Rama my friend, from what I’ve heard of your playing, you’ve put in more than a little time at the practice forge. In fact, if I could grow up to play like you I would be a happy woman.
And you are anything but boring, you nut . But just in case I confused anyone, what I meant was: if I’m bored with a tune, then perhaps it’s my approach to the tune that has me bored … and maybe I should change it.
And as far as Keegan goes, he’s not my cup of listening tea, but I do appreciate him redefining the edges of the genre. Someone’s got to do it, and he does a bang-up job. And besides, I think if he didn’t have serious “trad chops”, he wouldn’t be able to push the envelope like he does. (ditto Frankie Gavin)
Thanks, David, but I know fine about the 2 Gerrys. I specifically said Gerry from Tipperary, of “4 Men & A Dog”, who plays fiddle as well as banjo, and it was him who was commented about, not fiddling Gerry from Dundalk.
Wow, I didn’t realize Ennis played the fiddle too, that’s impressive. John Carty is a fiddle and banjo player, but is apparently quite a good flute player too from what I’ve heard. Claire Mann also comes to mind I really like her fiddle playing as well as her flute playing. She’s also not a bad singer. Willie Kelly, the Clare fiddler is also supposed to be a pretty decent piper.
I am still inspired by that flute weekend three years ago. I admire Niall for his flute tuition as much a shis playing. He has been the best flute teacher I met, full of passion which he could pass on, and not just talking to the group and showing his skills but really listening to each participent and helping each individually, all in a class of 20 people. If you have a chance to attend a class with him, go for it!
There was a point in the class with him were he confessed that he goes through a flute every 2 to 3 years! They virtually break at the upper tenon, he pushes the flute so hard against his chin! But then his album is not called without reason “Don’t Touch The Elk”, the picture says it all.
Another likely reason he goes through flutes is the fact that he just takes it apart and shoves it into his jacket pockets. A friend of mind had him as an instructor at the University of Limerick and told me about it.
Ennis played a lot of things, he was an expert highland piper, flute and whistle player, fiddle wise seems to have taken a lot of Padraig O Keefe’s fiddle playing. The Ha’penny Bridge Quartet played in Dublin during the late 60s, Liam OFlynn pipes, Sean Keane and Seamus ENnis fiddles and Sonny Brogan Accordeon.
There one instant where Willie Clancy referred to the long standing argument which of the two men was the better piper. Clancy could certainly knock a tune out of a fiddle (or concertina for that matter) and he said there was little doubt who was the better fiddleplayer of the two (and it was not Ennis).
You’ll find a lot of players are quite handy on more than the one instrument. Bobby Casey for example was a lovely whistleplayer.
Oisin MacDiarmada is a nice whistle player as well. He said in an interview that he rarely plays the fiddle at home these days and usually picks up a whistle instead if he wants to have a tune. He says it’s more convienient. I’d have to agree, it’s alot easier to just pick up my delrin flute or whistle to have a few tunes, than pull the fiddle out, rosin, warm up a bit, play, wipe rosin off and put away! I find I need little warm up time on the wind instruments.
On a side topic … FWIW I would recommend to anyone dragging instruments around in very cold weather to let wooden flutes or whistles sit and warm up a bit before putting any air thru them. I believe it reduces risks of cracking.
I keep a full set of pipes on the table in the hallway for throwing out tunes that come to mind on my way out the door… and another set by the toilet.
I was worried about the fluting embouchure going flacid (there is just no non-revolting way to say that is there?) with all the piping I’m doing this weather, but it does not seem to be a problem. Bad dentistry has probably done more damage.
I enjoy playing the flute more, and certainly enjoy recording with it more, since I went back to the pipes. A second instrument can be a breath of fresh air.
When my piper buddy wants a bit of something fresh, he pulls out his 5 string banjo and picks some Bluegrass. Hard to say which he’s better at actually. He’s a fine piper, but also a really good Bluegrass banjo player. Myself, I’d like to learn some Baroque violin for those days when I just want to do something different. Supposedly the original Baroque violin technique was closer to fiddling technique than modern classical violin training is. Even down to rhythm. We’ll see how it goes. Of course that runs the risk of a case of IAD in the form of getting a Baroque violin and bow should I find that it takes ahold of me.
BTW Peter, thanks for posting that photo of Ennis playing the fiddle. With your collection of photos, have you ever considered publishing? You have the makings of a great photographic history of the last few decades of Irish music. Perhaps some text with anecdotes and stories as well. just a thought.
. But just in case I confused anyone, what I meant was: if I’m bored with a tune, then perhaps it’s my approach to the tune that has me bored … and maybe I should change it.
