever tried to learn, either). But, when you're in love, you're in love. : - )
# Posted on August 26th 2010 by sara505sings
Re: Full immersion...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkF9IcsmubM
# Posted on August 26th 2010 by Ben Steen
Re: Full immersion...
Ok, Random - what are you, a wise guy? Don't you know my life is already ruined quite enough from that last tune, and now you throw this one in!
# Posted on August 26th 2010 by sara505sings
Re: Full immersion...
No worries, I just get a kick out of the comments on the last YouTube. A couple of questions about the group & the tune names after it's scrolling across the screen at the beginning of the clip. Don't know the one's you & Steve are asking about, but brill, for sure.
# Posted on August 26th 2010 by Ben Steen
Re: Full immersion...
The whole thing is amazing. Love it.
Somebody will come up with the name for the other one eventually.
# Posted on August 26th 2010 by sara505sings
Re: Full immersion...
No-one can accuse us of not trying, sara!
# Posted on August 26th 2010 by Steve Shaw
Re: Full immersion...
That's for sure - and what fun along the way.
# Posted on August 27th 2010 by sara505sings