OT - RITMO

Whistle
1

I am writing this to call your attention to an addiction of which I myself an also a sufferer. It is Recurrent Irish Traditional Music Obsession, or RITMO.

Oh, it started out innocently enough, a little Clannad here, a little Mary Black there. Little did I know that these were “gateway bands” to a stronger addiction.

Later, I started experimenting with somewhat harder stuff like Steeleye Span and Altan. Then came the day when I knew I had gone too far. I bought a Chieftains CD!

Soon afterwards, I began to exhibit some of the signs of deep-seated addiction, including but not limited to knowing the correct pronunciations for “bodhran” and “uilleann”.

Here are the warning signs. If you suffer from three or more of these, you are likely a sufferer of RITMO:

  1. Listens to Irish music in the morning.
  2. Listens to Irish music while alone.
  3. Drives after listening to Irish music.
  4. Is in financial trouble because of buying too many Irish music CD’s and tapes.
  5. Consistently comes in late at night from sessions.
  6. Faltering school grades or job performance due to Irish music.
  7. Has friends and family obtain new Irish music for his listening.
  8. Obsessively talks about sessions.
  9. Goes without food for Irish music.

Please contact me if you are interested in starting a support group! :smiley:

Slan agat,
BB

“I’d sell my rock. I’d sell my reel” (from Siuil a Run)

2

Other symptoms may include:

No longer minding, and in fact, appreciating bagpipe music

You toast everyone with “Slainte” but haven’t yet gotten around to learning what it means.

You check the C & H board every ten minutes so you don’t get behind on the messages.

You don’t question the fact that your whistle collection costs more then your car.


Seth

I’m not addicted, I can quit anytime I want

3

It’s a good thing, right? What do you think is playing on the stereo as I write this? Yep, the whole family has to deal with it.
Tony

4

On 2002-03-18 22:45, BrassBlower wrote:
. . .Later, I started experimenting with somewhat harder stuff like Steeleye Span and Altan. Then came the day when I knew I had gone too far. I bought a Chieftains CD! . . .

BrassBlower, I don’t know how to tell you this so I’ll just blurt it out. You are in the EARLY STAGES yet.

Late stage symptoms include
(1) having more than 25 CD’s that are re-released recordings from the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s.

(2) at least 5 of those CD’s include artists that you were sure to have passed on to the great big session in the sky, but you now know they are still alive.

(3) you, coincidentally, find yourself at a place where one of those artist is playing.

(4) you no longer consider Solas and Altan to be traditional bands, and think of them in a pop sense.

(5) at least one third of your listening time is spent on recordings with no harmonic accompanyment.

(6) more than three well respected contemporary artist know your first name, home town, and occupation as a result of taking classes with them or being at more than 3 of their concerts (this does not mean that they are overjoyed to see you, and may even try to duck if they see you from far enough away).

(7) 8 of your first 10 IrTrad CD’s get no play because they are too commercial.

(8) you find a bad picture of yourself on a website for one of the IrTrad summer schools.

(9) you know the times and locations of 10 sessions within 2 hours driving distance.

(10) you’ve listened to Ceolnet so much that you know what the next tune set is about 60% of the time because it is the same every week.

(11) major life events often seem to get in the way of your playing or listening to IrTrad music.

(12) you wonder if it is a good idea getting married because most IrTrad Musicians you know are divorced or are still married because their spouse also attends the same sessions.

Well, that’s me, but I’m sure it gets worse. . .

MUCH WORSE. . .