Gippmeister
April 13, 2021 at 9:28 pm
Location: Listening to Kevin Burke discussing his post Bothy Band partnership with Mícheál Ó Domhnaill
Howdy Christy! Just saw your post ‘re intros, outros, ye can also add in interludes! Meself and me companero agonize over these! We’d put as much effort in as we would the lyrics. They can be the make’in or breakin’ of a little ditty! So always appreciated!
Chris Wood, I’ve been listening, some great live shows, some great renditions of that song about the man shot, a Brazilian, shot by police in a Tube station. Some good musical collaborations with a guy, ‘Disraili’; fantastic. The lockdown session with Chris is good. Look out for the wolfhound(!). Wasnt Bill Leader responsible for a lot of what turned out to be memorable and momentous recordings?
Christy's reply
you hit the nail there Ed….Bill’s intuition, patience and encouragement nurtured manys the overture….without Bill Leader , Planxty would not have been formed…
The Mighty Doonans – youtube, ‘Chicken on a raft’ – getting the boogie going! Some contrast to ‘The Young Tradition’ – but variety is the spice and we’re better for it… D
Thanks for a great morning’s listening. Nothing of yours (yet), but online via memories triggered by names you listed in your reply to Mary.
First up – John Doonan (Flute for the Feis – was a Bill Leader produced LP -heavily featured on John Peel’s radio show) – leading to The Doonans – Hedgehog Pie and Sean McGuire…an ace mix.
http://www.themightydoonans.co.uk is a good source – and has history of the band – the era that you recall so well. Great times, for sure.
Time for a cuppa and ‘Prosperous’ now. I can feel a Bill Leader day brewing – nearly time to give The Dransfields a spin.
Chris Wood. More later.
The 45th anniversary of Phil Ochs’ passing was marked a few days ago. That folk page that Dagrab put up has some interesting material. By the way he was deported from Ireland, November 1970.
Christy's reply
Changes
Author: Phil Ochs
Sit by my side come as close as the air sharing a memory of grey,
Wander in my world, dream about the pictures I play, of changes.
Green leaves of summer turn red in the fall to brown and to yellow they fade.
Then they have to die and drop within the circle grand parade of changes.
Scenes of my young years are warm in my mind visions of shadows that shine,
’til one day I return and find they were the victims of the vines of changes.
The world is spinning madly adrift in the dark, it swings through a hollow of haze,
a race around the stars, a journey through the universe ablaze with changes.
Moments of magic will glow through the night all fears of the forest are gone.
When the morning breaks they’re swept away like golden drops of dawn by changes.
Oceans will part to a strange melody, as fires will sometimes burn cold.
Like water in the wind we are puppets to the silver strings of changes.
Our tears will be trembling when we are somewhere else, one last cup of wine we will pour.
I’ll kiss you one more time and leave you on the rolling river shore of changes.
More Info
We were living in Rialto.It was just after The Hunger Strikes of ’81. Eamon McCann visited and subsequently sent me tapes of Phil Ochs.I loved his work.One album was called “Gunfight at Carnegie Hall” I have considered many of his songs but this one was the only one I managed to inhabit.His work is worth checking out.It stands the test of time.
Hi Christy, catching up on posts. Enjoyed reading your piece on Seán McGuire which led me to listen again to his music. There is a fantastic mural of him one block up from An Cultúrlann. Painted by Danny Devenny it is called Ceol gan teorainn: music without borders and a wonderful tribute to this master fiddler, uillean pipe, piano, guitar and whistle player who grew up on the falls. Go well.
Christy's reply
The Traditional Club was held every Wed night in Slattery’s Pub, Capel Street Dublin. It ran for what seemed like decades….It was almost sacred in its devotion to the Trad Arts….one Wed night, (twas sometime between 1966 and 1973) I attended a Sean Maguire performance in that hallowed room….got in early to get a seat….by kick-off the room was thronged ( it held circa 200 if “Morgan the Packer” was seating patrons) ….it was like a “whos who”of all the greats….when Sean Maguire enetered the room excitement was palpable….all eyes were trained upon the Belfast maestro and he appeared to be in his element….I was sitting at a small table with Mairtín Byrnes and Siney Crotty….Pint Bottles, small Jemmies and glowing Majors…..it was Fiddle Heaven…Maguire was on fire that night….
