Na Píobairí Uilleann
re-issue the iconic recordings of
Johnny Doran
Johnny Doran
Johnny Doran has long been acknowledged as one of the greatest uilleann pipers known to traditional music. The influence exerted by his music on other players is incalculable, and remarkable especially for a musician who never issued a commercial recording. During his lifetime he generated a love for music and for the pipes wherever his life as a travelling piper took him throughout rural Ireland in the 1930s and '40s. He directly inspired other musicians, notably Willie Clancy in Co Clare, to devote their lives to the uilleann pipes.
These recordings were originally made in 1947, by Kevin Danaher of Comhairle Bhéaloideas Éireann on acetates using state-of-the-art equipment of the time which could capture a wide frequency spectrum and dynamic range. They were re-mastered by Harry Bradshaw using the latest techniques for the first issue on CD.
The music of Johnny Doran continues to captivate audiences today and Na Píobairí Uilleann with thanks to The National Folklore Collection are pleased to announce re-issue of this iconic recording including the extensive sleeve notes by Pat Mitchell and Jackie Small.
I have the old version of the CD (sound engineer Harry Bradshaw, extensive liner notes, etc.). Does anyone know if this re-issue differs from that in terms of its sound quality?
No, I’m sure it’s just a 2nd edition as the first pressing of the remastered CD is out of print. Great piping, buy it if you don’t have the first pressing and don’t forget to buy Fegan & O’Connell’s fine book about Irish Traveller musicians “Free spirits”
Has anyone read this book, Postcolonial Artist? Seems interesting and is 350 pgs which to me seems pretty lengthy. It appears to be out of print though, so the price is maybe a little high. Any Comments?
“Postcolonial Artist? Seems interesting and is 350 pgs which to me seems pretty lengthy. It appears to be out of print though, so the price is maybe a little high. Any Comments?” chaos97
Been listening to my Johnny Doran CD for several days now on eterna-spin. The guy was an amazing piper no doubt. He could play FAST! There is an interesting bit in Pat Mitchell’s liner notes about the restoration of the original acetate recordings; it is generally accepted that Doran played a set of concert-pitch Leo Rowsome pipes, however the original recordings play back a 1/4-tone or more sharp above “D”. When the recording engineer (for this CD) held the speed of the original acetate disk to 78 rpm (the supposed speed of the original recording equipment), the recordings played back slower and at something less than C sharp! The decision was made that since Doran played a concert-pitch set, the recordings would be sped-up to achieve a concert-pitch playback. The difference in recording speed(s) is attributed to the portable recording equipment of the day (1947).
I don’t have the previous edition to compare it to, but IMO the audio quality is quite good given the age and limitations of the original recordings. The re-recording engineer has done a smashing job, again IMO.
For an odd bit of trivia, the photo on the front cover of the CD shows a Jack Russell Terrier in front of Johnny, standing on what looks to be the draw post/bar (not sure of the correct terminology) of his caravan. We have an aging female JRT with almost identical markings! Now the wife wants to make a B&W photo of me with a paddy cap on, holding my pipes, with the dog in front of me.
and that’s interesting about the 78 speeds, i haven’t read the liner notes yet. weren’t they remastered for the cd release? is the original cassette release done at the 78 speed? i remember reading very heavy debates about the speed and pitch of the old robert johnson recordings. it makes you wonder whether what you’re listening to is the real thing.
what about the patsy touhey recordings, does anyone know? i think i remember reading that the ones included in the Dunn Family Coll. (http://archives.irishfest.com/dunn-family-collection/Music.htm) were pitch (& speed) corrected using Sean McKiernan’s set. but, what about the NPU cd release? i guess checking the pitch for a difference between the two would give some sort of idea, right?
Martin Rochford, who liked a certain sweetness in a chanter, once said to me Johnny’s pipes sounded more like my C set. Listening to the recordings I think his memory was maybe playing tricks on him. On the other hand, Martin was closer to and had heard more of both Dorans than anyone else I ever met. There was some food for thought there anyway.
Probably Johnny had more than one chanter/set? Maybe the loud D Rowsome for playing on the street/markets/racing tracks, and a flat set or quiet reeded chanter for playing/practicing in his wagon? Ken McLeod mentions the Dorans borrowing the Bray Kenna when passing though and leaving a set with the owner until they returned the Kenna on the way back. http://www.seanreidsociety.org/SRSJ2/a%20timothy%20kenna%20set.pdf
I play a Wooff C at home during the late evenings in my apartment as I don’t care for the neighbours to hear me practicing. I play the D set at sessions etc.
I think I saw those in An Piobaire a year or so ago. IIRC, they were in a short piece on Johnny from a man whose father or uncle used to come play with him in Dublin. The author might have been the young boy in one of the photos on the caravan’s wagon-tongue; the dog was there, too. It’s a great picture – I’ve thought of trying to paint it so should find it again! I tried to look on The Source but couldn’t get the online library to work. However, if you keep your back issues, the photos might be in Vols. 6 or 7.
The Coyne may be Johnny’s as Michael Cash did not play the pipes and was only posing with them. I believe the young boy is Johnny’s son, not Michael’s son.
