I was at a session last night that had 2 bodhran players, me, and one that conformed to every session.org sterotype.
After the session finished, I was talking to one of the other mustard board members at the session, who will deny all knowledge of me, saying that I was cringing while she played.
I worked how many of the mustard board session "deadly sins" that I have committed.
1] Bodran playing
2] Shaky egg playing
3] Spoons playing
4] Singing slow ballads
5} Playing bones (very badly)
6] Playing cajon
7] Playing triangle
8] Assorted ethnic percussion (djembe, darbuka, tabla. talking drum, udu. tambourine, rain maker)
Basically if I think I can get a rhythm out of it, at a session, I would try hitting it.
It was put to me that I sounded like the mustard board's public enemy no1, and the one who is denying all knowledge of me, said I should post that here.
If it is true, then congratulations, BigDavy, distinction is a distinction. And remember - Andre Geim received an Ig Nobel in 2000 just to become a Nobel Prize winner in 2010. So give it ten years, and you may become MB Public Friend No. 1.
And here I was under the impression that some of the people at the local sessions think I am Session Public Enemy Number One because I don't play an acoustic instrument.
Davy, I know who you are and can confirm that you actually know a thing or two about percussion and traditional music in general.
Also, you are a "weel kent" face and very sociable. If you already know the other players and are welcomed "as a mate" this can make all the difference.
Last but not least, you know as well as I do that there is a huge variety in Scotland in terms of the types of sessions you can encounter, for good or ill. Certainly, they don't all conform to the extremely narrow view which many mustard board members regard as the ideal set up. Most tend to be quite open and inclusive although you can also find "all singing" or "all instrumental" sessions or others which are more Scottish or Irish depending where you are.
You'll also know that the majority are very welcoming and won't complain to much about a little bit of deviation here and there as long as one behaves him or herself and doesn't try to take over.
You took a cajon to a session? You're a braver man than me.
The reality is that some of those instruments CAN be acceptable, but only if they are well played, and in small doses. But even if you are Evelyn Glennie's twin brother, I wouldn't want to hear you beating your toys all evening. Generally those sort of fusion experiments are best conducted amongst consenting friends, not imposed on a session.
So, you did all that, and you were still welcome at those sessions?
No problem - clearly you did well, and are probably not the type to swagger in, sit down un-invited, take out your saxophone and start kicking off the tunes YOU like.
Why should there be a problem?
No fault, no penalty.
Please appreciate and accept how accomplished are your fellow musicians! You sound like being very blessed in your situation.
Last Saturday I was trapped in a corral, surrounded by four mandolinistas, all plinkity plinkiting in their own interpretations and ideas of a jig or a reel, not a note of melody between them.
There were three guitarists, all of whom had a pre-determined pattern of chords for a reel in G, one of whom insisted on opening a G reel, “The Lass from Ballintrae” with a Bm chord, in spite of requests of “Why can you not just open with a G major?”
“ Oh, I’ll get there”.
And then there were four bodhránistas all wanting to batter the #*!! out of their poor dead goats! At least one of them resembled a decent Harley with a deep throb!
I wrote some time ago about my friend Pru who took me up to The Kingsdown Vaults in Bristol. There were six guitars and six bodhráns all vying up to play against me and a wonderful fiddle and banjo player, Phil Dawson.
Poor Pru, he just sat there and said that there was no point in entering any competition, no one was listening to any one else!
The biggest session deadly sin is failing to ensure that the harmonica player always has a pint in front of him. Or her. Them. (Damn, what's PC here...?)
Another Big Enemy to a ITM session..
--------------------------------------------------
Punters that are just not interested,,,
Talking over music, shouting acting the fool to there own self
importance,Just there only for the Beer,and its the place to be etc,
Musicians are just like an old TV on the wall playing anyway and nobody listening..Like in a workers club about the 60's..
A Big Friend to a ITM session..
-----------------------------------------
Punters that are interested,,,
They add to the atmosphere and make musician's play much
Better !
And I am sure there is many on here who know exactly
what I mean.
jim,,,
Henceforth and with immediate action -
He will be taken from this place and relocated to the town of Brigadoon.
With the town's return every 100 years, it will be quite awhile before the next weekly session.
"any bodhran player that doesn't properly listen to the tunes being played makes me cringe."
BigDavy, I think I agree with you. I think that sentence could be expressed more concisely, though. The relative clause is redundant and can be omitted.
Cheers, David. But if I'm ever in the Glasgow area we'll have to keep quiet about it because we wouldn't want that Michael bloke grabbing me for his Edinburgh sessions...
