Hakka Muggies perform a version of Maurice Manley’s Polka.
I was learning this tune from Och’s Tinwhistle book and looked it up on youtube and found these guys version. I can’t identiy all of the instruments or where they are from, but they do rock the tune.
Yikes. The reed pipe looks like a zurna, maybe?
“Yikes” is it. I try my hardest to avoid slagging off working musicians, I really do. But it does seem to me that some sort of “driving test” before you’re allowed to perform in public would be in order.
OK, before I feel the need to moderate myself, I’ll take a more direct, less snidey approach:
It’s way out of tune. There’s no rhythm. It’s the wrong tempo and doesn’t sound remotely like a polka. Or, for that matter, any other kind of trad piece I’ve ever heard.
I don’t care if people use electronic instruments or not - I myself use an electric fiddle - but the basics ought to be there. Some rhythm would be good - correct rhythm for the particular dance form would, I suppose, be a bonus. Also, if anyone else is tempted to do this sort of thing, could I please urge them in the strongest possible terms to at least think about tuning and intonation before they get on a stage? It would be most appreciated.
PS I’ve just listened to some more of their stuff on YouTube. It’s as bad as this one. And, before someone comes in to correct me, no, some things are not a matter of personal taste. I can respect anything that’s done well, even if I don’t like it, but, for me, music should be in time and in tune. I can’t help it. It’s a flaw.
The reed instrument is a rauschpfeife, I think. Unlike a zurna, it’s got a key and a windcap.
I don’t have much problem with it. I very much doubt if the tune they finish up with is Irish so who cares if it’s not played in an Irish style? (I know it as the Scottish tune “Little Donald’s Wife”, but I’m sure I’ve heard variants of it from Hungary or Romania).
The balance for the Ballydesmond Polka near the start is all wrong, the recorder or whistle is inaudible.
It’s not the style that bothers me Jack. If they were playing Czech music, would they be expected to play in tune? In time? In time with each other?
I’m afraid you people just don’t get it. They are not out of tune, they’re all playing in different keys. This IS the latest - the new wave - the new new new wave, and you’re all behind the ball. You have to listen to it two or three hundred times to get it and then you will be down! In no time at all you will be able to pick it up - you’re just not there ------ yet! You’ve got to listen to it 299 more times. I know all about this because the people across the street from me were playing just like that till 2 in the morning last night. This morning at 7 am I sat out front and played my loudest whistle for an hour just like them - I can still here them crying. Tears of joy – get with it !
Good man yerself!
Yes, terribly hard to listen to. BUT: they have the obligatory guy in a kilt, you know; in a kilt, and dangling an unused bodhrán around like a teddy bear while doing the head-banging thing. It’s so awesome.
Then on to the candy recorder. But that’s as far as I got. Was there more?
rather stunnin’, innit
ah well, I’m stunned, eh
Ah, thanks. I couldn’t see the cap, and the rauschpfeifen I’ve seen/tried didn’t have such a wide bell. But Google tells me that they do exist.