Complete with electrical tape on the barrel and rubber bands all over the keywork:
Sorta makes one feel a little foolish about all the âWhich flute is betterâ discussions, doesnât it?
Loren
Amen, brother! (Loren, that is).
I admit that I am as interested in discussing the qualities of various flutes as anybody. But sometimes I think (guiltily) that all this research and discussion could be much better spentâŚpracticing.
Tim
OK, this shows my ignorance about Cathal.
He plays left-handed, right? From that picture he plays a right-handed flute. Is that why heâs rubber-banded the keywork?
Stuart
Yes and no. He plays a right-handed flute left-handed. But the keys are rubber-banded to avoid leaks.
The two Generation whistles also make me feel a bit guilty about my ongoing âwhoaâ,as well!Heâs certainly one of my favourite musicians.I think that the difference between Cathal and me can be summed up in one word-TALENT!
Donât feel guilty for wanting nice instruments when poor 'ol Cathal is playing gens and a beat up 6-key. He has made his choices.
By the wayâŚHe doesnât like to travel with his custom keyed Copelands and cocus Olwell 6-keyâŚfor obvious reasons. So there you go.
Yes, but you must realize that that rubber-banded flute is a wonderfully playing Rudall Rose. I had the pleasure of meeting and playing with Cathal a few years back, and the flute absolutely sings. What it probably needs is a good repair job, but thatâs not for want of a good sound.
Many of the old-timers play very beat up flutes, repaired hastily, but they have generally chosen very favorable flutes for their styles.
That flute only had one rubber band around it the last time I saw it!
Cathal looks great, though. Is that water in his glass?
Gordon and Jim, good posts. Nice water comment.
On 2002-12-14 17:00, sturob wrote:
OK, this shows my ignorance about Cathal.He plays left-handed, right? From that picture he plays a right-handed flute. Is that why heâs rubber-banded the keywork?
Stuart
Cathal McConnell plays left-handed on a right-handed keyed flute. But unlike other left-handed flute players who donât use the keys on their right-handed flutes (e.g. Catherine McEvoy, who has blu-tacked all the keys on her beautiful old Rudall flute), Cathal uses his keys. Itâs a rather interesting sight to see him reach over with his left hand to open the G# key in the middle of a tune!
This is off the topic of the flute, but on the topic of Mr. McConnellâs music. Iâve been listening to my new Wooden Flute Obsession CDâs and noticed that he plays accompanied by a piano. I didnât expect this when I first put the CD on (not ever heard his playing before). I thought it sounded fine, but it was just unexpected. (I think that I also heard an electric guitar!) What do others think about piano accompaniment?
Erik
I thought it sounded fine, but it was just unexpected. (I think that I also heard an electric guitar!) What do others think about piano accompaniment?
Erik
An invention of Satan himself and responsible for the ruination of more otherwise fine albums than any other contraption ever seen in a studio!
JH.
Oh, I agree completely. I think it ruined Eamonn Cotterâs solo album. His sister plays well, but the piano sounds, well, dorky.
Stuart
I donât mind the piano that much in ITM â itâs a style of ceili playing that Iâve gotten used to hearing, the Felix Dolan-style backdrop. Much better to my ear than an accordian, which Iâve also gotten used to.
I did mind the electric guitar, though (and that was my main instrument for 20 some-odd years) on the Cathal CD. Came completely out of nowhere and did nothing for an otherwise lovely tuneset. Downright goofy.
On 2002-12-15 19:37, sturob wrote:
Oh, I agree completely. I think it ruined Eamonn Cotterâs solo album. His sister plays well, but the piano sounds, well, dorky.Stuart
You think thatâs bad? You should have seen what it did to Dezi Donnellyâs solo album - that was downright painful!
JH.
I certainly like Felix Dolan-ish piano accompaniment though I must admit that its an aquired taste. I would prefer it over the average strummy guitarist anytime. At least Felix Dolan-ish piano accompaniment doesnât smooth out the rhythmic nuances of the melody player like a strummy guitar does, and if well done adds to the bounce too! (see Frankie Gavinâs album, John Skeltonâs track on WFO, etc)
However that Cathal McConnell WFO trackâs piano accompaniment sounds a bit unnatural to me.
[ This Message was edited by: Eldarion on 2002-12-15 20:33 ]
What do others think about piano accompaniment?
If itâs done well, I like it very much. Gives the music a bit of an old-fashioned âmusic hallâ feel, which I am very fond of. If itâs done badly, well, itâs bad!
On 2002-12-15 20:32, Eldarion wrote:
I certainly like Felix Dolan-ish piano accompaniment though I must admit that its an aquired taste. I would prefer it over the average strummy guitarist anytime. At least Felix Dolan-ish piano accompaniment doesnât smooth out the rhythmic nuances of the melody player like a strummy guitar does, and if well done adds to the bounce too! (see Frankie Gavinâs album, John Skeltonâs track on WFO, etc)However that Cathal McConnell WFO trackâs piano accompaniment sounds a bit unnatural to me.
[ This Message was edited by: Eldarion on 2002-12-15 20:33 ]
Yes, this is what I was saying as well, and your two examples are excellent ones â the piano there works wonderfully. I suppose it is an aquired taste, but off-rhythm guitars or bouzouki are becoming equally as cliched.
I suspect Bill Ochs, who I think produced Cathalâs CD, was shooting for a cross between the traditional and the unexpected (comes at last) and it often doesnât work. Cathalâs playing, on the other hand, is really hard to mess up, so itâs certainly not a total loss..
Cathalâs playing, on the other hand, is really hard to mess up, so itâs certainly not a total loss..
Iâll second that. I should have mentioned that in my first post.
My impression of the setting was similar to Jens; it felt to me like a honky-tonk piano in Gold dust, Arizona c. 1850 (AKA music hall). That said, it doesnât sound progressive to me, but simply another (or perhaps mixed) genre.
Erik