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Thread: Virtual St Patrick's Day

  1. #1
    Peace. Love. Mandolin. Gelsenbury's Avatar
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    Default Virtual St Patrick's Day

    In these days of Coronavirus and social distancing (although, as social psychologists have rightly pointed out, we should talk about physical distancing and preserve social cohesion and solidarity), today's St Patrick's Day is certainly unusual. Parades are cancelled, pubs are closed or empty, gatherings are discouraged.

    But Irish music can still help us through these challenging times. So I thought I'd create a thread of nice Irish tunes and associated bits of chat/craic to celebrate St Patrick's and lift the spirits. Additions will follow throughout the day. Would anyone like to join me?

    To welcome you to the party, I thought this mandolin recording of Carolan's Welcome by David Hansen would be appropriate, in so many ways: O'Carolan is surely the most famous of Irish composers, and it always amazes me how a single person could have so much melody in them! This particular tune was played on the harp by Ramona Egle at my wedding, so I have fond personal memories of it. But, for the Mandolin Cafe, a mandolin recording is obviously better. And when I think about O'Carolan on the mandolin, I immediately think of David Hansen, whose characteristic mandolin & concertina style has been such a joy and inspiration to me in the Song-a-Week group.



    So: Welcome to the virtual St Patrick's Day!

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    Moderator JEStanek's Avatar
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    Default Re: Virtual St Patrick's Day

    I grew up listening to a lot of the Chieftains music. Both my parents loved them and had many tapes. I was lucky enough to see them in Philly in like 2004 and 2005. My daughter even leapt into Paddy's arms at the meet and greet since she knew him so well from an often watched Down the Old Plank Road DVD. I'll likely watch that today while I make bangers and mash.

    The Dropkick Murphy's are live streaming their show for free this year.

    Happy St. Patrick's Day!

    Jamie
    There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865 - 1946

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    Peace. Love. Mandolin. Gelsenbury's Avatar
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    Default Re: Virtual St Patrick's Day

    And, to follow up right away while I prepare my home office lunch, here's one of the first mandolin videos I "favourited" on YouTube: Mr Sunny Sugiyama playing Bobby Casey's Hornpipe!



    This tune is also known as The Humours of Tullycrine. It's one of my favourite hornpipes, but I don't play it very well. The player in this video does a better job.

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    Barn Cat Mandolins Bob Clark's Avatar
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    Default Re: Virtual St Patrick's Day

    Quote Originally Posted by JEStanek View Post
    I grew up listening to a lot of the Chieftains music. Both my parents loved them and had many tapes. I was lucky enough to see them in Philly in like 2004 and 2005. My daughter even leapt into Paddy's arms at the meet and greet since she knew him so well from an often watched Down the Old Plank Road DVD. I'll likely watch that today while I make bangers and mash.

    The Dropkick Murphy's are live streaming their show for free this year.

    Happy St. Patrick's Day!

    Jamie
    I had tickets with a bunch of my musician friends to the Chieftan's concert in Philly last week (they are on their farewell tour) but opted not to go at the last minute. The older people in the group (myslef included) thought the risk too high. The younger people in our group went and said it was fabulous. Too bad this COVID thing came up at just this time. Oh well; there never is a good time for an epidemic.

    To Gelsenbury; thanks for this thread. I will watch it and enjoy it through this very quiet St. Patrick's day.
    Purr more, hiss less. Barn Cat Mandolins Photo Album

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    Registered User Steve Roberts's Avatar
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    Default Re: Virtual St Patrick's Day

    And a poem from WB Yeats on "social distancing". Very appropriate for this St Patrick's Day-

    The Lake Isle of Innisfree
    by William Butler Yeats

    I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
    And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
    Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,
    And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

    And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
    Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
    There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
    And evening full of the linnet’s wings.

    I will arise and go now, for always night and day
    I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
    While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
    I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

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    Default Re: Virtual St Patrick's Day

    Great, thanks for joining in! How about a set of tunes for tea time?



