I’ve just been watching my new dvd ‘Traveller Piper’ and am highly impressed with John Rooney’s piping.
Does anyone know the name of the tune he’s playing in the DVD (chapter 2) but more importantly, does he have any other recordings that are accessible? I love that style of reg playing. Is that what’s called ‘vamping’?
Cheers,
hi David
thanks for alerting me to the “Traveller Pipers” DVD.
I first heard Mr Rooney at the first (?) “Doran” weekend in Wicklow town in 2000.
I, frankly could not believe what I was hearing, the wonderful life affirming strains of Felix & Johnny right there in front of me and yes the continuous use of the regs but to me it’s the articulation of the melody’s, whipping up to high notes in a phrase and the descending cadence’s, I still listen to the (rough) recordings I made. The mans chanter / regulator skills need to be documented as thoroughly as is possible, what a treasure.
meanwhile you might want to listen (download MP3’s) here -
http://www.grtleeds.co.uk/Culture/rooneyRecordings.html
best wishes
un
Oh and he is a Gentleman
Hi unregulated,
many thanks for the link. Great tunes and great piping. I think I’ve also identified the tune he plays on the DVD as ‘The Carracastle Lass’. I could watch that one segment over and over again.
Yes, definitely he needs to be further documented. Thanks again,
Hello,
The ‘Traveller Piper’ is a great DVD. You can find more John Rooney playing a quick blast of tunes on The “First Traveller” DVD with Larry Rooney,
http://www.e-shop.grtleeds.co.uk/
On the “Travellers and Fellow Travellers” CD he is featured playing Cregg’s Pipes.
http://www.paveepoint.ie/publications-culture.html
If you’re a member of the NPU you can view he and Larry playin “Out On The Ocean/The Lark In The Morning” on the Resources/Video Files section of their website. Great schtuff, can’t get enough of his playing.
John M
Its a great DVD
I was blown away by the duet of Paddy Keenan and Finbar Furey
and other slow airs by Finbar and others
recommended
Hi John,
Thanks for the links. I’ll check out the NPU sources too.
Carel - agree!
I was fortunate enough to play in a great session which included with both John and Larry about nine months ago in Shropshire. I was mainly on tenor guitar but gave them a blast of my best tunes on my pipes. I thought it went ok and they were both generous with their comments.
John is a great piper - he just lets rip!!
I’ve just got some copies of Traveller Piper in at bagpipediscs.com
http://www.bagpipediscs.travelingpiper.com/product_info.php?products_id=776
Ian
I was hoping you would get some copies.
Bagpipe discs is usually a lot faster than NPU to Japan.
My order just went in. 
Mukade
The concerts from the Doran weekend were recorded by RTE and broadcast on the Late Session back in 2000. IIRC, John Rooney’s performance was amongst those broadcast.
You can access the Late Session recordings via Pat D’Arcy’s website:
http://www.uilleannobsession.com/links_radio.html#latesession
Scroll down nearly to the end of the Late Session section (or do a word search for Johnny Doran Tribute Concert).