Blaine McArthur wrote:
… I wonder if the lack of interest in other whistles might not be, in part, attributed to economic and awareness/supply factors. The internet is much more of a presense here and in the more urbanized area.
If Susatos are now starting to catch on, I’m sure other makes will not be far behind.
I think Blaine your beginning to touch on a little of the difference. I think market and technological flow, the difference in national character between Americans and Irish (or other nationalities), and the folk process all contribute to the experience of an American visiting Ireland.
In terms of National Character, we Americans are very ‘thing’ oriented. We measure our success as human beings often in terms of things; hense the saying, “Lifes a game and the guy who dies with the most toys wins”.
We seek to establish security for a families through buying a good home in a good neighborhood. In other lands you establish security by spending time with your ‘mates’ or friends.
The result is that some of the best things come from our culture, we take things and refine them, re-invent them, and play with the thing. Invariably improving its function.
As we develop a technology it tends to spread out from urban to suburban to rural. From technologically centered areas to less technological areas. We may make a better whistle, it’s in our national character to strive to do so. On the other hand, its more in the Irish character to take what you have and use it more fully, developing the ever ending ways to enjoy the music. Its a nice exchange over the long run, we get better music, they get better whistles.
It’s also in the irish character to pull the leg of Americans and encourage, to a certain extent, a romantic view irish life that enriches their tourism. So any and all behavior at a pub around visiting Americans is tempered by the need to to see the bed and breakfast next door continues to thrive.
Although national values, character, and technological flow are at work, they’d have no place to go if it weren’t for the folk process. It seems that whenever you come in contact the root of any folk tradition, weather it be cajun, delta blues, irish, appalchian blue grass, or even country-western, the root is always more concerned with enjoying the music. Its a living process that simply enjoys the music as part of its day-to-day living. New instruments come and go depending on weather folks can enjoy them as part of that living. They don’t try to figure out what the music is or what is “the” form. They just play it, listen to it, dance to it, cry to it, celebrate to it, simply as a part of living.
At the root of folk music, it is just a reflection of life; its going to reflect those that live it. If the folk tend towards ‘rugged individualism’ then you going to see that reflected as each member of the band takes a turn at improvising on the melody simular to mountain blue grass. If they tend toward ‘knowing your place and getting along with others’, then that will be more dominant in the music too. Perhaps refected in the harmonies, consistent tempo or some other characteristic of the music. These things are reflected, not as absolutes that we might study; but, as living values that swing back and forth as the folk mature, as their character grows and adapts.
Sitting here at my computer, I the ex-social worker with a degree in sociology see all these facits drawing together to form the Gem that is Irish music reflected in the posts of our friends visiting the emerald isle. However…
Were I instead sitting in a session, I’d say, NNNaaayyy, that’s too complicated. All you need to do is …
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Enjoy Your Music,
Lee Marsh
[ This Message was edited by: LeeMarsh on 2001-07-24 17:14 ]
