I had the amazing good fortune of seeing Chulrua in concert this weekend (there's now a link to their page in the links section) and, even better, playing with them/listening to them at a couple of house parties. These guys are not only fabulous musicians but also very generous with their time. Paddy O'Brien, of button accordion wonder, took time out to record for a couple of us a bunch of tunes, at a learning tempo and then at the speed he plays them -- which is not a mile a minute. And the crown of the evening was listening to him talk about how he plays music, and ghost stories and fairy stories of Ireland, and anecdotes about playing with some of the other greats.
He had a couple of nuggets of wisdom about the music that I thought I'd pass along, anyway. They're things that you've all been saying anyway, but it doesn't hurt to hear them again, I think. 1) Don't play a tune faster than you know it (he thinks most sessions play too fast, these days). Take a tune and get to know it really, really well. Know each note, and where it leads, and what you're trying to say with each note. It's the melody that's important. 2) You won't learn much at a session; they're social occasions. The real (reel?) learning happens at home, when you're playing a tune over and over again. 3) Listen, listen, listen, and cherish the tradition you are inheriting.
Elia, thanks for Mr. O'Brien's insights. That such people are willing to take the time to share themselves with other musicians is a real blessing of this music. I hope you told them to tour in Montana!
No Brad, 'tis the other Paddy O'Brien: http://www.chulrua.com/pobbio.html. Will, I'm quite sure Chulrua would love to take a swing through Montana. You can get hold of them through the website.
Paddy O'Brien's words of wisdom
Paddy O'Brien's words of wisdom
I had the amazing good fortune of seeing Chulrua in concert this weekend (there's now a link to their page in the links section) and, even better, playing with them/listening to them at a couple of house parties. These guys are not only fabulous musicians but also very generous with their time. Paddy O'Brien, of button accordion wonder, took time out to record for a couple of us a bunch of tunes, at a learning tempo and then at the speed he plays them -- which is not a mile a minute. And the crown of the evening was listening to him talk about how he plays music, and ghost stories and fairy stories of Ireland, and anecdotes about playing with some of the other greats.
He had a couple of nuggets of wisdom about the music that I thought I'd pass along, anyway. They're things that you've all been saying anyway, but it doesn't hurt to hear them again, I think. 1) Don't play a tune faster than you know it (he thinks most sessions play too fast, these days). Take a tune and get to know it really, really well. Know each note, and where it leads, and what you're trying to say with each note. It's the melody that's important. 2) You won't learn much at a session; they're social occasions. The real (reel?) learning happens at home, when you're playing a tune over and over again. 3) Listen, listen, listen, and cherish the tradition you are inheriting.
# Posted on March 10th 2002 by elia
Re: Paddy O'Brien's words of wisdom
Elia, thanks for Mr. O'Brien's insights. That such people are willing to take the time to share themselves with other musicians is a real blessing of this music. I hope you told them to tour in Montana!
# Posted on March 10th 2002 by Will Harmon
Re: Paddy O'Brien's words of wisdom
Thanks for the chestnuts, was this Paddy O'Brien of Tipp? I thought he passed away in the early nineties
# Posted on March 10th 2002 by B Rad
Re: Paddy O'Brien's words of wisdom
No Brad, 'tis the other Paddy O'Brien: http://www.chulrua.com/pobbio.html. Will, I'm quite sure Chulrua would love to take a swing through Montana. You can get hold of them through the website.
Zina
# Posted on March 10th 2002 by Zina Lee