Re: [Harp-L] Irish/Celtic trad

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Joe - 

I went through something like what you describe when I first started playing Scottish music (similar to Irish). Yeah, the tunes go by very fast. But it's not true that no liberties are allowed. Some people insist that there's only one "true" way to play a tune, but then somebody else insist that the version *they* know is the only correct tone. Take it with a grain of salt. The "no liberties allowed" folks are pretenders and know-it-alls (even the famous ones).

The joy is in the feeling of playing the tunes, and the sound of the melody - that's one reason I hang out with the San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers. Just the pure melody being played can be huge and create tremendous excitement and mood. After all, this is music that originated in unaccompanied singing, and playing of the pipes or fiddle. All the rhythm and harmony are implied in that melody, which all by itself is danceable. Then you go on to the next tune, which if chosen well follows on logically from the last, flows nicely, and raises the excitement level.

Also, the music has its own kind of swing. It can even be laid back (even though the notes go by fast - some of the fastest music is the most relaxed sounding, oddly enough).

One thing you don't have to do much of is improvise. That part is appealing to some folks - you learn the melody, and you play it. Maybe ornament it a bit, but you don't have to do the tough work of making up new stuff on the spot the way jazz musicians, and a lot of blues and rock musicians, do. I'm sure there are folks who can play blazingly fast sets of reels and think that improvising over a 12-bar blues must be the toughest thing in the world to play.

Winslow

----- Original Message ----
From: Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 1:16:07 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Irish/Celtic trad

Was talking back and forth to another member and voiced my feeling(s)  
that Irish/Celtic Trad (and it's Am-er-eecan cousin..bluegrass) must  
be the toughest stuff in the world to play.

Just think about it. First you have a melody and then it repeats  
itself, then repeats itself again, and again, and again. How does one  
play this stuff? From rote? How does one keep the notes straight? The  
nice thing about jazz is that you never have to do the same thing  
twice. It's so easy (by comparison).

THEN, as if that wasn't enough to spin your head, the melody changes  
to something else, and the whole entire process starts all over  
again. Instead of a bridge, there are multiple melodies. Then, it's  
no fun if they tell you that there are literally thousands of notes.  
AND all the verses have to match. No liberties allowed. And the  
speed? fugeddabowdit.

When I hear players like Jim Conway, Rick Epping, Brendan Power, my  
brain liquifies and drips down into my shoelaces. Jeez.

smo-joe
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