Re: Looking for a copy of Lyth's "Bowing Styles in Irish Music"
can I direct you to this recent thread before you go and get a book. I'm not saying you shouldn't get the book. But it's good to have diferent perspectives......
Re: Looking for a copy of Lyth's "Bowing Styles in Irish Music"
I've a copy of about the same vintage as Will's and would have to echo his comments, also adding that the uppy, downy bow direction indications scared me off as being a bit too structured, and limited its usefullness (to my way of thinking) as a resource mostly for the dots. Nevertheless, I'll probably hang on to my copy, Jmbu.
Re: Looking for a copy of Lyth's "Bowing Styles in Irish Music"
The book was published by Comhaltas so it might be worth getting in touch with that organisation (Dublin?).
Dave Lyth is one of my oldest friends and I've been playing sessions/festivals with him for 35 years. A few years back he issued Vol 2 but I don't have a copy.
If you want to email me I could pass your request on to Dave.
Cheers
Gordon Johnston
Re: Looking for a copy of Lyth's "Bowing Styles in Irish Music"
Thanks for your replies!
I sent emails to Will and Gordon, hoping we can get two copies, since cmr16 is also looking for one.
Michael, I hear what you're saying -- in fact, I saw the reference to the book for the first time in the Lovely Bowings link. I started this discussion because I didn't want to hijack that one.
But here's my two cents. I think a key to learning is to be able to know how to "teach yourself," as it were -- this came through in the bowings discussion, in the sense that not every technique works for every person. What I'm trying to do is open myself up to new ways of bowing, because I tend to get into habits that aren't good.
I regularly fix rough spots in my tunes by changing a bowing or two. But there's a lot to bowing, right? There's the aspect of bowing energy -- whether you want something strong, or something flowing and soft. This relates to the different syles, like northern or Clare or Sligo, but it also has to do with how you use your right-hand enegy, and that's where a slight change in bowing can make a big difference.
So I do exercises like bowing a complete A or B part on a single bow, or bowing each note separately, that kind of thing. They help me to play more freely when I'm doing tunes. Likewise, going to Cranitch's bowings gives me new insight into my own approach. So I'm anxious to see the Lyth book, really, to try -- by using someone else's bowings -- to get insight into my own possibilities, I guess.
Re: Looking for a copy of Lyth's "Bowing Styles in Irish Music"
It makes sense to me, Jim, as you'll see from my reply to your email. I suppose it's worth repeating here: The main thing I got out of the Lyth book was permission to bow my own way. It helped to see the variety of single bows and slurs used by Coleman, Killoran, and Morrison. It helped me understand that the particular bowing matters less than being able to lean on a note or a beat no matter which direction your bow is going, or where than note/beat falls in a phrase or a bow stroke, slurred or not.
Another plus of going through the transcriptions in Lyth's book is picking up some nice variations. Most were already familiar to me from the recordings, but it was interesting and instructive to see them written out as well.
Re: Looking for a copy of Lyth's "Bowing Styles in Irish Music"
James Kelly wrote a rather unfavorable review of Lyth's first volume, mostly criticizing it for inaccurate notation of the bowing. The review was in the music journal Ceol, edited by Breandan Breathnach.
I'd like to own it anyway, to figure out what James Morrison was doing.
Looking for a copy of Lyth's "Bowing Styles in Irish Music"
Looking for a copy of Lyth's "Bowing Styles in Irish Music"
I've heard it's out of print and impossible to find -- I'd appreciate any suggestions...
thanx, Jim
# Posted on January 20th 2006 by Jmbu
Re: Looking for a copy of Lyth's "Bowing Styles in Irish Music"
I have Vol. 1, in good condition. Never found the bowing marks all that useful. I could probably be talked into parting with it if you're interested.
# Posted on January 20th 2006 by Will CPT
Re: Looking for a copy of Lyth's "Bowing Styles in Irish Music"
can I direct you to this recent thread before you go and get a book. I'm not saying you shouldn't get the book. But it's good to have diferent perspectives......
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/8904
# Posted on January 20th 2006 by llig leahcim
Re: Looking for a copy of Lyth's "Bowing Styles in Irish Music"
Geez, Michael, can't a guy make a little pocket change here?
