If you want to go into competitions, you can go in for miscellaneous. I know people who play saxaphones and violas in that competition who have been placed in the top 3. You may not see these instruments at sessions, but i wouldnt mind seeing one. You could be the first to set off a trend!
Good luck
I wonder if the clarinet was over-looked for some reason. Could it be that it just didn't happen along as the other instruments did, or is there something inherently wrong with it as it relates to ITM. At this point it might be interesting to see if it could play the tunes in a traditional style, but the odds that it would be universally accepted aren't too good.
There's a jazz clarinettist who always turns up at the Lonach Gathering who can play a lot of trad tunes too. He plays along with fiddles etc no bother.
Desi Wilkinson (of Cran) plays the clarinet, but he learnt the instrument specifically to be able to play along in sessions during is time in Brittany. As far as I know he's never unleashed his reeds on an Irish session.
In order to play along with a session that's doing a tune in D, a Bb clarinet player would have to be playing in E. Not fun. And ornamentation would be tricky, but I guess if Joanie Madden can pull it off on Boehm flute, someone could figure it out on a Boehm clarinet. But speaking as one who can play either, I say why bother? Life's too short to spend time trying to fit a square peg (clarinet) into a round hole (ITM). I'd rather be playing my M&E flute.
Whilst not irish, the Cavendish Dance Band in Scotland had a clarinetist for many many years that was a key part of their sound and they are respected as being one of the all time great reel bands. So I guess the clarinet can make a very positive contribution to the traditional music sound.
Andy Bathgate was his name (from the Cavendish) and I think it is probably true to say that he had forgotten more about traditional music than most of us will ever know.
The clarinet is a bona fide Swedish folk instrument that is allowed in the Swedish equivalent of the fleadh. From a tonal point of view it sounds good with a fiddle, the 2 instruments seem to complement each other nicely.
It is odd how some instruments are incorporated into folk traditions and others aren't. Maybe the clarinet had colonial overtones in Ireland that made it less acceptable?
A friend of mine plays irish music on the clarinet. We used to be in a band together that featured it on a few numbers. I think he plays it in one of his current bands. (http://cdbaby.com/cd/blackbirds)
Clarinet is wrong for traditional music. For an instrument to be appropriate for TRAD music, it must be easy to play - preferably wih fixed notes. It doesn't matter if it traditionally Greek or Australian, etc. If one can bang out a tune within six months, it qualifies. Clarinets are simply too hard to play and, therefore, not a TRAD instrument. Next thing you know people will be playing harmony to the melody!!! I say keep the tradition dead!
Gee! Stonecrusher! I didn´t know the clarinet wasn´t easy to play! I´ve better reevaluate my achievements. I "banged out" a tune within 8 hours. Doesn´t that make it appropriade for TRAD music according to your definition?
I'm interested in hearing MP3s, YouTube videos, etc. of clarinet playing Irish traditional music. If you have a trad CD and there's clarinet in it please send me the link. If you regularly see a clarinettist at your session, let me know when and where it is - I might stop by!
Clarinet in Irish music??
Clarinet in Irish music??
..how can that be implemented?
# Posted on April 30th 2006 by fiel
Re: Clarinet in Irish music??
If you want to go into competitions, you can go in for miscellaneous. I know people who play saxaphones and violas in that competition who have been placed in the top 3. You may not see these instruments at sessions, but i wouldnt mind seeing one. You could be the first to set off a trend!
Good luck
# Posted on April 30th 2006 by fluter
Re: Clarinet in Irish music??
It goes nicely with songs like Dirty Old Town or My Irish Molly.
# Posted on May 1st 2006 by kuec
Re: Clarinet in Irish music??
I wonder if the clarinet was over-looked for some reason. Could it be that it just didn't happen along as the other instruments did, or is there something inherently wrong with it as it relates to ITM. At this point it might be interesting to see if it could play the tunes in a traditional style, but the odds that it would be universally accepted aren't too good.
# Posted on May 1st 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Clarinet in Irish music??
There's a jazz clarinettist who always turns up at the Lonach Gathering who can play a lot of trad tunes too. He plays along with fiddles etc no bother.
# Posted on May 1st 2006 by Bren
Re: Clarinet in Irish music??
Geez! You guys are always complaining about bodhrans and you're going to allow THAT?!? Fine, if you're a klezmer band, but....
# Posted on May 1st 2006 by Mark Stone
Re: Clarinet in Irish music??
Google "Whistler's Hornpipe" and listen to the samples. I'm pondering one as a christmas gift next year.
# Posted on May 1st 2006 by wormdiet
Re: Clarinet in Irish music??
http://www.newcelticinstruments.com./
Here's a proper link.
