I recently heard an OLD LP of Doncha O’Briain and I have to say that his playing rivals the best of and other whistle player I’ve ever heard. The record was from the early 70s I think. Apparently he suffered fro MS and died young. Does anyone know any more about him and his music. Any more recordings?
Mike Burns
On 2002-12-24 15:19, burnsbyrne wrote:
I recently heard an OLD LP of Doncha O’Briain and I have to say that his playing rivals the best of and other whistle player I’ve ever heard. The record was from the early 70s I think. Apparently he suffered fro MS and died young. Does anyone know any more about him and his music. Any more recordings?
Mike Burns
I’m pretty sure he only made the one album Mike, it was on the Gael-Linn label and it’s a crying shame they haven’t re-issued it on CD. He was from a well-known musical family - his brother is Mick O Brien the piper. Saw him in concert at Willie Week in 1985 at which time muscular dystrophy (not MS) was well advanced - he could speak, and move his head and fingers and that was about it. But his playing was fabulous, as you say.
I used to have a tape of that record once and loaned it to a friend. Who conveniently lost it for me. Grrrr!
He also compiled a collection of tunes ‘The Golden Eagle’ named after the hornpipe that was one of his signature tunes. Lots of information in that as well as loads of good tunes. The book is still available, as far as I know.
Donncha is on the list for the transcription page, as soon as I find the concert tape but I keep stumbling into other stuff when I go looking.
Charlie Lennon composed the tune ‘The Flying WHeelchair’ in his honour. I think that is on ‘In Good Company’
I remember a time in the mid 80s I was playing my pipes in the area of the Na Pionairi UIlleann shop during one of the WIllie weeks. Geoff Wooff had just designed his first narrow bore D pipes and he wanted me to play them in public t oget opinions on them. I sat down and played, Breandan Breathnach was listening in behind me, which was nerverwracking enough. Mick O Brien came in with Donncha and parked the wheelchair right in front of me so they could listen. Very uncomfortable if famous musicians sit in and listen close to you when your a messing with a strange set of pipes. I played for about an hour, settling in a bit after we had a bit of a chat.
Donncha had lovely music and as usual, that was the personality of the player coming out in it.
[ This Message was edited by: Peter Laban on 2002-12-25 05:21 ]
Just to say I did just retrieve some tracks of Donncha’s I recorded in 1985. Look at the ITM board for updates on this. I’ll get on it as soon as we have the turkey eaten.
Must be about time for the mince pies now, Peter.
Happy remainder of Christmas and best wishes to you and all the other C&F-heads around the world
Thanks for the input Peter,I for one am looking forward to hearing that tape,I’ve been searching for Donncha’s album for a while now.That transcription can be your Christmas present to us all!
Transcriptions posted. See the “Transcription](http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?topic=7903&forum=8&start=15&21%22%3E%22Transcription) updates” thread on the ITM forum.
Peter, Steve and all others involved, thanks for the quick work on Donncha O’Brian’s music. I am getting to the age when the joints and muscles don’t always work well and the pain often cuts into my whistle practice time. But when I heard about Donncha O’Brian and heard his playing my complaints seem less important. Anyway, he left some wonderful music and I’m glad I know about him.
Mike Burns