(My 20 yearold paperback copy is in decent shape because I thumbed through it only once.)
# Posted on January 20th 2006 by Will CPT
Re: Looking for a copy of Lyth's "Bowing Styles in Irish Music"
You know dam well Will that you'll make more than pocket change if you wrote the book. Quit giving it all away for free here
# Posted on January 20th 2006 by llig leahcim
Re: Looking for a copy of Lyth's "Bowing Styles in Irish Music"
Wow. And I wasn't even fishing for a compliment!
But I'm not giving anything away, nothing that isn't easy to begin with.
:p
# Posted on January 20th 2006 by Will CPT
Re: Looking for a copy of Lyth's "Bowing Styles in Irish Music"
I've a copy of about the same vintage as Will's and would have to echo his comments, also adding that the uppy, downy bow direction indications scared me off as being a bit too structured, and limited its usefullness (to my way of thinking) as a resource mostly for the dots. Nevertheless, I'll probably hang on to my copy, Jmbu.
-shuffling off, Idaho style
# Posted on January 20th 2006 by yonder
Re: Looking for a copy of Lyth's "Bowing Styles in Irish Music"
I am also looking for a copy.
# Posted on January 20th 2006 by elvis2440
Re: Looking for a copy of Lyth's "Bowing Styles in Irish Music"
The book was published by Comhaltas so it might be worth getting in touch with that organisation (Dublin?).
Dave Lyth is one of my oldest friends and I've been playing sessions/festivals with him for 35 years. A few years back he issued Vol 2 but I don't have a copy.
If you want to email me I could pass your request on to Dave.
Cheers
Gordon Johnston
# Posted on January 20th 2006 by jambo123
Re: Looking for a copy of Lyth's "Bowing Styles in Irish Music"
Thanks for your replies!
I sent emails to Will and Gordon, hoping we can get two copies, since cmr16 is also looking for one.
Michael, I hear what you're saying -- in fact, I saw the reference to the book for the first time in the Lovely Bowings link. I started this discussion because I didn't want to hijack that one.
But here's my two cents. I think a key to learning is to be able to know how to "teach yourself," as it were -- this came through in the bowings discussion, in the sense that not every technique works for every person. What I'm trying to do is open myself up to new ways of bowing, because I tend to get into habits that aren't good.
I regularly fix rough spots in my tunes by changing a bowing or two. But there's a lot to bowing, right? There's the aspect of bowing energy -- whether you want something strong, or something flowing and soft. This relates to the different syles, like northern or Clare or Sligo, but it also has to do with how you use your right-hand enegy, and that's where a slight change in bowing can make a big difference.
So I do exercises like bowing a complete A or B part on a single bow, or bowing each note separately, that kind of thing. They help me to play more freely when I'm doing tunes. Likewise, going to Cranitch's bowings gives me new insight into my own approach. So I'm anxious to see the Lyth book, really, to try -- by using someone else's bowings -- to get insight into my own possibilities, I guess.
Does this make any sense?
Jim
# Posted on January 20th 2006 by Jmbu
Re: Looking for a copy of Lyth's "Bowing Styles in Irish Music"
It makes sense to me, Jim, as you'll see from my reply to your email. I suppose it's worth repeating here: The main thing I got out of the Lyth book was permission to bow my own way. It helped to see the variety of single bows and slurs used by Coleman, Killoran, and Morrison. It helped me understand that the particular bowing matters less than being able to lean on a note or a beat no matter which direction your bow is going, or where than note/beat falls in a phrase or a bow stroke, slurred or not.
Another plus of going through the transcriptions in Lyth's book is picking up some nice variations. Most were already familiar to me from the recordings, but it was interesting and instructive to see them written out as well.
# Posted on January 21st 2006 by Will CPT
Re: Looking for a copy of Lyth's "Bowing Styles in Irish Music"
James Kelly wrote a rather unfavorable review of Lyth's first volume, mostly criticizing it for inaccurate notation of the bowing. The review was in the music journal Ceol, edited by Breandan Breathnach.
I'd like to own it anyway, to figure out what James Morrison was doing.
# Posted on January 21st 2006 by Kevin Rietmann