Hi there,
Just thought I would post a discussion on your favorite combos of instruments played together mainly duos .....
My favourite combo is without doubt, Flat pitch pipes and fiddle, played with a nice steady tempo as in Mick O'Brien and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh or Louise and Michelle Mulcahy, I absolutely love the way these instruments work together ....
Other combinations thay I like together are Fiddle Flute, Pipes Concertina, heaps of others but leave it at that .....
This thread has probably been done many times before but anyway, just wondering what are your favourite two instruments played together and why, maybe examples of players, recordings, video clips, etc...
I've been playing cds of the Mulcahy family almost non-stop lately, and they were on this morning. One of my favourite duo cds is The Thing Itself (Maeve Donnelly and Peadar O'Loughlin)
Just about any pair, as long as they are played well, by people who mesh well with each other. Here are some Scots examples: FIddle and piano accordion, if it is played the way Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham play it, And even fiddle and cello, if it is played the way Alisdair Fraser and Natalie Hass play it.
Changed my life, and my repertoire.
A bunch of cracking good tunes, IMHO.
(I now usually shop for CDs not by band or artist, but by number of tracks per disc, plus tunes per track. It lets me feel I am getting more music for my money.)
@Piece "I now usually shop for CDs not by band or artist, but by number of tracks per disc, plus tunes per track. It lets me feel I am getting more music for my money."
Lol, if thats the case, check this album out (if you havent already) Loads of tunes and a mighty recording !!! http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/2014
Piece, Given your stated taste in CDs, you would like the CDs that David Mallinson has put out to accompany his tune books. 100 tunes on each, each played just one time through with all the repeats.
One of the things I like about this music is hearing combinations of instruments I hadn't heard before and seeing how they compliment each other differently. That said, I currently just love the way the fiddle and the pipes sound together. The two instruments that couldn't be much more different, yet they blend together surprisingly well.
/p.s.- I may have to get a copy of that album tealach posted.
Tealach and Al:
Thank you, spot on both of you -
that is just the kind of CDs I now invest in.
(check out one tunelist CD called The Five Mile Chase, I do not recall the artist just now -but not bad stuff at all. As i recall, it goes thru all the tunes as: once thru slow, then once thru moderato)
I am always on the hunt for a new tune or a new setting of one (not that I am compacent with my current skill level on any of them, mind you). My collection of sheetmusic is more than one mortal could memorize in one lifetime, but, as always, the dots are just the dots. One always has to HEAR it to learn it to get it.
I have a load of grand performance stuff to listen to (the wife got me an Ipod!! YAY!!) so I can plug into all the retro I desire.
But for me, at least, what is new is always what was already old before I was whelped ---
an old fiddle, practiced hands, and the music makes you want to dance.
I'm really fond of melodion & fiddle duet combos or groups that contain them as the main engine, especially the kind where the players are so tight you couldn't get a fag paper between them.
I was listening to pipes and flute today and it didn't seem to work at all well. They sort of hid each other, rather than complementing. Similarly with pipes and hammered dulcimer -- they don't go at all. I agree with Whiddler: whistle and bodhrán, and of course, flat pipes and fiddle.
Flutes often do not play well with others, although it doesn't
have to be that way. They tend to throw in ornaments that
break up the rhythmic groove set by the other players.
There's an otherwise great recording that came out last year
that is a good example of this but I'm not going to name it here.
Song + bodhrán can be magic/haunting
whistle/flute + bodhrán can be very nice too. Cue Frankie Gavin/Johnny McDonagh/Colm Murphy
I also wholeheartedly agree on flat pipes/fiddle.
Primrose Lass, I Could not agree more about Paddy Carty and Mick O'Conner Their album is amazing .
pennhorse I havent heard Liam Farrell and Joe Whelan but I think Box & Banjo is a choice combo, here is a great example by Angelina Carberry and Martin Quinn http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy8RZf_kFGY
I guess we could continue iterating through the possible combinations, but let's cut to the chase: two players, each playing well on their own and each listening to the other, will always be a great combination.
(which lets out any combination involving a bodhran, doesn't it?)