"What the feck is up with people around here!? Play damn well whatever ye like"
...provided you play it in a manner that is sympathetic and appropriate to the session. For example, don't play a saxophone in a session unless you can play it quietly and subtlely enough not to overpower everyone else; don't play percussion unless you can listen to the tune, find the inherent rhythm in it and not drown it out, etc.
I agree in principle with 'Play damn well whatever ye like' - I'd love to play tunes together with a hurdy gurdy, sitar, Fender Strat, Moog synth, Theremin... But there can come a point where quantity and diversity replace quality. Sure, a session is about enjoyment and not about giving a polished performance, but a large part of that enjoyment (for me at least - and I' don't think I'm alone) comes from making quality music together.
I think that most people who play in sessions are there to contribute. But is there a difference between contributing and merely joining in? Is "finding a rhythm and not drowning it out" contributing?
I suppose it is, in most sessions. But then most sessions are just a bloody racket anyway so contributing to the bloody racket is all that's really possible anyway. So yeah, play damn well whatever you like ... 99% of the time it's entirely appropriate.
Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
I was at a session last night that had 2 bodhran players, me, and one that conformed to every session.org sterotype.
After the session finished, I was talking to one of the other mustard board members at the session, who will deny all knowledge of me, saying that I was cringing while she played.
I worked how many of the mustard board session "deadly sins" that I have committed.
1] Bodran playing
2] Shaky egg playing
3] Spoons playing
4] Singing slow ballads
5} Playing bones (very badly)
6] Playing cajon
7] Playing triangle
8] Assorted ethnic percussion (djembe, darbuka, tabla. talking drum, udu. tambourine, rain maker)
Basically if I think I can get a rhythm out of it, at a session, I would try hitting it.
It was put to me that I sounded like the mustard board's public enemy no1, and the one who is denying all knowledge of me, said I should post that here.
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by BigDavy
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
Not sure I understand--the one who conformed to the stereotypes was not you? Why did you cringe?
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by fidkid
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
Maybe you can get away with it in Scotland, where a lot of
this music was created. Yeah, go see Mr Gill and get his opinion.
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by Hup
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
Ballads can be nice if you sing the well, and only occasionally.
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
If it is true, then congratulations, BigDavy, distinction is a distinction. And remember - Andre Geim received an Ig Nobel in 2000 just to become a Nobel Prize winner in 2010. So give it ten years, and you may become MB Public Friend No. 1.
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by Janek
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
And here I was under the impression that some of the people at the local sessions think I am Session Public Enemy Number One because I don't play an acoustic instrument.
Laurence
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by fauxcelt
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
A couple of points.
Davy, I know who you are and can confirm that you actually know a thing or two about percussion and traditional music in general.
Also, you are a "weel kent" face and very sociable. If you already know the other players and are welcomed "as a mate" this can make all the difference.
Last but not least, you know as well as I do that there is a huge variety in Scotland in terms of the types of sessions you can encounter, for good or ill. Certainly, they don't all conform to the extremely narrow view which many mustard board members regard as the ideal set up. Most tend to be quite open and inclusive although you can also find "all singing" or "all instrumental" sessions or others which are more Scottish or Irish depending where you are.
You'll also know that the majority are very welcoming and won't complain to much about a little bit of deviation here and there as long as one behaves him or herself and doesn't try to take over.
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by Johnny Jay
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
You took a cajon to a session? You're a braver man than me.
The reality is that some of those instruments CAN be acceptable, but only if they are well played, and in small doses. But even if you are Evelyn Glennie's twin brother, I wouldn't want to hear you beating your toys all evening. Generally those sort of fusion experiments are best conducted amongst consenting friends, not imposed on a session.
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by skreech
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
So, you did all that, and you were still welcome at those sessions?
No problem - clearly you did well, and are probably not the type to swagger in, sit down un-invited, take out your saxophone and start kicking off the tunes YOU like.
Why should there be a problem?
No fault, no penalty.
Not "The Enemy" at all, IMHO.
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by Piece
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
Aw, come on Big Davy!
Please appreciate and accept how accomplished are your fellow musicians! You sound like being very blessed in your situation.
Last Saturday I was trapped in a corral, surrounded by four mandolinistas, all plinkity plinkiting in their own interpretations and ideas of a jig or a reel, not a note of melody between them.
There were three guitarists, all of whom had a pre-determined pattern of chords for a reel in G, one of whom insisted on opening a G reel, “The Lass from Ballintrae” with a Bm chord, in spite of requests of “Why can you not just open with a G major?”
“ Oh, I’ll get there”.
And then there were four bodhránistas all wanting to batter the #*!! out of their poor dead goats! At least one of them resembled a decent Harley with a deep throb!
