How many players are required for cracking session
How many players are required for cracking session
I raise the point for discussion purposes rather than for a numerical answer. Like all sessions our numbers vary from 2 to double figures. However, whilst greater numbers lead to a more social evening they don't necessarily improve the quality of the music. I was wondering how any musicians other people feel they need to raise the roof!
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
Depends on the crowd watching. I go to a session with 2 genius', but they doesn't usually raise the roof until a few of the locals get involved... either that or when the whistle comes out (thanks Micho).
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
Double figures tend to get the punters excited. 4-6 tends to get the musicians excited. 3-4 can produce the best music, if the players fit together well. All of them can be fun, though.
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
Totally totally depends on the quality not quantity of the musicians. Personally I like playing with around 4-6 other people, just so my attention can handle what's happening musically. I like hearing different peoples' little versions and interpretations. More than that it is more difficult to hear subtleties, but if it's more of a drinking, social, party atmosphere, more musicians can be great craic too. It just depends on what you are looking to get out of the session. I suppose it depends on your definition of a 'cracking session.' I'm not sure if you meant music, social atmosphere or both.
That being said, I don't think large numbers entirely leads to weaker music. For instance I heard a session after a gig once that was amazing, the lads from Grada were playing with Flook (w/McGoldrick), Peter Molloy and a few other great locals.
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
As small as two can work, but four to six is better. Over eight and it begins to become something that takes work to hold together. More than twelve and you are in classical music territory--it doesn't work unless someone with a baton is involved...
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
Not that I'm an expert, but I don't think it takes an expert to have an opinion on this one. I'm inclined toward more intimate sessions, that is, I've enjoyed myself more amongst sessions of 3-6. I can think of a few ripping good larger sessions, but in general they seem to get a bit too overwhelming for my sensibilities. I went to one where a gentleman with a banjo showed up and was jokingly asked to go and sit in the banjo section. Now THAT session was just too big.
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
You only need one *good* musician to "raise a roof". I know because i've raised many roofs on my own ;) But i say you need at least two to get it jumpin' and about four to set it on fire. 6 good musicians can rip a house up *and tear it down.
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
And apologies, not really speaking in session terms but what i've experienced universally. But I can say that at our session, when it gets late and most of the other folks have left, The quality of the music is a lot better. The difference i notice, is that everyone moves in closer, that way we hear each other better and are more in tune and time with each other. This is when numbers drop to 4-6.
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
Once again, we are are looking for an "ideal" situation which is seldom attainable.
Yes, the optimum number is probably between 4-6 good players but it can also depend on the type of room, how busy the pub is, and the amount of table space for the musicians including actual seating arrangements. So, depending on these factors, you can still get a good session with less or more people.
Some pub sessions are very restricted in terms of seating arrangements and can hold only a maximum number of players. I've even seen some musicians rearrange the furniture so that numbers can be kept to a minimum(Also the other way around at some other sessions, admittedly). So, if only a maximum number of players can be accommodated, then the session may not necessarily include the best available players but... possibly those who got there early enough, the regulars, or "the clique". That's not to suggest that the session won't be good but it might not be as "cracking" as it could have been.
Just because there are a larger number of musicians present, it doesn't mean that they all have to play at the same time. We might still have smaller groups of players playing sets which they have in common while others "sit them out". Also, sessions can often be very fluid with people dropping in and out and you may often get a good "visiting musician" who might come and sit in for a few tunes.
Of course, there is always the risk that large sessions become free for alls or giant "folk orchestras" but there are often good results too.
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
I think the number of non-musicians is more important than the number of musicians.
You can have a good session with two players or twenty. But if you get half a dozen dis-interested punters all shouting to make themselves heard above the music, the whole thing becomes pointless.
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
5 or 6 with a nice spread of instruments who know what they are doing. I was listening to a session in Clare once that had four concertinas to the fore. . After a time we made out excuses and left.
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
>Minimum of 4 bodhrans and 6 guitars
This just made me think of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, and his (admittedly puerile) catch-phrase.
Now I think I might have to use that the next time some helpless twerp wanders in with a goatskin beertray.
How many players are required for cracking session
How many players are required for cracking session
I raise the point for discussion purposes rather than for a numerical answer. Like all sessions our numbers vary from 2 to double figures. However, whilst greater numbers lead to a more social evening they don't necessarily improve the quality of the music. I was wondering how any musicians other people feel they need to raise the roof!
# Posted on September 23rd 2011 by riggers
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
One is usually too few, but it depends on the musician.
# Posted on September 23rd 2011 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
I think the best ones are 3-5 people -- assuming they can all get on the same wavelength, etc.
Beyond 5-6 it is very likely that each additional person is just making thing worse musically speaking.
# Posted on September 23rd 2011 by timmy!
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
This: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8i-ahlqmuY
# Posted on September 23rd 2011 by SmashTheWindows
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
I had a great session recently with 3.
# Posted on September 23rd 2011 by Nicholas Jelinek
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
Depends on the crowd watching. I go to a session with 2 genius', but they doesn't usually raise the roof until a few of the locals get involved... either that or when the whistle comes out (thanks Micho).
# Posted on September 23rd 2011 by Renée Adorée
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
Double figures tend to get the punters excited. 4-6 tends to get the musicians excited. 3-4 can produce the best music, if the players fit together well. All of them can be fun, though.