# Posted on May 1st 2006 by wormdiet
Re: Clarinet in Irish music??
I think the clarinet would be great up in the Catskills of NY. While you're there you should try the cabbage & knish at the Sheckie McFarline pub
# Posted on May 1st 2006 by Ray Mariani
Re: Clarinet in Irish music??
Desi Wilkinson (of Cran) plays the clarinet, but he learnt the instrument specifically to be able to play along in sessions during is time in Brittany. As far as I know he's never unleashed his reeds on an Irish session.
# Posted on May 1st 2006 by Floss the Tethers
Re: Clarinet in Irish music??
In order to play along with a session that's doing a tune in D, a Bb clarinet player would have to be playing in E. Not fun. And ornamentation would be tricky, but I guess if Joanie Madden can pull it off on Boehm flute, someone could figure it out on a Boehm clarinet. But speaking as one who can play either, I say why bother? Life's too short to spend time trying to fit a square peg (clarinet) into a round hole (ITM). I'd rather be playing my M&E flute.
# Posted on May 2nd 2006 by mkchen
Re: Clarinet in Irish music??
Whilst not irish, the Cavendish Dance Band in Scotland had a clarinetist for many many years that was a key part of their sound and they are respected as being one of the all time great reel bands. So I guess the clarinet can make a very positive contribution to the traditional music sound.
Nick
# Posted on May 2nd 2006 by nick b
Re: Clarinet in Irish music??
Get thee behind me Satan
# Posted on May 2nd 2006 by breandan
Re: Clarinet in Irish music??
Better the clarinet than a sax. In fact, I think it could sound rather nice, if played well. Oh, oh! And with a muted trumpet. And a double bass!
# Posted on May 2nd 2006 by Q
Re: Clarinet in Irish music??
Breandan: "I'm RIGHT behind you!" ;-P
# Posted on May 3rd 2006 by fiel
Re: Clarinet in Irish music??
Andy Bathgate was his name (from the Cavendish) and I think it is probably true to say that he had forgotten more about traditional music than most of us will ever know.
# Posted on May 3rd 2006 by nick b
Re: Clarinet in Irish music??
The clarinet is a bona fide Swedish folk instrument that is allowed in the Swedish equivalent of the fleadh. From a tonal point of view it sounds good with a fiddle, the 2 instruments seem to complement each other nicely.
It is odd how some instruments are incorporated into folk traditions and others aren't. Maybe the clarinet had colonial overtones in Ireland that made it less acceptable?
# Posted on May 9th 2006 by trickcyclist
Re: Clarinet in Irish music??
A friend of mine plays irish music on the clarinet. We used to be in a band together that featured it on a few numbers. I think he plays it in one of his current bands. (http://cdbaby.com/cd/blackbirds)
# Posted on May 9th 2006 by Jode
Saxophone if you like too
I have some recordings by Michael Moran band where you can listen to a saxophone in a ceili band. So why not a clarinet too?
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by OsvaldoLaviosa
Re: Clarinet in Irish music??
Clarinet is wrong for traditional music. For an instrument to be appropriate for TRAD music, it must be easy to play - preferably wih fixed notes. It doesn't matter if it traditionally Greek or Australian, etc. If one can bang out a tune within six months, it qualifies. Clarinets are simply too hard to play and, therefore, not a TRAD instrument. Next thing you know people will be playing harmony to the melody!!! I say keep the tradition dead!
# Posted on May 14th 2006 by stonecrusher
Re: Clarinet in Irish music??
Gee! Stonecrusher! I didn´t know the clarinet wasn´t easy to play! I´ve better reevaluate my achievements. I "banged out" a tune within 8 hours. Doesn´t that make it appropriade for TRAD music according to your definition?
# Posted on May 14th 2006 by fiel
Re: Clarinet in Irish music??
I'm interested in hearing MP3s, YouTube videos, etc. of clarinet playing Irish traditional music. If you have a trad CD and there's clarinet in it please send me the link. If you regularly see a clarinettist at your session, let me know when and where it is - I might stop by!
-Mike
m*d*o*w*l*e*r*@*g*m*a*i*l*.*c*o*m
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by mdowler
Re: Clarinet in Irish music?
i always thought the clarinet an easy instrument.
you can certainly knock out a tune on the clarinet in a much shorter time than on the fiddle,say.
imo-and this is only imo(!)- i don't like the sound of the clarinet and only appreciate it in either klezmer or gypsy-type music.
in classical and jazz spheres i can't stand its oleaginous nature.the bass clarinet is n't as bad but i would n't relish a session with clarinets.
still,don't knock it until you've tried it i suppose...
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by biggus dave