I know I've mentioned this before but I enjoyed this week's programme so much I got an irresistable urge to spread the good news! Most of the musicians featured are not household names - Adel Farrell (accordion, Manchester); Holly Geraghty (harp/concertina, Mayo); Michael King (flute, Limerick); Carmel O'Dea (fiddle, Clare) to mention a few. However, the music is first rate and if nothing else the tunes played (this week's include Spike Island Lassies, Miss Langtons, Andy McGann's, Sergt. Early's just to name a few) would be a great addition to anyone's session repertoire - in fact one tune is always notated each week in the programme notes as a tutorial piece.
The subscription is 29 and 25 Euro (EC and non EC respectively - us Europeans have to pay VAT!) for 6 months of weekly programmes. When you consider what's in each programme, it's very good value for a Euro or so! This is one way of picking up trad wherever you are without the need for expensive sattellite contraptions, etc. You should be warned though that the picture is not up to terrestial standards as it comes over a phone line but it's more than adequate for the purpose. Download times on Broadband are less than a minute.
Mike,originally from Ballinakill, is a great flute player who plays in the East Galway style. More information on Mike is available at http://www.firescribble.net/flute/rafferty.htm. His daughter, Mary, is also a fine musician who plays accordion - She was a member of trad group, Cherish the Ladies for seven years. http://www.raffertymusic.com/ gives details on both Mike and Mary including information on some of their recordings.
Mike Rafferty does indeed live in New Jersey and on his last recording "Speed 78" he includes a selection that his wife Terry picked off of Comhaltaslive internet program for him to learn. It proves that the old dog can still learn new tricks or tunes.
That's kind of uncanny Clareman in considering Mike himself contributed so many sessions to the early Comhaltaslive programmes that he himself would get something back from it! Is it "What goes round comes round" or something like that!
Trad on the Net - Comhaltaslive
Trad on the Net - Comhaltaslive
I know I've mentioned this before but I enjoyed this week's programme so much I got an irresistable urge to spread the good news! Most of the musicians featured are not household names - Adel Farrell (accordion, Manchester); Holly Geraghty (harp/concertina, Mayo); Michael King (flute, Limerick); Carmel O'Dea (fiddle, Clare) to mention a few. However, the music is first rate and if nothing else the tunes played (this week's include Spike Island Lassies, Miss Langtons, Andy McGann's, Sergt. Early's just to name a few) would be a great addition to anyone's session repertoire - in fact one tune is always notated each week in the programme notes as a tutorial piece.
The subscription is 29 and 25 Euro (EC and non EC respectively - us Europeans have to pay VAT!) for 6 months of weekly programmes. When you consider what's in each programme, it's very good value for a Euro or so! This is one way of picking up trad wherever you are without the need for expensive sattellite contraptions, etc. You should be warned though that the picture is not up to terrestial standards as it comes over a phone line but it's more than adequate for the purpose. Download times on Broadband are less than a minute.
If you'd like to give it a try have a look at http://www.comhaltaslive.ie
# Posted on January 31st 2006 by Bannerman
Re: Trad on the Net - Comhaltaslive
Looks interesting. Does anyone know who the first flute player featured in the promo clip is?
# Posted on January 31st 2006 by NeilC
Re: Trad on the Net - Comhaltaslive
Neil, that's Mike Rafferty playing Mister McLeod's Reel. He's originally from East Galway but now resides in NY, I believe.
# Posted on January 31st 2006 by slainte
Re: Trad on the Net - Comhaltaslive
Ah - thanks!
# Posted on January 31st 2006 by NeilC
Re: Trad on the Net - Comhaltaslive
Oops, he's in NJ, not NY. Unfortunately, I've never had the pleasure to meet him....
# Posted on January 31st 2006 by slainte
Re: Trad on the Net - Comhaltaslive
Mike,originally from Ballinakill, is a great flute player who plays in the East Galway style. More information on Mike is available at http://www.firescribble.net/flute/rafferty.htm. His daughter, Mary, is also a fine musician who plays accordion - She was a member of trad group, Cherish the Ladies for seven years. http://www.raffertymusic.com/ gives details on both Mike and Mary including information on some of their recordings.
# Posted on January 31st 2006 by Bannerman
Re: Trad on the Net - Comhaltaslive
Mike Rafferty does indeed live in New Jersey and on his last recording "Speed 78" he includes a selection that his wife Terry picked off of Comhaltaslive internet program for him to learn. It proves that the old dog can still learn new tricks or tunes.
# Posted on January 31st 2006 by clareman
Re: Trad on the Net - Comhaltaslive
That's kind of uncanny Clareman in considering Mike himself contributed so many sessions to the early Comhaltaslive programmes that he himself would get something back from it! Is it "What goes round comes round" or something like that!
# Posted on January 31st 2006 by Bannerman
Re: Trad on the Net - Comhaltaslive
This is what I love about this site - a tiny bit of inquisitiveness unearths a wealth of great information!
Thanks
# Posted on January 31st 2006 by NeilC
Re: Trad on the Net - Comhaltaslive
Just had a look at the sample programme myself for the first time in over a year and spotted All -Ireland champion piper, Isaac Alderson from Chicago sandwiched between Oisian MacDiarmada (Téada) and Gerry (banjo) O'Connor. Isaac was a contributor to this site years ago - he posted one of his compositions "Drink the rest and Hide the Bottle"; where is he now, does anyone know?
# Posted on February 1st 2006 by Bannerman
Re: Trad on the Net - Comhaltaslive
In case anyone wants to try the slip jig, you'll find it at http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/1626 - a great little tune.
# Posted on February 1st 2006 by Bannerman
Re: Trad on the Net - Comhaltaslive
One of my favourite programme's was the Garry Shannon's Meitheal Summer School a few year's back.
Comhaltaslive is definitely worth a visit.
# Posted on February 2nd 2006 by kymfa