I met Sean a few years after in the Home of John and Julie Doonan in Hebburn on the River Tyne…. John was a legendery Piccolo and Flute player with whom I was honoured to play….John and Julie’s Family have continued the Tradition with “The Mighty Doonan’s” and “Hedgehog Pie”
Sitting with Sean Maguire and John Doonan….for me, twas the stuff of dreams
Had great songs/singers in mind after Chris Wood’s mentions. Currently enjoying a revisit to ‘Fotheringay’ c 1970 – impressed more than ever by ensemble sound by everyone on top of their game. Today, very taken by ‘The Way I Feel’ by Gordon Lightfoot – especially by the words and imagery.
Not sure if Mr L gets many mentions here, but, thankfully there are some fan sites/youtube etc for perusal. Sadly, I’ve never seen him on a gig, but what class… ‘Early Morning Rain’ hit me from the first time I heard it and now via youtube, his versions of ‘The Way I Feel’ are wonderful.
GL is 80 now – beating Dylan by a few lengths. Quite a combined talent too.
Hello Christy and All,
Here’s a link to a recording of Chris Wood’s One in a million https://youtu.be/62–b0UW1xU
There are some live versions too.
I’ve listened to it and ordered the CD. Not heard of him before.
Harp lesson at 11am and I’ve got 34 strings asking to be tuned. 😊
Rebecca
Thanks for the prompt about Chris Wood. You’re spot on about his style and skills. Great that his website has even more interesting items than when I last visited. Including his lockdown set for Folk on Foot.
So, lots of great listening/viewing things via http://www.chriswoodmusic.co.uk including cracking good photos on his home page – one showing ‘the band on the wall’ – a favourite venue that I hope survives.Not far from the old MSG spot.
Evening Christy
42 days into a hunger strike ,40 years ago.
Remember the MP. Thirty thousand votes. 3rd day in office.
Numbers can be statistics, figures, just digits, but sometimes they speak.
Song for Marcella shall be my lullaby tonight.
Do you ever sing it, may i ask, in a quiet moment?
Cheers for being there….not just a number.
Rory
Christy's reply
I’ve Never sung “Song for Marcella” Rory….but I often reflect upon the life of young Bobby Sands…I must seek it out again and have a listen
Fascinating to know your music roots and routes, Christy
I found Woody via Bob… I hope you get chance to work with TG4 on your background and journey – it’ll be fascinating viewing – and hopefully, fun for you.
Thank You Dave….I enjoyed a well-spent hour yesterday…listening to the Chris Wood interview on Folk on Foot…..I recommend it to any curious songster …… Chris Wood’s work is vital..his songs beautifully crafted and accompanied, his singing true and captivating…to these old ears he is “top of the pops”…..to any newcomers,I recommend starting off with “One in a Million” ..take it from there..
Hello Christy,
Till the mantra permeates the muscle memory. I thi k the years are short in this way.
The very few gigs I’ve done have been like that. Total immersion for as long as I’ve got beforehand. I’m so looking forward to seeing the music seep from you. When I see Air in Liam, I see Earth in you. Both so beautiful. With you it’s cellular.
Here’s the latest version of my song. It now has a name and I’ve managed to get the words into it. Still feeling very new. I want the voice to sound like pipes. The tune feels like a washing line. One long length. https://youtu.be/vtH2B_XyCFA
60 years ago today, I’d have been at primary school or messing about at home…you still at school/discovering music?
According to http://www.beachamjournal.com today is the 60th anniversary of Dylan’s first NYC gig – supporting John Lee Hooker no less… and soon to be in the orbit of The Clancy Brothers et al.. Bob was 19.
Mr Beacham has good articles for readers inclined to hit the search box on his website…’Bob Dylan’ produces a few good pieces. I’ll hit it for The Clancys sometime soon. I found Beacham via ‘Expecting Rain’ – where many a Dylan gem lurks.
Enjoy the day.
