Many of you have done so I have no doubt, and may more are still to do it. My question is this: Of those of you who have played with the group when they’ve come to your town in concert, did you have a particular whistle or tune you chose to play?
When they make their way out my direction again, I’ve given thought to playing either my Weasel, Hoover, or just a plain old Oak. As for tunes, the list is long indeed…I know most of their sets are faster, but has anyone ever played a slow air duet with Paddy or Matt?
On 2002-01-17 13:37, Peter Laban wrote:
it is not common practice to play a slow air with someone else
Also, you have to put yourself in Matt’s or Paddy’s shoes and ask whether they would risk playing a duet in front of hundreds or thousands of people with someone whom they (presumably) don’t know and who has an unknown level of skill and stage experience.
Piper, It’s my understanding the Cheiftains have always welcomed local musicians onstage for the encore of their concerts. The two times I’ve seen them in the L.A. area, they invited a couple of friends and I on with them. When the time came, we met with Paddy and he just asked what we were comfortable with. It’s good practice to suggest something common, and of course something you’re comfortable with because the tunes go by at a seriously fast pace (and also played, at least those occassions sharp as that is their preferred tuning.) The first time we did suggested Over the Moor to Maggie, and Paddy added the Silver Spear and the second time we suggested Maids of Mt. Cisco and Matt added Bucks of Oranmore. Keep in mind it’s for the encore and the dancers come out, so you’ll be playing reels. Enjoy the concert, it was a thrill of a lifetime for sure!
If their albums are any indication, the Chieftains welcome guest appearances by practically anyone. IMHO, this is one of the main reasons for their popularity. You may want to try to see them before the show and just ask! No guts, no glory! On the slow air, they may be able to work out something with you where maybe Matt will play one verse or chorus, Paddy will play another, and you can play one as well! Besides, since when have the Chieftains EVER followed the guidelines of “common practice”? Probably another reason they’re so popular!
On 2002-01-17 14:34, BrassBlower wrote:
On the slow air, they may be able to work out something with you where maybe Matt will play one verse or chorus, Paddy will play another, and you can play one as well!
BB, the Chieftains are indeed very amenable to this kind of suggestion - provided they are dealing with a player of my calibre. In fact this is exactly what happened when they came to Lincolnshire last year to give a concert for the inmates here. Paddy invited me up on stage at the end, of course, and he, Matt, and I played a nice little impromptu arrangement of my absolute all-time favourite Irish slow air - The Flight of the Pigs.
Hi BrassBlower and YouPiper,
You both, fortunately, seemed to have missed the whole “Porridge incident”. Look in the archives for more about that unfortunate episode in Chiff and Fipple history.
If you read Porridge’s message a little more carefully you’ll notice that he’s actually suggesting that you’ll be able to play an air with the Chieftans “when pigs fly”.
All the best,
Chris
Obviously someone has a rough time remembering their own words.
On 2001-12-04 14:50, Porridge wrote:
Seeing that few people got the jokes and others seemed to think there was something evil in what I was doing, I decided it would be best to retire.
So that’s what happened to me.
Now I admit that hiding behind Porridge to take my swipes is really bad form and contrary to the spirit of the board, and that I apologize for. But I’m not going to fess up now!
The poster formerly known as “Porridge”
Let the humour fly, but does it have to be camouflaged?
My wife and I have gone to several Chieftans concerts in the Chicago area and they have always had local musicians on the stage, either as individuals or groups of two or three. These have, if I recall correctly, played their bits while the Chieftans sat and listened. Then at the encore everyone came out and played together.
On 2002-01-17 23:59, avanutria wrote:
If I wanted to pick up one or two cds by the chieftains, what would you recommend?
For myself, to practice with/learn tunes from, you can’t beat the old ones like Chieiftains 3 & 4 and 1 & 2. 3 & 4 can be nice because nearly all tunes are transcribed in the Fiddler’s Fake Book. - Nancy
On 2002-01-18 12:33, Jeferson wrote:
Obviously someone has a rough time remembering their own words.
… Let the humour fly, but does it have to be camouflaged?
Your insinuation that I cannot remember my own words, and your quoting a previous speech of mine to the house is yet one more example of my words being taken totally out of context for nefarious purposes.
You so-called investigative journalists are a carbuncle on the face of democracy! I warn you, Sir, make any further unjustified attacks on my person and you will hear from my attorneys, Messrs. Sue, Grabbit and Runne.
Jef, you’re right, of course. I did announce my intention to retire. But as you know by now I am not only an opportunist but a shameless liar. Anyway, comebacks in sport, the arts and politics are common. (Although not always a good idea, I grant you.)
Camouflage: lots of people post without us knowing who they really are. At least when you see a post by Porridge you should know it’s a spoof. Using this persona allows me to signal mild mischief and not to compromise my (ahem) very serious, helpful alter ego.
We all got to play with the Chieftains last night, a 3 reel set at the end of the show, my daughter even got to come onstage and join the dancers. These gentlemen are the epitome of kindness and gentility. We were invited to the backstage party after the set and then joined them at Nallins for a pint afterwards. A truly memorable evening
On 2002-01-18 08:58, tyghress wrote:
Jeffrey? Who is Jeffrey and what did he do with our Porridge???
Remember that Porridge claimed to be Sir Jeffrey Archer? And that he was posting from prison, hence “inmates”? I am puzzled at Lincolnshire though: Last time he was imprisoned on the Isle of Whight, if memory serves me.
Porridge, love the Flying Pigs! And was it Mssr. Sue, Grabbit and Runne who defended you? Let me recommend Mssr. Pettifog, Shyster & Bloomfield next time.
Very truly yours,
Sir Elliot Bloomfield, K.B., Q.C.
On 2002-01-21 11:31, Ron Rowe wrote:
We all got to play with the Chieftains last night, a 3 reel set at the end of the show, my daughter even got to come onstage and join the dancers. These gentlemen are the epitome of kindness and gentility. We were invited to the backstage party after the set and then joined them at Nallins for a pint afterwards. A truly memorable evening
That is really so cool! What were the reels? How many of you were on stage for the encore, and how many whistles? And what did the Chieftains drink at Nallins?
/bloomfield
[ This Message was edited by: Bloomfield on 2002-01-22 17:37 ]
Wind that Shakes the Barley/Silver Spear/ and I didn’t join in on the 3rd cause I didn’t know it. At Nallin’s everyone was drinking guinness. What else would a self respecting Irishman drink?
Brian Lee, Tom and myself with whistles, Brian’s fiance Heather on Bohran, Stewart on Bohran, Jim on Mandolin and Mack Hoover taking pics and video and my 7 year old stepdancing
I was thinking maybe the Chieftains had paired up with Pink Floyd or something!