Their flute playing sounds different. McGoldrick sounds smoother whereas Molloy seems to have a sharper edge in his playing. Sounds rough and maybe nasally. Is this just a difference in embouchure or does the kind of flute they use change the sound?
Hard to argue against the master but MMG is a beast too. I like him.
It’s mostly the player/embouchure. Both of them have a distinctive sound no matter what flute they play.
Part of the “roughness” is also about attack and breath.
B
Ditto Brendan. Although, what flute they play probably still has some effect on the sound. I personally like McGoldrick’s sound better. He seems to have a much more full and satisfactory tone, while what I’ve heard from Molloy is a much reedier sound with not much substance to it. But that’s just my opinion.
I find that I can get close to the Molloy sound by rolling the headjoint way in and blowing further down. For the McGoldrick sound - rolling the headjoint further out than the Molloy, and blowing a little higher. Now, the only “professional” fluter’s sound that I think I can really imitate is Orlaith McAuliffe’s. 
Wow.
Didn’t think i’d ever hear/read anyone say Molloy’s sound is without much substance.
I’m stupified.
The king of octave changes and harmonics mid-stream without substance.
The thought just hangs there like a molasses drip in an icy wind.
I wouldn’t say it’s without substance, but I’m not the greatest fan of his tone either. It’s much reedier/harsher than I would personally prefer. I can certainly see how McGoldrick’s mellowness would be more attractive.
Don’t forget to take into account that a lot of Matt Molloy’s recordings, especially earlier ones, were on higher-pitched flutes. You may be comparing apples and oranges.
With his old Pratten flute Matt had the most magnificent tone, one of the best I can think of.
I find Mike’s tone boring and lacking balls in comparison, but that’s just a matter of taste.
I think Molloy’s tone was more or less perfect on the Rudall(?) he was playing with the Bothy Band.
They’re both OK on flute, but what I want to know is who you’d take in a fight.
I think Malloy has the size, but McGoldrick the youth. Too close to call.
McGoldrick’s sound has changed over time. On his first album, “Morning Rory”, he sounds very very similar to Molloy. In fact, I’d say McGoldrick plays as close to Molloy as anyone I’ve heard. Subsequently, McGoldrick’s sound I’d say has become more modern, more flute-oriented, less piper-esque, e.g. fewer cranns.
Actually I think if you compare McGoldrick’s early recordings with Molloy early playing on the Rudall, a la Bothy Band (McGoldrick still plays Rudall-based flutes whereas Molloy went to Prattens), you’d be comparing apples to apples and finding their playing very alike.
A big difference now is that McGoldrick is a light-blowing Rudall player whereas Molloy is a hard-blowing Pratten player.
They are two of my favorite players, both in the Roscommon style. Molloy is the godfather of Irish fluting; McGoldrick the leader in progressive trad Irish fluting. Both are awesome.
definitely the player, not the flute. molloy has at various points played rudalls and prattens and he always sounds distinctive. sure the sound may be a bit different between them, but i would say that he has always had the sort of things (strangely) denigrated here.
i think the key thing here is what akiba points out: any good professional must distinguish himself in some way, especially as their career and style develops. if matt molloy has the market on reedy and explosive, then mcgoldrick can corner the other side, which would be more mellow. instantly, they are no longer overlapping for the same space in someone’s heart. i think that listening to other elements in their playing we can see that they are definitely going for different overall approaches, as well.
Molloy is the complete package, though I’ll have a listen to McGoldrick too 
Matt Molloy - Live on The Session this for me shows the mans expressiveness and immense skills, particularly the slow air @ 5:33 “Scaradh De Compánach”
Set list
0:00 - Welcome by Donal Lunney
0:26 - Matt Molloy tune introductions
0:57 - The Independence (Horn Pipe)
2:35 - Jim Donahue from Sligo (Reel)
3:41 - The gravel walks(The gravel walks to Granny)(Reel)
5:26 - Matt Molloy tune introductions
5:33 - Scaradh de compánach (The parting of companions)
8:11 - Reels (various)
hard to believe this “discussion” is actually taking place.
Um, I believe the air is Sgariunt na gCompanagh.
Astonishing.
I’d seen that clip many times and still enjoy it.
but you know…there’s just something lacking in substance about his playing that’s bugging me. 
not sure what it is, tho.
Versus is not a good word to use when comparing two musicians, especially of that quality. In my opinion McGoldrick’s style has possibly a wider appeal but folk who listen to a lot of flute music find more to listen to in Molloy’s playing. I don’t think you can make a like for like comparison, they’re both among the very best trad players around and are perfectly capable of changing their style to how they want to sound. They don’t sound how they do just by chance.