Dave
Christy's reply
I was in Secondary School, still rattlin the ivories, Bill Haley, Elvis,..the Clancy’s comin down the line…it would be another 10 years before I listened to Bob…MacColl and Woody led me there
Morning Christy hope all is well with you I was just thinking this morning we’ ll have to change your quote” Three jumps Josie and away we go “to Two jabs Josie and away we go, best of luck with the rehearsals we are all looking forward to seeing you rattle the Tak again
Face the puck out
Christy's reply
Sean Maguire ,to his Piano playing partner Josephine Keegan, “Two Bumps Josie” whereupon he tore off into a brace of reels as only Seán could play them
…………………………….In an interview with Fiddle Magazine in 1998, Seamus Connolly, the Co. Clare fiddler then based in Boston, summed up McGuire’s contribution:
“Before 1957 and ’58 many young fiddlers coming up were listening to Michael Coleman on scratchy old 78s, and almost all of Irish fiddling was in just a few keys. Then Sean McGuire’s first recordings came out, and we had heard nothing like this – tunes like The Mathematician, with parts where he shifts effortlessly through a number of high positions, or like The Golden Eagle where he switches back and forth between second and third positions. And there were a number of tunes where he was playing with great facility in the flat keys. It took me years to find out what he was doing.
“He certainly influenced a lot of my generation – the level of his technique first of all, and also the way with his variations he could get inside a tune and turn it around. And I have seen that many of the young fiddlers who were initially opposed to his approach came to admit his genius later on. He also opened the way for players in the next generation to take classical training and apply it to the traditional style. As far as I am concerned, McGuire was a real genius of a player and I hope he is ultimately accorded his true place in the annals of traditional Irish music.”
In 2005 McGuire suffered a stroke and died on 24 March. His old friend Joe Burke delivered the eulogy at his funeral. He is buried in Milltown Cemetery in Belfast.
……………………….And Joe Himself now laid to reat…..Sean Maguire and Joe Burke, two Masters of Music, two purveyors of laughter and fun….
Howdy Christy! Just wanted to drop in and give Shay Healy a mention. Sad day. He always came across as an interesting and affable man. He turned his hand to many things, for many of us Nighthawks was compulsive viewing. History has shown that show done the country some service! Apart from the stuff he’s well known for he done a lot of stuff under the radar. One was he wrote the only original, non Trad/Arr on the Emmet Spiceland album, Autumn has come, a gorgeous song. He also wrote the sleeve notes on the 1977 reissue of that l.p. which I’m currently looking at. He’ll be missed!
Christy's reply
My earliest memory of Shay is when I heard my Brother Barry (Luka) sing ;
“In a cloud of dust they roll
covered wagons down a country road”
the opening lines of an early Shay Healy song called “The Town is not their own”.
Over the years our paths crossed frequently….always a pleasure to meet Shay….I agree with you, Nighthawks was a groundbreaking concept, a programme that caused viewers to rock and heads to roll…Goodnight to you Shay, me auld segosha
there might be a duff link to the Larry Campbell/Dylan piece via the substack route – but, putting ‘Flagging down the Double Es’ into a search engine should access the goodies – I hope… D
Christy's reply
workin out intros and outros for the new songs…never an easy job when a fellows only got a few chords…..duff links
Decades of listening to Dylan for both of us.Lots of gigs,often admiring contributions from his companeros. Notably, Larry Campbell’s slick guitar playing from 90s/2000s. Also, the buzz for me of seeing an acoustic Campbell/David Bromberg show c 5 years ago.
And the mystery of how things tick – How Dylan ticks etc. Now, thanks to an in depth piece with Campbell + video clips, there’s a chink of light into Dylan/band chemistry… an ace read via Flagging down the double Es at http://www.dylanlive.substack.com . A sunny bunker too – and not a mail train in earshot.
Dave
Christy's reply
jasus Dave, how many hours you got in your Day…does you never go to bed at all or is there three of you? story Bro ?
hard at it here…I’ve had to get the Tak out.. been getting too attached to t’Atkin…I need to Tak the gig, t’Atkin’s necks a bit thinner
Howdy Christy! Just saw your post ‘re intros, outros, ye can also add in interludes! Meself and me companero agonize over these! We’d put as much effort in as we would the lyrics. They can be the make’in or breakin’ of a little ditty! So always appreciated!
a guitar break after every chorus ….
