Regional music

Subject: RE: Regional music
From: The Sandman
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 04:05 AM

I think regional styles are likely to eventually disappear,unless deliberately learned.
If a player likes a style,is there anything wrong with them learning a style that is not the style from where they originate?
does the fact that a player is living [hypothetically say Sliabh Luchra] mean that the player will be able to play in that style despite the fact they are not born there or spent their childhood there?

Subject: RE: Regional music
From: theleveller
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 05:35 AM

"If a player likes a style,is there anything wrong with them learning a style that is not the style from where they originate?"


Nothing wrong with that at all, Cap'n - it's a great way to preserve it. But wouldn't it be a shame if the rich diversity of regional music were to disappear – not just in traditional music but also contemporary songs and tune? This is something that's happening in every walk of life and was why England In Particular was formed. Take a look here:

www.england-in-particular.info.

I can thoroughly recommend the book to anyone interested in the wonderful eclectic variety of everything that makes up England.

Subject: RE: Regional music
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 07:21 AM

Well the thing that strikes me is how much variation in what gets played in sessions in different parts of the country now.
There seem to be some tunes that are recognised everywhere (and usually fought over as to where they came from!), but in each locality you will find tunes that are regullary played there, but are not so often played elsewhere.
When we moved from Somerset to Lancaster I was quite expecting to find some differences, but I find the same level of differences within 30 miles.
What does not quite follow is that the tunes played in each of the sessions are not all of the same regional origin, but different tunes from the same location have travelled in different directions.

Subject: RE: Regional music
From: GUEST,doc.tom
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 08:07 AM

Thank you, Black belt etc., - one eaxample of precisely my point!
Tom

Subject: RE: Regional music
From: The Sandman
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 01:47 PM

20:00 Canuinti Ceoil
Documentary series on Irish music asking whether regional trends are at risk of dying out. Joe Byrne explores the rich musical heritage of North Connacht .
tonight at eight pm on tg4,available on web tv.

Subject: RE: Regional music
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 07 Jun 08 - 05:10 AM

Irish regional musical styles took a severe knock in the 30s when the 78s began flooding in from America.
I once asked an elderly fiddle/concertina player how far would you have to travel in the old days before the style began to alter significantly.
His reply was "As far as you could ride a bike".
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Regional music
From: The Sandman
Date: 07 Jun 08 - 05:42 AM

I believe it was Patrick Kelly that said the worst thing that happened to Clare style were the recordings of Micheal Coleman.
But regional styles are still with us.
Comhaltas havent done very much to encourage regional styles either,very often the judges at county fleadhs are better,but when it comes to the regional fleadhs,I get the impression that a homogeonised style seems to get best results.

Subject: RE: Regional music
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 07 Jun 08 - 04:56 PM

Cap'n
Agree with you there.
Insisting on a certain way of playing in order to win competitions does not make for varying styles.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Regional music
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jun 08 - 05:48 PM

"Insisting on a certain way of playing in order to win competitions does not make for varying styles."

I've heard complaints from old-time fiddlers in the US about contest fiddling leading to a homogenization of sound and style, and a severe limitation of repertoire.

Subject: RE: Regional music
From: The Sandman
Date: 07 Jun 08 - 07:08 PM

http://www.tg4.tv/ regionalmusicfrom north connacht http://www.tg4.tv/then go to canuinti ceol

Subject: RE: Regional music
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 08 Jun 08 - 07:32 AM

Interesting question Cap'n whether because a musician lives in a particular area, would they learn that style? Probably not these days with the external influences and with people usually travelling away. To really get into a local style, doesn't it more or less have to be by osmosis i.e. living in one confined area all one's life, or at least for a greater part of it and then there wouild surely have to be sufficient players in that area maintaining their local style? What chance of that happening these days??

Subject: RE: Regional music
From: theleveller
Date: 09 Jun 08 - 03:39 AM

I was reading the 'sleeve' notes on a Mr Fox cd recorded in the 1970s and it talks of Carol Pegg having learnt the Yorkshire syle of fiddle playing from players in the Dales. I'd never known that there was a Yorkshire fiddle style but, as I'm not a fiddle player, I've had fun trying to reproduce it on the cittern