My grandson, who's ten, has really taken to the fiddle. My daughter says that his teacher seems to be very good when it comes to the technical side but not so good when it comes to recommending other fiddlers to listen to.
His birthday's coming up and I'd like to buy him a couple of albums to inspire his playing and perhaps extend his repertoire. I'm way out of the loop on this one so are there any albums that you'd recommend, please?
Bear in mind my grandson's age and that I'd prefer him not to be exposed to any speed merchants.
Anything by Martin Hayes; my favourite is probably 'Live in Seattle' but they are all great. As well as Kevin Burke's 'If the Cap Fits...' and Tommy Peoples' 'Waiting for a Call.' Those happen to my personal favourites from those musicians but you can't go wrong with their stuff.
A few duets; Mick O'Brien & Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh's 'Kitty Lie Over' and Matt Molloy & Sean Keane's 'Contentment is Wealth.' Obviously not strictly fiddle but great albums with great fiddlers on them. 'Contentment is Wealth' might be bordering on too fast, I wouldn't call them 'speed merchants' but they do play on the faster side of things. Also, when you are ready to expose him to 'speed merchants' there is always Frankie...
"Crystal Clear" - Jerry Holland, no accompaniment, just fiddle, brilliant!
This is what I'd recommend above anything else, something like this, without any accompaniment, just the clear ring of a fiddle under a master bowsmith...
It's a shame the joy of some of the early recordings of Armagh fiddlers aren't easily available, such as John, Vincent and Brendan of the McCusker Brothers, a 9 brother ceili band, and dear old Hugh Savage - alas no more, worth chasing up if you know anyone with old LPs...
MacDara O´Raghallaigh has just released his first album Ego Trip which is excellent. It´s a solo fiddle album with no other backing instruments apart from the tapping of his feet which was recorded live in some village hall so you get the atmosphere as well. I was initally apprehensive about whether I could "cope" with a whole recording of just the fiddle but having taken the plunge I have to say that it was one of my best ever buys.
Well I don't know about your grandson, Scorpion, but I am indepted to you ceolachan for your suggestion. I have been looking for good fiddle music so I can hear " the clear ring of a fiddle under a master bowsmith" and am already awaiting my first copy of Kevin Burke's If the Cap Fits having discovered him through this site, but you've given my music education a real boost with these suggestions and I've just bought 2 of your choices! I'm trying to learn how to fiddle these tunes properly and the often insistent backing instrument is a distraction and takes away from the clear beauty of the fiddle. I'm going off to enjoy getting to know Messers Glackin and O'Raghallaigh now! Martin Hayes' albums and I are already great friends. Cheers!
Apologies, my brain is in that sometimes semi-conscious state it suffers at times, I forgot to mention Matt Cranitch, but especially Seamus Creagh and a lovely two CD collection of tunes he did to help people with learning this music. It's brilliant and highly recommended -
Fiddle sticks, Irish traditional music from Donegal -- lots on ensemble playing but several sparkling solo tracks. The tunes and very common and make good music to play along with. http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/202
Sean Keane, Gusty's frolicks -- solo fiddle music from the Chieftains fiddle player for 43 years. Keane uses a distinctive style but the tunes are quite common and none of this should get in the way of being inspirational fiddle music. Quite the contrary, I'd think. http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/929
John Doherty, The floating bow -- solo fiddle from Donegal. not only compelling and very well played but there are also some interesting techniques and tunes on this album, unique to Donegal or unique to Doherty's repertoire. http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/316
Tommy Peoples, The high part of the road -- terrific music on fiddle accompanied by Paul Brady on guitar. If you want to be envious on someone's ability to play triplets, here you go. http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/649
The late Joe Ryan originally from Clare but lived in Dundalk for a good few years I think - so not a million miles from the Orchard County. Great 'simple' music on the fiddle: http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/348
On reflection, I should probably have provided more information in my original posting. My grandson Liam lives in Tyrone and he's a canny lad who's quick to learn, but would be definitely deterred by anything I gave him which looked or sounded dated. My daughter's also keen that he gets to hear "simple tunes played well" without any strong local style being apparent (other than Tyrone/Armagh of course and she has a couple of Cathal Hayden's albums).
So I'm leaning towards Seamus Creagh and possibly the MacDara O´Raghallaigh one.
By the way, what makes people say that Paddy Glackin is a 'Northern fiddler'?
Paddy Glackin put a great amount of his focus and study on Northern styles of fiddling, and he used to do some bit of lecturing on the subject as well, but those younguns can't avoid the modern influences that also take hold of them, and the classical training they've also given some time to...
