Irish bouzouki documentary

**PseudoCelt** · Mar-23-2008, 10:38am

There was a documentary on Irish TV last year about the Irish bouzouki. I just discovered that it is now up on Google Video. The audio and video are a bit out of synch, but it's watchable.

Ceird an Cheoil

Patrick

**groveland** · Mar-23-2008, 11:28am

That's good - I couldn't find it on TG4 anymore. (It's referenced and discussed on these threads as well: Here and here.)

**John Flynn** · Mar-23-2008, 11:42am

Thank you so much for that. I missed the other postings about this show. I really enjoyed watching it. I found it very moving.

**Avi Ziv** · Mar-23-2008, 11:48am

Wonderful!!

Avi

**Steve L** · Mar-23-2008, 2:20pm

Patrick, you absolutely made my weekend. Thank you!

**MikeB** · Mar-23-2008, 3:06pm

If I didn't already own one, that video would sure make me want one...

**citogue** · Mar-23-2008, 10:16pm

Groveland,
If you click on www.tg4.ie, then the webtv icon, and then click on "ceol-culturlann" on the left side of the screen ("ceol" being the Irish word for music), you'll see not only the bouzouki video but a rake of good trad programmes as well. The best part is that most of these players are not very well-known here in North America. And I get to brush up on my forty-year old Irish:-]

Paul

**Dagger Gordon** · Mar-24-2008, 1:18am

The other programmes in the series such as guitar and low whistle, which have a similar format featuring one builder plus most of the main players, are also great.

**danb** · Mar-24-2008, 2:50am

Very nice, thanks for linking

**Bertram Henze** · Mar-24-2008, 4:43am

Very nice video, creating all of the authentic atmosphere needed. I particularly like the understated way it shows how plain and unpretentious Irish musicians are about their instruments, topped off with the taped-on pickup on Andy Irvine's.
There is, however, a somewhat false impression generated how easy it is to build a zouk, all you need seems to be a little glue and lots of clamps to create good sounds and good looks.

Bertram

**John Flynn** · Mar-24-2008, 8:59am

Originally Posted by

There is, however, a somewhat false impression generated how easy it is to build a zouk, all you need seems to be a little glue and lots of clamps to create good sounds and good looks.

I agree. I'm currently having an OM built and I have gotten to visit the luthier throughout the process. I am amazed at all that goes into it.

I had a similar impression from the DIY network documentary with Lynn Dudenbostel showing how mandolins are built. But on further reflection, I figured the alternative would be to bore most viewers with a whole hour of scraping and sanding footage. What the film-makers did do in the DIY spot was to have the narrator at least mention how many weeks and hours go into one instrument. It would have been interesting if the film-makers had done that in the zouk piece.

**first string** · Mar-24-2008, 12:21pm

Great stuff. Thanks for the link. That about made my morning. I'll have to watch it again later after I've had a half dozen or so cups of coffee. Then I might be able to actually absorb some of it.

...damn Planxty was good.

**TeleMark** · Mar-24-2008, 3:03pm

I absolutely can NOT get this thing to load fully. It seems to get about 15-20% into the download and just stops. I'm on cable modem and everything!!!

**first string** · Mar-24-2008, 3:26pm

Originally Posted by (TeleMark @ Mar. 24 2008, 16:03)

I absolutely can NOT get this thing to load fully. It seems to get about 15-20% into the download and just stops. I'm on cable modem and everything!!!

Had the same experience. I just moved it along about a minute past where it stopped, and it loaded the rest just fine.

**David Currie** · Mar-24-2008, 3:51pm

Originally Posted by (first string @ Mar. 24 2008, 13:21)

...damn Planxty was good.

Couldn't agree more. #Had the great pleasure of seeing them live in Glasgow in the 70's when Paul Brady was in the line up.

Many thanks for posting this link - great stuff!

**first string** · Mar-24-2008, 4:09pm

Originally Posted by (MKBear @ Mar. 24 2008, 16:51)

Originally Posted by (first string @ Mar. 24 2008, 13:21)

...damn Planxty was good.

Couldn't agree more. Had the great pleasure of seeing them live in Glasgow in the 70's when Paul Brady was in the line up.

Many thanks for posting this link - great stuff!

