that was magical...relaxed, sustained, responsive; didn't look like the dancer was too concerned with anybody's idea of correct adherence to any tradition: more like someone who had steeped himself in all kinds of foot-dancing movement, and then just given himself to the joy of it. and the fiddling, ahh, if i could just fiddle so sweetly and enjoy it so much, and be so 'responsible' to the art form. sustainable musical joy, yup, that's just the ticket. thanks for posting, you brighten my short november day.
You'll sound nearly as sweet if you do as Caoimhín does and tune down a half or whole step. Takes the fiddle down to the register it was originally designed for (back in the centuries before A=440).
It sounds like he's tuned his hardingfele with the standard oppstilt bas - A D A E - though his A is pretty much at 440 not the more common higher pitch of the hardingfele (more often the A is a close equivalent to B flat or B). So, with the shorter scale length of his instrument, it is, in actuality, tuned down. Those "understrenger" obviously help give that rich sound.
I didn't notice the glimpse of Caoimhín at the start. That looks more like a Setesdalsfele that he's playing - so it will have a full scale length - possibly five top strings with the bottom one tuned to D - the rest following the oppstilt bas tuning. However, if that's the case, I can't hear the bottom string.
It’s a 5-string fiddle with (I think 6) sympathetic strings underneath, made by Salve Håkedal in Norway. He uses gut strings and a baroque bow, unless he's hammering out polkas and slides for the set.
It's an outrageous instrument really. He gave a lecture at the Sidmouth Folk Festival this summer, and had a few tunes afterwards. The warmth and resonance of the instrument in close proximity is quite indescribable. Himself and Brendan Begley played in the Methodist chapel later that night, and it was magnificent to hear the strings do their thing in a room with such beautiful acoustics.
Dance Music
Dance Music
Heartbreakingly beautiful playing from Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, and smoking steps from Nic Gareiss.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yMdPIYOaBY&feature=youtube_gdata_player
# Posted on November 6th 2011 by Dragut Reis
Re: Dance Music
Wow. Like one of the comments below the clip says, I've never seen such rapport between musician, tune, and dancer. Magic stuff.
# Posted on November 6th 2011 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Dance Music
Wow. Really Wow. That's gorgeous. Thanks for posting this.
# Posted on November 6th 2011 by John Culhane
Re: Dance Music
that was magical...relaxed, sustained, responsive; didn't look like the dancer was too concerned with anybody's idea of correct adherence to any tradition: more like someone who had steeped himself in all kinds of foot-dancing movement, and then just given himself to the joy of it. and the fiddling, ahh, if i could just fiddle so sweetly and enjoy it so much, and be so 'responsible' to the art form. sustainable musical joy, yup, that's just the ticket. thanks for posting, you brighten my short november day.
# Posted on November 6th 2011 by full measure
Re: Dance Music
You'll sound nearly as sweet if you do as Caoimhín does and tune down a half or whole step. Takes the fiddle down to the register it was originally designed for (back in the centuries before A=440).
# Posted on November 6th 2011 by Will Harmon
Re: Dance Music
Assuming, of course, that you play almost as well Caoimhín does....
# Posted on November 6th 2011 by John Galt
Re: Dance Music
It sounds like he's tuned his hardingfele with the standard oppstilt bas - A D A E - though his A is pretty much at 440 not the more common higher pitch of the hardingfele (more often the A is a close equivalent to B flat or B). So, with the shorter scale length of his instrument, it is, in actuality, tuned down. Those "understrenger" obviously help give that rich sound.
# Posted on November 6th 2011 by Weejie
Re: Dance Music
That's great! And shows some stamina on both their parts!
# Posted on November 6th 2011 by Reverend
Re: Dance Music
Nice stuff!
# Posted on November 6th 2011 by AlBrown
Re: Dance Music
That's a wonderful video to start the day with.
# Posted on November 6th 2011 by banshee misfortune
Re: Dance Music
I didn't notice the glimpse of Caoimhín at the start. That looks more like a Setesdalsfele that he's playing - so it will have a full scale length - possibly five top strings with the bottom one tuned to D - the rest following the oppstilt bas tuning. However, if that's the case, I can't hear the bottom string.
# Posted on November 6th 2011 by Weejie
Re: Dance Music
It’s a 5-string fiddle with (I think 6) sympathetic strings underneath, made by Salve Håkedal in Norway. He uses gut strings and a baroque bow, unless he's hammering out polkas and slides for the set.
# Posted on November 6th 2011 by Dragut Reis
Re: Dance Music
Ah yes - thanks for that info, Dragut. It seems that it has 5 top strings and 5 understrings.
http://www.fiolinmaker.no/en/instrumenter/5pluss5.php
A 5+5!
# Posted on November 6th 2011 by Weejie
Re: Dance Music
It's an outrageous instrument really. He gave a lecture at the Sidmouth Folk Festival this summer, and had a few tunes afterwards. The warmth and resonance of the instrument in close proximity is quite indescribable. Himself and Brendan Begley played in the Methodist chapel later that night, and it was magnificent to hear the strings do their thing in a room with such beautiful acoustics.
# Posted on November 6th 2011 by Dragut Reis
Re: Dance Music
Two impressive sound clips on that link, Weejie. I want one now.
# Posted on November 7th 2011 by gam
Re: Dance Music
Thank you. That was the best thing since sliced bread.
# Posted on November 7th 2011 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Dance Music
Nic is a brilliant musician--his dancing is always a musical element.
# Posted on November 10th 2011 by matt