I have a particular fondness for Irish reels* and jigs played on the flute; and this is an exceptionally good example of the genre - played by Kevin Crawford and backed by Bodhran (drum) and Guitar: the tunes are Dillon's Fancy, Maids in the Meadow & Toss the Feathers.
I find Crawford's playing here to be irresistible; almost miraculous in its rapidity and accuracy, the decorations and emphasis - and the way that the necessary breathing is integrated into the rhythm - usually as off-beats which add a kind of syncopation.
The flute tone is also rich and pleasing - especially the low notes.
*A reel is a fast folk tune, in 4/4 time with lots of quavers, originally for dancing - but nowadays more often for listening (hence played even faster than when for dancing).
Very nice. I never actually knew what a reel was until I read this!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you have this expression in England: "Between the jigs and the reels". Meaning "What with one thing and another..."
@M - I haven't come across that phrase. Folk music is much more niche here than in Ireland - or even than Scotland. Northumberland, where I live, is the most "folky" part of England.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting indeed.
ReplyDeleteAre you familiar with the Chieftains?
I really like some of their live recordings, here are two that I feel to be of special quality:
https://youtu.be/nyxLluDRaTI
https://youtu.be/Vj-cpRBwVds
Listening again I realized how those brief pauses after each phrase, when he catches his breath, they make all the difference for me, the ending of the phrases sound like a "yearning", which hits home in the next phrase. Can't explain it technically, but come to think if that's a shared quality among the best reels.
ReplyDelete@VF - I rather look down on the Chieftains as too commercialized, because Paddy Moloney played his pipes wit hthe regulators switched off, and because their arrangements were unimaginative - with too many treble instruments playing in unison, no chordal instrument except (later) a harp to some extent, and only the drum to provide and bass and rhythm. Nonetheless, I listened, and learned some tunes from their records!
ReplyDeleteWith respect to the breaths and the rests; you only get this with the flute (and piccolo and whistle) - because the other Irish melody instruments (pipes, fiddles, squeeze boxes, banjo, mandolin etc) don't need a break, and tend to play their reels as a continuous barrage of rapid notes! Although undeniably impressive, this can be a bit wearing after a while, and it is one reason why I enjoy the flute so much.
He should do "Molly on the Shore."
ReplyDelete@a_p - I don't think that tune is much played by folk musicians - it's mainly known via Percy Grainger's classical music arrangement for wind band or piano.
ReplyDelete