Okay, Im going to stick it all out here.
As of late I have discovered a group of people here where I live that are into Irish Trad and the session we had last week was a great time. Although I know these folks are really nice I know that what I really desire is to play I-Trad with fellow Christians. (I mean playing trad jigs/reels/hornpipes, etc. Not praise and worship). I love playing out and have for a long time in another genre of music, but alas the traditional place for most Irish music is the pub. Now, dont get me wrong I do like some pubs, but not too late at night when the atmosphere is more like a bar than a relaxing place to eat some good fare and have a good talk, listening to some tunes. We actually have a place here in Jax like that- Lynch’s Irish Pub. It is great up until about 9pm and then it goes into full-on bar atmosphere. Nothing wrong with that, but my question is this:
Are there any other Christians out here that want so badly to play out (like in coffee houses, town squares, at people’s homes) and forego the bar scene and struggle with this?
Thanks,
Eric
Eric T
Jacksonville FL USA
[ This Message was edited by: Tradman on 2002-09-09 21:59 ]
On a silly note… he’s just tryin to get rid of a perfectly good sister. wiping tears
Seriously, it is nice to have some one that is like you in the Christian kind of way. It is nice to know that some one else out there wants it to be that way.
Not that I play well enough yet to play with anyone, but, if I did, it would be great to play with others who share my faith in Christ. In fact, I haven’t found many whistle enthusiasts in Northern OH (if you’re out there, please let me know). Maybe, because I don’t go to Pubs. But, any opportunity to fellowship with other Christians doing something that we all enjoy is great!
Cindy
There are several of us here in the Salt Lake City area who struggle with the regular Sunday session in the local pub. We just skip that one and try to get together with anyone else we can on other days/other times/other places. The guy in this area (none other than Brian Lee) who knows all things Irish/whistle/pipes/sessions/etc. is aware of our hesitation and always tries to work out sessions on other days and at other places when a group is getting together. It’s very much appreciated. You’re great, Bri!
Susan
(Also - religious preferences aside, as a recovering alcoholic I have special problems when worrying about where a session is going to be held - have to be careful about that you know. There does seem to be a lot of imbibing that goes along with IrTrad!)
Yeah, I’ve long since accepted the fact that no matter how good I get (don’t laugh too hard, I haven’t given up) I’ll never play in a regular Irish pub session. My Guinness whistle sits in my drawer in mockery, destined to never smell of barley malt… that is what beer is made of, right?
Nice chiffy little whistle, though.
Oh, as if this weren’t enough, they’ve got me making some sort of green jell-o salad (sans carrots, at least) for tomorrow night… oh, the humiliation…
“It’s made of hooves, you know.” - Monty Burns
But I am one of those degenerate Christians who likes Harry Potter. I wonder if C.S. Lewis got that much grief. :roll:
edited to add some really OT stuff
“There is only one thing worse than being witty, and that is not being witty.”
[ This Message was edited by: Dewhistle on 2002-09-10 04:10 ]
As an outsider to this thread (I am very religious but a non-Christian), I have observed in my visits to Ireland that it is just about the most Christian country you could ever visit. Everyone goes to church on a Sunday. They also (priests included) down the guinness and play the music like there’s no tomorrow (which for some there isn’t, but they reappear the day after).
Maybe - strike me down for blasphemy - just maybe, it’s okay to do both? Maybe God won’t mind (unless the players do which is different of course).
As a matter of fact, Nick, there was a rather lengthy debate between myself and another Christian on that very subject on Mack’s board. Sometimes Christians disagree.
Depending on your available time and energy: (And this can be substantial)
You might think of establishing your own social club. We have several in the area for different disciplines of music Jazz seem to be the most popular. They are even supported by the local council for the arts. They server no food, no drink except for coffee, water, soda someone brings in cookies or cake. They do not make a profit and are just there for the enjoyment of music. They run events on Friday and Saturday nights to help fund them. They have jam nights were people can come and sit in or just listen for a minimal fee. It is good to do this in an area where there are some restaurants established so people can go for something to eat and then relax with some music.
This is where your love for the music and the ability to put the time in to run such a venture become tested.
Another option might be to join an existing club and have your own ITM committee and try and work out a schedule.
But I am one of those degenerate Christians who likes Harry Potter. I wonder if C.S. Lewis got that much grief. :roll:
I didn’t like the Narnia books, but I did like the Screwtape Letters.
Actually, I confess I’ve never read 'em, I was into Tolkein. But they seemed another good example of “weird” literature for kids. I’ve even heard of people who won’t let their kids read Dr. Seuss. There goes the thread.
On another note:
To all those hesitant about the term
“Christian” I have to say that it bothers me to hear people treat it as a bad word. I have one use for it: to indicate that I am a member of a church of that set of beliefs. I am fully aware that Christianity has had some very ugly periods throughout history and there are Christians out there whose behavior is as immoral as it is criminal. But I no more expect to be affiliated with them than I would assume that all Muslims wreck buildings and kill children. I also do not limit myself to playing alongside Christians, no indeed, but it is a fact that I do not drink or approve of drinking, hence my refusal to play whistle in a bar or pub.
It was asked who among us was a Christiann whistler (in the text though not the title) so I spoke up as a member of a Christian religion that is frequently misunderstood (many refuse to believe we are followers of Christ because of something someone they know told them, and never see things for themselves. Childish).
That said, this thread did seem to be asking for trouble, but Tradman was clearly aware of it and was willing to risk it and ask his question. If you don’t have an interest in this subject, you are invited to move along to a thread that does interest you instead of taking jabs at this one.
I can identify with this thread, too, because I find myself really wishing that Irish trad wasn’t so closely associated with drinking and the bar/party atmosphere. And, just as was said earlier in this thread, I’m not really interested in playing praise and worship on the whistle… that is good stuff but I’m more interested in playing actual Irish trad. So, I guess I’m not offering any suggestions, just saying that I can identify, and if I didn’t live in PA in the middle of nowhere, I would come play with ya!! That’s my other problem… I live out in the middle of nowhere and it’s hard to find regular sessions ANYWHERE. There is an interest in Irish Trad in my community but people don’t know too much about it and haven’t really been exposed to it much. So I’m thinking next summer (if I survive this year of college!) of starting a little class/session… sort of an informal thing where people can bring instruments (those who don’t already have instruments can buy whistles cuz they don’t cost much) and sit on my porch and learn the basics, at least enough to play a few tunes together… We’ll see if that flies…
On 2002-09-10 12:54, the_instrument_player wrote:
I can identify with this thread, too, because I find myself really wishing that Irish trad wasn’t so closely associated with drinking and the bar/party atmosphere
I think one would be hard pressed to find any European folk music tradition that is not associated to some extent with drinking and partying. Does anybody know of one?
Mike
You might check if any local churches would let you use their facilities during times when no worship is being held there for sessions.
My band used to meet in the auditorium of the Grace Covenant Church twice a week, and it worked out well. We also got some pretty decent recordings with their sound board. (Well, they were decent for musicians just getting their feet wet in Irish trad. By my standards today they weren’t all that decent, but everyone starts somewhere.)
Do remember though that one of the best things about traditional music is the wide variety of people it can bring together.
I’m not meaning to be critical, merely to point out that you may have better and bigger sessions if you define who can come inclusively rather than exclusively.
Especially this week, when all Americans are pulling back together to remember our fallen countrymen.