Favorite combos
Favorite combos
Hi there,
Just thought I would post a discussion on your favorite combos of instruments played together mainly duos .....
My favourite combo is without doubt, Flat pitch pipes and fiddle, played with a nice steady tempo as in Mick O'Brien and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh or Louise and Michelle Mulcahy, I absolutely love the way these instruments work together ....
Other combinations thay I like together are Fiddle Flute, Pipes Concertina, heaps of others but leave it at that .....
This thread has probably been done many times before but anyway, just wondering what are your favourite two instruments played together and why, maybe examples of players, recordings, video clips, etc...
Cheers
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by tealach
Re: Favorite combos
I've been playing cds of the Mulcahy family almost non-stop lately, and they were on this morning. One of my favourite duo cds is The Thing Itself (Maeve Donnelly and Peadar O'Loughlin)
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by RichardB
Re: Favorite combos
Just about any pair, as long as they are played well, by people who mesh well with each other. Here are some Scots examples: FIddle and piano accordion, if it is played the way Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham play it, And even fiddle and cello, if it is played the way Alisdair Fraser and Natalie Hass play it.
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by AlBrown
Re: Favorite combos
Try this one:
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/index/search?name=touch+me+if+you+dare&search_start=0
Changed my life, and my repertoire.
A bunch of cracking good tunes, IMHO.
(I now usually shop for CDs not by band or artist, but by number of tracks per disc, plus tunes per track. It lets me feel I am getting more music for my money.)
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by Piece
Re: Favorite combos
Here they are playing one of the tracks from the CD, and by no means the best of the assortment.
Good stuff all the same.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXvVNn-za1w
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by Piece
Re: Favorite combos
@Piece "I now usually shop for CDs not by band or artist, but by number of tracks per disc, plus tunes per track. It lets me feel I am getting more music for my money."
Lol, if thats the case, check this album out (if you havent already) Loads of tunes and a mighty recording !!!
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/2014
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by tealach
Re: Favorite combos
Wow great youtube link, must check out there CD ...
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by tealach
Re: Favorite combos
Piece, Given your stated taste in CDs, you would like the CDs that David Mallinson has put out to accompany his tune books. 100 tunes on each, each played just one time through with all the repeats.
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by AlBrown
Re: Favorite combos
One of the things I like about this music is hearing combinations of instruments I hadn't heard before and seeing how they compliment each other differently. That said, I currently just love the way the fiddle and the pipes sound together. The two instruments that couldn't be much more different, yet they blend together surprisingly well.
/p.s.- I may have to get a copy of that album tealach posted.
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by banshee misfortune
Re: Favorite combos
michael mcgoldrick and dezi donnelly could be put down as the best ever fiddle and flute combination. Just listen
http://youtu.be/_h_hnvJle2E
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by banjitar
Re: Favorite combos
An instrument in the hands and a full pint on the table in front of me, bought by someone else.
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by nicholas
Re: Favorite combos
Tealach and Al:
Thank you, spot on both of you -
that is just the kind of CDs I now invest in.
(check out one tunelist CD called The Five Mile Chase, I do not recall the artist just now -but not bad stuff at all. As i recall, it goes thru all the tunes as: once thru slow, then once thru moderato)
I am always on the hunt for a new tune or a new setting of one (not that I am compacent with my current skill level on any of them, mind you). My collection of sheetmusic is more than one mortal could memorize in one lifetime, but, as always, the dots are just the dots. One always has to HEAR it to learn it to get it.
I have a load of grand performance stuff to listen to (the wife got me an Ipod!! YAY!!) so I can plug into all the retro I desire.
But for me, at least, what is new is always what was already old before I was whelped ---
an old fiddle, practiced hands, and the music makes you want to dance.
Kinda zen simple, eh?
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by Piece
Re: Favorite combos...
Mostly gin and tonic. Milk and Oreos. Coffee and apple tart.
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by David Levine
Re: Favorite combos
I'm really fond of melodion & fiddle duet combos or groups that contain them as the main engine, especially the kind where the players are so tight you couldn't get a fag paper between them.