Chris Wood, I’ve been listening, some great live shows, some great renditions of that song about the man shot, a Brazilian, shot by police in a Tube station. Some good musical collaborations with a guy, ‘Disraili’; fantastic. The lockdown session with Chris is good. Look out for the wolfhound(!). Wasnt Bill Leader responsible for a lot of what turned out to be memorable and momentous recordings?
you hit the nail there Ed….Bill’s intuition, patience and encouragement nurtured manys the overture….without Bill Leader , Planxty would not have been formed…
The Mighty Doonans – youtube, ‘Chicken on a raft’ – getting the boogie going! Some contrast to ‘The Young Tradition’ – but variety is the spice and we’re better for it… D
Hi Christy
Thanks for a great morning’s listening. Nothing of yours (yet), but online via memories triggered by names you listed in your reply to Mary.
First up – John Doonan (Flute for the Feis – was a Bill Leader produced LP -heavily featured on John Peel’s radio show) – leading to The Doonans – Hedgehog Pie and Sean McGuire…an ace mix.
http://www.themightydoonans.co.uk is a good source – and has history of the band – the era that you recall so well. Great times, for sure.
Time for a cuppa and ‘Prosperous’ now. I can feel a Bill Leader day brewing – nearly time to give The Dransfields a spin.
Enjoy the sun hitting the workroom, hopefully.
Dave
So beautiful.
Sobmany lifetimes needed to explore everything.
Chris Wood. More later.
The 45th anniversary of Phil Ochs’ passing was marked a few days ago. That folk page that Dagrab put up has some interesting material. By the way he was deported from Ireland, November 1970.
Changes
Author: Phil Ochs
Sit by my side come as close as the air sharing a memory of grey,
Wander in my world, dream about the pictures I play, of changes.
Green leaves of summer turn red in the fall to brown and to yellow they fade.
Then they have to die and drop within the circle grand parade of changes.
Scenes of my young years are warm in my mind visions of shadows that shine,
’til one day I return and find they were the victims of the vines of changes.
The world is spinning madly adrift in the dark, it swings through a hollow of haze,
a race around the stars, a journey through the universe ablaze with changes.
Moments of magic will glow through the night all fears of the forest are gone.
When the morning breaks they’re swept away like golden drops of dawn by changes.
Oceans will part to a strange melody, as fires will sometimes burn cold.
Like water in the wind we are puppets to the silver strings of changes.
Our tears will be trembling when we are somewhere else, one last cup of wine we will pour.
I’ll kiss you one more time and leave you on the rolling river shore of changes.
More Info
We were living in Rialto.It was just after The Hunger Strikes of ’81. Eamon McCann visited and subsequently sent me tapes of Phil Ochs.I loved his work.One album was called “Gunfight at Carnegie Hall” I have considered many of his songs but this one was the only one I managed to inhabit.His work is worth checking out.It stands the test of time.
Hi Christy, catching up on posts. Enjoyed reading your piece on Seán McGuire which led me to listen again to his music. There is a fantastic mural of him one block up from An Cultúrlann. Painted by Danny Devenny it is called Ceol gan teorainn: music without borders and a wonderful tribute to this master fiddler, uillean pipe, piano, guitar and whistle player who grew up on the falls. Go well.
The Traditional Club was held every Wed night in Slattery’s Pub, Capel Street Dublin. It ran for what seemed like decades….It was almost sacred in its devotion to the Trad Arts….one Wed night, (twas sometime between 1966 and 1973) I attended a Sean Maguire performance in that hallowed room….got in early to get a seat….by kick-off the room was thronged ( it held circa 200 if “Morgan the Packer” was seating patrons) ….it was like a “whos who”of all the greats….when Sean Maguire enetered the room excitement was palpable….all eyes were trained upon the Belfast maestro and he appeared to be in his element….I was sitting at a small table with Mairtín Byrnes and Siney Crotty….Pint Bottles, small Jemmies and glowing Majors…..it was Fiddle Heaven…Maguire was on fire that night….