I wrote some time ago about my friend Pru who took me up to The Kingsdown Vaults in Bristol. There were six guitars and six bodhráns all vying up to play against me and a wonderful fiddle and banjo player, Phil Dawson.
Poor Pru, he just sat there and said that there was no point in entering any competition, no one was listening to any one else!
Believe me Davy, you are a very lucky person!
All the best
Brian x
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by briantheflute
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
What the feck is up with people around here!? Play damn well whatever ye like
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by palethinboy
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
The biggest session deadly sin is failing to ensure that the harmonica player always has a pint in front of him. Or her. Them. (Damn, what's PC here...?)
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by Steve Shaw
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
"Please appreciate and accept how accomplished are your fellow musicians! You sound like being very blessed in your situation."
Considering who some of his fellow musicians are, I'd say he is very unlucky indeed.
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
Every good piper needs a drummer.
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by Johnny Jay
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
I've said it before - who's going to argue with a chap called "BigDavy"?
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by ormepipes
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
I ken Big Davy from my Glasgow days. He doesn't bite (often).
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by Weejie
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
Another Big Enemy to a ITM session..
--------------------------------------------------
Punters that are just not interested,,,
Talking over music, shouting acting the fool to there own self
importance,Just there only for the Beer,and its the place to be etc,
Musicians are just like an old TV on the wall playing anyway and nobody listening..Like in a workers club about the 60's..
A Big Friend to a ITM session..
-----------------------------------------
Punters that are interested,,,
They add to the atmosphere and make musician's play much
Better !
And I am sure there is many on here who know exactly
what I mean.
jim,,,
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by FIDDLE4
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
"Play damn well whatever ye like"
Damn straight. But if it involves a drum, please play it somewhere else.
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
Not me.
I'm not clever enough to do any of the things on the list :'(
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by nicholas
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
: ' (
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by nicholas
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
I agree Jon
I am ecumenical in general and respect all forms of musical expression.
Just please no pipe organs at sessions or Rap arrangements for Herself's church choir.
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by zippydw
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
Henceforth and with immediate action -
He will be taken from this place and relocated to the town of Brigadoon.
With the town's return every 100 years, it will be quite awhile before the next weekly session.
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by MorganYYZ
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
fidkid, any bodhran player that doesn't properly listen to the tunes being played makes me cringe.
John J. thank you for your nice words hope to hear you playing your harp sometime.
Steve If you are ever in the Glasgow area, you will get a pint in front of you.
Brian, I sympathise with you there.
SS, too true ;)
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by BigDavy
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
"any bodhran player that doesn't properly listen to the tunes being played makes me cringe."
BigDavy, I think I agree with you. I think that sentence could be expressed more concisely, though. The relative clause is redundant and can be omitted.
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
Sounds like you are Pubic Enemy to no one—not #1.
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by fidkid
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
"Sounds like you are Pubic Enemy to no one—not #1."
Well, it would certainly be difficult to beat this pubic enemy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab_louse
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by Janek
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
Cheers, David. But if I'm ever in the Glasgow area we'll have to keep quiet about it because we wouldn't want that Michael bloke grabbing me for his Edinburgh sessions...
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by Steve Shaw
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
You wouldn't want that Michael bloke grabbing you for anything.
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by mcknowall
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
I'll do anything for a pint. Well, you know, times are bloody hard...
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by Steve Shaw
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
"What the feck is up with people around here!? Play damn well whatever ye like"
...provided you play it in a manner that is sympathetic and appropriate to the session. For example, don't play a saxophone in a session unless you can play it quietly and subtlely enough not to overpower everyone else; don't play percussion unless you can listen to the tune, find the inherent rhythm in it and not drown it out, etc.
I agree in principle with 'Play damn well whatever ye like' - I'd love to play tunes together with a hurdy gurdy, sitar, Fender Strat, Moog synth, Theremin... But there can come a point where quantity and diversity replace quality. Sure, a session is about enjoyment and not about giving a polished performance, but a large part of that enjoyment (for me at least - and I' don't think I'm alone) comes from making quality music together.
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
I think that most people who play in sessions are there to contribute. But is there a difference between contributing and merely joining in? Is "finding a rhythm and not drowning it out" contributing?
I suppose it is, in most sessions. But then most sessions are just a bloody racket anyway so contributing to the bloody racket is all that's really possible anyway. So yeah, play damn well whatever you like ... 99% of the time it's entirely appropriate.
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by ...
Re: Mustard Board Public Enemy no 1
Go in peace your sins are forgiven.
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by Boots MacAllen