    I posted this recently over at the Song-a-Week group. It's a lot of fun to play at sessions, but difficult to record! Recording is good practice, but very unforgiving.

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    Default Re: Virtual St Patrick's Day

    I had my first day of home office today. Lots of us haven't been at work, right?



    This one's always funny.

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    Default Re: Virtual St Patrick's Day

    After colcannon and sausages for dinner, how about a triplet masterclass? Here's Jill, also a much-appreciated member of this forum...


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    Default Re: Virtual St Patrick's Day

    ... and Lawrence, whose playing I've admired for a long time.



    I love triplets, but you need to be special to play them as well as these two. So much lift and energy!

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    Default Re: Virtual St Patrick's Day

    Time for a session?


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    Registered User John Kelly's Avatar
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    Default Re: Virtual St Patrick's Day

    Just for St Patrick's Day, Dennis.Here is one I posted away back several years ago - in 2011, I believe! Happy St P's Day, and here's to a successful return to whatever we call normality!

    I'm playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order. - Eric Morecambe

    http://www.youtube.com/user/TheOldBores

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    Default Re: Virtual St Patrick's Day

    Indeed, John. How unusual to see you on the banjo! Well played!

    It's coming up to bedtime in this part of the world and for this member. So I'll leave you with this beautiful rendition of The Parting Glass. Keep enjoying and adding to the thread. Have a good St Patrick's Day wherever you are. Good night, and joy be with you all.


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    Default Re: Virtual St Patrick's Day

    Fair play to you, hermano.
    Thanks for bringing a wonderful ray of sunshine in these complicated times.

    Mick
    Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
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    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Virtual St Patrick's Day

    Here's a jig medley (Irish Washerwoman/Swallowtail Jig/Saddle the Pony) that my band Innisfree would have been playing tonight at the American Hotel in Lima NY, if we hadn't been canceled due to the virus.

    Personnel are Mark Deprez on mandolin-banjo he built himself, Barbara Jablonski on hammered dulcimer, Kathleen Cappon on guitar, and myself on Sobell mandola. Hope you enjoy listening as much as we would have enjoyed our 13th consecutive St. Pat's at the American Hotel.

    Jig Medley

    PS: please excuse the somewhat erratic off-the-PA-board engineering.
    Allen Hopkins
    Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
    Natl Triolian Dobro mando
    Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
    H-O mandolinetto
    Stradolin Vega banjolin
    Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
    Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
    Flatiron 3K OM

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    Default Re: Virtual St Patrick's Day

    Great stuff on this thread!

    Sneaking one in under the wire ( well East Coast anyway)
    I learned "The Rushes" from the Robin Williams album "The Music of the Scottish Harpers Volume 2"
    The Star of Munster I learned from a John Kelly recording

    Stormy Morning Orchestra

    My YouTube Channel

    "Mean Old Timer, He's got grey hair, Mean Old Timer he just don't care
    Got no compassion, thinks its a sin
    All he does is sit around an play the Mandolin"

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    Default Re: Virtual St Patrick's Day

    Quote Originally Posted by allenhopkins View Post
    Hope you enjoy listening as much as we would have enjoyed our 13th consecutive St. Pat's at the American Hotel.
    Very enjoyable indeed! That was a lot of fun. Your band sounds great, and I hope you'll be able to gig again, safely, soon.

    Quote Originally Posted by tmsweeney View Post
    I learned "The Rushes" from the Robin Williams album "The Music of the Scottish Harpers Volume 2"
    The Star of Munster I learned from a John Kelly recording
    Great set, thank you for joining in! The Internet isn't news any more, but I still find it fascinating how we can share tunes across the oceans - with you keeping the lights burning while I'm already asleep.

    Thanks for being part of this!

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    Registered User Tavy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Virtual St Patrick's Day

    Late to the party here as usual... but a big thankyou for posting those... a very enjoyable listen!

    Oh and "Sick Note", haven't heard that in years, I'd forgotten just how good (and funny) that was

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