Now if only I could remember that one young Tyrone fiddler I'd had tunes wtih, who also has recorded. But he too had strong influences from the commercial output of the usual superstars...
There are some other great fiddle recordings, others by Johnny Doherty, and more recently the recordings of Frank and Con Cassidy, and "The Brass Fiddle" is a lovely recording.
Paddy, Seamus and Kevin Glackin consider their fiddling roots to be the North. Both Seamus and Kevin are featured fiddlers on the recording "Fiddlesticks". Tom Glackin, their father, is from Donegal and the lads consider that an important part of their heritage, with Paddy being especially fond of the fiddling of Johnny Doherty, which he cites as a major influence on his playing.
The book "The Northern Fiddler" covered both Donegal and Tyrone, but until this Archive came online I'd never come across recordings of the Tyrone fiddlers profiled, such as John Loughran. This is all assuming you're interested in any kind of local style, which may likely be a thing of the past now - even when that book was published 30 years ago the local fiddlers still playing in a local style were quite exceptional, which has happened all over Ireland. To hear recordings of these musicians you'll have to put up with a bit of that bad audio you mentioned not being keen on, with youngsters anyway. Although occasionally you do run into same who'll put up with it and then some - Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, for instance. Does happen. His 1st record was another of these purely solo fiddle discs, too, but good luck finding one of the 500 copies.
Thanks again for the suggestions. I'll check Weejie's suggestion.
Ceolachan, East Tyrone is a long way from Fermanagh and I really don't know why you've suggested all those Donegal recordings and Celtic Fiddle Festival et al.
I travelled around the North, happily, despite the troubles and having looked down the barrel of all sides, literally. I visited quite a few fiddlers but most were never recorded. That said, there was an appreciation for 'other' fiddlers, including those from Donegal, and there was that great shared interest, the fiddle. I had some great times and priceless experiences which included music and dance and much more. I never found the musicians in Tyrone to think of themselves as anything but musicians, fiddlers, and not particularly as 'Tyrone fiddlers'. Their appreciation and interests where the music and fiddling were concerned were not suppressed. What I did note was the wonderful variety of tune forms, and dances too, that were shared across the North and that were without borders. But as to that tendency for the modern mind to categorize and do its damnedest to creat borders and give them tight definition - it doesn't surprise me when I come up against it. Like with the old border posts, guns aimed at me or not - I just walked past. Akin to what the poet Robert Frost said - I have miles to go before I sleep...
Best of health to you and yours and your grandson, and your music too...
I haven't a clue what you're on about, but I strongly resent whatever it is! I thoroughly reject your attempt to inflict your own little trippy version of Ireland upon me or my family.
Apologies if you took offence, none was ever intended... But I've been 'put in my place' and now know better than to offer any further comment on anything you contribute in the future.
As always, best of health to you and yours and your music too...
And what's the trouble with exposing your grandson to players who have an obvious regional style? Listening to those Donegal fiddlers, man... that's the trouble with today's youth...
Look, Silver Spear, have you read this thread in full? Ceolachan completely ignored this part 'My daughter's also keen that he gets to hear "simple tunes played well" without any strong local style being apparent (other than Tyrone/Armagh of course and she has a couple of Cathal Hayden's albums).' He then posted a load of links to Donegal fiddlers and, for some utterly unknown reason, to Celtic Fiddle Festival and Johnny Cunningham.
Then he goes waffling on about his travels around my neck of the woods and, through his flippancy, insults those of us who lived through those wretched times. Wouldn't you wonder whose socks he'd been sniffing?
I should point out that I've thanked those who've made positive suggestions.
Recordings for my grandson
Recordings for my grandson
My grandson, who's ten, has really taken to the fiddle. My daughter says that his teacher seems to be very good when it comes to the technical side but not so good when it comes to recommending other fiddlers to listen to.
His birthday's coming up and I'd like to buy him a couple of albums to inspire his playing and perhaps extend his repertoire. I'm way out of the loop on this one so are there any albums that you'd recommend, please?
Bear in mind my grandson's age and that I'd prefer him not to be exposed to any speed merchants.
# Posted on June 5th 2011 by Scorpion de Rooftrouser
Re: Recordings for my grandson
This one:
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/868
# Posted on June 5th 2011 by Upsetter
Re: Recordings for my grandson
These days, that recording is more widely available as ""Meet Paddy Canny (All-Ireland Champion )," BTW.
# Posted on June 5th 2011 by Upsetter
Re: Recordings for my grandson
Anything by Martin Hayes; my favourite is probably 'Live in Seattle' but they are all great. As well as Kevin Burke's 'If the Cap Fits...' and Tommy Peoples' 'Waiting for a Call.' Those happen to my personal favourites from those musicians but you can't go wrong with their stuff.