Wow, I'm really envious. I've always thought that one of the biggest downsides of having been born when I was (early eighties), is that I missed Planxty and The Bothy Band. Of course a lot of people who were alive then missed them too, but I like to think that I would have been one of the people in the know. Must have been a great concert.

**Bertram Henze** · Mar-25-2008, 3:49am

Originally Posted by (first string @ Mar. 24 2008, 23:09)

Wow, I'm really envious.

These folks are not dead, they are alive and kicking (or picking?) today, just in different constellations, and can be seen and heard live. And they have improved since those early days, so what you get today is a matured extract. I see no reason to be envious.
Besides, they are just humble people like you and me (and I think the video shows that very clearly), so if they took the chance to excel in their time, why should'nt everybody do the same in theirs?

Bertram

**mandoisland** · Mar-25-2008, 4:39am

Thanks for the link to this interesting documentary!

Some weeks ago I found a text about the Irish Bouzouki on the homepage of Graham McDonald, here is the direct link for those who like to read it:

Graham McDonald Irish Bouzouki article

**first string** · Mar-25-2008, 9:08am

Originally Posted by (bertramH @ Mar. 25 2008, 04:49)

Originally Posted by (first string @ Mar. 24 2008, 23:09)

Wow, I'm really envious.

These folks are not dead, they are alive and kicking (or picking?) today, just in different constellations, and can be seen and heard live. And they have improved since those early days, so what you get today is a matured extract. I see no reason to be envious.
Besides, they are just humble people like you and me (and I think the video shows that very clearly), so if they took the chance to excel in their time, why should'nt everybody do the same in theirs?

Bertram

All true...Sort of. I am waiting anxiously for Andy Irvine to come anywhere close to me on tour. Hasn't happened yet. And while I know that most of the musicians we're talking about are still around and kicking, I haven't heard any later incarnations that could equal The Bothy Band for beauty or energy.

**Bertram Henze** · Mar-25-2008, 9:19am

Originally Posted by (first string @ Mar. 25 2008, 16:08)

I haven't heard any later incarnations that could equal The Bothy Band for beauty or energy.

Well, comparisons are never flawless, but how about this group?

**first string** · Mar-25-2008, 10:18am

Originally Posted by (bertramH @ Mar. 25 2008, 10:19)

Originally Posted by (first string @ Mar. 25 2008, 16:08)

I haven't heard any later incarnations that could equal The Bothy Band for beauty or energy.

Well, comparisons are never flawless, but how about this group?

I checked out the sample tracks on their website...All comes down to a matter of taste, but I would like to hear some ulian pipes, fiddle, and bouzouki. I'm not saying there aren't a lot of great young players out there...It's just hard not to feel you missed out a little from never having heard your musical heroes live. Of course every generation has it's legends, but I think it's a pretty common thing to pine a little for what you missed. I'm really glad that I've gotten to hear so many fantastic musicians (Edgar Meyer, Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck, Mike Marshall, Sam Bush, Chris Thile, Joshua Bell, Yo Yo Ma, Marc O'Connor, and on and on. Unfortunately the opportunities to hear great Celtic music in my area are somewhat more limited (at least compared to all the Bluegrass and Classical performances that are going on). That said I have heard some really great Irish, Scottish, and English music from the likes of Bonnie Rideout, Robin Bullock, etc.

**David Currie** · Mar-25-2008, 10:56am

Originally Posted by (bertramH @ Mar. 25 2008, 04:49)

Originally Posted by (first string @ Mar. 24 2008, 23:09)

Wow, I'm really envious.

These folks are not dead, they are alive and kicking (or picking?) today, just in different constellations, and can be seen and heard live. And they have improved since those early days, so what you get today is a matured extract. I see no reason to be envious.

Bertram

Bertram,
I don't want to hijack this thread on the merits or otherwise of Planxty ...but.. I'm sure you're right that they have all improved technically. #But surely a concert isn't just about the technical ability of the performer(s)? #It is also about a time and a place - and that includes the audience. #Why are 'live' recordings so popular? #One would imagine a studio recording will always be technically superior to what is done live, but they rarely have the 'edge' of being live.

Also line-ups change and in the case of Planxty they never recorded with Paul Brady in the band as they were fearful that all they would be remembered for was Brady's stunning rendition of Arthur McBride.

I certainly wasn't idolising them, simply reminiscing about an event that still resonates some thirty years on.

Regards