A word on ITM and speed by Debbie Quigley

Whistle
1

I had the great privilege and pleasure of taking a workshop in Montreal with Debbie Quigley last weekend. At some point she asked me if I played with others, and I replied that I did go to what sessions I felt comfortable playing in, but that I particularly enjoyed listening the accoustic sessions in New York with Patrick Ourceau and Eamonn O’Leary, which I liked for the style: slow and steady and no hype.

She laughed and said: “Slow and steady wins the race every time as far as I’m concerned. You don’t have to be playing like a bat out of hell. Just nice steady, rhythmic, flowing… Don’t let anybody push you, because you know what: they’re just missing so much of the beauty of the melody. And that’s what I love about Patrick’s playing, he’s just so gentle and so… you know, everything is in it: everything is in it. So picking up tunes from him would be amazing.”

It was a wonderful afternoon, soaking up Debbie’s gorgeous playing and hints & tips. (If you’re interested in hearing some of Patrick Ourceau’s music, pick up the CD Tracin’ by Geraoid O hAllmhurain and Patrick Ourceau: highly recommended.)

2

It rather does help to give tunes the room to
breathe and live.

3

“It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.”

PhilO

4

Suckup! :roll:

5

Talking of swing, :slight_smile: anyone know The Jellyroll Blues?

6

Stacey,
You really take the cake with your avatar!
:slight_smile:

7

Patrick Ourceau does a workshop every month or two in Fairfield, CT.

http://shamrockirishmusic.org/id89.htm

The page is a bit out of date, but there’s a phone # for more info.

Regards,
jb

8

Or, as stated by Peter Schickele, "It don’t mean a thing, if it don’t got that certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ "

9

She’s obviously not a flute player (or piper). :slight_smile:

10

Debbie is a brilliant piper. One of the best in North America, I’d say.

11

She should know then that if you play very fast nobody notices your mistakes.

12

I think what she is saying is that if you play very fast, nobody notices your music. :wink:

13

Touche, Bloo!

14

Hey, be careful or i’ll have to put you in my C&F list of people who piss me off!
:laughing:

15

Bloomfield? Annoying? That doesn’t sound like the Bloomfield I know and love.

Best wishes,
Jerry

16

Play it too fast and you suck, but in a traditional way.

Play it too slow and it sucks, but in a non-traditional way.

The hard part: play it just right. :smiley:

Ya’ll don’t even wanna see my list. :smiling_imp:

Have a good Samhain and a Happy New Year!

–James

17

[quote="BloomfieldI think what she is saying is that if you play very fast, nobody notices your music. :wink:[/quote]

Bloom - Seen some mighty sessions in Ireland last summer that included the masters. Slow tunes weren’t played. I too have a deep appreciation for the melodies at a slower tempo, but truthfully the tempi for the dance was quite a good clip. The music was noticed.

Edit: Not taking a position that speed is a requirement, only that the tunes can be played well at various tempi. A slow jig has a special appeal to my ear, however, I cannot recall hearing one played in a dance setting.

18

Yah. For every person who plays reels at ludicrous speed, there’s someone else who plays O’Carolan tunes excruciatingly slowly, with syrupy vibrato and all sorts of melodrama.

Caj

19

I had her class at the East Coast Tionol and she is definately a great piper.

20

Oh, by the way, that was a joke. Sorry for the confusion… :roll: