Obit: Whistle Player Seán Potts, Dublin (2014)

Subject: Obit: Seán Potts
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 11 Feb 14 - 01:38 PM

Sad news from Dublin where whistle player Seán Potts died earlier today.

Subject: RE: Obit: Seán Potts
From: GUEST,John Moulden
Date: 11 Feb 14 - 01:49 PM

I'm really saddened; a lovely man, gentle, positive and helpful at all times and a really great player.

Subject: RE: Obit: Whistle Player Seán Potts, Dublin (2014)
From: GUEST,Tinker from Chicago
Date: 11 Feb 14 - 05:10 PM

An original Chieftain, I believe.

Subject: RE: Obit: Whistle Player Seán Potts, Dublin (2014)
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 02:40 AM

Indeed he was; I have a 40-year-old Chieftains LP with Sean's image (and a youthful Paddy Maloney.)

Subject: RE: Obit: Whistle Player Seán Potts, Dublin (2014)
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 04:01 AM

I saw Sean play with The Chieftains a couple of times, he also used to step dance occasionaly, an absolutely wonderful man and musician.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Obit: Whistle Player Seán Potts, Dublin (2014)
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 06:01 AM

To define a person as a member of a band he or she once played in is, in my opinion, taking the limited view of that person's achievements and personality.

I deliberately avoided that characterisation in my original post as I think Seán's achievements as a person and as a musician reached fsar beyond his membership of one group of musicians.

Sure he was a member of Ceoltóirí Chualann and, for a while, the band that continued on after the former's demise, the Chieftains. He was also chairman of Na Piobairi Uilleann, the organisation of uilleann pipers for a long while and he turned his musical skills to fundraising for the organisation. These efforts culminated in recordings, first with the group Bakerswell and more recently the CD No 6, referring to the address where he grew up in the Liberties of Dublin. He was also, after the death of Muiris O Rochain, president of the Willie Clancy Summer School.

Publicly he was at the forefront of fighting the good fight in aid of the music he loved. When Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann and the Irish music rights organisation IMRO tried to ringfence the performance rights to traditional music for their own purposes, Seán was there, spearheading the protests against that move.

On a more personal level I always found Seán most encouraging, supportive and ever willing to share his knowledge. He set up a few radio recordings for me during the late eighties and asked me to play the Willie Clancy piping concert on a few occasions. Which I took as an encouragement and quiet acknowledgement I was on the right path.

It's that side of Seán Potts I like to remember, that as well as his sense of humour. There was one occasion during a Tionol of Na Piobairi Uilleann in Spanish Point, Co Clare during the nineties. The organisation's AGM was ongoing in one room. I arrived late and bought myself a copy of a collection of Leo Rowsome's music that was being launched that weekend. I sat leafing through the book as the AGM wound up and people started to pour out. Seán spotted me as he emerged and, referring with great irony to the discussion that is raging on the internet forums dedicated to Irish music (but not so much in the 'real' world of music) and one we have all dipped our toes in on occasion, 'Jaysus, Peter should you be reading sheetmusic? It's not good for you!'

Subject: RE: Obit: Whistle Player Seán Potts, Dublin (2014)
From: GUEST,Mick Tems (cookieless)
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 10:20 AM

RTE have a video which captures all the joy and whistle mastery that was Sean.

Subject: RE: Obit: Whistle Player Seán Potts, Dublin (2014)
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 11:13 AM

Peter, all that after YOU defined Sean as a ' whistle player ' ?

Dave H

Subject: RE: Obit: Whistle Player Seán Potts, Dublin (2014)
From: GUEST,John Moulden
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 12:55 PM

I think that argument over how Seán Potts should be described is inappropriate. He was the sum of his parts and greater than that. He was a great man and a great musician. I regret that I will never again meet him and look into his quiet, contented eyes.

Subject: RE: Obit: Whistle Player Seán Potts, Dublin (2014)
From: GUEST,michaelr
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 03:23 PM

Can anyone tell me the name of the air he plays in that RTE video (link in Guest, Mick Tems' post above)?

Subject: RE: Obit: Whistle Player Seán Potts, Dublin (2014)
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 03:45 PM

Saw Sean Potts (and the young performers) twice in 1981 -- at The Grog in Newburyport, Massachusetts and at The Press Room in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Actually last summer I rescued (from the trash) some of the paperwork from Jay Smith's Press Room files on that performance. (I might actually have a copy of the contract.)

Memorable performances...and we have several of his recordings in Curmudgeon's and my collection.

Linn

Subject: RE: Obit: Whistle Player Seán Potts, Dublin (2014)
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 04:45 PM

Very, very sorry to hear this... and within days of Finbarr Dwyer too. R.I.P. to a great man.

Subject: RE: Obit: Whistle Player Seán Potts, Dublin (2014)
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 13 Feb 14 - 03:05 PM

'He was the sum of his parts and greater than that. He was a great man and a great musician.'

That was exactly the point I was trying to make, that he was a multi faceted personality. I apologise if I did so in a clumsy way, I did not intend to enter an argument.

Subject: RE: Obit: Whistle Player Seán Potts, Dublin (2014)
From: GUEST,michaelr
Date: 13 Feb 14 - 06:47 PM

Can anyone tell me the name of the air he plays in that RTE video (link in Guest, Mick Tems' post above)?

Subject: RE: Obit: Whistle Player Seán Potts, Dublin (2014)
From: GUEST,Dave_
Date: 14 Feb 14 - 03:31 PM

A great man and I loved his whistle style

The air is Geaftaí Bhaile Buí, the reels are Mhic Eoin's and Tommy Whelan's (Humours of Lough Rea)

Subject: RE: Obit: Whistle Player Seán Potts, Dublin (2014)
From: GUEST,michaelr
Date: 15 Feb 14 - 03:00 PM

Thank you very much!

Subject: RE: Obit: Whistle Player Seán Potts, Dublin (2014)
From: GUEST,Billy Finn
Date: 18 Mar 14 - 01:16 PM

one thinks of slow airs which Sean featured on like Caoineadh an Spailpin and Mo Mhuirnin Ban from Playboy of the Western World with Ceoltoiri Chualann and also Marbhna Luimnigh from O Riada sa Gaiety....the tin whistle contribution on those airs was magnificent...There`s also Port an Deorai and the unforgettable start to Whinny Hills of Leitrim on the O Riada sa Gaiety album...that whistle intro, bodhran beat and whoop of encouragement set the scene for one of Ceoltoiri Chualann`s most powerful jigs. With the Chieftains, you immediately think of Samhradh, Samhradh, Mna na hEireann, Morning Dew, Banish Misfortune and so on. Also the wonderful Tin Whistles album he made with Paddy Moloney. Sean was the premier Tin Whistler of his generation and gave that humble instrument huge standing and dignity. Not to mention his love and ongoing work for the Uilleann pipes.What a man.

Subject: RE: Obit: Whistle Player Seán Potts, Dublin (2014)
From: GUEST,BigDaddy
Date: 18 Mar 14 - 01:41 PM

I was hooked on the music of Mr. Potts and company from the time I bought the LP of "Ó Riada Sa Gaiety", back in 1975. His passing is a great loss indeed.

Subject: RE: Obit: Whistle Player Seán Potts, Dublin (2014)
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 20 Mar 14 - 08:25 AM

I have added Sean to the "In Memoriam" thread. My condolences to all who knew and miss him and his spectacular music.

RIP

Peter