A few duets; Mick O'Brien & Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh's 'Kitty Lie Over' and Matt Molloy & Sean Keane's 'Contentment is Wealth.' Obviously not strictly fiddle but great albums with great fiddlers on them. 'Contentment is Wealth' might be bordering on too fast, I wouldn't call them 'speed merchants' but they do play on the faster side of things. Also, when you are ready to expose him to 'speed merchants' there is always Frankie...
# Posted on June 5th 2011 by Why Bother?
Re: Recordings for my grandson
"Crystal Clear" - Jerry Holland, no accompaniment, just fiddle, brilliant!
This is what I'd recommend above anything else, something like this, without any accompaniment, just the clear ring of a fiddle under a master bowsmith...
# Posted on June 5th 2011 by ceolachan
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1664
# Posted on June 5th 2011 by ceolachan
Re: Recordings for my grandson
As you hail from Armagh, there are some great recordings of Northern fiddlers, including the 'youngster' Paddy Glackin ~ for example ~
"Paddy Glackin: Glackin"
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/629
"Paddy Glackin: In Full Spate"
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/36
It's a shame the joy of some of the early recordings of Armagh fiddlers aren't easily available, such as John, Vincent and Brendan of the McCusker Brothers, a 9 brother ceili band, and dear old Hugh Savage - alas no more, worth chasing up if you know anyone with old LPs...
# Posted on June 5th 2011 by ceolachan
Re: Recordings for my grandson
MacDara O´Raghallaigh has just released his first album Ego Trip which is excellent. It´s a solo fiddle album with no other backing instruments apart from the tapping of his feet which was recorded live in some village hall so you get the atmosphere as well. I was initally apprehensive about whether I could "cope" with a whole recording of just the fiddle but having taken the plunge I have to say that it was one of my best ever buys.
# Posted on June 5th 2011 by deirjon
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/3943
# Posted on June 5th 2011 by ceolachan
http://macdara.bandcamp.com/album/ego-trip
# Posted on June 5th 2011 by ceolachan
Re: Recordings for my grandson
Thanks ceolachan. Much more useful than my long rant!
# Posted on June 5th 2011 by deirjon
Re: Recordings for my grandson
The Missing Reel by Seamus McGuire and John Lee
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/603
Technically excellent fiddle playing from McGuire (whose brother Manus is also a very good fiddler)
# Posted on June 5th 2011 by I ♥ Dow
Re: Recordings for my grandson
Well I don't know about your grandson, Scorpion, but I am indepted to you ceolachan for your suggestion. I have been looking for good fiddle music so I can hear " the clear ring of a fiddle under a master bowsmith" and am already awaiting my first copy of Kevin Burke's If the Cap Fits having discovered him through this site, but you've given my music education a real boost with these suggestions and I've just bought 2 of your choices! I'm trying to learn how to fiddle these tunes properly and the often insistent backing instrument is a distraction and takes away from the clear beauty of the fiddle. I'm going off to enjoy getting to know Messers Glackin and O'Raghallaigh now! Martin Hayes' albums and I are already great friends. Cheers!
# Posted on June 5th 2011 by Sky fiddler
Re: Recordings for my grandson
Apologies, my brain is in that sometimes semi-conscious state it suffers at times, I forgot to mention Matt Cranitch, but especially Seamus Creagh and a lovely two CD collection of tunes he did to help people with learning this music. It's brilliant and highly recommended -
"Seamus Creagh: Tunes for Practice" ~ all ears, but you can find most of the tunes in transcription here on site... This is priceless, a gem...
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/3225
# Posted on June 5th 2011 by ceolachan
Re: Recordings for my grandson
I'm glad you posted it c. I was about to say "Tunes for Practice".
# Posted on June 5th 2011 by Ben Steen
Re: Recordings for my grandson
I immediately thought of the Paddy Glackin albums, which ceolachan suggested:
______________________________________
"Paddy Glackin: Glackin"
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/629
"Paddy Glackin: In Full Spate"
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/36
______________________________________
The others which jump out at me are..
Fiddle sticks, Irish traditional music from Donegal -- lots on ensemble playing but several sparkling solo tracks. The tunes and very common and make good music to play along with.
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/202
Sean Keane, Gusty's frolicks -- solo fiddle music from the Chieftains fiddle player for 43 years. Keane uses a distinctive style but the tunes are quite common and none of this should get in the way of being inspirational fiddle music. Quite the contrary, I'd think.
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/929
John Doherty, The floating bow -- solo fiddle from Donegal. not only compelling and very well played but there are also some interesting techniques and tunes on this album, unique to Donegal or unique to Doherty's repertoire.