# Posted on September 23rd 2011 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
< for a cracking session > 6 Max,,
If they all kinda now each other,
and each others tunes - After that it start's to go down hill..lol.
jim,,,
# Posted on September 23rd 2011 by FIDDLE4
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
Totally totally depends on the quality not quantity of the musicians. Personally I like playing with around 4-6 other people, just so my attention can handle what's happening musically. I like hearing different peoples' little versions and interpretations. More than that it is more difficult to hear subtleties, but if it's more of a drinking, social, party atmosphere, more musicians can be great craic too. It just depends on what you are looking to get out of the session. I suppose it depends on your definition of a 'cracking session.' I'm not sure if you meant music, social atmosphere or both.
That being said, I don't think large numbers entirely leads to weaker music. For instance I heard a session after a gig once that was amazing, the lads from Grada were playing with Flook (w/McGoldrick), Peter Molloy and a few other great locals.
# Posted on September 23rd 2011 by jcawley
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
As small as two can work, but four to six is better. Over eight and it begins to become something that takes work to hold together. More than twelve and you are in classical music territory--it doesn't work unless someone with a baton is involved...
# Posted on September 23rd 2011 by AlBrown
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
Not that I'm an expert, but I don't think it takes an expert to have an opinion on this one. I'm inclined toward more intimate sessions, that is, I've enjoyed myself more amongst sessions of 3-6. I can think of a few ripping good larger sessions, but in general they seem to get a bit too overwhelming for my sensibilities. I went to one where a gentleman with a banjo showed up and was jokingly asked to go and sit in the banjo section. Now THAT session was just too big.
# Posted on September 23rd 2011 by Jimmy B
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
5
# Posted on September 24th 2011 by Michael Eskin
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
3.14159
# Posted on September 24th 2011 by AlBrown
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
Well, it depends on the velocity of the players being fired at the session and the fission cross sections of the particular session isotopes.
# Posted on September 24th 2011 by Michael Eskin
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
2.71828
# Posted on September 24th 2011 by Whiddler
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
Would drummers be the graphite rods of your analogy, Michael?
# Posted on September 24th 2011 by AlBrown
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
How many bad players does it take to ruin the craic at a session?
How many good musicians does it take to make up for it?
# Posted on September 24th 2011 by banshee misfortune
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
You only need one *good* musician to "raise a roof". I know because i've raised many roofs on my own ;) But i say you need at least two to get it jumpin' and about four to set it on fire. 6 good musicians can rip a house up *and tear it down.
# Posted on September 24th 2011 by fiddlelearner
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
And apologies, not really speaking in session terms but what i've experienced universally. But I can say that at our session, when it gets late and most of the other folks have left, The quality of the music is a lot better. The difference i notice, is that everyone moves in closer, that way we hear each other better and are more in tune and time with each other. This is when numbers drop to 4-6.
# Posted on September 24th 2011 by fiddlelearner
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
The ratio between the different instruments should be 1.61803398874989, i.e. the golden ratio!
# Posted on September 24th 2011 by Mattias Holm
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
Once again, we are are looking for an "ideal" situation which is seldom attainable.
Yes, the optimum number is probably between 4-6 good players but it can also depend on the type of room, how busy the pub is, and the amount of table space for the musicians including actual seating arrangements. So, depending on these factors, you can still get a good session with less or more people.
Some pub sessions are very restricted in terms of seating arrangements and can hold only a maximum number of players. I've even seen some musicians rearrange the furniture so that numbers can be kept to a minimum(Also the other way around at some other sessions, admittedly). So, if only a maximum number of players can be accommodated, then the session may not necessarily include the best available players but... possibly those who got there early enough, the regulars, or "the clique". That's not to suggest that the session won't be good but it might not be as "cracking" as it could have been.
Just because there are a larger number of musicians present, it doesn't mean that they all have to play at the same time. We might still have smaller groups of players playing sets which they have in common while others "sit them out". Also, sessions can often be very fluid with people dropping in and out and you may often get a good "visiting musician" who might come and sit in for a few tunes.
Of course, there is always the risk that large sessions become free for alls or giant "folk orchestras" but there are often good results too.
# Posted on September 24th 2011 by Johnny Jay
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
I think the number of non-musicians is more important than the number of musicians.
You can have a good session with two players or twenty. But if you get half a dozen dis-interested punters all shouting to make themselves heard above the music, the whole thing becomes pointless.
# Posted on September 24th 2011 by skreech
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
5 or 6 with a nice spread of instruments who know what they are doing. I was listening to a session in Clare once that had four concertinas to the fore. . After a time we made out excuses and left.
# Posted on September 24th 2011 by Free Reed
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
"3.14159", Al B? That session sounds as nice as pi(e)
m.d.
# Posted on September 24th 2011 by emmdee
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
I think Whiddler's answer seems like a natural!
# Posted on September 24th 2011 by AlBrown
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
Cracking session? 2-4... not 10 -30..
# Posted on September 27th 2011 by Mary Kirkland
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
Minimum of 4 bodhrans and 6 guitars.
# Posted on September 27th 2011 by geoffwright
Re: How many players are required for cracking session
>Minimum of 4 bodhrans and 6 guitars
This just made me think of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, and his (admittedly puerile) catch-phrase.
Now I think I might have to use that the next time some helpless twerp wanders in with a goatskin beertray.
# Posted on September 27th 2011 by Jon Kiparsky