Chris Langan Memorial Weekend Field Reports

Uilleann Pipes
1

All right! Let me be the first to say that my brain has been shaken and stirred into a happy puddle of Tune Goo.

I regrettably have no photos to share, but given the copious quantities of technology documenting the doings over the weekend, I doubt it’ll be long before a full A/V presentation surfaces.

Who could have asked for more at last night’s concert? You’d have to resurrect a few people to find a finer night of music. Things were kicked off with a few lively sets by Kim Vincent, Dave Pappazian, and ‘Herself’ - Ena O’Brien. They brought two Paddy O’Brien tunes straight away - Patrick’s Night & The Four-Leafed Shamrock - and I’d say that set things up right for the rest of the evening.

They were followed up by Benedict Koehler & Patrick Ourceau. A magically designed combination! The two of the together - it would be a crime to not have more of something that special.

After a brief break we were treated to gorgeous flute duets, courtesy of Brian Holleran & Mike Rafferty. I feel like I’m selling it short but I can’t honestly do it justice with a brief comment.

Then. Well. Mick & Caoimhin certainly delivered as only they can. I am yet at a loss for words about what was heard, but I doubt there was a dry eye in the place.

Class job putting this thing together lads…

Lots to think over now.

2

Yup. Intense weekend of music all around. M & K did an Ennis “suite” that seemed to last around twenty minutes non-stop. Naturally, I brought my minidisc recorder and left the mic in my hotel room. (Somebody kick me. I deserve it).

Intermediate piping classes, one with Mick, one with Benedict. Mick was great. It took him a while to size up the room, and when he realized how varied the abilities there were, and how little time he had, he put together an entire piping course in about five minutes and had us record it all. This ensured that all of us had material to take home and work on, rather than try to get everything that day.

Benedict faced the same challenge, and concentrated on common fingering problems (laziness) and showed us what was better and why. He then followed up in the afternoon with about an hour of tuning tips - just tuning - no reed-making stuff.

They were still doing the Piper’s Chair thing on Sunday when I left (had to catch a train) so I missed the big solos. Still, I got plenty of stuff to work on for the next 6 months.

djm

3

Well, I have little words to say other than…AWESOME! Everyone has outdone themselves. :smiley: :smiley: Glad you enjoyed it Steph.

Performers, organizers, sponsors, participants, and everyone else who I neglected to mention. We had a front-and-center position (3feet) so, I’ll be sending down a Full Video report once I done renaming and organizing the .avi’s to the board of directors in charge.

Again congrats to everyone for pulling it off.. :smiley:

4

27:34 (approximately)

5

I have post-Langan depression :sniffle:

As usual, a great pleasure to meet up with annual friends, see how everyone has been progressing over a year. Nick has made great strides, I have not :laughing:

The event was well organized this year, so thanks to the committee for everything! I found the concert at Hugh’s Room to be interesting. Not as much “atmosphere” as Trinity St.Paul’s and the waiters were bumping around and although discretionary at interfering with the stage it was odd.

See if we can get the committee to book Massey Hall next year!! :smiley:

All told I have taken about 925 photos over three days, made a couple of recordings and shot some video at the Piper’s Chair recital from Sunday - mostly Caoimhin and Mick. I’ll have my work cut out for me! I’m extrememly busy at work however so you might have to wait a week before you can see any pix/clips.

Mick and Caoimhin were very entertaining. The quality of playing was the finest I have ever witnessed. As Debbie Quigley said Mick is one of the finest uilleann pipers walking this planet. Caoimhin was much sillier than I expected - absolutely hilarious (to me anyway), and oh, what a talent! The Ennis suite was nothing short of brilliant. Man oh man, and I recorded the bit on my MD - 'twill be a treasure! The colour of the piece was overall tranquil and mesmerizing - meditative and introspective. There were tunes embedded courtesy of Mick that ebbed and flowed with Caoimhim’s transcending harmonies. Someone please comment on the (Norweigan?) fiddle he played - 8 strings, fascinating and very decorative.

Indeed Toronto is a better place with M. Ourceau living here. Must get out to PJ O’Brien’s for a session! Patrick is a delight to watch and listen to, he brings so much to the stage, awesome depth and talent.

I could blather on and on waxing about the event. This year was different for me. It was “heavier” and more meaningful. This community is a real joy, and my fascination with it grows as I learn to appreciate the people and inter-relationships more and more. We had people from Pittsburgh, Montreal, London, Guelph, PEI, Japan (and Markham!).

Anyway, must run - but I’ll keep everyone informed when there are things to see and hear.

6

Sounds like it was quite a weekend. I’ll try make it next year.

Did the change of date (from January to April) have any impact on the numbers in attendance?

7

Sadly, no. The number of students was about the same, but the impression of the board was that overall attendence was down for the shows on Friday and Sunday (I don’t think they could have crammed any more people into Hugh’s Room on Saturday night, but it is a much smaller venue. I preferred it.).

djm

8

Wow! First off a very big Tip of the Hat to the weekend organizers. I can’t say enought of how impressed I was with not only the running of the events but with the overall “feel” of the weekend. Great people, great performers and never a dull moment!

I really liked the approach of the classes this year:

Benedict helped us all with identifying those “bricks” in our playing that may be causing us to stumble. Perhaps better to be told what NOT to do that just be given new techniques to add to the ever growing practising pile.

Mick really has a passion for making MUSIC first and foremost and taught that the use technique really has to be slave to the joy of first making music. I liked his saying “Use all of the bits of information that are in your fingers to make MUSIC”. Also, a great reminder to have FUN with all of this…of course he put us through the ringer on some finer techniques…but the sharing of inspiration I think will go further with me than a new technical challenge.

The highlights for me as usual were the sessions. I got re-aquianted with the folks from Kingston - great tunes guys! The highlight for me was the absolutley stellar session at Dora’s on Sunday night. Great laughs when Mick had everyone stand up (uilleann pipers included) when he launched into the Bucks! :laughing:

9

I can’t help it - I’m waaay too busy but I’m doing this anyway! Couple of pix for now…







More later.

10

Its called a “hardanger” fiddle (Google for more) - 9 strings, but who’s counting? Almost mesmerizing, the way it drones but changes over time; perfect for the way Caoimhin was using it.

That was way too short a time to spend with people of that calibre. I wish to register a complaint. :wink:

djm

11

No you don’t!

Oh, I’m sorry, just one moment. Is this a five minute argument or the full half hour?

er… or was the the parrot?

Remarkable bird, the Norwegian Blue, idn’it, ay? Beautiful plumage!

12

Hardanger! Gawd I would have loved to have heard that with the B pipes!

T

13

Arrgh! Not getting any work done!

I will post links here not to overwhelm those with limited bandwidth.

Click for Mick

PR

14

Beautiful photography Paul… Thanks!

15

Now, if Paul had have been a little more on the ball, he would have captured photos of the stars chatting with, playing with, and/or giving instruction to the various weenies (such as myself), and offered to sell these priceless gems to the affected weenies. There’s money in pictures, so they say. :wink: :smiley:

djm

16

Like this?

Though, these guys aren’t weenies, and this was just fun for me - no enterprising involved, 'twould utterly defeat my enjoyment.

17

Whadda yuz say, Nico? $50 for a framed 8x10 glossy. Throw in another $50 and we’d even get it signed for yiz! :smiling_imp:

djm

18

This is funny - let me know if it doesn’t work.

http://www.chrislangan.ca/html/caoimhin_sound.htm

19

:laughing:

20

Paul thanks! That was classic! He almost made spit out my supper when Caoihmin said that.. :laughing: :laughing: