There are defining moments, one of mine was walking into a Seamus Ennis concert in 1972, the piping bug bit me.
Throughout the early part of my musical journey there was the music of Planxty, by the mid seventies they had disbanded and we all thought it was a terrible shame. They got back together again in 1979 for the ‘After the Break’ tour. It was during one of the concerts of that tour when Liam O Flynn played a slow air that I decided to do something about it and get me a set of pipes. Since then I have washed up on the west coast of Clare, following the diddly music.
Tonight I was at the second concert of ‘the Third Coming’ in Ennis. What can I say, Andy Irvine, Donal Lunny, Christy Moore and Liam Flynn.
It was brilliant to see them again and in great form. The West Coast of Clare, Raggle taggle Gypsy, the Good Ship Kangaroo, Arthur McBride, Jenny’s Wedding the Virginia and Garret Barry’s Reel, The Blacksmith and that piece after, inspired by Riverdance , the Cliffs of Dooneen even and loads more. Great stuff.
I’m so jealous. It was Planxty that gave me the Irish music bug. When I was in Ireland, I missed Christy by a couple of days in Lisdoonvarna. I’ve seen Andy a couple of times in the states, and he called the piece after “Blacksmithereens.” It’s amazing how he, all by himself on a mandolin, can almost capture the full group performance of it.
I too am jealous about your good luck. Just like Chas, I became a convert to this music after hearing Liam O’Flynn play solo in Ann Arbor Michigan in 1972 (a little room called The Ark). I’m still amazed with his beautiful playing and to this day crave a set of pipes. My cheap alternative to purchasing a set is to play the tin whistle which I’ve grown to love. I still can’t even approach the perfection of Liam’s version of The Rambler/Aherlow Jigs that he plays on whistle (from the album, The Given Note). Three years ago, I thought that I could learn those tunes in a week! Little did I know…
I too am jealous about your good luck. Just like Chas, I became a convert to this music after hearing Liam O’Flynn play solo in Ann Arbor Michigan in 1972 (a little room called The Ark). I’m still amazed with his beautiful playing and to this day crave a set of pipes. My cheap alternative to purchasing a set is to play the tin whistle which I’ve grown to love. I still can’t even approach the perfection of Liam’s version of The Rambler/Aherlow Jigs that he plays on whistle (from the album, The Given Note). Three years ago, I thought that I could learn those tunes in a week! Little did I know…
I too am jealous about your good luck. Just like Chas, I became a convert to this music after hearing Liam O’Flynn play solo in Ann Arbor Michigan in 1972 (a little room called The Ark). I’m still amazed with his beautiful playing and to this day crave a set of pipes. My cheap alternative to purchasing a set is to play the tin whistle which I’ve grown to love. I still can’t even approach the perfection of Liam’s version of The Rambler/Aherlow Jigs that he plays on whistle (from the album, The Given Note). Three years ago, I thought that I could learn those tunes in a week! Little did I know…
Just as an added interest for this board maybe it is worth noting that Liam Flynn played quite a number of sets on the whistle. The concert opened with him playing The Glen of Aherlow on a Burke D whistle which in my opinion didn’t work out that well , maybe Liam sensed that and played the rest of the dance tunes on generations[the burke worked very nicely though in the songs and drawing out long notes in harmonies etc]. I don’t I remember them all but there was a set of jigs with Lunny and Moore playing bodhrans, the Clare jig going nicely into Nora Criona another set started on My Darling Asleep [going into Will you come home with Me played on the pipes].
Interesting. It was hearing Ennis and O’Flynn that had me trying to order a half set several years ago. That didn’t work out so now I play concertina instead. Now, I’d love to hear Planxty live.
, the Cliffs of Dooneen even and loads more. Great stuff.