The book ‘Move your fingers : the life and music of Chris Langan’ has just been published by Cranford publications. It contains sections on the life and music of Dublin (or as as would have said himself Rush, Co Dublin) born whistle player and piper Chris Langan who emigrated to Toronto during the 1950s. Chris’duet with Cape Breton fiddle player Johnny Wilmot was one of the earliest whistle recordings made west of the Atlantic.
Chris taught music in his home on Bertmount av in Toronto. He was an inspiration to a whole generation of Canadian musicians, Patrick Hutchinson, David Papazian, Debbie Quigley, Ray Caldwell were just a few of his many pupils. He travelled to the Willie Clancy week each year, it was there I met him in 1980. We became friends, and every now and again he would send one of his own compositions, ‘for my approval’. The book has over two hundred of his compositions with some additional arangements of traditional material which he wrote for his students. The book was put together by David Papazian and published by Paul C Cranford with additional material from Patrick Hutchinson and contributions by scores of his friends. A worthy tribute to one of the most gentle persons I ever met.
Information about the book is on:
And no, for all you worriers about these things, while I did contribute to the book I don’t get anything out of this shameless plug (to be honest, I didn’t get my own copy yet).
[ This Message was edited by: Peter Laban on 2002-02-06 12:33 ]
Thanks for posting that. I had planned to go to the Langan weekend (Feb 1 and 2) but didn’t make it this year. The website for Cranford Publications is given below. You can order the book there and there are also lots of tunes posted there. Mostly in the Cape Breton tradition.
Good man, Peter. I also missed the w/e for the first time in years and thus missed the launch also. A friend on the other side of town brought back a copy of the book for me and I can’t wait to see it.
I met Chris only a few times, but he was indeed a lovely man. The very fine piping of Debbie, Patrick and others who learned from him is a fiting tribute to him, and all of us who love Irish music in Canada, and many elsewhere, are indebted to the man.
I was at the Langan weekend…my first. It was amazing to my mind…wonderful concerts, sessions everywhere and workshops. The book was launched there and was being sold there. My wonderful teacher, Karen Light, is in the book and had a piece named after her. I didn’t buy the book as several people told me Langan’s pices are ‘twisty’ and, as whistler of a mere six months, would have been too difficult for me…someday maybe!!!
Just got my copy of the book and it’s a little gem. Text and layout very well done and lots of photos, including quite a few by Peter. Am looking forward to trying out the tunes…
At $20 Canadian (about 83¢ American at current exchange rates) it’s great value, suggesting that Cranford and co. have put it out for love and not for money. Hats off to all involved in the project.