Is there any place to easily find profiles of musicians online short of going to each individual website/wikipedia? When I'm listening to music I like to know things that had an affect on their playing:
-place of birth
-anywhere they lived for an extended period of time
-people they played with
-teacher
-etc.
Acm, I know exactly what you mean.And of cource our playing is influenced by where we've lived as children and through our lives,where we've travelled, the people we've interacted with,
happy and sad events.Unless we're so narrow and intolerant of being open to other views/change.There are musicians like that also.I'm prepared to listen and learn from them,selectively,but am very happy that it happens in cyberspace not in real life.I'm sorry I can't help you with the answer to your query,but best of luck in your quest.
If you get your wish acm116, I can just picture your own session, in the future .......
First of all, you'll exclude out of hand, any musicians who are foolish enough to appear at your session carrying cases containing any of those spawn of the devil instruments, like Bodhrans, Guitars, Banjos, Piano Accordions etc etc.
Secondly, no doubt your session will be policed by someone with an iPad, whose job it'll be to do a background check on any passing musician, who have the cheek & nerve to just waltz in, wishing to join you.
From the Net. check up, you'll then be able to say whether or not their past credentials on paper, actually do come up to your very exacting standards. You can then decide if they are good enough to be honoured by you, by being allowed to play some music with you!
Oh ...... Brave New World!
I'd just like to mention that, in honour of all the really wonderful musicians in the past, who ever let me join in at their sessions ..... I never ever turn anyone away from any session I am involved with!
Surely, we owe it to the all the wonderful & generous spirited musicians who went before us, not to pre-judge others?
Part of the sheer Magic of the Open Session, for me at least, is the joy of { every now & then & not often enough for my liking }, playing with complete strangers, whose music speaks to me.
After all, there is surely nothing worse, in traditional music circles, than the music of a predictable session!
Your best bet is to acquire a copy of the new edition of the 'Companion to Irish Music' when it's published next year (http://corkuniversitypress.com/Companion_to_Irish_Traditional_Music_/321/ ) or a copy of the first edition, if you can find one. There are still some copies of 'The Rough Guide to Irish Music' knocking around (check Amazon) - it's a decade out of date, but still provides much of the information you're seeking.
So you want to know all about the musicians you're listening to but you don't want to take the time to look at thier website or do a little web research? C'mon now. All you need to know is right there in the recording.
Musician Profiles
Musician Profiles
Is there any place to easily find profiles of musicians online short of going to each individual website/wikipedia? When I'm listening to music I like to know things that had an affect on their playing:
-place of birth
-anywhere they lived for an extended period of time
-people they played with
-teacher
-etc.
Is there any database like this?
# Posted on October 31st 2010 by acm116
Re: Musician Profiles
So you can say things like, "Oh yeah, I knew they were good, I see they were born in Ennis."
Or "Hmm, I knew there was some thing not right about it, I see he was born in Kent."
# Posted on October 31st 2010 by ...
Re: Musician Profiles
How do you spell sinyc again?
# Posted on October 31st 2010 by big_tab
Re: Musician Profiles
Is this the tax man?
# Posted on October 31st 2010 by bogman
Re: Musician Profiles
Well. I am not scared -
-place of birth:
Earth
-anywhere they lived for an extended period of time:
See above
-people they played with:
Of course they were people!!
-teacher:
an old man from Limerick for fiddle, for pipes I have not found anyone near me reliable.
-etc.
I am fond of sushi. And I us eto own a hamster.
Hope this helps.
# Posted on October 31st 2010 by Piece
Re: Musician Profiles
Acm, I know exactly what you mean.And of cource our playing is influenced by where we've lived as children and through our lives,where we've travelled, the people we've interacted with,
happy and sad events.Unless we're so narrow and intolerant of being open to other views/change.There are musicians like that also.I'm prepared to listen and learn from them,selectively,but am very happy that it happens in cyberspace not in real life.I'm sorry I can't help you with the answer to your query,but best of luck in your quest.
# Posted on October 31st 2010 by lucy farr
Re: Musician Profiles
If you get your wish acm116, I can just picture your own session, in the future .......
First of all, you'll exclude out of hand, any musicians who are foolish enough to appear at your session carrying cases containing any of those spawn of the devil instruments, like Bodhrans, Guitars, Banjos, Piano Accordions etc etc.
Secondly, no doubt your session will be policed by someone with an iPad, whose job it'll be to do a background check on any passing musician, who have the cheek & nerve to just waltz in, wishing to join you.
From the Net. check up, you'll then be able to say whether or not their past credentials on paper, actually do come up to your very exacting standards. You can then decide if they are good enough to be honoured by you, by being allowed to play some music with you!
Oh ...... Brave New World!
I'd just like to mention that, in honour of all the really wonderful musicians in the past, who ever let me join in at their sessions ..... I never ever turn anyone away from any session I am involved with!
Surely, we owe it to the all the wonderful & generous spirited musicians who went before us, not to pre-judge others?
Part of the sheer Magic of the Open Session, for me at least, is the joy of { every now & then & not often enough for my liking }, playing with complete strangers, whose music speaks to me.
After all, there is surely nothing worse, in traditional music circles, than the music of a predictable session!
Cheers
Dick
# Posted on October 31st 2010 by Ptarmigan
Re: Musician Profiles
http://www.musicdna.info/musicGPS.aspx
# Posted on October 31st 2010 by Ben Steen
Re: Musician Profiles
acm116,
There are very few regularly updated sites which provide the kind of information for which you're searching and plenty of these specialize in particular areas, such as http://www.rocheviolins.com/html/traditional_irish_music_in_uls.html or http://theballadeers.com/mif_01.htm. So the short answer is that you're going to have to read books rather than stare at your computer screen.
Your best bet is to acquire a copy of the new edition of the 'Companion to Irish Music' when it's published next year (http://corkuniversitypress.com/Companion_to_Irish_Traditional_Music_/321/ ) or a copy of the first edition, if you can find one. There are still some copies of 'The Rough Guide to Irish Music' knocking around (check Amazon) - it's a decade out of date, but still provides much of the information you're seeking.
# Posted on October 31st 2010 by MacCruiskeen
Re: Musician Profiles
So you want to know all about the musicians you're listening to but you don't want to take the time to look at thier website or do a little web research? C'mon now. All you need to know is right there in the recording.
# Posted on November 1st 2010 by shanty
Re: Musician Profiles
Or just keep playing the music. Over time, you'll find that you know all sorts of things you never meant to learn.
# Posted on November 1st 2010 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: Musician Profiles
"Surely, we owe it to the all the wonderful & generous spirited musicians who went before us, not to pre-judge others?"
Right you are, Ptarmigan -
but with a background check, you can know in advance which ones not to pre-judge.
(Just trying to keep it light)
Have a grand day, all.
# Posted on November 1st 2010 by Piece
Re: Musician Profiles
"Just trying to keep it light" ... Naw Rook, you can keep yer "Light" stuff ........ give me real Guinness every time!
# Posted on November 1st 2010 by Ptarmigan
Re: Musician Profiles
Arrgh! Curses!! What an opening I left!
...
You know, sometimes ripostes like that make me like feel like your straight man, Ptarm.
"Why, I do not know, Mr. Ptarmigan -
what IS round at both ends,
and high in the middle?"
Yuk yuk yuk yuk...
# Posted on November 1st 2010 by Piece