I met Sean a few years after in the Home of John and Julie Doonan in Hebburn on the River Tyne…. John was a legendery Piccolo and Flute player with whom I was honoured to play….John and Julie’s Family have continued the Tradition with “The Mighty Doonan’s” and “Hedgehog Pie”
Sitting with Sean Maguire and John Doonan….for me, twas the stuff of dreams
Hi Christ all
Always good when some music dots join up.
Had great songs/singers in mind after Chris Wood’s mentions. Currently enjoying a revisit to ‘Fotheringay’ c 1970 – impressed more than ever by ensemble sound by everyone on top of their game. Today, very taken by ‘The Way I Feel’ by Gordon Lightfoot – especially by the words and imagery.
Not sure if Mr L gets many mentions here, but, thankfully there are some fan sites/youtube etc for perusal. Sadly, I’ve never seen him on a gig, but what class… ‘Early Morning Rain’ hit me from the first time I heard it and now via youtube, his versions of ‘The Way I Feel’ are wonderful.
GL is 80 now – beating Dylan by a few lengths. Quite a combined talent too.
Sun now, but early morning rain in my head.
Enjoy the day,all.
Dave
Hello Christy and All,
Here’s a link to a recording of Chris Wood’s One in a million
https://youtu.be/62–b0UW1xU
There are some live versions too.
I’ve listened to it and ordered the CD. Not heard of him before.
Harp lesson at 11am and I’ve got 34 strings asking to be tuned. 😊
Rebecca
Mornin’ Christy
Thanks for the prompt about Chris Wood. You’re spot on about his style and skills. Great that his website has even more interesting items than when I last visited. Including his lockdown set for Folk on Foot.
So, lots of great listening/viewing things via http://www.chriswoodmusic.co.uk including cracking good photos on his home page – one showing ‘the band on the wall’ – a favourite venue that I hope survives.Not far from the old MSG spot.
Have a good day, twixt Atkin and Tak…
Dave
Evening Christy
42 days into a hunger strike ,40 years ago.
Remember the MP. Thirty thousand votes. 3rd day in office.
Numbers can be statistics, figures, just digits, but sometimes they speak.
Song for Marcella shall be my lullaby tonight.
Do you ever sing it, may i ask, in a quiet moment?
Cheers for being there….not just a number.
Rory
I’ve Never sung “Song for Marcella” Rory….but I often reflect upon the life of young Bobby Sands…I must seek it out again and have a listen
Fascinating to know your music roots and routes, Christy
I found Woody via Bob… I hope you get chance to work with TG4 on your background and journey – it’ll be fascinating viewing – and hopefully, fun for you.
http://www.folkonfoot.com does interesting work here.
As ever, all the best
Dave
Thank You Dave….I enjoyed a well-spent hour yesterday…listening to the Chris Wood interview on Folk on Foot…..I recommend it to any curious songster …… Chris Wood’s work is vital..his songs beautifully crafted and accompanied, his singing true and captivating…to these old ears he is “top of the pops”…..to any newcomers,I recommend starting off with “One in a Million” ..take it from there..
Shine On Chris Wood
Hello Christy,
Till the mantra permeates the muscle memory. I thi k the years are short in this way.
The very few gigs I’ve done have been like that. Total immersion for as long as I’ve got beforehand. I’m so looking forward to seeing the music seep from you. When I see Air in Liam, I see Earth in you. Both so beautiful. With you it’s cellular.
Here’s the latest version of my song. It now has a name and I’ve managed to get the words into it. Still feeling very new. I want the voice to sound like pipes. The tune feels like a washing line. One long length.
https://youtu.be/vtH2B_XyCFA
Rebecca
Thanks for sharing….that melody carried me away
No luck with a Clancy search on the Beacham site, but ‘ Phil Ochs’ produces some nice pieces – great that there’s always interest in Phil here. D
you gotta be a speed reader Dave
Mornin’ Christy/ all
60 years ago today, I’d have been at primary school or messing about at home…you still at school/discovering music?
According to http://www.beachamjournal.com today is the 60th anniversary of Dylan’s first NYC gig – supporting John Lee Hooker no less… and soon to be in the orbit of The Clancy Brothers et al.. Bob was 19.
Mr Beacham has good articles for readers inclined to hit the search box on his website…’Bob Dylan’ produces a few good pieces. I’ll hit it for The Clancys sometime soon. I found Beacham via ‘Expecting Rain’ – where many a Dylan gem lurks.
