Saturday, October 24, Trad Irish workshops in the Wee Céilí Room: 1pm, Leo Mac Namara (County Clare) Irish Flute, $35, 1 ½ hours, intermediate to advance: 3pm Aurora Burd, Irish Fiddle, $35, 1 ½ hours.
Saturday, October 24, 7:30pm, straight up trad with Leo Mac Namara and Aurora Burd in the Wee Céilí Room with session to follow, $20.
Leo Mac Namara Bio
Leo hails from Scariff, a town on the shores of Lough Derg in the eastern part of County Clare. It’s an area steeped in Irish traditional music and is considered by many as the heart and home of the music. The style Leo plays is rooted in East Clare but incorporates elements of the flute styles of Roscommon and Sligo, with a strong focus on the rhythm of the music. Leo started playing tin whistle when he was six years old, listened to the Bothy Band when he was eight, and moved on to the flute at age ten. He grew up knowing and playing with such great musicians as P.J. Hayes, Paddy Canny, Martin Woods, Martin Rochford, Peadar O’Loughlin, Christy Barry, and Martin Hayes.
In April 2009, Leo played with the All-Star Clare Ceili Band at the Comhaltas North American Convention in St. Louis. Leo plays regularly at Paddy Coyne’s Irish Pub in Seattle, Tacoma, & Bellevue and teaches flute & whistle in the Seattle area. He plays Copeland whistles and Peter Noy flutes in a range of different keys.
Leo Mac Namara Workshop Description
Build an understanding of the various styles found in this vast tradition, with discussion and examples of some techniques involved in playing these instruments. The instructor, a native of Scariff, County Clare, in Ireland, is an accomplished and experienced flute and whistle player with great insight into these lovely instruments and this style of music. The workshop will be taught by ear, but sheet music will be provided. All experience levels are encouraged to attend.
Aurora Burd Bio
Aurora discovered her love of traditional Irish music upon moving to Seattle. She took occasional lessons from Dale Russ & Randal Bays while playing in the University of Washington Orchestra, but now spends her time listening to (and playing along with) recordings of Clare-based fiddlers such as Paddy Canny, P.J. Hayes, James Kelly, and Martin Hayes. Around this time she also became a regular attendee at Leo’s sessions at the Irish Emigrant, and she continues to play with Leo at Paddy Coyne’s.
Several years ago she began to be interested in slow airs, since these beautiful melodies, which are older than most reels and jigs, are very rarely heard in the U.S. The past two years she competed at the All-Ireland Fleadh (the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann) in Tullamore, Ireland, where this year she placed second in the Fiddle Slow Air competition.
Aurora Burd Workshop Description
Aurora will discuss the traditional techniques of rhythm and ornamentation as they apply to learning a new tune or polishing an old tune. Depending on attendees’ interests, other topics could include slow air playing or issues particular to violin-to-fiddle converts. The workshop will be taught by ear, but sheet music will be provided.
Info for workshops and concert
Saturday, October 24, Trad Irish workshops in the Wee Céilí Room: 1pm, Leo Mac Namara (County Clare) Irish Flute, $35, 1 ½ hours, intermediate to advance: 3pm Aurora Burd, Irish Fiddle, $35, 1 ½ hours.
Saturday, October 24, 7:30pm, straight up trad with Leo Mac Namara and Aurora Burd in the Wee Céilí Room with session to follow, $20.
Leo Mac Namara Bio
Leo hails from Scariff, a town on the shores of Lough Derg in the eastern part of County Clare. It’s an area steeped in Irish traditional music and is considered by many as the heart and home of the music. The style Leo plays is rooted in East Clare but incorporates elements of the flute styles of Roscommon and Sligo, with a strong focus on the rhythm of the music. Leo started playing tin whistle when he was six years old, listened to the Bothy Band when he was eight, and moved on to the flute at age ten. He grew up knowing and playing with such great musicians as P.J. Hayes, Paddy Canny, Martin Woods, Martin Rochford, Peadar O’Loughlin, Christy Barry, and Martin Hayes.
In April 2009, Leo played with the All-Star Clare Ceili Band at the Comhaltas North American Convention in St. Louis. Leo plays regularly at Paddy Coyne’s Irish Pub in Seattle, Tacoma, & Bellevue and teaches flute & whistle in the Seattle area. He plays Copeland whistles and Peter Noy flutes in a range of different keys.
Leo Mac Namara Workshop Description
Build an understanding of the various styles found in this vast tradition, with discussion and examples of some techniques involved in playing these instruments. The instructor, a native of Scariff, County Clare, in Ireland, is an accomplished and experienced flute and whistle player with great insight into these lovely instruments and this style of music. The workshop will be taught by ear, but sheet music will be provided. All experience levels are encouraged to attend.
Aurora Burd Bio
Aurora discovered her love of traditional Irish music upon moving to Seattle. She took occasional lessons from Dale Russ & Randal Bays while playing in the University of Washington Orchestra, but now spends her time listening to (and playing along with) recordings of Clare-based fiddlers such as Paddy Canny, P.J. Hayes, James Kelly, and Martin Hayes. Around this time she also became a regular attendee at Leo’s sessions at the Irish Emigrant, and she continues to play with Leo at Paddy Coyne’s.
Several years ago she began to be interested in slow airs, since these beautiful melodies, which are older than most reels and jigs, are very rarely heard in the U.S. The past two years she competed at the All-Ireland Fleadh (the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann) in Tullamore, Ireland, where this year she placed second in the Fiddle Slow Air competition.
Aurora Burd Workshop Description
Aurora will discuss the traditional techniques of rhythm and ornamentation as they apply to learning a new tune or polishing an old tune. Depending on attendees’ interests, other topics could include slow air playing or issues particular to violin-to-fiddle converts. The workshop will be taught by ear, but sheet music will be provided.
Sound sample of Aurora http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_279_6_aurora_burd/
# Posted on October 12th 2009 by skeator