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by Solidmahog
Re: Favorite combos
Also meant to add that "Kelly O'Brien Sproule is a topper of an album. Thanks for reminding me tealach.
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by Solidmahog
Re: Favorite combos
Certainly a great recording, and a great combo Solidmahog . banjo single row melodion, another good one .
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by tealach
Re: Favorite combos
Here's my old favourite no jumping though hoops, or acrobatics..
Just straight good, raw hard played ITM .
http://www.musicscotland.com/cd/paul-brady-with-matt-molloy-tommy-peoples.html
Click on sample..
jim,,,
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by FIDDLE4
Re: Favorite combos
Or maybe this link's better,
http://www.musicscotland.com/cd/mp3-Paul-Brady-With-Matt-Molloy-And-Tommy-Peoples-Cd.html
jim,,,
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by FIDDLE4
Re: Favorite combos
Fiddle/Pipes or Fiddle/Flute or Whistle/Banjo for me!
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by tradguy
Re: Favorite combos
fiddle + concertina
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by Whiddler
Re: Favorite combos
Oh yeah and whistle + bodhran is pretty neat sometimes.
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by Whiddler
Re: Favorite combos
No humping through joops
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by nicholas
Re: Favorite combos
Not even Hula-joops?
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by fauxcelt
Re: Favorite combos
I was listening to pipes and flute today and it didn't seem to work at all well. They sort of hid each other, rather than complementing. Similarly with pipes and hammered dulcimer -- they don't go at all. I agree with Whiddler: whistle and bodhrán, and of course, flat pipes and fiddle.
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by gam
Re: Favorite combos
fiddle amd piano. Then again, I'm slightly obsessed with Cape Breton music...
# Posted on June 20th 2011 by jsmith
Re: Favorite combos
Hahaha, I guess the list is endless, Love Whistle/Fiddle, Banjo/Fiddle, Mando/Whistle sounds really nice together when there played well !
# Posted on June 20th 2011 by tealach
Re: Favorite combos
Concertina and pipes works beautifully on "Reed Only" -
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/2668
Fiddle plus anything
Flutes often do not play well with others, although it doesn't
have to be that way. They tend to throw in ornaments that
break up the rhythmic groove set by the other players.
There's an otherwise great recording that came out last year
that is a good example of this but I'm not going to name it here.
# Posted on June 20th 2011 by Hup
Re: Favorite combos
Box & Banjo. Liam Farrell and Joe Whelan. http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1172
# Posted on June 20th 2011 by pennhorse
Re: Favorite combos
Paddy Carty on flute and Mick O'Connor on banjo is an unlikely combo, but magic.
# Posted on June 20th 2011 by primrose lass
Re: Favorite combos
Song + bodhrán can be magic/haunting
whistle/flute + bodhrán can be very nice too. Cue Frankie Gavin/Johnny McDonagh/Colm Murphy
I also wholeheartedly agree on flat pipes/fiddle.
# Posted on June 21st 2011 by Mr_Blackwood
Re: Favorite combos
Primrose Lass, I Could not agree more about Paddy Carty and Mick O'Conner Their album is amazing .
pennhorse I havent heard Liam Farrell and Joe Whelan but I think Box & Banjo is a choice combo, here is a great example by Angelina Carberry and Martin Quinn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy8RZf_kFGY
# Posted on June 21st 2011 by tealach
Re: Favorite combos
I guess we could continue iterating through the possible combinations, but let's cut to the chase: two players, each playing well on their own and each listening to the other, will always be a great combination.
(which lets out any combination involving a bodhran, doesn't it?)
# Posted on June 21st 2011 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: Favorite combos
"which lets out any combination involving a bodhran, doesn't it?"
Err.. no, not really. Unless you are unable to appreciate the likes of Christy Moore, Donal Lunny, Colm Murphy and Johnny McDonagh of course.
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by Mr_Blackwood
Re: Favorite combos
i simply ADORE Harp and Concertina. The feel of the music is very unique.
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by fiddlelearner
Re: Favorite combos
"two players, each playing well on their own and each listening to the other, will always be a great combination." Jon Kiparsky
Thats about the sum of it.
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by Solidmahog