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/316
Tommy Peoples, The high part of the road -- terrific music on fiddle accompanied by Paul Brady on guitar. If you want to be envious on someone's ability to play triplets, here you go.
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/649
Denis Murphy, Music from Sliabh Luachra -- solo fiddle playing many tunes, lots of delightful polkas, from Sliabh Luachra.
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/164
# Posted on June 6th 2011 by gravelwalks
Re: Recordings for my grandson
The late Joe Ryan originally from Clare but lived in Dundalk for a good few years I think - so not a million miles from the Orchard County. Great 'simple' music on the fiddle: http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/348
# Posted on June 6th 2011 by the wounded hussar
Re: Recordings for my grandson
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/285
# Posted on June 6th 2011 by Kenny
Re: Recordings for my grandson
Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.
On reflection, I should probably have provided more information in my original posting. My grandson Liam lives in Tyrone and he's a canny lad who's quick to learn, but would be definitely deterred by anything I gave him which looked or sounded dated. My daughter's also keen that he gets to hear "simple tunes played well" without any strong local style being apparent (other than Tyrone/Armagh of course and she has a couple of Cathal Hayden's albums).
So I'm leaning towards Seamus Creagh and possibly the MacDara O´Raghallaigh one.
By the way, what makes people say that Paddy Glackin is a 'Northern fiddler'?
# Posted on June 6th 2011 by Scorpion de Rooftrouser
Re: Recordings for my grandson
I'm curious as to what trad music could not sound dated? Other than the timeless stuff, of course.
# Posted on June 6th 2011 by ...
Re: Recordings for my grandson
By 'sounded dated' I meant poor recording quality. Let's face it most things sound dated to a young 'un.
# Posted on June 6th 2011 by Scorpion de Rooftrouser
Re: Recordings for my grandson
Paddy Glackin put a great amount of his focus and study on Northern styles of fiddling, and he used to do some bit of lecturing on the subject as well, but those younguns can't avoid the modern influences that also take hold of them, and the classical training they've also given some time to...
Now if only I could remember that one young Tyrone fiddler I'd had tunes wtih, who also has recorded. But he too had strong influences from the commercial output of the usual superstars...
There are some other great fiddle recordings, others by Johnny Doherty, and more recently the recordings of Frank and Con Cassidy, and "The Brass Fiddle" is a lovely recording.
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/3037
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/2660
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/274
And just released, recordings of Neilidh Boyle ~ more here ~
http://www.donegalfiddlemusic.ie/
http://www.donegalfiddlemusic.ie/recordings.htm
http://www.donegalfiddlemusic.ie/neillidhboyle.htm
Somewhere I've an email saying the Boyle recording will be released soon...
# Posted on June 6th 2011 by ceolachan
"From a Distant Shore" - 4 CDs - The Cork University Traditional Music Festivals
One of these CDs is -
"Fiddlesticks: Irish Traditional Music from Donegal"
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/202
& features the fiddle of Seamus Glackin...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddy_Glackin
Paddy, Seamus and Kevin Glackin consider their fiddling roots to be the North. Both Seamus and Kevin are featured fiddlers on the recording "Fiddlesticks". Tom Glackin, their father, is from Donegal and the lads consider that an important part of their heritage, with Paddy being especially fond of the fiddling of Johnny Doherty, which he cites as a major influence on his playing.
The other CDs -
"Across the Waters: Irish Traditional Music from England"
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/843
"Dear Old Erin's Isle: Irish Traditional Music from America"
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/676
"Traditional Music from Cape Breton Island"
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1080
# Posted on June 6th 2011 by ceolachan
~ & features the fiddles of Seamus & Kevin Glackin...
# Posted on June 6th 2011 by ceolachan
Re: Recordings for my grandson
If you search for 'Tyrone' at the Comhaltas Archive a few local performers show in the results: http://comhaltasarchive.ie/search?tab=tracks&q=tyrone#/tracks/6039 Among these is Des Donnelly, who has a tribute LP here in our database: http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1736
The book "The Northern Fiddler" covered both Donegal and Tyrone, but until this Archive came online I'd never come across recordings of the Tyrone fiddlers profiled, such as John Loughran. This is all assuming you're interested in any kind of local style, which may likely be a thing of the past now - even when that book was published 30 years ago the local fiddlers still playing in a local style were quite exceptional, which has happened all over Ireland. To hear recordings of these musicians you'll have to put up with a bit of that bad audio you mentioned not being keen on, with youngsters anyway. Although occasionally you do run into same who'll put up with it and then some - Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, for instance. Does happen. His 1st record was another of these purely solo fiddle discs, too, but good luck finding one of the 500 copies.