Enjoy the day.
Dave
I was in Secondary School, still rattlin the ivories, Bill Haley, Elvis,..the Clancy’s comin down the line…it would be another 10 years before I listened to Bob…MacColl and Woody led me there
Morning Christy hope all is well with you I was just thinking this morning we’ ll have to change your quote” Three jumps Josie and away we go “to Two jabs Josie and away we go, best of luck with the rehearsals we are all looking forward to seeing you rattle the Tak again
Face the puck out
Sean Maguire ,to his Piano playing partner Josephine Keegan, “Two Bumps Josie” whereupon he tore off into a brace of reels as only Seán could play them
…………………………….In an interview with Fiddle Magazine in 1998, Seamus Connolly, the Co. Clare fiddler then based in Boston, summed up McGuire’s contribution:
“Before 1957 and ’58 many young fiddlers coming up were listening to Michael Coleman on scratchy old 78s, and almost all of Irish fiddling was in just a few keys. Then Sean McGuire’s first recordings came out, and we had heard nothing like this – tunes like The Mathematician, with parts where he shifts effortlessly through a number of high positions, or like The Golden Eagle where he switches back and forth between second and third positions. And there were a number of tunes where he was playing with great facility in the flat keys. It took me years to find out what he was doing.
“He certainly influenced a lot of my generation – the level of his technique first of all, and also the way with his variations he could get inside a tune and turn it around. And I have seen that many of the young fiddlers who were initially opposed to his approach came to admit his genius later on. He also opened the way for players in the next generation to take classical training and apply it to the traditional style. As far as I am concerned, McGuire was a real genius of a player and I hope he is ultimately accorded his true place in the annals of traditional Irish music.”
In 2005 McGuire suffered a stroke and died on 24 March. His old friend Joe Burke delivered the eulogy at his funeral. He is buried in Milltown Cemetery in Belfast.
……………………….And Joe Himself now laid to reat…..Sean Maguire and Joe Burke, two Masters of Music, two purveyors of laughter and fun….
Howdy Christy! Just wanted to drop in and give Shay Healy a mention. Sad day. He always came across as an interesting and affable man. He turned his hand to many things, for many of us Nighthawks was compulsive viewing. History has shown that show done the country some service! Apart from the stuff he’s well known for he done a lot of stuff under the radar. One was he wrote the only original, non Trad/Arr on the Emmet Spiceland album, Autumn has come, a gorgeous song. He also wrote the sleeve notes on the 1977 reissue of that l.p. which I’m currently looking at. He’ll be missed!
My earliest memory of Shay is when I heard my Brother Barry (Luka) sing ;
“In a cloud of dust they roll
covered wagons down a country road”
the opening lines of an early Shay Healy song called “The Town is not their own”.
Over the years our paths crossed frequently….always a pleasure to meet Shay….I agree with you, Nighthawks was a groundbreaking concept, a programme that caused viewers to rock and heads to roll…Goodnight to you Shay, me auld segosha
Come on Leinster, give em a good grinding. While following all the rules scrupulously, obviously …!
there might be a duff link to the Larry Campbell/Dylan piece via the substack route – but, putting ‘Flagging down the Double Es’ into a search engine should access the goodies – I hope… D
workin out intros and outros for the new songs…never an easy job when a fellows only got a few chords…..duff links
Hi Christy
Decades of listening to Dylan for both of us.Lots of gigs,often admiring contributions from his companeros. Notably, Larry Campbell’s slick guitar playing from 90s/2000s. Also, the buzz for me of seeing an acoustic Campbell/David Bromberg show c 5 years ago.
And the mystery of how things tick – How Dylan ticks etc. Now, thanks to an in depth piece with Campbell + video clips, there’s a chink of light into Dylan/band chemistry… an ace read via Flagging down the double Es at http://www.dylanlive.substack.com . A sunny bunker too – and not a mail train in earshot.
Dave
jasus Dave, how many hours you got in your Day…does you never go to bed at all or is there three of you? story Bro ?
hard at it here…I’ve had to get the Tak out.. been getting too attached to t’Atkin…I need to Tak the gig, t’Atkin’s necks a bit thinner