# Posted on June 6th 2011 by KLR
The Celtic Fiddle Festival - a curious but interesting mix
"Celtic Fiddle Festival"
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/176
"Celtic Fiddle Festival: Encore"
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/175
"Celtic Fiddle Festival: Rendezvous"
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/177
"Celtic Fiddle Festival: Play On"
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1457
"Celtic Fiddle Festival: Équinoxe"
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/2871
& dear ~
"Johnny Cunningham: Fair Warning"
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/412
# Posted on June 6th 2011 by ceolachan
"Hidden Fermanagh" ~ book & recordings
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/680
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1110
Quite a lot passed and passes between Tyrone & Fermanagh, and both counties have a place in our hearts...
# Posted on June 6th 2011 by ceolachan
Re: Recordings for my grandson
How about a younger fiddler, with a traditional and contemporary touch, Méabh O'Hare?
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/661
She doesn't sound 'dated'.
# Posted on June 7th 2011 by Weejie
Re: Recordings for my grandson
Thanks again for the suggestions. I'll check Weejie's suggestion.
Ceolachan, East Tyrone is a long way from Fermanagh and I really don't know why you've suggested all those Donegal recordings and Celtic Fiddle Festival et al.
# Posted on June 7th 2011 by Scorpion de Rooftrouser
Re: Recordings for my grandson
I travelled around the North, happily, despite the troubles and having looked down the barrel of all sides, literally. I visited quite a few fiddlers but most were never recorded. That said, there was an appreciation for 'other' fiddlers, including those from Donegal, and there was that great shared interest, the fiddle. I had some great times and priceless experiences which included music and dance and much more. I never found the musicians in Tyrone to think of themselves as anything but musicians, fiddlers, and not particularly as 'Tyrone fiddlers'. Their appreciation and interests where the music and fiddling were concerned were not suppressed. What I did note was the wonderful variety of tune forms, and dances too, that were shared across the North and that were without borders. But as to that tendency for the modern mind to categorize and do its damnedest to creat borders and give them tight definition - it doesn't surprise me when I come up against it. Like with the old border posts, guns aimed at me or not - I just walked past. Akin to what the poet Robert Frost said - I have miles to go before I sleep...
Best of health to you and yours and your grandson, and your music too...
# Posted on June 8th 2011 by ceolachan
"\East Tyrone is a long way from Fermanagh" ~ that's a matter of perspective and spirit. I enjoyed the walks and rambling...
# Posted on June 8th 2011 by ceolachan
Re: Recordings for my grandson
Ceolachan,
I haven't a clue what you're on about, but I strongly resent whatever it is! I thoroughly reject your attempt to inflict your own little trippy version of Ireland upon me or my family.
# Posted on June 8th 2011 by Scorpion de Rooftrouser
Apologies if you took offence, none was ever intended... But I've been 'put in my place' and now know better than to offer any further comment on anything you contribute in the future.
As always, best of health to you and yours and your music too...
# Posted on June 8th 2011 by ceolachan
You can pull your tail in now, the 'sting' has been delivered...
# Posted on June 8th 2011 by ceolachan
Re: Recordings for my grandson
Whoa, that was a bit uncalled for, Scorpion.
Christ on a bike, try to be helpful to some people 'round here.... sheesh,...
# Posted on June 8th 2011 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Recordings for my grandson
And what's the trouble with exposing your grandson to players who have an obvious regional style? Listening to those Donegal fiddlers, man... that's the trouble with today's youth...
# Posted on June 8th 2011 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Recordings for my grandson
Look, Silver Spear, have you read this thread in full? Ceolachan completely ignored this part 'My daughter's also keen that he gets to hear "simple tunes played well" without any strong local style being apparent (other than Tyrone/Armagh of course and she has a couple of Cathal Hayden's albums).' He then posted a load of links to Donegal fiddlers and, for some utterly unknown reason, to Celtic Fiddle Festival and Johnny Cunningham.
Then he goes waffling on about his travels around my neck of the woods and, through his flippancy, insults those of us who lived through those wretched times. Wouldn't you wonder whose socks he'd been sniffing?
I should point out that I've thanked those who've made positive suggestions.
# Posted on June 8th 2011 by Scorpion de Rooftrouser
Re: Recordings for my grandson
Kevin Burke has done some instructional CDs and DVDs that are very good. Here's the link: http://www.homespuntapes.com/Instruments/Fiddle/celtic-fiddle-lessons
They are based in the US, but ship internationally.
Good luck
# Posted on June 14th 2011 by tfgreene